Slefler

Thank you Gents!

I've been a member for a little while but never made an introduction. My name is Shawn, I've been fishing since I could walk but just started getting "serious" about bass. I'm originally from the Houston area but just recently moved to Tyler for work. Does anyone know of any spots around Tyler I could hit from the shore? There are lakes all around and after work today I plan on hitting the small lake in Tyler State Park but other than that I'm not sure where to go and what color variations have been proven in this area? Thanks!

That's what I had always thought but I wanted to poll the experts!

Thank you gents! Is there a specific time when you throw a specific colored skirt? For example: what is your thought process on throwing a chartreuse/white over a full on chartreuse or full white?

What conditions water/weather do y'all alternate on silver or gold blades and why? I'm gonna load up on some new ones but the blade color, well the blades in general (shape), have me stuck on what I need to get. The water I'll be fishing them in is stained, you can see about 3-5ft down. Any help is appreciated.

Bluebasser: nice one! I've never committed to throwing a spinnerbait for an extended period of time but I did that day. Did it again the next morning, hung a 3lber but he spit it back at me right at the bank so I still can't say I've caught a bass on one.

Chartreuse, double gold willow leaf, trailer was a white zoom super fluke jr.

Oh, wow nice! You used to guide? Do you still live in the area?

If it's not a Texas-Rigged soft plastic I don't have confidence in it lol. The good thing is I have plenty to work on to keep me busy for a very long time.

I will be moving there in a couple weeks for work any good spots around? I don't have a boat so I won't be able to go to Fork or any of the other big lakes in the area but any ideas of small local access ponds?

Don't forget about Lake Raven in Huntsvile State Park.

I've got some RI 4.20 Beavers I could try out as well as Zoom Z hog both match my jigs as far as colors. If I were to swim a football head what type of retrieve or cadence would you use? So basically try a bulkier trailer to enable slower fishing?

Update: Fished there for about three hours this morning. I used a zoom fluke, football head jig with rage craw trailer and a VMC rugby head with a Roboworm. Got two bites on the jig and absolutely nothing else on the other two. I fished SLOWWWWWW. I've yet to buy anything from Sierbert like the swim jigs to try out there. Unfortunately I'll be goin to Louisiana for a month so I won't b able to get back out there anytime soon, hopefully I won't miss the spawn. Any other bait/ technique suggestions?

Went there today to spend a gift card, just about all the H2O hard baits are on clearance. Just thought I would give you a heads up if you didn't already know.

Former grunt turned security guard soon to be a student-ish.

Thanks for all the feedback, I think I'm gonna go with the 7'2 MH Crucial but further down the road I might pick up an Abu Garcia Veracity for a spinnerbait rod or maybe top water. As of right now I have no clue, I read an awesome article on how and what you need for a diverse "aresenal". In a couple months I'll most likely end up posting another topic on what reel should go with what rod....etc

I saw that deal and immediately became ticked I didn't have the money to spend on anything. Nice pickup in those two though! I want to get the new Curado and see how low the prices dip on the 200G's and maybe even the Chronarch. The problem is convincing my other half the need for more than two decent set ups. She has yet to grasp the analogies I've used to my defense thus far. I checked BTD and they have them, I've never used them so thanks again.

Yea I found the worm and jig rod on their website now I'm just looking where to buy it, my local BPS store was out so I'll just keep checking with them. Thanks for the help!

Shimano has a Crucial MH X Fast its only 6'8, that's only 4 inches taller than I am. I guess if I went that route I could get accustomed to the short rod length. Well nevermind I checked their Crucial Frog Rod and they have 7'2 MH X Fast. Would there be much of a difference between the two minus the obvious length? I'm shopping from TW that's where I'm getting these rod lengths and measurements from.

That's what I figured about it being too fast but wasn't entirely sure. After handling both at BPS two weeks ago I'm leaning more towards the Crucial. The OTC Replacement is a bonus for sure.

I can't decide on which one I would like. I'm looking into either the Veracity 7'3 med/hvy or the Crucial 7'2 Med X Fast. It will either be used as a Texas Rig/Jig rod or a spinnerbait rod. It will be paired with a Lew's Tournament Pro Speed Spool 6.4:1. I'm looking for any advice based on experience or preference and why. Any help is appreciated.

Great review, thanks for the help. I'll be picking up some jigs and spinnerbaits from him hopefully soon. Right now I just have two decent combos that I use one is a 7' med hvy Veritas with a revo sx spooled with 12lb mono. My other one, the one I use the majority of the time is a 7' med hvy Kistler custom that was given to me, paired with a Curado 200G also spooled with 12lb mono. When I get my order I will tie on a jig on one and only use it so I can focus and play with only that bait. I'll buy the 3 colors you suggested and see how they work in my neck o'the woods.

New2BC4bass- I've been there, done that, lol. I threw a cast net at a spillway when water was flowing heavily out of a drainage pipe and into the pond, the baitfish were trying to leave the pond and swim up into the current and into the drainage pipe. It was kind of fun to watch since they would swim hard and leap out of the water and hit the water flowing out and swim as hard as they could to try and make it into the drain pipe. When this happened I ran to my truck and grabbed my cast net and threw it where they were holding at the end of the run off and caught tilapia, shiners and Shad. I used live shiners but to no avail nothing hit them. Gripnrip- I'll be getting some swim jigs from Siebert Outdoors hopefully when I have extra money. Are there any colors you'd recommend? Any advice on trailers for them as well? I appreciate the advice and tips. This forum has been a TREMENDOUS help in trying to learn more and the intricacies of bass fishing.

That's what I've been thinking but we haven't had a warming trend for me to test the theory.

The next time I can commit half a day out there I'll try down sizing my worms. I keep hearing about chatterbaits but I've never tried them, who makes some good ones?