river-rat

I am retired and have the luxury of spending several days in a row on the water. Because of this, what I start the day with during the summer months is often times dictated what has been the most productive techniques over a couple of days. However, I usually start the day with the following on the deck. Flipping Tube Texas Rigged Plastic Worm/Creature Bait Spinnerbait Buzz Bait Shallow Crankbait I have other rods rigged in the rod box for jigs, Frogs, and a couple of punch rods if any of the above are not producing.

I live in south Louisiana and summers can be brutally hot with high humidity. For shirts I wear the Columbia Sportswear PFG Terminal Tackle Hoodie or the Terminal Tackle Long Sleeve shirt exclusively during the summer along with the Columbia Silver Ridge Utility Pants. I'll also wear sun gloves and a hat so that I'm completely covered up.

During the time this site was down I happened to discover that the Ditto Original Gator Tail worm is back in production. I depended on this worm for years until it went out of production about 20 years ago. I immediately ordered a couple of packs and I'm glad I did. I'll admit they are a little pricey but if you like to use a plastic worm I highly recommend giving them a try. I ordered the Junebug and the Black Grape/Blue Pearl Tail which were my best producers in the past. I might add that Larry Nixon used this same worm to win the 1983 Bassmasters Classic. Here is a link to their site - https://www.dittogatortail.com/

Thank goodness! I have been going through withdrawals since the site went down. I worked in the tech industry for 25+ years initially in the web development/apps field then in a Tier 4 data center, so I am aware of the things that can affect delivery of websites. Even being familiar with what can go wrong, it was still hard to be patient waiting for this site to return.

Not necessarily in order but these listed are what I have the most confidence in once water temps reach 60 degrees Floating jerk bait in gold/black back/gold belly - specifically a Smithwick Rogue or Cordell Redfin worked slowly Prop bait like the Smithwick Devils Horse , Cordell Boy Howdy or Heddon Baby Torpedo Zoom Horny Toad Buzz bait

I tore my distal bicep tendon back in February and had to have surgery. I just came out of the brace last week and was told I still can't go fishing for at least another 8 weeks - and maybe not even then. Believe me, I know it sucks right now but just do what the doctor says and you should be fine in the long run. My doctor assures me I will return to full use of my arm but the whole process will take 5-6 months after surgery.

We are having the same conditions all over south Louisiana. The Mississippi River is extremely low for this time of year. And, the level in Atchafalaya Basin is approaching summer-time lows. This time of year the Basin is typically extremely high from the spring run-off from up north. It will probably take a tropical storm or hurricane (heaven forbid) coming through this summer to get us back to normal water levels.

Well, I’m finally making progress on the torn bicep tendon. Surgery was 7 weeks ago and I now don’t have to wear the splint anymore - which is a huge relief. Doctor said I can start exercising my arm with a light weight to begin building back a full range of motion. I still have to wait another 8 weeks before I can go fishing. In the meantime I’m cleaning all my reels and spooling each with new line. Basically getting everything ready when I get the word it’s okay to go. I told my wife and kids once I get the go-ahead don’t look for me during the week. I’ll be at our place on Belle River and in the Atchafalaya Basin.

I crimp the rivet first and then set the bait up in front of a fan. When it begins to squeek, it's ready. Then, the more you throw the bait, the more it will squeek. I have absolutely no confidence in a buzz bait that doesn't squeek.

This is what I have the most confidence using here in south Louisiana during post spawn. Understand all of my fishing is in water less that 6 feet deep. Floating Jerkbaits in gold/orange belly - specifically the Smithwick Rogue and Cordell Redfin. Topwater prop baits like the Smithwick Devil's Horse and Cordell Boy Howdy. Buzz Bait in white/gold blade or black/black blade Swimming Worm in Junebug on a light Texas rig. Punching water hyacinth and hydrilla mats. I stay shallow and keep moving trying to cover as much territory as I can during the day. Unfortunately I injured my arm in February and have not been able to fish since. I have been told it will probably be another 3-4 months before I can go again. Can't wait to get back out there.

I tend to believe that I get a better hook up ratio with a straight shank hook because it’s a straight pull on the hook point when setting the hook. The only time I use an EWG hook is for flipping tubes and 10” worms. In those cases I use a 4/0 Mustad Big Mouth Tube hook.

I seldom feel a tap when a bass takes anything Texas rigged. Usually I can tell a fish has taken the bait one of three ways. I’ll see the line twitch slightly, I’ll notice the line moving to the side, or the line just goes slack. If any of these occur, I set the hook immediately. If you really want to learn how to fish a Texas rig don’t bring anything else to fish with. When I wanted to learn how to fish a jig I would bring two jig rods and leave everything else at home. I did this for a solid year at the end of which I had total confidence in jig fishing.

Favorite T-Rig - Right Bite Baits 4" Flipping Tube - Black/Red Glitter, Green Pumpkin/Red and Green Glitter, or Black/Blue Tail - Mustad 4/0 Big Mouth Tube Hook - I'll start with a 5/16 oz. tungsten slip sinker but I'll go as light as 3/16 oz. or as heavy as 3/8 oz. depending on how the fish are reacting on a particular day. I also always insert a tube rattle. I don't fish a Carolina Rig very often but when I do I'll use a Zoom Lizard or a Bitter's Bait and Tackle Salty Hog (a beefier version of the Zoom Baby Brush Hog)

Bitter's Bait and Tackle 10" worm in Candybug/Gold Glitter, Junebug, Red Shad/Green Glitter, or Black/Blue Tail.

4" Salt Craw (now made by Yum) in Black/Neon or Black Neon/Chartreuse Claws) Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver in Coonasty color (perfect replica of a crawfish in the Atchafalaya Basin) Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw (Sapphire Blue, Black/Red Glitter, or Junebug) Zoom Brush Hog (standard size) - Black/Red Glitter, Watermelon/Red Glitter, and Junebug Zoom Baby Brush Hog (same colors as standard size) Rage Craw (Blue Sapphire, Black/Red Glitter, Junebug) Rage Bug (same as Rage Craw) Forgot to add Bitter's Bait and Tackle Salty Hog - it's a little beefier version of the Baby Brush Hog Let me add that when Gene Larew made the 4" Salt Craw there were many other colors available that are no longer made by Yum. In particular Black/Blue Glitter/Blue Claws has been my most productive color for many years in the marshes south of the Atchafalaya Basin. Thankfully I still have a big supply on hand.