Brocephus Fishing

I've started making jigs recently and have read on a ton of places that ones with rubber have the potential to become damaged or ruined due to the possibility that any rubber used in them may melt under certain conditions. I'm aware of storing the jigs or the rubber with unscented talc. However, unscented talc has been difficult to find. So, does anyone have any suggestions on possible brands of unscented talc and places that it is easy to find? Also, are there other alternatives that can be used when storing rubber and/or jigs made with rubber?

Ditto what smalljaw67 and tbone1993 said. Great input.

I'd be interested to study any sort of science behind moonphases as it relates to molting. I feel the biggest factor in trying to match the hatch when it comes to crawfish is mostly seasonal, which directly correlates to water temperatures. Granted I will probably look into the science behind the moonphases, but when you throw a crawfish in a boilier it turns bright red just as it would turn more orange or red in warmer water. So for now, water temperature will probably remain the main factor I consider.

A little more information on the area you're fishing would be useful in terms of lure selection. However, like most, I could provide a massive list of lure selections so I'll leave that to personal preference. If you're still looking for a bag that will hold a ton of tackle, although it isn't a backpack and has a shoulder strap, the Cabela's Advanced Anglers Tackle Bag is pretty awesome.

The petroleum jelly thing really does work. I was taught that trick a while back, but now I hand tie my own jigs and if the circumstance does ever come up that I buy a banded jig I wire tie it immediately and any potential rotting doesn't ever cross my mind.

90% of the time you would find me working a bladed jig (chatterbait) in and around the grass. The other 10% of the time I'm looking to punch it with a beaver style bait or throwing a frog. I try to keep it relatively simple when fishing a grass lake and so far those mentioned lures that I use have worked exceptionally well. Just do your research and find your confidence bait when fishing that particular lake.

Thanks Chris, great information!

I usually just bend the hooks a little, trim the legs, and that about does it. Granted I keep replacement legs if the frog has rubber legs attached or skirt material if it needs to be replaced, but I don't carry that stuff with me normally. Super glue or mend-it glue is a must in case the rubber/plastic rips, but I keep that for any of my plastic baits. Sounds like you're set up nicely, but no need to carry all of that with you if you are in fact doing so because you can make most of the necessary modifications and fixes at home. Just carry a few spare frogs with you that you've already modified when you go fishing and you're set.

I own a pair of those and a pair of the Simms Exstream foldover mitt. Both have been outstanding in terms of warmth, pretty water resistant, and extremely durable. I typically fish with the mitt open to expose my fingers and when my finger tips get cold I just flip the mitt over them and it's almost instant warmth (same type concept and performance from the exstream gloves). Both are pricey, but I have been extremely pleased with both. Other than that you can pick up a pair of cotton/polyester blend work gloves from a hardware store for 4$ for a 3 pack. They work well to provide just enough warmth and I've had no issues with them getting in the way of casting or reeling.

I totally forgot about my pink ones. Pink, white, and that chartreuse glitter I mentioned are the only colors I'll throw and should be the only you need.

Sounds to me like you're doing the right thing as far as fishing them goes. Give it time, keep working with them, and I'm sure you'll start getting a few bites. Good luck and tight lines buddy.

Try switching up your colors, flukes flat out catch fish. I typically stick to two colors (white and chartreuse glitter...the chartreuse glitter you won't be able to find unless you get them custom made and a local tackle shop I buy from does) and those two colors have worked well. I must ask, are you fishing them around any sort of structure? I have found they work best around timber and along grass lines or over the top of grass.

I'm a Lews guy, so on personal preference I'm partial to their product and can only speak about them, Shimano, and BPS. Personally, I've yet to find a better 100$ reel than the Lews Speed Spool in regards to castability, power, durability, etc. I own several (4 I think, but have lost count) and have had each for a year or more and each of them have performed flawlessly. Each of them have also held up really well. I'm tough on my rods and reels, although I do take good care of them, but I fish a lot and they travel in the back of my truck. Long story short to answer your question on how are the Lews Speed Spools...I stand by them and feel that anyone giving them a fair shot wouldn't be dissapointed.

If you're willing to go a little over your 200$ budget, I would go with a Lew's BB1 (160$) and a Lew's David Fritts Crank Speed Stick (80$). For the price of the setup I feel it can't be beat, will last a long time and handle your cranking needs. All that being said, personal preference comes into play because if you're not comfortable using it you probably won't like it. If you can, I would recommend going to a tackle shop and seeing what you can get in your hands to gauge a better feel for what you might like.

Exactly my opinion and what I do to them. The bearings are just fine, but if you absolutely feel the need they can be replace with Boccas. Just don't see the point in doing so.

Bluebasser86 all of your jigs look really good. Keep up the awesome work.

Super quality split rings you've mentioned. I definitely recommend those that Barlow's has to anyone.

Living rubber will cause the skirt to expand (flare out) when submerged. If you tie a full living rubber skirt with no silicone, the skirt can expand to the size of your fist creating a larger profile. Also, when using the living rubber the smallest motions of your rod can cause small vibrations in the living rubber which adds water displacement. I chose to tie my jigs with no more then 15-20 strands of living rubber and it creates a nice flare to the jig when submerged. It's just all about creating a slightly bigger profile and creating a defensive postition with the jig, such as a crawfish's defensive position. Hope that answers your question.

I know that exact spot you are talking about and it's the only spot on the lake I've had any success on. If you speaking of one of the 7am-2pm tournaments they run there I probably can guess exactly who fished that spot and he usually beats everyone to it. One of the best spots on that entire lake when the fish are moving from shallow to deep water.

I started using braid for most of my topwater applications recently (50# or higher for frogs, 20-25# for everything else), but haven't made a total switch over because I'm not totally convinced of the pros vs cons of doing so. So, I'm still using Izorline XXX co-polymer and Sufix Siege. Can't go wrong with either of those as far as castability, abraision resitance, and price go IMO.

I just recently purchased one of the Lews Team Lite Speed Spools and so far I'm impressed with it. I've got it paired with a Falcon Jason Christie 6'8 MH and love the set-up, so I'd think you would be fine pairing it with your 7'2 MH. It's freakishly light and at first that worried me a little bit (questions about casting distance, durability, etc.). Like I said, so far I'm impressed with it as it casts extremely well (I was casting a Lucky Craft Flash Pointer 115 MR 30+ feet easily) once you get the spool tension and brakes setup right. Also, I've used it quite a bit sense getting it and have no questions about its durability so far. Well worth the money spent on it.

You can still purchase the original Lunker Lure buzzbait at ***.com for roughly 5$. Rhino68WLunker Lure buzzbaits are my go-to with Cavitron being a close second (can't go wrong with either). I fish most of mine utilizing the skirt, but occassionally I'll remove the skirt and fish it with a small swimbait or grub, depending on what the fish want. As far as getting it ready...I always make sure the wire leading to the blade is in-line with the hook (makes it run straight), then I'll clamp the pop-rivet down on the wire and flatten the top of it out to match the part of the blade that it meets with (will make it squeak more and you want squeaky), and then I may or may not tie it to my car antenna and drive around with it to work the contact point between the pop-rivet and blade. Other than that, I may or may not add a trailer hook. Hope that helps.

Those of you looking for guides in the area, give Fishing Fever and Tackle (High Point) a call of K&J Tackle (Jamestown) a call and I'm sure those guys can lead you to some guides.

Your best case scenario is to use Google Maps to find ponds to fish in the area. Typically if they aren't in neighborhoods you can fish them with no problem. Other than that, if you can, I would invest in a trolling motor so you can rent jon boats on the Greensboro lakes. You can rent jon boats at each lake for a pretty low fee (7$ I think...), as I wouldn't recommend fishing off their piers, which is the only other way to fish those lakes because they don't have bank access. High Point City Lake is the only one I know of that will rent the jon boat and trolling motor to you. I hope I'm being of some help here. If I had a boat I would love to take you out on one of the lakes in the area. Unfortunately I can't and I don't know of anyone that does guide services in the area. I'm sure there are some that do, but I am unaware of them. If you can, I would get on Randleman. There your chances of catching a limit of keepers is much higher than on the Greensboro chain of lakes. That being said, the Greensboro lakes have some pigs in them. My profile picture features a 7 1/2lber I caught at Lake Higgins. I hope I'm being of some help here.

Welcome to BR from a fellow NC fisherman! Tight lines!