BigSkyBasser

I've tried other baits suspended under a float but have yet to rig it with a senko. Seems compelling considering In-Fisherman and Al Lindner have referenced similar methods several times for bass. Apparently using the same method but with an elk hair jig is really potent for fishing late fall and winter smallmouths, Again referenced by In-Fisherman.

Just bought my first boat ever today which happens to be a transom motor mount made by Seaeagle (SE8) and as well as a trolling motor for it. However I still plan on buying a little gas kicker outboard and was wondering what would be the best fit for it. Being that I have no experience with boats or motors I was looking for suggestions for a good little 2 hp outboard to accompany this awesome frame less fishing boat.

Looking forward to seeing the catches! Creek fishing for bass sounds like a hoot. We only have trout in smaller streams out here so I always like hearing about it. Post some pics of your stringer!

If you can find a good deep ledge on one of the bends to toss a lipless crankbait that best mimics the forage then it's a sure fire way to slam the big girls! I fish the Clark Fork all year long and we fish only drop shot and lipless cranks. I'm sure a a jig with a fat craw trailer would be great as well. Just depends on the present conditions. Good luck!

That's my go-to! Works on smallies and largemouth with equal efficiency.

Do you just hook them weedless and swim them or do you T Rig them?

I've been spending larger amounts of time scrolling through the large list of soft plastics available in today's market and the options are absolutely endless. I'm curious what people's favorite bed baits and multi-purpose soft plastics are that they use for Texas Rigs and other common rigs regarding the infamous spawn bite specifically. There are several I have found myself prone to such as the Zman Lizardz, sweet beavers, zoom brush hogs, and the classic Senko. I'm always trying to keep my mind open and am looking for suggestions for new baits that have worked well for others during their site fishing adventures.

This is very similar to the sniper bolts I used to fish, the tip is much appreciated. Also close in design to the lake fork ring fry worms.

Bought my girlfriend a president for xmas and it is the darkhorse of performance spinning gear. After fishing it for a a month I have a hard time giving my revo any attention. I would start with the president and if you like it, you could easily justify upgrading to the supreme and having both in your arsenal.

Love the feedback so far. Finding roads will be easy, as the main reservoir that I fish has several isolated sandbars surrounded by deep water and weed mattes that follow these areas in a linear fashion. I've always had descent patterns forming when we fish steep ledges around this time, the only issue being that the presence of fish is inconsistent and might just be a temporary feeding point between winter waters and the spawning destination. I'm thinking that a jig with a any trailer imitating crayfish here would be killer. The biggest issue with swimbaits in the water I fish is that we don't have herring, shad, or any other fish that bass generally target in schools. The bass will seldom hunt the sunfish, trout, and perch that do occupy these waters and local fisherman have never been able to efficiently fish swimbaits or umbrella rigs here.

I was referring to pre spawn and the type of waters we fish as the are generally referred to as cold water lakes and reservoirs.

Cycling is one of the most televised sports in the world next to international football. They rake in billions upon billions on the Tour de France alone, and Shemano is world renowned for their innovation in the cycling industry. They make high performance replacement parts for nearly every part on a road or mountain bike and are consistently one of the largest cycling sponsors to ever exist. I'd bet a lot that they generate more revenue than fishing just based on how large of an international following they have compared to bass fishing.

We don't have a winter season here for bass because the freeze is to aggressive and I'm not as fond of ice fishing, so I'm always prepping for pre spawn. Just curious What some of your favorite techniques and presentations are for this make-or-break bite.

Zman floating wormz. Best action You'll ever experience on a shaky head.

I used to use a similar bait called the sniper bolt by sniper lures that was less porous but had the same great action. Killed the smallies.

After looking for and not finding another thread about this, I'm curious. What is everyone's preferred method for cleaning up greasy, gooey, and otherwise dirty lures in preparation for spring season? I've seen other answers online about using cola, warm water and dish soap, and for plastics using a lanolin based cleaner. Thoughts?

I fished a tournament on Coeur d'alene lake (predominantly smallies) where it was strike king only baits and we ended up using the dream shot and fat baby finesse worms. The dream shot had a nice actions but we couldn't catch a fish bigger than 14", however when we switched to the fat baby finesse both my partner and I started catching everything 2 lbs and up. They are perfect when hooked wacky and get to the bottom really fast which ended up making the bite in the super clear water. Watermelon red flake is the go-to color here for any soft plastic.

What is your favorite bait to rig on a dropshot and how do you rig it? My favorite since I've discovered them is the Biospawn plasma tails, which are comparable to the robo worm but in my opinion offer a bit more. They have a sleek and flimsy tail, while this makes them less durable, it also increases the action tenfold. This fickle drawback is compensated by the price differences when comparing them to other popular baits of similar presentation. They are quite versatile as you can nose and wacky hook them or switch over to a small Texas or Carolina rig and they work just as great.

Drop Shot is a sure fire way but when it comes to deep rocky rivers it turns into a snag-filled nightmare. Use the long skinny drop shot weights. I also love Rattle Traps and deep cranks just as much. Just depends on the kind of river, but once you get the hang of that area; It's a blast!

People often overlook Texas rigging when they think of Smallmouth because It's generally associated with largemouths and bank beating. However if you just up the gear (weights and a light wire hook for deep water reel sets,) It's just as effective as jigging and allows you to cover lots of water really quickly. I prefer a Hula Grub or a Strike King Ocho. We fish mainly for clear, deep water smallies in Montana. But a drop shot is always a healthy contender.

Glad to hear it, I see all of this positive feedback from it everywhere else. Just looking for some confirmation. I'll have to demo it at TW then throw it in the shopping cart. Also.......any recommendations for good rod pairings if I wanted to use it primarily as a worming rod that could handling tossing spinners too?

I'm nearing the end of my research shopping for a new casting real and the competitor running against the Shimano Chronarch C14+ and the Daiwa Tatula is the new Pflueger Patriarch. Granted it cannot cast effectively as far as the aforementioned gear but has awesome reviews, blew up icast, and also boasts some really nice components and features for the price. Anyone have experience with this new real, and or comments?

I automatically agree with anyone who mentioned the Shimano Stradic. I don't personally have one, but I've fished with friend's reels and loved them. Incredibly sensitive. Excellent spooling (especially for braid.) And a fantastic drag system. Pairs really well with a Shimano Cumara or Pinnacle Perfecta for a drop shot combo. I've also heard good things about the Revo SX spinning outfit. Might be worth investigating, though ultimately it depends on what you want to use the reel for.

So MN guys, what is the go to for bass in the fall season? Looking forward to visiting Leech lake, but accustomed to deep, cold lakes in Montana where Drop Shotting is a necessity. Any favorite techniques?