river-rat

Junebug Candybug Watermelon Red Glitter Watermelon Magic Watermelon Gold Glitter Green Pumpkin Red Glitter Green Pumpkin Magic

In fishing the Achafalaya Basin mostly, I've found that Junebug, Candybug, Red Shad/Green Glitter, and Black w/Powder Blue Tail work best in heavily stained to muddy water. Also, a Gene Larew 4" Salt Craw in Black w/yellow claws will sometimes produce.

Ditto Gone_Phishin -- great people to deal with. They are actually made with balsa wood, although they have a 400 - Cedar which is fairly new (it's a copy of the Poe's 400). I've used the O-Tuffy and the T-Shad for several years. They are great crankbaits IMHO. I have also ordered the Wobbler (2") and it runs great. All in all, you can't go wrong with any of their lures.

I was fortunate enough to have known Eugene "Shoestring" Dubois for many years before he passed away. I have 3 of his original Tornados that were made several years before Bass Pro Shop began selling them. It's one of my favorite spinnerbaits and BenoBreath is right on -- they work great as a buzzbait.

I have had good success with the Gamakatsu EWG or round bend trebles and the Mustad Triple Grip (black nickel) on all my crankbaits and topwaters. These brands are easier to purchase locally than the Owner's.

Depends on the time of the year. From mid-winter to early pre-spawn I use 5/8 oz. and 3/4 oz. most of the time. The remainder of the year, I use 7/16 and/or 1/2 oz.

4" twister tail grub in silk chartreuse or pearl and the Uncle Josh #11 Pork Frog in green spot or white

Agree with Catt re: Johnson spoon in heavy vegetation along with the Spro Frog. In open water I alternate between the Spro Frog and a Hub's Chub Rattalur or a Johnny Rattler.

1 - 3/8-1/2 oz. jig - black,blue, and orange skirt - w/Zoom Flippin' Blue Super Chunk or Sapphire Blue Super Speed Craw 2 - Larew's 4" Salt Craw or Sweet Beaver

Owner 3/0 straight shank hook (xxx strong), 3/16-5/16 tru tungsten slip sinker, parasite clip and bobber stop. Colors: Coonasty Payback Hillbilly Special Black Neon (black w/chartreuse tip)

For the past 3 years I've been using the Wind River Converta-Mitt Windblocker and can say it's the best pair of gloves I have ever used for winter fishing. They are windproof and waterproof and the design allows for wearing them while using baitcasting or spinning gear. Wind River Gear Converta-Mitts - http://estore.websitepros.com/2172491/Detail.bok?no=6 You can also purchase them from L.L. Bean Windbloc® Converta-Mitts - http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=20516&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&feat=sr&freeText=converta%20mitts

I been using the Mustad Big Mouth Tube Hook in the 3/0 and 4/0 sizes for t-rigging a tube. Give 'em a try -- you won't be disappointed.

For the past 4 years, I've been using the Windbloc Converta-Mitt from L.L. Bean. Absolutely the best winter fishing glove I've ever used. I have no problem casting or retrieving with these with the mitten part folded back and secured to the velcro tab.

Bagley BB2, BB3, DB1, & DB2 - Manufactured prior to 1980. I was smart enough to purchase enough that I still have a good supply of each still in the original packaging. Arbogast Mud Bug (1/4 & 5/8 oz.) - Still the best crankbait for cranking wood I've ever used. Strike King Spence Scout (wooden) and the Cordell Water Scout (plastic) Strike King Big S Rebel Mini R and Deep Mini R Rebel Wee R (shallow and deep diver) Tennessee Shad - A balsa wood crankbait that has been out of production for at least 20 years. I keep repainting the one's I have as it is one of my favorite crankbaits in the Atchafalaya Basin in the summer and fall.

I have been using the 6" and 8" Tournament Worm for more years than I care to remember. It's usually the worm I start with from post-spawn to late fall. Because I fish mostly in south Louisiana where 6" of visibility is considered slightly stained, I stick with the basic colors listed below. Junebug Black Grape Red Shad Blue Purple

Living in South Louisiana for my entire life (57 yrs.) has exposed me to more than my share of mosquitoes, especially this time of year. For the past few years I have been using the Chase Products Insect Repellent and will readily tell you it is the best bug spray I have ever used. They have two products, Chase-MM (15% DEET) and Chase-MM Woods Guard (25% DEET) either of which works very well. You can order the products online for a very reasonable price -- Chase-MM @ $3/can, Woods Guard @ $4/can. Follow the link below to access the Home page. There is a "Search" text box located at the top of their Home page - key in Chase-MM or Woods Guard to place an order. You won't be disappointed. http://www.chaseproducts.com/

Bagley BB2 (The ones I use were purchased before Jim Bagley sold the company) Cotton Cordell Water Scout (plastic model with a rattle) - These have been out of production for years, bt I have been able to get a good supply by shopping on eBay. Tennessee Tuffy O-Tuffy

Buzzbait Zoom Trick Worm (1/8 SS) - Junebug, Red Shad, Candy

I use the BPS Crankin' Stick in 6 1/2' or 7' for all of my crankbait fishing and have done so since they first came out in 1997. For the lures you listed, I would use the medium action in the 6 1/2' model. In the 7' model, I don't have a problem throwing the Bandit 200's, Model 4A Bombers, Rat-L-Traps, or something similar with the 7' medium heavy action, but you might prefer the medium action. I have probably tried most of the different brands of crankbait rods at one time or another for as long as there has been a specialty rod built for crankbaits and I still like the BPS Crankin' Stick the best. And the price can't be beat.

Catt, I use the Stick Jacket (mostly) and the Rod Sock sold by Academy for all the rods I carry in my boat when I'm fishing. (I have a Skeeter SX 190 that does not have a built-in rod organizer.) I am very pleased with either brand and they really help to keep your rods tangle free when stored in the rod box.

Oldham's Jig or Thumper Jig (3/8-1/2 oz. and sometimes a 5/8 oz. Oldaham's) in the following colors ( I make most of my jig skirts). Black/Blue Black/Blue/Orange Black/Blue/Purple Brown - orange glitter/Pumpkin - green glitter/Orange For trailers on the Black/Blue colors, I have been using the Zoom Super Speed Craw in Sapphire Blue mostly or the Zoom Super Chunk in Flippin' Blue. I also use the 6" Larew Salt Craw in Black/Blue Claw (like CATT, I cut it down to 4-41/2"). On the Brown/Pumpkin color, I use Zoom Super Chunk or the Paca Chunk Sr. in Rootbeer - Green Glitter

I have to agree with Catt. I think color contrast works better. I do quite a bit of night fishing and my best color for spinnerbaits is black & powder blue, or black & purple skirts with a blue pork frog. Likewise, my favorite color for a worm is black with a pearl blue tail.

I have been using Creme worms since the early 60's - before we even heard of a Texas Rig. I still use the 6" and 8" Scoundrel when I want to use a straight tail worm on a t-rig. I wish they still made the 6" & 7 1/2" Shimmy Gal -- it is still my favorite worm of all time.

Living in south Louisiana allows for throwing a buzz bait all year, but I have to say my favorite time in during the Post Spawn, especially in the month of May when I throw it all day. With the bass being scattered after the spawn, the buzz bait allows me to cover alot of water during the day. A lot of times, I find the fish with a buzz bait and then I'm able to use something else to pick off a few more fish in the area before moving on. I don't really pay attention to water temperature, it's more about the weather, wind, and light conditions for me. And as far as colors, I keep it very simple. I use a black skirt with a black blade during low light and overcast conditions. When the sun is out, I use a white skirt with a gold blade. In murky water, I'll use a chartruese blade with a chartruese & white skirt. We have a lot of green tinted water down here and I have found an anodized green blade works well in this situation. And I like my buzz baits to make a lot of noise. I am partial to the Boogerman Racket Buzz, the original Lunker Lure and a locally made bait called a Bass Trap

I use a 10" worm at night in addtion to a spinnerbait. With the worm, I have always inserted a worm rattle and used a 3/16-1/4 oz. slip sinker. This past summer I started using the Tru Tungsten slip sinkers and their Force Bead along with the rattle. As far as the retrieve, I'm like most in that I usually fish this bait slowly with slight movements and long pauses. During the pause, I'll try to shake the lure in one place and activate the rattle. But if this doesn't work, I have had a lot of success letting the wom hit the bottom and then slowly swimming it with a straight retrieve all the way to the boat.