river-rat

This time of year in south Louisiana I'm using jigs weighing 5/8 - 3/4 oz. in water 4-5' or less. I also use 3/8 - 5/8 oz. tungsten slip sinker for plastics - I especially like a standard Brush Hog with the 1/2 oz. weight. When I'm punching grass I'll use a 1 oz. jig or slip sinker.

To say I fish a jig a lot is an understatement. I've been using Oldham's Screw Lock and Eye Max Jigs for well over 25 years. I'm not saying the other jigs mentioned aren't any good. In fact I've tried a few here and there but I always come back to Oldham's Jigs. My attitude is never change a winner. Oldham's Jigs

I still use several "old" lures - because they still produce. Just to name a few: Smithwick Devil's Horse Whopper Stopper Hellraiser Heddon Baby Torpedo Fliptail Worms Johnson Silver Minnow Hildebrandt Snagless Sally (always with an Uncle Josh #11 Pork Frog) Gene Larew 4" Salt Craw

Other than punching mats, I'll use heavier weights when I'm trying to generate a reaction strike.

I've eaten one raw oyster in my life...swallowed it three times.

Could not agree with Catt more about moon rise and moon set during the day time. I always check this whether I'm fishing at night or the day time.

I have been night fishing for too many years to remember for the same reason as Catt mentioned - it's too dang hot during the day. I live in south Louisiana and this past week the heat index was 108 - 113 degrees every day. The months of July and August will bring more of the same. I still make an occasional trip during the day, but the vast majority of my fishing will be at night until we get a break in the weather pattern, which is usually mid to late September.

Cypress Trees are my favorite cover to fish. They are one of the primary forms of cover in my home waters in south Louisiana. The roots of a cypress tree make a ring completely around the tree and can extend out as much as 5-6 feet or more from the base of the tree. Some days I catch more fish out away from the tree than I do off the base. I always start outside the tree base and work my way towards the tree and then continue to the other side. I also look for groups or lines of cypress trees that are in deeper water. A depth change of as little as 2 feet can make a world of difference on some days. You are on the right track with your lure choice. I use jigs, texas rigs, shallow crankbaits, and buzz baits. Good luck.

I agree with CATT. A Johnson Silver Minnow is always a good choice around lily pads.

I always have black/blue tail and Junebug plastics with me. Some days the fish prefer one over the other. Same thing with jigs. Some days I have more success on black/blue and other days Junebug will produce better. I let the fish tell me which they prefer.

I have had more success using a Zoom Super Speed Craw on buzz baits this year instead of a toad. As far as the brand of buzzbait, I use a 3/8 or 1/2 oz. Lunker Lure or Boogerman exclusively.

It looks very similar to a Smithwick Lobo that was made in the 1970's and 80's. I don't remember Smithwick ever having a color like the one shown, but I could be wrong. The Lobo has been out of production for years

I've been using buzz baits since they came out in the mid to late seventies and I keep it as simple as possible. I only use the following. White body (skirt or Toad) with a Gold blade during the day. Black body (skirt or Toad) with a Black blade early morning/overcast skies/late evening. Chartreuse body (skirt) with a Chartreuse blade as a change-up. Most importantly, I want the blade to squeak as I'm retrieving the lure. I have no confidence in a buzz bait until it starts to make that sound.

Assuming that I'm fishing my home waters, the easy pick would be a 7 1/2 inch worm in Red Shad/Green Glitter. There is no telling how many bass have come out of the Atchafalaya Basin on that worm.

I would be surprised if this didn't work. I do a lot of night fishing and would have no problem using that all night.

Same with me. I've been fishing from the Atchafalaya Basin all the way over to Venice, LA my whole life. Not a whole lot of places in that vast area I haven't been to in my 70 years.

CrashVector is correct. Here in south Louisiana it's not unusual for the water temperature to be in the 60-67 degree range by mid February, even in late January if we have had a mild winter.. I've seen bass on the beds in the Black Lake Marsh area in January when the water temperature was 56-57 degrees.

I second the Rit dye method. I've been using it for years.

With a small skiff I would recommend launching at Bayou Black Marina and fishing all the canals between the landing and the Intracoastal Waterway. I have fished this area for years and have had success. Also, you could put in at Cannon's Boat Launch and run straight to the Intracoastal. Take a right and your about 1 mile from the Orange Grove area and there are tons of places to fish in there. Just be careful and you shouldn't have any problems. I would recommend using a black/blue tail or red shad worm and small spinnerbaits like a 1/4 ounce Humdinger with a blue/chartreuse/white skirt. A swim jig can also be productive around the grass beds. You will usually have better luck on a falling tide. I read the tide tables at Eugene Island. Good luck.

I'm still partial a Texas rigged Gene Larew 4" Salt Craw. I always start the day with this on one of my rods. And I still use a Snagless Sally with a #11 Pork Frog especially around cypress trees and in the tidal marshes. There is no telling how many bass I've caught on these two over the years.

He is now retired, but I should point out that he did the testing before the Stanley products were on the market. I have no doubt you are correct about this.

I started using the Red Philips knot last year and have had no problems. It's very easy to tie and takes almost no time. Haven't had a failure yet. Do a Google search and you can find several videos. One of them has Gerald Swindle showing how to tie it.

I've been making spinnerbaits for 50 years and I always use closed loops. I have a family member that worked in a large petrochemical plant as a machinist and specialized in vibration studies. He also made spinnerbaits and according to him, the closed loop actually has more vibration than the R bend. Not trying to start a controversy, but that is what I was told.

Catt, I have not had a heart attack, but I did have open heart surgery (double by-pass) in February 2016. Since then I walk/jog 4-6 miles a day when I'm not on the water, watch what I eat, and take my meds. I had a checkup with my doctor this morning and he said everything looks great and to keep doing what I have been doing. Just follow your doctors advice and you should be fine. The problem we have is that we both live in south Louisiana and Cajun food is not exactly conducive to healthy eating. Boudin and cracklins are hard to resist, if you know what I mean.

We have more than our share of bowfin, or as CATT pointed out we call them choupique (shoe-pick), in the Atchafalaya Basin and Lake Verrett area in south Louisiana. I've caught them 12 months out of the year. While they may not be good to eat there is a market for their eggs. The product is called American Bowfin Caviar. Supposedly it's very good, although I've never tried it.