river-rat

I'm retired and able to fish during the week when crowds aren't so much of a problem. However, from mid-May until October, most of my fishing will be at night when very few people are out there. I was able to go this past Tuesday night and didn't see another boat.

A black & yellow H&H spinnerbait. A lot of us "old-timers" here in south Louisiana can make the same claim.

I like the Booyah Pad Crasher and the Spro Bronze Eye Frog. Frog fishing can be addictive. If I catch one on a frog I've been known to throw it all day.

I don't change baits just because it's raining. I use the exact same ones I use when it's not raining.

If I'm fishing on my home waters, I get up at 3:30 AM as I have a drive time of 1 to1 1/2 hours to launch my boat. If I'm at Toledo Bend, I can be on the water within minutes of the house so I get up later. On the other hand, if I'm night fishing I like to be on the water no later than 7:30 PM and will fish until after sunrise the next morning.

I was 14 years old when I caught my first bass over 6 lbs. on exactly the rig you are talking about. That was in 1966 and I'm quite certain this will still work for you. My only advice is to hesitate for a couple of seconds to set the hook after you get a strike. But that is sometimes easier said than done.

I use either a standard size Zoom Brush Hog or a Baby Brush Hog when I use a Carolina Rig. And I use watermelon red glitter or watermelon gold glitter 90% of the time.

Catt, Glad to hear you made out okay. We have had some major flooding here in Baton Rouge also. Thankfully we have not had any in our subdivision so far. Stay safe and dry. Praying for all those affected in Lake Charles and all across south Louisiana.

I'd have to say the same. But it would be hard not to say a spinnerbait is tied with this.

Mine would have to be a live Mississippi River oxbow called Old River just north of Morganza, LA. The lake level will rise once the Mississippi River gets above 15' on the Baton Rouge gauge. Once it starts to fall in the late spring-early summer it used to be one of my favorite places. I could go there and use a 2" Deep Diving Balsa B on the docks/piers and catch a lot of fish. My best 10 fish one day went over 40 lbs., but that was over 20 years ago. I usually try it every year just to see if it will still produce but most of the time I might catch one or two if I'm not skunked. Wish I knew what changed but for the life of me I can't figure it out.

I'm with Catt on this. I use the rubber spinnerbait skirt exclusively. And I'm using the same two color spoons - gold or black - fished in the same manner.

Retired from the IT industry since December 2019 and fishing as much as possible. My former employer contacted me this past March and asked if I would manage a project on a part-time basis working from home. The project will last until late July and I only work 10 hours per week and the money is great. My Cajun wife told me that the money can go straight to my fishing account. Gotta love a woman like that. ?

Anyone that was a serious bass fisherman back in the 70's and 80's would remember the Jelly Worm. I still use the Producto Lures Tournament worm in purple.

I still use the following: DC-5 and DC-8 Timber Tigers, Rogers Big Jim, and Norman Big N Snagless Sally (one of my all-time favorites) Also, I still use an Arbogast #2 Hawaiian Wiggler under certain conditions - and yes, they still produce.

Just to be clear, I've stated that a black spinnerbait with black nickel blades will produce on a bluebird day after a cold front has passed through. That is the only time I've had success with that combination.

I use the Biffle Bug Jr. texas rigged quite a bit. I only use two colors - black neon and smoke/silver glitter. I've also used the regular Biffle Bug on a Biffle Hard Head swing jig at Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn and caught fish.

I've relied on a Texas rigged craw worm for 25+ years. It's one of my primary lures in south Louisiana.

Now that I'm retired I rarely go longer than 3 days between trips when I am at main residence. When I'm at our house on Toledo Bend I usually stay for 7-10 days and I fish every day.

Depends on water clarity and time of year. In the Atchafalaya Basin during the summer the water can be muddy to heavily stained (4-6 inches of visibility). I generally use a black/blue/purple/orange skirt or a black/yellow skirt. If I get into an area where the water has "cleared up" somewhat, I've had good success on a summer craw colored skirt with a Summer Craw colored Rage Craw trailer. In the late fall into winter, I lean more to a brown/orange skirt or black/brown skirt to imitate a crawfish.

I can guarantee this Matt Lures Bluegill works. I don't catch many on it but the ones that I do are better than average size.

I have also especially the Black/Blue Glitter with Blue Claws. I keep using Mend It on the ones that get torn in an effort to stretch them out as much as possible.

I'd like to congratulate my nephew, Quentin Cappo, for his third place finish. That's his best finish so far on the Elite Series.

Gene Larew 4" Salt Craw (hard to find anymore - thankfully I have plenty enough to last me for a while) Strike King Rage Craw or Rage Lobster Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw, Super Speed Craw, or Magnum Speed Craw.

Same here.

Depending in conditions, I use a 1/4, 5/16, or 3/8 weighted Stroker Series hook made by Moaner Hooks. Stroker Series Hooks