river-rat

I have been using a loop know when fishing jerkbaits (Rogue, Redfin, etc.) since the early 70's. The loop knot allows for more action. I use the Rapala loop knot and have never had a problem with losing fish because of knot failure.

The Zoom Big Salty Chunk and Super Chunk in Sapphire Blue and Flippin' Blue are the most productive jig trailers used in Soluth Louisiana. Most use the Sapphire Blue but my favorite is Flippin' Blue. They are most effective in stained (6-8") or muddy water which is most of the areas I fish - Atchafalaya Basin and the freshwater marshes between Morgan City and Houma, LA.

The Wobblehead Worm (http://wobbleheadlures.com) is used a great deal in the cypress lakes in Louisiana and southeast Arkansas. During the summer months it is one of the most productive lures used in these types of waters. In fact, the hotter the weather gets the better it works and especially during the hottest part of the day. I've been using it since the early 70's and have had very good success. It's not difficult to fish with, but you have to be careful because it will hang up. When fish are suspending on cypress trees during the summer, it can be very productive. Especially is there is some vegetation mixed in with the trees. Many summer tournaments are won every year with this lure.

For the past 5 years I've used the L.L Bean Winbloc Converta-Mitts and highly suggest them for use wehn fishing in the winter. I have no problems using a baitcaster while wearing these. Also, if you add a good pair of liner gloves, they work great when driving the boat. Check them out by following this link to the L.L. Bean site -- http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=20516&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&from=SR&feat=sr

Allen Lures Gator Tail worm. Zoom makes the G-Tail which is basically a copy of the 7 1/2 " Gator Tail. I have actually caaught more fish on the Baby Gator Tail worm which is 5 3/4". Larry Nixon won the 1983 Bassmaster Classic on the Ohio River using the Baby Gator Tail worm.

I try to keep it as simple as I can. I basically use two shad colors, 2 bream colors, and one crawfish color. Year in and Year out, the four colors listed produce the vast majority of fish I catch on crankbaits. Louisiana Shad Tennessee Shad Black and Chartreuse Green and Chartreuse Brown Craw

I mostly use the Bitter's Bait and Tackle 10" worm t-rigged with a 3/16-5/16 slip sinker and 4/0 - 5/0 Denny Brauer Flippin' Hook. I fish it the same way as I would use a 7 1/2" worm but I also swim it through cypress trees and laydowns quite a bit during the summer and into the fall season.

If you're going to get a 90 HP, take a look at the Yamaha 90 4 Stroke. I've been running a Yamaha F150 4 Stroke for the past 5 years and have no complaints. My gas consumption (gallons) is only about 60% of what it was with 2 Strokes. As for the ethanol situation, I've been using Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment for the past 2 years and have had no problems. The Stab-Bil Marine fuel treatment is good and will treat up to 80 gallons of fuel , but I can treat up to 120 gallons with Star Tron. I also recommend getting a fuel/water filter separator installed with whatever engine you choose. Ethanol attracts water and even with a fuel treatment it's good insurance to insure that you don't have any problems with the engine. They are not expensive and are well worth the investment.

I live in Baton Rouge (all of my 58 years) and fish the Atchafalya Spillway, Bayou Black marshes, Lake Verrett/Stephensville, and Lake Catouche locally. I also fish Lake St. John and the Old River Lakes near Ferriday, LA quite a bit. I try to make a couple of week long trips to Toledo Bend every year also.

My most productive colors have been Coonasty, Payback, Hillbilly Special, Black Neon (has chartreuse tip) and Junebug.

I use a 7/16 or 1/2 oz. spinnerbait with a single Hildebrandt #4 1/2 Colorado blade probably 75% of the time. Other times, I'll use either a colorado/willow or colorado/colorado combination depending on water clarity.

I have more DD14's than DD22's. Most of my fishing is in Mississippi River oxbows and the Atchafalaya Basin in south Louisiana, so I don't have much water over 12'-13' to fish. I usually reserve the DD22's for Toledo Bend.

I'll use a tube with a tube rattle in water with as little as 4-6 inches of visibility. I concentrate on throwing over a piece of hard cover and allow the tube to fall to the bottom, then lift the tube and let it fall real quickly before letting it settle back on the bottom. With the rattle, if a fish is interested, they won't have a problem finding the tube.

My top 5 for this time of year in south Louisiana 1 - 3/8-1/2 oz. jig - Black/Blue/Orange skirt with Zoom Super Chunk (Flippin' Blue) 2 - T-rigged Gene Larew 4" Salt Craw or 6" Hawg Craw - Black/Blue Claw or Black/Yellow Claw 3 - T -rigged Reaction Innovations 4" Tube in Coonasty 4 - T-rigged Bitter's Bait and Tackle 10" worm in Junebug or Red Shad/Green Glitter 5 - 3/8 -1/2 oz. jig - Black/Blue skirt with Zoom Big Salty Chunk (Flippin' Purple)

Very informative and a great post. I always have a t-rigged Gene Larew 4" Salt Craw or 6" Hawg Craw on the front deck. And I absolutely agree with Catt about a craw's ability to produce big fish.

It's a toss up for me. Larry Nixon or Tommy Biffle.

Like Catt, I used the Shyster inline spinner when I was just a kid but I also have used another inline spinner, the Hildebrandt Snagless Sally for over 40+ years and still catch quite a few fish every year on them. Use the Sally with an Uncle Josh prok frog trailer (#11 size). You won't be disappointed.

With the swim jig, set the hook like you would with a spinnerbait. There's no need to drop the rod tip and then set the hooklike when using a floipping/pitching jig or carolina rig.

I use both the Sweet Beaver and Brush Hog (both sizes) and earlier this year I tried the GYBC Kreature and had excellent results with this lure. These are the ONLY creature baits I carry now. Cuts way down on confusion for me.

#1 - Spinnerbait (single spin) - 7/16 oz. - Whte/Chartreuse/Green skirt - Hildebrandt #4 1/2 Colorado Blade (gold) #2 - Bagley BB2 (earlier versions) #3 - Bagley DB1 #4 - 7 1/2" Worm - Red Shad/Green Glitter #5 - 3/8 oz. Jig - Black/Blue/Orange skirt - Zoom Super Chunk (Flippin' Blue)

Depending on conditions: Jig or 10" worm Bagley BB2 or BB3 1/2 oz spinnerbait Buzz Bait

Largemouth (tie) 2/6/2003 - 10.8 - Jig 9/06/2009 - 10.8 - Johnson Silver Minnow

I've never used the Cavitron brand (although I'm sure it's a good bait), but you can't go wrong with either of the colors you mentioned. I use the original Lunker Lure (1/2 oz.) and the Boogerman Racket Buzz (3/8 oz.) in black with black blade and white with gold blade.

I mostly use a Texas Rig with 1/8-1/4 oz. slip sinker. I will also use on a Carolina Rig in the Spring.

7 1/2" Ribbon Tail - Bitter's Bait and Tackle 8" Ribbon Tail - Charlie's Worm 10" Ribbon Tail - Bitter's Bait and Tackle 5" & 8" Paddle Tail - Bitter's Bait and Tackle Zoom Trick Worm I highly recommend plastics made by Bitter's Bait and Tackle. They are great products and at $2.50/pack are a great value. Great people to deal with. https://www.bittersbaitandtackle.com/