"hamma"

I have jigs on citcas, curados, and a calcutta, they all work great, I did years ago have a diawa flippin reel, and also used a old abu garcia 5501 they worked great too,.. so its much like Catt stated,.You can jig fish with just about any reel,.. what are you comfortable with?

Not to sound harsh or disrespectful, but i disagree with this train of thought. I've been froggin for many years and I started out with a "new" back then, 4:6 to 1 abu garcia round reel that was actually fast back then, and a snagless frog,..or a johnsons weedless spoon. Nowadays I have many fast reels and still prefer the slower 5:8 to 1 retrieve for froggin as the slower reels offer more power over speed, and you not only "need" that extra "umpf" to pull a pig out of a huge patch of pads. The slower retrieve will offer more hits as the bass have a longer time to seek out the source of sound they are about to target. With just over 5:1 there's still enough option of reeling a bit fast if you need to make another cast quickly, like say you saw a fish bust the surface closeby, or just noticed a log in the weeds etc. Im not trying to argue, or disrespect Bassinlou, just trying to kindly disagree

That must look awesome under the water

excellent work for your first try's. If I ever get an airbrush and some blanks I hope mine come out close to yours,..and I am a painter. I have experience in airless, and hvlp, even painted my long gone work van using my compressor and a airgun. Very nice work, I must say, I'd use those,.. Need a tester??? lol

lol ,...thats a sexy beast right there! some better pics

these are "some" of mine I took a quick pic of, the green craw top right was the latest. has eyes and antenna's as well as rabbit strips for claws, I started with the bass jigs on the left, and just messed around with feathers, furs and chenile, later on. The skirts on the left are hand picked strands, one by one till I get the colors I want for a particular jig

Try stamina.com or, lure parts online they have all kinds of lure making materials, or at least the last I checked they were still online., luremaking.com may have it as well. bears den fly shop here in Massachusetts has tons of flashabou, krystal flash, etc. they are online too, but Im not sure of their pricing

Keep in mind, that I start my day before I get to the ramp,.. The decisions made are done so by watching the barometer, weather fronts for the week or so prior, the current conditions, seasonal fish location, and considering the lake I'm to fish, forage etc... So, I have a idea of whats to be effective, or not,..before I even splash the boat. But when I do?,.. I again re-access the situation as wind may have kicked up mud, or changed direction, surface temps may vary, etc.,.. If I feel, or know there's fish there? I will switch up lures and presentations to figure out whats working. If Im fishing a new lake or area? and dont know if there's fish present? I will continue moving slowly along with a search bait for about an hour before moving to another area, or switching up presentation. Which will be determined by my gut feeling Your question leaves alot of variables. Such as, lake known or not, areas fishability due to weather and seasonal locations,, Bait present or not etc. Are you using a search type power presentation??, or a bottom bouncing targeting presentation, etc. and all of these play out wherever, and whenever I fish. Decisions made on the water,.. for me???, are done so by considering my past experiences, and their results. I follow them diligently, my gut feeling, and confidence in those feelings , usually pan out.,.. Not "always" but usually. Bass, like any fish "can" be somewhat predictable when the variables considered are done so correctly. Miss but one piece of the puzzle?? and your off the game. Its easy to be lead down the wrong path by picking the wrong presentation and lure. But after years of experience bass fishing, a seasoned angler can often make a few casts, and realize their folly quickly. Confidence will clue you in,.. in this instance. If you have a confident feeling about your choice, you will continue on unhindered. But the slightest lack of confidence in a bait or presentation, sticks out greatly, and you'll then stumble along the "what, where, when" series of questions and doubts, till your back on the right track. If you are a seasoned angler, and have placed the pieces of the puzzle together correctly? You are in the right area, and usually have chosen the correct presentation and lure to begin with. If the fish disagree? it's usually just a slight adjustment that will produce. Be it a smaller sized version of the lure, speed change, color, or slight depth change. So, I employ these variables as I start my "questioning". I will have a few sizes of like lure already tied on, and ready before I leave my driveway. Things may change when I finally float the boat, and I will adjust if need be, before I leave the ramp area This is what typically works for "me", and these steps have become mainstay when I fish alone on my boat and can lay out a dozen rods.

lighter hair jigs and small pork trailer, traps, and I cant really emphasize the need for a ssslllooowww presentation. Its a good chance for a big fish, but its also a time for patience and diligence

Dang,.. thats a beauty, what a pig! bet that line was tested. Congrats Cody!

Thanks DoDfire, Gear? I have. I can scrap the 7' light rod for now because,... I have a old shimano 2500 speedmaster reel with a fighting star drag on a new series mojo bass rod that just so happens to be a 6'10" med/light fast action dropshot rod I bought this past spring. This should work for a rod,....The reason I mention the reel is that I have 2 of these and 4 spare spools, and being fighting drag models,.. I feel they lend themselves great smallie reels. As long as you finger the spool for a hookset, as these are the quickfire models that dont have instant anti-reverse. And if it doesn't work for me? I have a dozen or so newer extra spinning reels doing nothing. Im a stubborn bass angler,. hence the Mono and being a "new" dropshotter, I begrudgingly spooled one of the spare spools with 8 pound flouro, tried the flouro out and didnt like the way it casts, so its now going to become a leader line spool. As the reel is old, it may get replaced with another or even, a brand new reel as xmas is quickly approaching. Bass pro gift cards are a norm for me, probably how I will get the main line too, got to love freebie, new, bass gear! I will check out the suggestions for a main line, spool up another spare spool, or new reel, and try it out this coming spring. Thanks again, for the balanced gear heads up,. I get it. And eventhough I am a stubborn old bass angler? I do striper fish in the salt up here with 25 pound power pro, and 17 pound fireline, so braids not really new to me, just will be new to my bass angling. Kinda surprised I didnt come to this conclusion earlier myself. A light braid or superline didnt even cross my mind, I guess I just never considered it, as most braid users discuss 30 pound or heavier for baitcasting to avoid it burying itself on the spool while hung on a log, or dock, etc. I'm so danged stubborn,..fightin the inevidable braid intrusion into my beloved bass angling,. til the end.,....lol

Nice rig crooked! Actually, after reading all of the posts concerning tin rigs? Mines scraping the bottom of the barrel,...lol A-Jay has a sweet rig, no doubt, and Ive seen a 18 ft lund over here before too,. But, slonezp and dwight, I never saw such big bad tinboats in my life,... other that river rigs with jets,.. I never thought they made them that huge,..those are like mine on super steroids, growth hormones, and workin out with sasquatch regiments,...lol Im truely in awe,.. you guys must be fishing the great lakes right?

Thanks for the replies guys! I will look into these finer lines to circumvent the issues of stretch Im dealing with. I really do apprieciate you sharing

Im Game for meeting you all, as long as I dont have a doc's appointment, I plan on being there. If Je1946 doesnt chime in I'll call him, I know he wanted to do this too. We both dont work anymore, so just about anyday should be good for us.

I think the op is missing my point. Lemmie try this tact. I know all to well what "finesse" fishing is, I also have used all the power presentations as well. If you plan on bass fishing, and being consistent at it up here. You have to know both to the nth degree. And I have not only studied and applied both power and finesse up here, I have successfully transitioned many of the techniques to fit New Englands tricky weather demands. Which was no easy task. Fast Finesse Fishing, "is" a oxymoron of terms,... Can you fish a finesse technique fast? of course you can, and you may even catch fish. But,..my point is (and this is where the oxymoron lies) The moment you start fishing a finesse bait, or finesse technique fast,..its no longer a true "finesse technique" it has now become a power presentation, because your now quickly searching. The lure being used has nothing to do with it. It's how you fish it, that determines one or the other To me? A true finesse technique depicts a slower, more methodical seigning of a area targeting specific fish in a specific way, Coaxing or "finessing" the fish present, to hit. There is no searching about it. At all. Am I the tell all, know all, gods gift to bass angling? Heck no, extremely far from it. But the minute you mention "fast" and "finesse" together to describe a technique? Then ask for my thoughts on it? I'm not shy,... Im sorry,.. but I disagree. the two don't equate accurately in my eyes What you seek is a tight wiggling crankbait, small jerkbait, or 1/8 oz spinnerbait, to search out where the fish are located, or locating, then fish a targeting lure, like a jig, or worm,..then a finesse "technique", "if" need be. Typically,... but far from always, cuz some will fish them exclusivley.. one doesn't reach for a finesse technique until they are getting skunked, then they will locate some bass on their finder, or by a hit or sniff they got earlier. Then slow down to sqweak out a few hits using a finesse technique in that area.

Although its a novel idea,..I'll stick with my bass hunter, ,... getting it in the water via rolling like a wheel? great, but then you need a dozen trips back and forth getting all your gear, Battery, motor, rods tackle, safety gear, cooler , etc.,... might be cool for someone that doesnt have a bass hunter or raider though. to each his own

Thanks DoDFire,.. And yes wdp, that guy did have the wrong attitude. If he didnt take that tact?, I had more of those green jigs with me and I would have shared them, and their matching trailers with him. I have no problem sharing my tackle, even if we are competeing against each other. I look at it like this,...If you can beat me fishing the same lure, in the same manner, god bless you, you deserve it. Not touting my abilities, just that the playing field is at a fair level, or as close as can be as luck does play in the end results just a bit in this instance. Unfortunately for both he and I, the whole 2 day tournament was won by another angler I knew named Lou, and where was he fishing for both days? The same point. Lou was fishing the downstream side picking off bass that were holding just off the points nose.,... but we were on the upstream side at that moment, and that point has a whole bunch of rock all the way down it, with about thirty feet of clearance between the rip rap and a giant patch of waterchestnut to trolling motor down between, for about 200 yards . With the tide going out at that time Im positive there were more fish there.,... And Charlie? blew his chances at a possible state team berth. Im sorry to say I ended tourney fishing shortly after, but did buy a deep-v tracker shortly after, and have been back to that fateful spot when the tide line is similar, to find bass on that point being just as agreeable with the like jigs I duplicated. I do have another lure I hold on to, a original white Manns classic spinnerbait I caught my pb on. But thats another story altogether

My instant thought as well. finesse is that, finesse Its possible to fish just about any lure as anything Meaning. I can take a piece of plastic, a hook, and a weight and fish that plastic any way, weightless? as a topwater, a stick bait, a do-nothing, on top of weeds as a frog,.....add the weight? I can fish it texas rigged, jigging it, drag it, stitch it, doodle it, constant retrieved as like a crankbait, herky jerky as a jerkbait, even dropshotted, moving faster is like a carolina rigged plastic,... etc. Get the point? Once you start working that finesse bait differently, or faster, it takes on another lures characteristics, therefore negating it as a true finesse tactic. At least, thats how I view this

I will on occasion tie up some replacement trebles with feathers and flash for jerkbaits, but will sometimes tie some up with just a little white bucktail and a few strands of either krystal flash, mylar, or evenskirt strands. I have used these lighter versions on some wide wobbling cranks, and though I didnt notice any change in action, there very well may be some nonetheless. I believe any added attraction to a lure is "additional" I did notice that the cranks I did add these to often got hits when at rest and floating.

Yes, they would, but Id recommend getting some replacement lenses that are for different light conditions. And also Id find some at a sunglass hut or another one of those mall kiosks, and try them on, see if the center piece blocks your field of view, or the sides hinder peripheral vision, etc. 24 years ago I bought a pair of H30's that were less than $100, and I still have. They came with 3 different lenses for different conditions, all in a neat clear plastic box. I wear them whenever im fishing on my tracker and they have never failed me. I also have a few cheapo, strike kings for my truck, and extra's on the boats. if they are lost or broken,.. no biggie, they were like 12 bucks Costa's? yeah they are great, but any glasses can be broken, or lost. and costa's are a bit pricey in my opinion. Oakley's? again same as costa's to me. But this is what you want/need, you get what fit's your bill. Im just leery about buying online, as its not in my hands to check out whether it works for me or not

Have any of you noticed that its a bit difficult to get a good hookset with a lighter line? Maybe this is due to my stubborness as i use only mono, but I wanted to ask you what lines you use for these lighter jigs. Reason being, I tie jigs too and have many, but found that If im fishing with 6 or even lighter pound test mono the stretch offered kind of deters a good hookset.,. and 8 pound test with a light jig doesnt really cast for crap. I stuck with 6 pd test, and a super sharp hook, on a 7ft light action rod Do you use braid? flouro? when fishing these light jigs?

I have a custom jig I tied back in the mid nineties, Its a 9/16 oz. stanley jig that I removed the skirt, broke the extra paint off the weedguard, fanned the weedguard a bit, and proceeded to hand tie a multi-colored greenish skirt on. I did this in lue of a up-coming state fishoffs at the famed Hudson River. During pre-fishing I was waiting at the ramp for my partner to park the truck/trailer when I noticed a crayfish in the shallows that had a greenish hue to it. During said day I had only one area for my choice called Cementon. Just a bit downstream from the catskill ramp, so we went there first, and the only fish I did catch there was on a 1/2 oz black jig I had tied on. segway to the first day of the fish-offs. I am lucky enough to climb on a guys boat that he too had Cementon as a area. so we head there right away, we start at the points barge dock, and about 20 feet from the tip of the point theres a huge boulder, the boater tosses a jig and pig in there a few times (while front ending me), before he allows me a shot at it, and I noticed that he was a bit uptight that he got no hits at all. My first flip in? instant "bang" I set the hook on a nice 2+ pounder., Next flip?,.Bang! another fish this time almost twice the size of the first at 4+. The boater is getting irritated and starts moving the boat away, I can pitch too so,..I do so,..Bang! I pull out the two days lunker 6+ bucket. He's vehematley ticked, backs off from the point altogether and says, there's no more fish here we're moving. I protest but to no availe. The rest of the day went as Im sure you would already figure, he front ends, and blocks me from any fish holding spots as much as possible. When we get to the weigh-in, one of his clubs anglers askes, "hey , Charlie,..how'd ya do?",.he replies "he caught all my fish~!" with a few exlporative adjectives in there. I just smiled as I walked away with a bag towards the scales as he he was slamming hatches and throwing stuff around. I made the state team with that jig, and its been a joy to not only tie up a working jig, but even more of a elated feeling when I hear someone say,..'He caught my fish",...I relegated to hang that jig from a shelf in my room, it's there still, and whenever I am to fish the Hudson,...believe me, I tied a few more up the following week, that make the trip out there, but that particular jig? Goes nowhere, it will stay right where it is, for me to gaze upon everyonce in a while and smile, It owes me nothing, but i refuse to fish and loose that jig

sending prayers

Welcome,...this site has it all, hopefully someone out there will help you out, with a boat and a few outings,.... I would, but thats a heck of a daily commute.

As long as they are connected via ethernet cable, and said units are compatible,... yes. Pretty cool huh? You will actually have the option of, say,... pulling into a creek, shut down the gas motor, touch a few prompts on the finders screen, and the tm will be deployed and already following your commands before you even stand to head up on the castingdeck.,..I,... think thats cool,...furthermore,.. when its time to leave said creek,.you can just sit down, few more touches to the finders screen, and the trolling motor will stow itself for you.