Ozark_Basser

Never fished Shoal Creek. Always wanted to do the Kings River up around the Missouri/Arkansas border. Heard it's as good as it gets as far as a float trip goes for catching smallmouth. I find it hard to believe it outmatches Crooked Creek around my parts.

Dude was in toad mode.

They will get bit anytime a fish will bite a topwater. I have had my most luck on them in summer and fall though. Try it out and see for yourself. I wouldn't just take someone's word for it.

I've never used a pit boss as a trailer, but I use RI sweet beavers all the time. I use the 4.20 and tear off a good chunk to where the hook comes out between the eyes.

I'd say the reason most anglers don't use floating jerkbaits is because they are probably the hardest lure to cast . With no weight transfer system, its pretty hard to bomb without helicoptering. It takes a really soft rod and lots of practice.

You tend to get what you pay for when it comes to line, but there are quality lines that aren't just real expensive.

I'd just look for areas where they could spawn with a hard bottom. Fish all around those areas with multiple casts to the same spot if the water is stained up. I'd start with a square bill and hit up those hard bottom areas. If you catch a smaller one, throw back to the same spot. You might catch a bigger one. If its clear, take a walk around a good ways from the bank to see if you can see them.

I guess if you want to use light baits in thick cover you have no choice but a medium powered rod. I'd still be scared of breaking at the knot with 15 # braid pulling them out the way you do when I catch a big one.

Those actually look pretty good. I think I'll have to try some of those.

I'm just trying to figure out how you would get a 5 lb + bass out of that with a medium powered rod.

I know it looks pretty ugly. That's because it is, but this thing has caught me more big smallmouth than any other bait. It's a Rebel F30s in gold/black. Big smallmouth to me where I live is 3 lbs +. I change out the saltwater hooks for some size two gammies and take off the split ring at the line tie. It floats and doesn't suspend, but I feel that's what gets it bit more than anything. Unlike newer floating jerkbaits, it floats up fast. So fast that with a standard jerk pause jerk jerk retrieve, you have to fish it on fluoro or it won't stay underwater. Its action is unlike other jerk baits which is a very wide wobble as opposed to a tight shimmy when just reeled straight in. They quit making it for years until recently. So a few years back I had to hit my grandpa up who has crates, yes I said crates of them. I just want to know if they work as well in other waters or just my own. In my opinion you can't find a better bait for plus size smallies when fishing shallow in the warmer months.

If I'm not in the boat, or if I feel I'm on a spot with a lot of fish, I'll usually run a jig through a spot where i caught a fish on a crankbait or some other moving bait.

I used to use it all the time just because it was cheap and worked fine for what I was using it for. Longevity is an issue. It gets really easy to break off with 14 lb test once you've had it on your reel for like a week, especially in the summer. I've also had two and three pound bass break me off in grass with 14 lb test, which really shouldn't happen as often as it has.

I thought you were a mono guy? Haha just kidding. Vanish behaves a lot like mono to me. Another one you should try in that price range is Seaguar Red Label. I change it up depending on budget, but Red Label is tough to beat for the price.

I'm sure you can find some bass held up in shallow cover, especially if the water is stained up, but post frontal fishing seems to be harder regardless. I'd break out the flipping stick.

That and the few hundred dollars for start up costs to make your own. I make my own and you've got me beat by 70-80 cents.

Brand is subjective. If you are fishing some really thick stuff I'd get a heavy action rod in the 7' to 7'6" range. I fish laydowns and scattered grass with a 7'MH fast action rod.

Sounds like a go to me. It will cost you a little less than a dollar per jig. That's as good as it gets.

I really don't fish buzzbaits all that much on my lake because its so deep and usually pretty clear. I usually opt for a spook as far as top water goes and a frog in some places.

Buzzbaits are a good choice any time fish are up shallow and on the edge of cover which would occur a lot in the prespawn. In the post spawn, fish will recede out to the edges once again. Also there is the bluegill and shad spawn during the post spawn, so there will be a lot of bass up shallow chasing. Post spawn is a time of the year that's pretty popular for top water fishing. Dirty water is also a place where this bait does well.

I think that's a pretty good deal. You can powder coat them if you want, but you don't have to. Do the ones he is selling have weedguards?

Really any time you see fish coming up to bust shad or other baitfish is a good time which happens a lot in the fall. Clear water is where this bait seems to shine the most and can have some serious drawing power. In clear ponds, I've caught some big bass at dusk with a super spook.

Yamamoto swimbait

That is awesome. One decked out canoe. Probably worth about as much as my bass boat

On my canoe,I don't have any racks, but if I did they would have the rods laying down just because I float through some hairy spots sometimes.