tcbass

Good to know!

I don't understand the references in your post. What is a chopper gun hull? What is the most innovative out of those two, Ranger or Triton?

I haven't decided that Bass Cat makes the best boat, but someone said they made great boats and I was wondering if they had any dealerships in MN.

I'm wondering if I should try a weightless T-Rig to cast under docks? Or would it be better Rage Rigged or weighted T-Rigged for under docks?

I use a Gamakatsu hook with a Twistlock, I've found that the frogs last much longer that way. I used to get about 1-2 fish per frog, but when I switched to the twist lock I can get around 5 fish before a leg gets nipped off usually. It's never been because the toad got pulled down the hook and ruined like they used too without the twistlock.

Interesting, I wonder how well the toad will stay cradled in there? Test it out and tell us and tell us how weedless it is. lol.

I'm not saying I wouldn't be interested in a Bass Cat, Allison, or Phoenix, but if they are only have dealerships in places like TX and MO, then obviously they are out of the equation. I know that everyone will have an opinion.....which is why I'm asking. I would hope that the best bass boat would have a lot of those qualities, great ride, storage, innovation, warranty, customer service, speed, deck space, craftsmanship, and so forth. Obviously, one most likely won't have all of those features, but would have many of them. I am looking for a boat that would have a dealership in the Twin Cities area. Does Bass Cat sell in MN?

Looking at what the two best best boats in these two catagories. Looking for mainstream boats in central Minnesota that would have a dealership nearby. Not looking for boats like Bass Cat or Phenix that maybe great boats but the nearest dealership is in Missouri. So probably looking at boats like Triton, Ranger, Nitro, Skeeter, and others. These questions only pertain to fiberglass boats. I already have an older multi-species aluminum boat and am looking at a second. I am in open water so I won't be beating this boat up. 1.) What is the best bass boat (money is no option)? 2.) What is the best bass boat for the money (value)?

How about a float boat? Benefits of a pontoon in a more manueverable platform.

I hear a lot about the KVD 1.5 and other lures. I've had a lot of success with the Rapala Scatter Rap Shallow in Smash color. I've found it works in open water but also works so well if you can cast it up near a dock or beneath it and start retrieving. I've had so many fish swim out from underneath docks to smash it. I was just wondering where the Rapala Scatter Rap falls in the pantheon of lure success? Is it considered a great lure, good lure, or bad lure?

Cool.

Ok.

No trailer. But all the fish appeared to be hooked good and deep and the ones we landed were.

This type of response is exactly why I started this seperate thread. lol. Where were you fishing it? Structure? Weeds? Docks? Rocks?

So I see a few threads on the new Ragetail Structure Bug and people are saying things like, "Killing them on a Rage Rig", "Doing well with a jig", "Catching lots on a T-Rig." Well, that's good info but I'm looking for more specific info such as what type of jig, what type of structure, and where. I normally fish docks and between docks in 0'-4' feet of water. But this weekend I'm going to a friend's cabin for a few days and I've never fished this lake before. I know there are far fewer docks and it maybe deeper. So, can you be more specific on where you are fishing your Rage Bug and how you're doing it? ex: Siebert Swim jig over rocks. Football jig near timber. Rage Rage under docks and over weeds, T- Rig near bullrushes, etc, etc....... I only have one pack of Rage Bugs and I don't want to waste them.

So my brother and I used buzzbaits for the second time last night. First time I used them I caught 3 fish at night and didn't lose any. Last night I think I landed 5 and lost 2. All of them were over 1.5lbs and big. The two I lost were bigger ones, probably in the 2-2.5lbs. Nice bass. I lost them both at the boat after reeling them in from a ways out. I was using a Cabelas Tournament ZX frog rod (heavy) with 40lbs. Power Pro braid and Abu Revo Rocket and brand new out of the package Booyah Counterstrike Buzzbait. My brother was using a Booyah Buzzbait and caught one fish, he didn't lose any. He was using the exact identical set up. So my rod should have more then enough backbone to set the hook and I thought I set the hook well and am surprised I lost the fish. The line seemed tight with a good bend the entire time. It did seem that the fish might have shook there heads and that's when they got off. I thought that a tight line and barb would keep them on. So I'm wondering, are buzzbaits harder to keep fish on the line? Is there anything I should know about fishing with buzzbaits?

Near docks and stuff or out on structure and deeper water?

Good info. I'll experiment more with the Zoom Horny Toad on some glass calm days.

Ok. Good, looks like it's evenings since I'm not a morning person. lol.

Anyone rigging these weightless T-Rigged and throwing under docks or anything?

Great post! I was actually going to ask the same thing I got a pack of Bugs but don't know how to use them to the best of their abilities. I know a lot of people use them for punch rigs but the pads that I normally punch haven't been producing this year. So no punching. So what should I do with them now? Rage Rig? Swim Jig trailer? Weightless T-Rigged?

Agree. Did you read the OP? It says the same thing.

I think it says, "Verado" which would make it a Mercury. But I've never seen a blacked out motor before. Is this some type of specialty paint job?

This comparison has come up recently between Ragetail Toads and Zoom Horny Toads. I've used Ragetail Toads for about 6 years when my friend introduced me to bass fishing. He also introduced me to Senkos and spinnerbaits. I've racked up a lot of fish with the Ragetail Toads but also had picked up a bag of Zoom Horny Toads awhile ago but never used them. I'd had so much success with the Ragetail Toads that I didn't see the need to switch. One thing about the Zoom Horny Toads is that they are cheaper by about $1 a bag. Not a huge difference but if you're on a budget it could effect you. Well, since it appears that a lot of people are asking about both I thought I'd try them both out today at the same time. I wanted to fish them at the same time side-by-side so it would be a fair comparison. Conditions were slightly windy with some areas close to the dock that were almost glass. After a short time the wind picked up to the point where fishing topwater was hard. I caught one on the Ragetail Toad after about 30 casts and then lost another one on the sink that I got 1/2 way to the boat. I then switched to the Zoom Horny Toad. I didn't get one bite. After about an hour I went back to the Ragetail and caught 2 more fish. I then switched back to the Zoom Horny Toad and didn't get a bite. I switched to the Ragetail Toad and caught another one, right where I had been casting the Zoom Horny Toad. I had been casting the Zoom Horny Toad in the same exact areas I was fishing the Ragetail Toad and areas surrounding those areas so it would be fair. I let both sink some times and retrieved immediately some times. I will note that with the wind I caught all of my bass except one on the Ragetail on the initial splash or sink. A lot of times they are hit on the first 10 feet of a retrieve. This didn't happen today. The Ragetail has proven to be extremely successful on glass calm days all the way through light to moderate windy days. Well, later that night I fished the Ragetail again and caught some fish, one was a nice 3lbs. bass that I let go. So, from that small, unscientific, and short head-to-head test I would say that without a doubt the Ragetail Toad is the far better solid body frog. I did take away the fact that the Ragetail Toad is heavier and casts much farther. It also has a much deeper thump with it's legs that is awesome. When I first used that lure I felt that thump and the gargle in the water it made and new that lure would catch fish.....and it did. The Ragetail Toad also catches fish on the drop/sink, not something that I've found with the Zoom Horny Toad, although to be fair I didn't catch any fish on the Zoom Horny Toad, so when it works it may catch fish on the drop/sink also. When the Ragetail Toad catches fish on the drop/sink it's basically a weightless Texas Rigged frog. The one negative about the Ragetail Toad is that the legs are vulnerable to getting nipped off by fish, even small fish. I haven't had a fish bite the Zoom Horny Toad to see if it's legs get ripped off or they are more durable. I do have a bag of Zman Hard Leg Frogz made out of ElaZtech, but I haven't had a chance to try them out yet. The fact that they have to be kept separate from other plastics because they will melt together has stopped me from using the until next weekend when I hope to try them out. It's said to be one of the most durable solid body frogs on the market. The Ragetail Toad the greatest topwater frog I've ever used (solid body and hollow body) and my #2 best all time lure, #1 is the 5" inch Senko. The KVD Sexy Dawg in Perch is #3. Obviously there should be more side-by-side testing for fairer test but this is what I came up with in 1 day. Here's some threads the Ragetail Toad. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/136614-tip-missing-this-great-aspect-of-the-ragetail-toad-catching-fish-on-the-sink-sit/ http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/142166-problem-with-ragetail-toads-who-do-i-blame-big-o/

These are all football or Arkie jigs, not swim jigs, right?