BigSkyBasser

An old infisherman smallmouth special showed Al Lindner swearing by techniques to apply towards this for cold and warm water conditions. In warm water he would toss the classic popper or when endorsed by Rapala the "Skitter Pop." (Great lure but I prefer spooks.) In cold water they were throwing little elk hair jigs about 8-14" under a large float and getting stupendous amounts of bites. Note I have never tried the latter mentioned but would like to. Probably could supplement a senko and get the same reaction.

I can fish year around anywhere with Roboworms, either drop shot, t rigged, or wacky. It also happens to be a coincidence that Aaron Martens is my favorite elite pro and he seems to be able to do the exact same thing. Super versatile technique.

Just caught fish on Tubes for the first time last week. Pumpkin Chartreuse SK Coffee tubes hooked weedless on a 1 o Wide Gap with a 3/16 oz tungsten bullet. Caught a stringer closing in on 15 largemouth with the smallest being 2 lbs. I have pictures to prove. Will upload within the next 24 hours. Also hooked into a good 4 pound smallie with em but he got off right at the shore.

Several companies also sell trailer hooks for frogs to increase hookups on short biting bass! I'm for sure trying this once the days get a little longer and warmer. Haven't seen much for a topwater bite quite yet.

Have you ever fished a rod built and outfitted specifically for a certain technique? If you had then your comment would not exist. It makes all the difference for the angler in terms of efficiency and fluidity. Especially in tournaments. Would you rather have to bite off your bait and tie a new one on each time you wanted to change? Maybe, but in a tournament that 30-200 seconds could be time spent fishing because you already have a rod tied with that bait and special reel.

It's more a curiosity of other people's experience with it. I've always had more aggressive and explosive bites on frogs, mixed with smallies post spawn on rock ledges in open water sounds like a good time. If this were a tournament I would be throwing poppers and spooks and no doubt, but I have enough time to mess around with things like this,

I figured as much but I was curious if anyone had tried such. I've used poppers and stick baits that kill out there.

We'd all like to assume everyone who casts a lure is honorable, unfortunately even in tournaments we find bad eggs. Last year I fished a Strike King open on lake Coeur D'Alene and the rule was to only fish with strike king baits. Most of the boats did stick to this but I very specifically recall several of the top weights that day throwing roboworms, A Rigs, and several other quite unique baits to catch their bags. Sometimes you just have to shrug and say "oh well," or be the guy who makes noise about it and you're now potentially bolstering a reputation for being a stickler. Wish we had more larger tournys sponsored by companies like that. They offer nice checks!

Summer is now here and many of us are readily looking forward to the rising water and air temperatures. This of course brings forth arguably one of the most exciting bites all year........topwater. Among these is the frog, which if you've never seen a bass blast yours out of a thick section of lily pads; you're missing out. Of course out in Montana we have significantly less heavy vegetation and more deep rocky lakes and rivers that form giant pools next to drop offs. I'm curious if anyone has ever fished frogs in open water like you would a popper? I will definitely test this out in the coming months as the aggressive smallies would more than likely smack a frog on the surface of open water.

If you fish many of the Northern lakes on reservation you'll find custom brush piles made out of old and stolen shopping carts and milk crates. They hold bass like crazy! There is a guy we fish tournaments with that throws them by boat launches in case he needs to finish his limit off at the end of the day.

I don't think everyone is looking down on you for it. You're clearly not out there just to get plastered and be an idiot on the water. However some do and those are the ones who carry the reputation of all that consume alcohol on and in boats. Most just prefer not to risk it is all. I certainly have not judged anyone who said yes. Nor is anyone one here achieving "elite" status by claiming they keep the two separate. The fact that over 75% of the responses regard admission to drinking in the first place disclaims any clear arrogance surrounding the topic.

I don't recon drinking and bass fishing really go along that well to be honest. If you're sitting on a sand bar at the local beach or river and fishing, that might be a different mood for a beer. Out on a boat I'm in a state that would never condone drinking. It's never crossed my mind out there.

Not sure what water and air temps are there but in later summer when the weeds get thick, the frogging bite is insane! Anyone who hasn't had a smallie or largemouth blast a frog out of the water is seriously missing out! I also like taking a really small soft plastic like a SK dreamshot or Roboworm and wacky rigging it weightless. Produces really good bites!

I use original shad raps all the time. Love em, however had yet to buy any of the shadow rap models. Have heard mixed results and the reviews on TW aren't quite as reassuring as I'd hoped. Will fish one if I get it in MTB or LTB.

Aren't those custom blanks? Must have cost a fortune! Bet they are worth every penny on the water though......very jealous. I haven't really invested in many technique specific baitcast rods but have my eye on a couple. Fenwick and Dobyns in peticular seem like a fit for my wallet and style. Would like to pair a couple with some of the Lexa on sale at TW.

Those are custom blanks right? Must have cost a fortune! Bet their worth it on the water though......very jealous. I honestly just started fishing with jigs this year on a regular basis. I used my Revo s on a 7' Lightning Rod. The only reason most fisherman out here flip jigs is to target the larger smallies when we find schools. I haven't really invested good money in a nicer baitcast rod yet but have my eye on a couple Fenwick and Dobyns that I might cash in on and pair them with the Lexa on sale at TW.

I honestly just started fishing with jigs this year on a regular basis. I used my Revo s on a 7' Lightning Rod. The only reason most fisherman out here flip jigs is to target the larger smallies when we find schools. I haven't really invested good money in a nicer baitcast rod yet but have my eye on a couple Fenwick and Dobyns that I might cash in on.

Two on top and two on bottom. Ive had large northerns pull my rod out of my hand holding it any other way.

I had to ween my gf off of live bait unless we're trout fishing. However now she'll only throw Texas rigged plastics and drop shot. Cannot show her any other techniques.

Ive been looking at Pfluegers BC reels for a while. Either the patriarch or supreme. Im assuming you like yours of you had it paired on a Croix?

I second the drooling. Walleye is the best freshwater fish you will ever eat.

I've also heard it depends on the reel. I've thrown braid on my Revo s and my Curado and could rarely do anything other than backlash the crap out of the spools. Have not had the issue since switching to flouro and mono. I'll have to try again eventually though as I need to be a versatile fisherman to make it anywhere in the tournament fields.

If you switch to braid you will backlash a lot. I have had the hardest time of all throwing anything on braid with casters. Granted I'm new to baitcasters but my experiences so far have been consistent with what I've heard about it. I'm sticking to mono right now for top water rigs.

I can relate to this, as my girlfriend always wants me to be close by, but also blames me for the bite being slow, or pitching on top of her fish. So I can never win.

I use an Okuma Reflexion 6'6" MH I traded out of a pawn shop brand new and it has some great back bone and action for top water fishing. Sits nicely below the $100 range for a decent rod as well.