ripinit

Soft bottom, stay with the Texas rig or a drop shot.

Looks like they got hot...

Owner st36, no question...

I don't think you need to match the color. Bass need to eat, and I don't think they care if there is a little color variation. Dark colors are the best IMO, as they silhouette better in the water, so they are just seen better by the fish. Now I don't fish clear water, so Natural/matching colors may make a difference in that situation, but I bet dark colors work there too...Black with and color combo is what I use, as well as dark colors like Junebug.

I fish stained water, and I've noticed through the years that the best producers have a green flake in them, and they are better with the sun up, while darker lures are better in low light. I think its a Blue Gill thing, with the green flake; and Redbug, JuneBug(favorite), and watermelon candy( when the water is really clear), are hard to beat, and cover most situations...

I think I know what he was meaning, as the fish are past the prespawn feedbag mode(here), and are tougher to trick, and the finesse rigs seem to shine right now. Few weeks ago, I could swim a jig along the weed lines and let em fall in bushes, and it was on, and now I have to slow down with senkos and finesse worms and soak a bait to get bit. They just ain't chasing or reacting unless you drop a bait in a bed or on its head, or around males guarding fry...Jig season is a funny concept, though....

Great, any way you fish it. Catch more on it weightless, but its a great flipping bait, the reverse ribs catch water, and it swims down nicely when texas rigged. Just a great bait....I use it more than any other senko, if that tells you anything...

Their grubs in chartreuse and chartreuse-flake have a white core, or a lighter core.....

Some of the theories I've heard, because those colors just work, are about the early color of crawfish after the winter hibernation being blue. But I caught a huge mess last week, and they were full of bright orange craws, nothing about them were dark. Tried Orange jig, no bites, went to black/blue....money! My theory is that their eyes look up, duh, cause that's where they are located, and anything that blocks light is easier to silhouette, and thereby easier to discern as food.

Never to early anywhere, its just a myth. I throw them up on the ice, and when it comes off, its like coming off a lily pad with a frog.....Explosion! Now, its not optimal in cold water as the fish are less active, but there are always fish shallow and ready to feed, just need the ice to melt a little.

In Southern Arkansas, the best bait after a rain is a spinnerbait, with tandem blades, Bigger one Willow on the end, and the other an orange/red Colorado...It gives you vibration, and visibility, I would also go with White/Chartreuse skirt.

Its really a trial and error thing, and let the fish tell you...Have to figure out what the fish are eating, and if they are hugging bottom..Catch one, look at its belly, or see where the blimps are on your depth finder. If there are signs they are hugging bottom, I'd start with the Shaky, and vice versa if they are suspended...But try both, as the bite determines what they like best, no matter where they are....

Rage as trailers are good when Bass are aggressive, hitting on the fall, and great on a swim jig, and dragging football heads. For cold water, subtle presentations, not as much. Still a good trailer when you want the bait to impart some action...I don't use them this time of year, but in a month or so, rage works pretty good...

Jig or a shaky head, the others aren't as good as far as producing...Another good one would be a swing head with any beaver style bait...Stick with simplicity here..

If you wear glasses, get the Fish finder Over-glasses at Bass Pro. They are good even if you don't have glasses. They are much better than my Cacoon's for half the price..

Yeah, they great baits flipping in the jungle. Also are great on a stand-up shaky head..

I've fished there, and flukes(weightless,usually fluke jr) and ultravibe speed craws(texas rigged with 3/16 bullet wt) are the ticket. Stick to watermelon and Green Pumpkin colors...

Basically a grub approach.

Vanish is terrible, and definitely one you don't want to tie a knot with. After some thought though, its name is very appropriate if you think about it....

I've had this happen, as well. Its really humbling. Match the hatch, has worked. Whether its a tiny fluke, or spoon, or small crappie rigs/Alabama rigs, you just have to get creative, and luck into what works sometimes...

As far as fish hooking themselves and the circle hook idea, might try some drop-shot techniques in soft plastic situations..

I guess I also assumed he was using a Chatterbait.

The Fish finder's from Foster Grand, I think, are at Bass Pro, and are a lot better than my Cocoons, and they are like 20 bucks...If you wear the type that fit over glasses get those Fish finders.

Yeah, that's a problem if your set up is right. If you have a glass or composite with a decent mono, you shouldn't be losing that percentage...I would consider the hook change strongly if that's the case....I use a Dobyn's 705CB and just can't remember losing a decent fish on top water, as it gives them that parabolic give when they try to pull the hooks out...which is why its so good with square bills, and why it doubles well with Top waters...

Agree, Blue shows up in crawfish when they first come out in the Spring, and then those darn Bluegill, but I think the real reason is they see dark colors just better. Bass eyes are positioned where they look up, and what blocks out the light, or silhouettes better than darker hues...even in the moonlight!!