Smokinal

We are still thawed up here so I'm still going out. Went out with my buddy today. Air was 25 when we launched at 6:15 this morning. Bluebird clear and flat calm day; just a beautiful winter morning on the water. Started out fishing the blade in 25-40 fow off a ridge. Huge schools of white perch and crappie on the sonar but no bass to be found with them. So we went to the banks and had a little better luck there. I ended up getting 7 and my buddy caught 4 bass and a nice brookie. The brookie came on a TRD on a dropshot. Notice on the deck in front of my friend the eggs that came out of the trout. Is this normal for this time of year? They were spewing everywhere. Not a blistering day by any means but for 38 degree water, I'll take it.

I'm going tomorrow and looks like I will be out Christmas eve as well!

And not a single fish was caught that day.....

The Ned or a small finesse jig. There's always lots of craws near dams.

Wayne, do you mind if I ask you what your settings were on the pic where the fish were on the bottom?

Wow, I thought we had it bad. Still liquid water up here. I was out last Sunday and water was 43-44 degrees. I plan on being out Sunday Dec 6th, and possibly later if this little warm trend stays with us.

As a father, I can't even begin to imagine what you are going though. Take strength in your friends and family and know many are thinking about you, myself included. I sincerely wish you and your family the best. Take care.

So I did some homework and found some good info. Here's some of it: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/130271-pre-rapala-wiggle-warts/ And after seeing some pics of them, something sparked in the old memory that I have seen one of these baits before. So I went out in my garage, found some old boxes of "junk" lures I never throw anymore but can't get rid of, and found this: I looked it over and found no markings on it whatsoever. It's at least 20 yrs old though. Total length from tip of bill to end of body is exactly 3"; weight is .4 oz on walmart digital kitchen scale. I found it wrapped in antique jelly worms so the paint is sticky and wiping off; construction still seems fine though. If this is an "original" would it be worth lightly sanding and having it custom airbrushed? I have a buddy who does some of that for me and he's incredibly cheap. Like, he has never charged me for painting baits... EDIT: Looks like it is an original. Found many pics of it on the interwebz in this color. So I guess I will have it re-painted after all. Didn't mean to hijack, Tom. Just found that many people do not know the history of this bait, myself included. Thank you for bringing it back around.

I've heard so much about this bait. Learn me on it. And not to be a smarta$$ but are these considered "original warts"? https://store.radvandamwarehouse.com/original-wiggle-wart-by-storm-lures-p392.aspx?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase&Color=082%20-%20Purple%20Tiger&gclid=CI_o7LXtrskCFYb2HwodDesFjQ

Too many variables. Sure it would pull it; may even go uphill. I'd be white-knuckled going back down the other side though. As far as ramp action, again, too many variables. (degree of ramp, wet or dry, driver ability has a lot to do with it too).

I do the exact same procedure as you Desmobob, but I store my boat with it down in the garage and, you are right, I do get a little more out of it when I lower it again at home.

I added blades to my arsenal a few years ago and have seen how effective they are in cold water. Now I need to add spoons. What are you guys throwing for a jigging spoon these days? My thoughts are I need around a 3"-4" , 1/2 or 3/4 oz in chrome or hammered and some in white.

I hear ya. I'd buy some of those in the first pic. That color combo works well up here.

Thoughts and prayers to you Dwight.

Some bigguns for sure.

You never know when you'll need a "maintenance wipe".

It's too early for this but I'm happy to answer; I'm partial to Lays Cheddar and Sour Cream.

You should see my hooksets now! Fish don't stand a chance! Thx WIGuide

Wow, I'm a minority. I keep my boat in the garage and ready to go at all times so I just hook up and go. I'm in the "they stay on the boat" club.

Fixed that for ya

All depends on the cover you are fishing. Braid has no abrasion resistance on rock, so if you fish a lot of rock like I do, you better have a leader on; usually fluorocarbon.

You'll be in my thoughts and prayers man. I hope all goes well for you and the outcome is what you want. Do keep us posted as things progress; we'd love some updates.

Ya, lots of ways to work a trap. You can work it with the reel handle as jigme mentioned; you can also pump the rod and let it fall on slack line too, creating the yo-yo effect. It's hard to beat a red craw trap in the fall and I'll have one tied on until the water freezes. I've found, though, that the bite can really vary day to day with a trap. One day they will want it yo-yoed while another day they might eat it better with a flat retrieve or even burned. Definitely a bait that requires a little experimenting with every outing and come up with the bite pattern for that day. Try it different ways, pay attention to what you were doing when you got bit and do it again.