snake95

@Porkrind These are the Cumberland Pro Prayer jigs I was referring to. If you do a search for Reverend Bill Conine and "Preacher Jig" you will find there is quite a bit of information about the development and use of this style of hair jigs on Lake Eufaula on the GA/AL state line. There are clearly other hair jig types, but these caught my eye after seeing some videos of the swimming action of the hair and feathers.

4.25 lb largemouth on a Netbait Paca craw in the Coosa Special color, on a VMC 1/4 oz rugby head. For some reason for the years 2015-2017, 2017 was the year with the fewest fish over 4 lb. Thanks to Bass Resource, it was the year of the most consistent bass fishing, and I taught a lot of kids and their Dads to catch them - that was a definite "win" for 2017.

Seems nuts to make them with skirts that are intended to be trimmed. (Although I get that you might want to trim them depending on the application).

@WRB thanks, I like the way you put that; very interested to know that so many of your big fish were caught on them. Much appreciated; I can guarantee there will be a guy throwing "boring" white hair jigs in some Georgia Reservoirs (when not too stained), and maybe some small clear lakes in FL. and Ontario as we move through 2018. I look forward to experimenting, and not just in cold water conditions or on ledges.

Yes, that's what I mean. Thanks very much for the incredible disucssion, @smalljaw67 and @Catt. I saw a video recently where a feathered jig (I think a preacher) was being retrieved straight through the water and the motion of the hair and feathers definitely made it look like something alive. I had never encountered a jig like that before. I am just moving beyond pond fishing, so I'm looking to learn about more lures to try from my small boat. I look forward to trying these out in clearwater lakes, and if I have some success I'll post and let you know.

Noticed Cumberland Pro prayer jigs discounted at my local DSG and I'm interested in learning more about their application. I'm talking about hair jigs in the 1/2 oz - 1 oz range. They are completely foreign to me and they are not a widely discussed bait. After some initial searching, I see they are used for ledge fishing in reserviors. Decided to pick a few up to try out. Figure if they aren't put to use for bass, might throw the heavier ones into the surf for stripers. Interested in hearing where else they are used, or are they primarily just a deep ledge bait? Thanks.

My favorite is the walking bait. I grew up in a place and time where they were not widely used, but as a kid I'd see them in field and stream and other magazines. Something about the connection after hitting that cadence: "click click click... wham!" I like all topwaters but not always patient enough for a popper, and although buzzbaits are my top producers, I enjoy the challenge of making a walking bait walk and talk just right.

Just note that the dot price reductions may or may not ring up correctly. Be prepared to explain that the initial markdowns need to be taken off at the checkout before the buy 5/get 5. Might need help from a store or "lodge" manager to get the checkout prices right. Also note that stores vary significantly in terms of what items and how much they are marking down.

@Sam just want to post an extra thumbs up for the description of the event and all the great tips. I have my hotel booked and taking my son. Will be our first, we tried to go to a pro event last year and work got in the way. Can you (or others) make recommendations about what to watch for at the blastoffs and whether it makes sense to drive or stick with the bus? What can you see at Hartwell itself? Or just stick with the exhibit hall? Thanks again, Snake

@Gundog if you hang in there and watch your email for sales notices, they are likely to drop in price to about half that during one of their periodic sales. Of course, now that it has been discussed Murphy's Law says a bunch of anglers will go in and buy them all up before then.

@thinkingredneck can you elaborate on why you prefer the YoZuri? I have been using it for the past couple of years after reading posts by Roadwarrior, but have to admit I use braid and mono more. I also use it as a leader when using braid. I have considered switching the other way to floro, so I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on the comparison. I like the knot strength I get with YoZuri. I don't dislike it, but it is a little on the stiff side for me.

Great post and thread. I am a former lifeguard, competitive kayaker, and triathlete. I always wear my onyx pfd when on the water, regardless of the circumstances. Modern pfds are so light and comfortable that even in the hot Georgia summer they are comfortable. I used to teach adults to swim (private lessons) when I was a teenager and teaching kids and guarding. There is absolutely no shame in taking some classes, and the financial cost is very low compared to what we spend for fishing gear and of course the potential risks. I think you will find many people will actually admire you for taking them.

I assume you mean no big sales for now? I agree things are pretty picked over as would be expected after the recent sales. I only had great experiences doing several orders from them in 2017, and while the popular stuff often sold out fast, they had some quality gear at rock-bottom prices when sales were on in 2017. Got senkos, swim senkos, hula grubs, twin tails, and even Heddon spooks at great prices. I expect they will have some good stuff again in 2018 as their stock gets replenished.

Came across several produced in 2012 or 2014 with this designation. I searched the site and found a range of opinions and speculation on what made the "pro" version distinct, including special colors, special hooks, and tungsten balls. There was no consensus that I could find. Any known problems with these, or other reason why they would be on clearance at DSG with no sign of "Pro" versions being sold on Lurenet?

If you use nail weights for neko rigs, weighted soft jerkbaits, etc, which works for you? What is the advantage of using the custom-made tungsten variety over something out of the hardware store?

Those are genuine bomber brand lures produced by Pradco for Walmart, but they are not from their main Bomber product lines. Pradco makes those for Walmart in the "Bait Bonanza" packaging to be sold as a discount alternative to regular branded baits. They are provided in stores in saltwater fishing markets. If I am not mistaken these are provided with saltwater, or at least rust-resistant hooks. I have a few and they seem to have actions that would generate strikes. My sense is they are not especially high-quality baits, but my guess is they will probably work.

On the Bassmaster podcast for last week, Zona was on talking about umbrella rigs. I don't have a favorite but over the past two Christmas seasons (in Atlanta) I've caught bass on a Rebel Jumpin minnow and Rapala X-rap prop (fished shallow during a warm spell), and last year on a Rapala crankin rap. Thought I'd mention those since they are probably not typical winter baits for most.

I picked up some bento baits in both the regular and swim bento versions. They look great but the regulars don't seem supple enough to really wag their tail like a fluke or the Big Bite Baits jerkbait. I have heard guys rave about them, though. How do you fish the bentos to get the most action and strikes out of them - just pop along on a dropshot? Thanks!

Very interesting information. Thanks a lot, guys. I might keep some of these big slug-go's for inshore fishing but will also give them a try for bass in the spring.

I've only been fishing for bass seriously for a few years, and so the slug-go seems like a relic from a previous time to me. You don't see them much in North Georgia (at least I don't). My understanding is that they have a long history with bass anglers. I first heard of them when I was inshore fishing from a jetty in New England and a guy in a small boat putted by and told me he was throwing them for stripers and blues. Picked up a few bags of 7" slug-go's. My questions: Are these things stick baits or flukes? Texpose with/without weight, wacky, neko, swimbait hook, or maybe jighead? When would you chose these over a stickbait, fluke, or perhaps a worm? Why don't we seem to hear much about them relative to newer baits, but they still seem to have a following? Interested to hear what everyone does with these things...

Interesting, I've made similar observations. Both Amazon and Walmart use algorithms to adjust pricing periodically throughout each day in order to optimize the balance among anticipated demand, margin, and other motivations to sell (e.g. inventory clearance). They also occasionally make wild mistakes: I recently saw a lunkerhunt crankbait that was marked down from $3,260/each to a vastly more reasonable $3.15/each.

I fish ponds from northern Ontario to south Florida throughout the year and my experience has been: Like all bass fishing, catching bass is ponds not particularly hard, FINDING bass is the hard part. Maybe I should clarify by saying finding bass that are active enough to eat a lure is the hard part. You might be in the wrong thread. The lures are not the key factor, certainly not the only factor. A few of the ponds I've fished in similar environments to what you are describing and I have caught many many fish in a single outing. Occasionally, I get a big one. Other times, or times of the year, I get nothing. There could be many reasons: - The fish are (relatively) deep, suspended, and lethargic and they are both hard to get and I'm not targeting those fish effectively - The fish are deep in structure, and my techniques aren't reaching those fish - They aren't interested in very many lures at all I've learned certain combinations of lures and times of the day and periods of the yearly cycle tend to coincide for awesome fishing in these ponds, either in size or numbers. Other times of the year, it is more hit and miss. Regardless, the fish are still in there. Around here in north Georgia in communities, bass are not harvested extensively, if at all, because that is frowned upon and nobody wants to eat bass out of the ponds. My point is, the lures may be a factor, and you should try various techniques, but you shouldn't write off the pond because you go through a multi-month slow period. FWIW, I'm not a huge stickbait angler, but when it comes to boils in ponds, my go-to is a T-rigged stickbait 5" or 6" long. Most swirls I see can be correlated to: bluegills congregating (often with bass lurking around nearby) or bass slurping minnnows or frogs they've trapped in shallow water. In both cases, the gentle splashdown followed by the shimmy of the stickbait is hard to beat most times of the year. Again, I think it will help you to focus less on the lures and think more about the environment and bass activity, and select your baits with that in mind.

A lot of my fishing is on the bank (for bass and trout), or on a rocky jetty (for stripers). I sometimes carry a compact folding net comparable to the one suggested by Bluebasser for bass and trout fishing. The one I got came with conventional nylon netting. I used it to land a decent trout caught on a Rapala minnow with multiple hooks, and it took me so long to disentangle the fish, she died and wound up becoming dinner. I gave up on trying to get the hooks out and just cut the net. In the end, this experience cost me the fish, the net, and a lot of time and aggravation. After that experience, I replaced the old style nylon netting with a rubber replacement mesh sized for the net. Have done well landing fish with multiple-hook lures with this one. Hope you benefit from my experience and consider getting either a rubber net or rubber replacement netting. For saltwater fishing I am also in a tricky situation where it is a long rocky slope down to the fish. For that I use a very sturdy, very long-handled telescoping net with a fairly open mesh. It is not easy to handle without a partner, but it can be done, and it is far more rigid than the folding telescoping net, and easy to handle to pick fish up from a long way down. So, while the lighter folding net has clear advantages, my experience is that if you have a long drop to deal with and don't mind carrying it, a long handled, sturdy net is also worth considering.

I have no idea about the correlation between size and night feeding. However, I recently tried a small very heavily pressured pond in the early morning - well, 7 am when our sunrise is now about 7:45. Threw a large buzzbait and had a few great catches. The bite dies off on topwater once the sun is about 15-20 mins after sunrise. Also had them snapping at a horny toad, but wasn't really rigged for hookup success.

Thanks WRB. I feel the same way even as a relatively small-time angler: I don't mind spending the time and money on replacing my line as needed, because I occasionally get a decent bass and losing one is just as painful. Thankfully, I've only lost two worth remembering so far over the past few years to line failures, once when I "tried out" Vanish, once when I was beaten fair and square by a bass that accepted my light line challenge, took advantage of my inadequate drag settings, and buried herself in a pile of rip rap.