Fish'N Impossible

I believe the question is relative to location, so it's a partial agreement with this. I reside in Ohio the overall"big fish" here 6-8lbs (8 being huge), simply because of the feeding cycle is cut short with a freeze. So when asked how I could increase by big fish performance those are the fish I'm concentrating on because around here those are true trophies. So you don't just go too those renown fisheries, you fish all the waters you can and compare your big fish to the region your in.

Inventory gear, organize gear, make list of needed or desired gear for the next year. Then I start buying gear from previous list, and start cleaning rods& reels. Read fishing articles, forms, and books. Watch videos both DVD, and Utube on techniques and tips, as a matter of fact Bassresource has a great video set on Utube. I also set up a casting, flipping course in my garage by setting up 2,3, and 4" cut pieces of PVC around with obstructions (under the grill extension) and cast abd flip to them. This is the most critical skill in competitive fishing getting your bait exactly where you want it. During all this I am working/searching for sponsors going too expo's, and taking to other anglers, businesses, and youths. While constantly complaining about the solid water.

1) know your water way. Species of fish and common forage fish. Depending on species present Bass can be more or less aggressive. This dictates the speed of fishing. 2) Identify those areas out of the norm with alot of the same structure/cover options as the primary areas and fish them thoroughly. 3) Slow down and really think about your next cast.

I have noticed on our local lake, mud bottom, they red crawfish colors do not get bit, crankbaits included, because the crawfish in the lake never reach a red color, usually only brown or green. But 30 miles away in our Rock bottom lake red is a great color and performs very well consistently, because those crass actually get hot enough to turn the red hue in the summer.

A great tube to Texas rig is the Food chain tube from Power Team Lures, as the front 1/4" is solid so the hook set doesn't tear out the nose. Good pic showing the Texas rig too.

On those sizes I use the 2/0. If I would increase size like 1/2 oz too slow roll the bottom then I would goto the 3/0. To give you a generic answer as big as you can go without affecting the less action off desired profile.

Depending on if your up front poor in the back and the speed of the boat, I often just do something subtle. I will use suspend strips on standard crankbaits to make them suspend at a desired depth, and use that as a modified jerkbait. It uses the overall same technique but offers a significantly diffrent profile. I have found it works when the bite is extremely tough and you need a way to downsize your bait but that is still your preferred presentation.

Here in Ohio most of our water is shallow so everything is light weight. As an overall favorite I would say Pepper Custom Jigs, any color that matches the footage of your area. I only use one trailer on all my swim jigs, in my opinion the best action on any trailer is the 3.6 JP Hammer shad on my light swim jigs , and the 4.8 Hammer shad on heavier ones. Trailer matching the jig skirt.hope that helps or atleast offers a starting point.