Will

Looking good. Use Lexan for the lips and not plexi glass I heard it cracks easy. 2 part epoxy works great for holding in hook screws if thats what you are going to do.

Do you actually use that to attact fish like duck decoys when hunting?? Never heard of such a thing.

Try this link it will take you to the New Jersey BASS Federation website. http://www.njbassfed.org/

Spooks are also a fairly simple lure to make and start with.

Trace a pattern on the wood, and then cut it out with a band saw. It looks like your hunk of wood might still be a little big. Leave some room when you cut out the popper, so you can sand it down smooth. Good Luck, and don't give up if it doesn't work the first time.

I am not sure what kind of oil initialy come with the plastics, some worm companies put their own fish scents in them. Putting anise oil won't do anything to the worms. In fact some people dose the bag of worms so they don't have to give every worm a shot when they go to use them. I don't think anyone looks specifically for worms without oil.

The bass started busting because you drove through the shad and got them jumping and nervous. Once the shad get nervous and scattered the bass come in and start eating. There are a couple things to try. First run through the shad with your boat to get the shad excited. Second use a bigger spinnerbait and run it through the shad, the goal is not to necessarily catch the bass with the spinnerbait but get the shad moving so go big. Once the bass start busting switch to a lure such as a smaller spinnerbait, crank, or buzzbait and throw it at them.

Don't forget a soft jerkbait, it can be fished below the surface or you can let it sit on leaves.

Hey, I found this while surfing the interent during class, just wondering what everyone thinks of it? I don't own a boat, but I am not sold on the idea of it all be electrical it seems the cord might be safer when properly used. http://wirelesslanyard.com/cast/default.asp

Here is a link for two types of fishin' buddys, one for $100 and the other for $170. http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.SearchResults?cmid=TOP_SEARCH_GO

After checking the temperature, I look for forage. At my city lake the shad population was very low this year, and I am still trying to catch a bass with a shad tail sticking out from his gut. Instead alot of them have crawdad antennas coming out, so when going for numbers I use a crawdad color.

Sweet, hope it works!

I would say I am a tournament fisherman, where I fish a limited number of tournaments a year those other days will be for preparing for the tournaments.

Clear Water 18" visiblity + -You want speed so the fish don't get a good look at your lure: spinnerbaits -Match the worm color the the color of the lakes bottom -The fish will be hanging loose around cover, fish up to 6 feet away from the cover -If its windy and warm go shallow -Cover alot of water looking for the active fish -If its bright use some flashy colors like chrome and metal -If its cloudy use solid colors such as white, chartreuse Muddy Water -The fish will be hanging closer to cover, usually within 6 feet. -Look for some littel clear pockets -If it bright try some gold and copper -If it is cloudy try some orange and chartreuse Cold Front -Use methodical retrieves, like jerkbaits -You want lots of action to draw strikes so jerk, bounce, and bump your lures -Fish tight to cover, and slow down -Downsize your presentation

How about this one? I fish a little lake that has what we call a "beach". It used to be for swimming so there isn't any cover or structure, and the swimming area is a good 50 yards long. The lake is bowl shaped and on a good cast I can reach 12-15' of water, which is a gentle slope out to. The bottom seems to be sand and leaves, and occasionaly a small chunk rock or something like that. So far this season the shad population has been very low with only a few small schools of 25-50 shad in each school. Small bluegill and perch also swim around the edge. The water clarity is in the area of 2 feet deep. It is also protected by the wind unless its coming from the south, then it might get some wave action. I am not sure of water temperature but highs have been in the 60's and lows get down close to freezing. Any suggestions on what to fish? I have caught some little bass under 12" on shallow running cranks before there.

I pour mainly to use up all my previously torn plastics, but I will make some specail colors. Its fun catching something that you made, even if its only soft plastics.

What kind of line are you using? For Carolina Rigging I would suggest using braided line since it is ultra sensitive and then a mono or fluorocarbon leader. Using monofilament you might be detect the bite late.

I had the same problem, and I think you might be pouring to fast. When you pour fast the hot plastic doesn't have enought time to effectively settle and fill the entire mold. Try slowing down, and see what that does.

Does anyone build their own jigs, I am looking to start building my own? I really don't want to pour my jigheads so I found some called Rite-Eye Jigs that have a Mustad hook. The painted jigs cost 87 cents each and the unpainted cost 70 cents apiece for the 5/16 ounce size. I would also buy some collars and silicone skirts. Do the jighead prices sound expensive, about right, or a good buy? The website is http://www.staminainc.com/main.html

I will break even, or make just a little, so it was a pretty good year.

A friend from my bass club caught the state record Kentucky bass, but let it go. He caught it during a club tourney then they weighed it, but got the Kentucky and Smallmouth record weights mixed up so he let it swim free. ReelMech, what lakes you fishing at if you don't mind telling? My friend caught his at Marion County Lake, I think thats the lakes name.

If they are bass I would try a weightless tube. The tube will float above the fish before slowly falling leaving a bubble trail. Once the tube land on the bottom let it sit, and if the fish don't show interest fish the tube like a jerkbait back.

Don't forget a Baby 1 Minus and a jerkbait such as a Rapala X-Rap or Lucky Craft Pointer.

Same with Reel Magic, and probably Kevin Vandams Line Conditioner although I haven't tried KVD's stuff yet.

Go to this link and click on the state you live in. It will take you to your States Federation website. If you can't find a link for the youth e-mail a Federation officer and you should be able to get more information. Good Luck!