the reel ess

Well, they weren't doing that. Tried the frog, Spook Jr and tossed the mouse-mostly for fun. But I always love to give it a try. I managed one 3.41 lb. off a bed with a craw and one dink on Trick Worm, but none on topwater. They were not active, to say the least. Most had moved back off the bed before a front.

Is this warm enough for a topwater or a mouse? I have several topwaters burning a hole in my tackle back. A Live Target Field Mouse, several frogs, a Hula Popper and a Jitterbug. Not to mention a Chug'n Spook, Devil's Horse, Pop R and several others that produced last year.

Here's another tip: If you use the neon color Trick Worms, you can often see the bass take it before he feels you. In fact, if you're fishing in less than 1', you probably can see the motion. No real need for sensitivity there. Also, my experience with heavier FC is that a strike feels like a telegraph all the way up to the elbow.

Nice fish. I use 20# braid (8# mono diameter) on a MH, Mod/Fast 7' spinning combo for that approach. But my buddy uses 15# Big Game on a cheap M spinning combo with great results. The weightless worm is the perfect tactic for not spooking fish in very shallow water. Who can argue with the results? You gotta use what's in your hand.

I let my ex-monster-in-law use a Zebco 33 combo of mine and she somehow managed to throw it so far out that I couldn't find it swimming. I caught it a few years later. I've caught two. Threw one back.

I like them all. I'd use a frog all the time if it worked all the time. My best bait last season was the Chug'n Spook, Jr in frog pattern. I usually fish a weedy reservoir so frog stuff works pretty well. In wide open water I like a buzzbait best early and late. Pop R is a good one for me, then the regular Spook. Oh, I also had a 50-fish day on the Torpedo last spring. They wanted a continuous retrieve. I had to fix the propeller a few times because they kept knocking it out of whack. That was a place with a lot of little bass and I think they were males protecting the nests. It was overcast and even sprinkledain. I just bought a Jitterbug and a Hula Popper. Getting back to basics!

I forgot to mention I just got a floating Trap. I've used it once and got no bites, but I'll keep at it. I think it'll produce when they're right on the beds. It just dives a couple feet and if you let it sit it slowly rises. It doesn't make as much racket as the regular Trap does though. So I don't think it's going to call fish from near and far. Also probably won't turn off neutral fish as much.

I've had a little success with the Rogue and a lot with the Trap. For me, the metallic ones are best. I much prefer the gold one.

I have some grips for that very purpose.

Downsize everything. Wacky rigged Trick Worm. Try bubble gum color. A realistic Craw imitation, weighted and T-rigged. Use things you know others aren't.

After reading some of your other threads I must conclude you work for Zoom. That would be pretty cool if you did. I love Trick Worm.

I won't leave home without a Rat L Trap and a plastic craw. I can't think of any real superstitions. I used to wear a particular hat but it has proven to let me down.

Crappie

I managed three yesterday on three different lures: Jig, Rat L Trap and Husky Jerk. What brand fluke is that on the chatterbait? We have shiners where I fish but I don't see many gold plastics.

I feel like I can get a bite on a black-blue T-rigged Chigger Craw even when they "aren't biting".

It's my favorite Trick Worm color. My buddy has a pink X Rap that works as well.

That's the right hook for that worm. Could be just a one-day thing. I fish the Trick Worm like a jerkbait a lot of the time and an EWG hook wouldn't be ideal. But I do use EWG for craws and bigger worms.

I can say without a doubt that Berkley Powerbait and Yamamoto Hula Grubs are WORTH IT! Some are not going to produce a whole lot more than others.

They can see it. I fish mostly permanently stained waters and use black/blue almost all the time. Works year round.

Me too!

I use premium hooks that won't ever get any sharper than they are in the pack. So when they get dull, which rarely happens, I throw away and grab a new one. Since I started using Gamakatsu hooks, I've lost a lot fewer fish. I used to hate using T rigs on spinning gear because I just didn't get good leverage on the hookset, but no more.

I have found it's a lot easier to get a hook in the fish with a normal worm hook. I usually use the offset shank because I'm in the kayak and I want to change the Zoom Trick Worm from T rigged to wacky. These worms seem to get more bites for me and bunch up less on the hook. But if I was only going to wacky rig, I'd choose a 2/0 Mosquito. I'm not too worried about weedless because I'm usually in the kayak.

A guy on this board who works on reels told me to do it and I did. The problem with that is the next time I went fishing, all my BC reels had too little drag on them.

A rattle will catch attention as well. Also, using black in stained water helps. If you T-rig craws, put a glass bead between the bullet weight and the hook. It'll click every time you twitch the rod. It just flat works.

Put a curly tail white or chartreuse grub on the hook and you'll catch more fish.