Ozark_Basser

I'm not familiar with lakes that contain a marl bottom, but i have read they will use it to spawn. I'd start by focusing on the transitions found around the two flats on the west side of the lake. If they use those marl flats to spawn, in prespawn they will stage on the edges or transitions relating to these marl flats. I'd focus on spots that would link good wintering spots to these flats. The point directly above where the name of the lake is located looks like it would be good as well as any points located within the flats. Areas that transition from sand to marl within those flats should hold fish as well. Docks are probably the main thing I would focus on though, especially the ones located around anything I have previously mentioned.

They also make a cover to go over the weedguard so you can heat and coat the jig with the weedguard in. From what I've seen from the videos, it will still kind of flare out the weedguard when you heat it though.

Living rubber jigs also have a slower fall as well as thicker silicone skirted jigs.

I'd start with that northwest corner and the whole west side of the lake as it will warm up faster with that warming trend you are about to have. Also if you could can see on the bank a sharp transition from the bowling ball sized rocks to gravel on the west side, I'd fish that pretty hard too unless it's one of those lakes that has a smooth bank all the way around which it kind of looks like from the map. I'd also fish any visible cover up shallow which is where a lot of fish are probably going to be along with hitting up the brush piles and points.

I've found that if I heat the jighead for too long on the hookeye, it will get filled with paint. Also the fluid bed helps with using a quick dip. About two out of ten hook eyes will still get filled though. Is there another way or technique I could use to ensure it never happens.

With big football jigs I can see where an eight foot rod would be beneficial. With swimjigs it would be a lot better to throw a seven footer for better accuracy. All of dobyns rods feel pretty stiff to me, but that is just me.

If you are going to fish a point, you should generally fish the whole thing. The idea you are applying here deals with the fact that the north side of lakes can be protected from cold north winds. Fishing the north sides of points is ambiguous. If the point runs south to north, then the north side is the whole point itself. If it runs north to south, then the north side is not even in the water. It's a good idea to focus on good looking spots that are protected from north winds during the winter though from my experience.

This is true. By the time I got everything, I think I spent around 700 dollars. It adds up.

Mono isnt as sensitive, and I think its possible you could miss more bites due to the buoyancy of mono creating a bow in your line, especially in deeper water, but it has its advantages with line with lower pound tests compared to fluoro. Castability, manageability, and knot strength are vital when dealing with relatively delicate line with light baits and those three characteristics are generally better with mono. It might be the way to go for some.

I remember how you said you cut the weedguards flush to the head and paint over them. Do you get a clean finish when you paint over it? I tried filling the holes with devcon and it worked all right but after dipping you could still see the ring where the dvcon topped off. I've considered cutting base hole pins just long enough to seel the mold and not even leaving a hole for a weedguard.

And ripping lipless crankbaits out of the grass where it's not too thick is really good as well. Ripping a chatter bait works well also.

No takers?

As far as quality for the price, Seaguar red label. As far as quality, sunline shooter.

Green Trout, did you purposely post this topic to start an argument? Because that is what is going to happen if you say anything is the "best" on this forum. Live and learn.

One thing I would assume. If this lake were pike free and held smallmouth, that point, the one across from it, and the embankment to the west would be some good spots.

Good looking spot indeed, but do you think that is where the most bluegill would be? I don't know much about pike, but I would bet they frequent that point a lot if they hang in the deeper water.

A picture of the lake would be even better. You'd get a lot more input as well.

It's an Ozark slick minnow. What colors and strategy would you use to paint it on a blank. Also, I plan on making it for my grandfather for shallow creek smallies, so is there blank vision 110's that float up fast? Not a fan of the slow floaters in shallow creeks. Doesn't have to be a vision 110 blank.

I think the north end will hold a good deal of bass, but the south end is the best due to what appears to be multiple types of grass with numerous small openings and transitions. It also looks as though it would look better underwater than the north end as far as within the cover goes, and it would hold more bluegill. The rest of the lake I'd leave to the pike.

I love dirty jig's idea on multiple shades of basic color jigs. But none of them are hand tied and no living rubber mixed in. Pretty much the only reason why I started making my own.

The ones I make. Right now my favorite is of the "mop jig" type with silicone mixed in and hand tied with a matte finish paint job on the head.

Welcome to the forum. Full of grass is not a bad thing. As far as baits, anything you can get through the grass will work. I like jigs or punch rigs in the thicker stuff. Swimjigs, bladed jigs, and spinnerbaits along edges. Look for fish along edges or any irregularities you can find in the grass i.e. holes, places where two kinds of grass meet, grass along structure. Do your research.

This. Find the thickest cover you can and find a way to get a bait in it is what I would think would do best according to what you've told us.

For single hook baits I like to use fast action rods unless its flipping and pitching then modfast. For treble hook baits I like modfast. The power I use usually goes by the weight of the bait I'm throwing. I only use graphite as well.

Where do you get your blanks?