river-rat

I use 7 1/2" and 10" worms all the time. I'm partial to the ones made by Bitter's Bait and Tackle out of Florida. I don't need many colors -- Red Shad/ Green Glitter, Junebug, Tequila Sunrise/Green Glitter, and Candybug/Gold Glitter are about all I use.

Been using them for years on a Texas rig. I only carry 3 colors: black/red glitter junebug watermelon/red glitter

I have been wearing the Sims SolarFlex Half Finger sun gloves for several years since I had a couple of instances of skin cancer.

Never change a winner. If you are having success with the current set up, stay with it until it quits producing. If you want to try a black/blue jig and trailer, tie it on another rod and see what kind of results you would have.

Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina New York, and Vermont. Also made many trips to Mexico may years ago.

I would have to answer yes to this question. My ward rope consists of mainly Columbia Sportwear PFG caps, shirts, pants, shorts, and shoes for everyday wear.

I have lures passed down by my grandfather and my Dad. Some of which I still use. Smithwick Buck-N-Bawl and King Snipe Creek Chub Jointed Darter Dalton Special Clark's Water Scout Arbogast #2 and #2 1/2 Hawaiian Wiggler Arbogast Hula Popper and Jitterbug (wooden models) Bomber lure (wooden) Al Foss Shimmy Wiggler Herb's Dilly Fliptail Worm

I have used Mend-It for several years. I keep a bottle in my shop and my boat.

The watermelon/gold glitter Kreature has been very productive on two of the Mississippi River oxbow lakes I frequent. That being Lake St. John and Lake Concordia near Ferriday, LA. I always Texas rig it with a 1/4 or 5/16 oz. tungsten slip sinker.

Prayers for Noah to be completely healed.

I use two different jig rods. One is a 7'4" medium heavy fast action I built on a Castaway blank several years ago. The other is a Falcon LFC 6'10" Lowrider - heavy action fast taper.

Oldham's Jigs 4" Flipping Tube 4" Salt Craw Rage Craw Bitter's Bait and Tackle 7 1/2" Classic Worm Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm Spinnerbait (I make my own) Topwater Bait

A 4” flipping tube is one of my confidence baits. I always have one rigged in my boat.

Beginning in March and through the post spawn I always have a floating jerk bait tied on. I’ll also use a Hub’s Chub Rattalur in gold or solid black. After post spawn I’ll use a Swithwick Devils Horse, frog, or buzz bait.

I'm 5' 11". And I'm 100% Sicilian. Both sets of my grandparents came into the USA through New Orleans, LA (where I still have a ton of family). My wife and I are leaving for Sicily and Italy next month for an extended visit.

Their are only two things that control a bass - the spawn and their food source. A bass doesn't care how hot or cold it is, it's all about the food that controls him. I was taught "find the food, find the bass." It's like the old adage, if you want to learn about the owl, study the mouse.

Catt, I missed this too. Lifting you up and praying for you to be completely healed.

I spent so much time in the swamps of the Atchafalaya Basin and on the Atchafalaya River during my teenage years and early 20's my Mom started calling me a "river rat".

I have used several floating jerk baits including a Bagley Bang-O-Lure for years. I always change out the hooks for Mustad #4 KVD Triple Grip hooks. I'm using a 6 1/2' medium action casting rod with 14# test monofilament. With this set up I haven't noticed missing too many fish. No more so than than any other floating jerk bait.

Right there with you.

I completely forgot about Lake Chicot. It's located in Chicot State Park near Ville Platte, LA. At one time I fished there quite a bit, although not so much in the past 6-7 years. I have caught several 5-9 lb. bass but you really have to work for them. Like BayouSlide said it can be kind of stingy at times. It's a beautiful place to fish. It was stocked with Florida Bass for several years up until 2021. Stocking efforts now are focused on native largemouths. The drive from New Orleans would be about 30 minutes longer than going to Lake Fausse Point State Park. As far as I know the park is still well maintained and has cabin rentals, hiking trails, and a primitive campground.

You won’t have any problems with that plan. As I said you have the right idea as far as tackle. Good luck.

Living in Baton Rouge and with my family having a camp near the Atchafalaya Basin my whole life (I'll be 73 soon), I would be hesitant about taking a canoe into the Basin. Understand that to enter the Basin from the east side you first have to cross the Intercoastal Canal and there is always heavy barge traffic. And then once you cross the Canal, you would have to paddle a long distance to get to any decent water to fish. Success in the Basin is dependent on the water level which could be rising in late February and that's never a good situation. Just a suggestion, you might look at Bayou Segnette State Park. It's less than 20 minutes from New Orleans and you can find decent fishing without traveling too far from the landing. Your choice of tackle would work well in the area. If you're dead set on going into the Basin, email me and I can give you more details. Let me know the dates you will be down here. Maybe we could arrange a trip and I could take you in my boat.

I have been using the same two jointed Jitterbugs for more years than I can remember. Both are 5/8ths oz. in solid black, and frog with a yellow belly.

I use the following Zoom Lizards mostly Black/Blue Tail Junebug Watermelon/Red Glitter I also still have a big supply of the old Fliptail Lizard in black and will use this either weightless or Texas rigged.