king fisher

Do you work for the Bait Monkey?

Easy now, thems fighting words.

Last of the favorite series. What are your favorite creature- craw baits. Brand, size, color, rigging, and when do you throw them. I T rig Magnum Rage Bugs, Okeechobee craw.

You don't need a specific rod for every technique. I no a kid that fishes both live bait and a variety of lures, with a soda bottle with mono wrapped around it. Coke or Pepsi, doesn't matter any soda bottle any technique. The Monkey and I hope that someday I have a rod for each technique, but for now I don't have the money or the space. All of my rods have to do double, or triple duty.

Don't feel too bad. This is what it looks like here, and I'm not fishing either.

Cabin fever is getting to me. Here is another favorite thread. What large over 10 inches worm is your favorite? Brand , length, style, and color. The two I have had good luck with are Zoom Ole Monster Junebug, and Gary Yamamoto 7 inch Senko, black. I know the Senko is less than 10 inches, but I still consider them a very large worm. The Zoom Ole Monster has caught my biggest bass each of my last two years. What are some other large worms?

When I was a kid back in 1977 I read a book by Jerry Mickinnes. In that book he had a whole chapter about the Little George. I was sure it was a magic lure. Then one day I was at a tackle shop, and I couldn't believe it when I saw they had some for sale. I bought 4 or 5 blowing most of my tackle budget, ( that was the year the Bait Monkey and I became lifelong friends) I fished a rocky deep lake. I was sure these baits would get to the bottom where the big bass lived. They got to the bottom like I had hoped. Problem was they stayed there. I lost one on the first cast, and another on the second. I never fished them after that. 20 years later a slayed lake trout in Alaska with them. They also worked well for silver salmon. I'm sure they work well for almost any game fish, but be careful where you cast them.

The way I get the real big ones to bite is fish a lure with old, dull rusted hooks, tied to old frayed line. Works every time.

Thanks for the replies. I'm surprised not much love for the Lucky Craft LV 500. The Tactical Bass'n Bait Monkey talked me into buying one, so far no luck, but haven't used it much. It's the most expensive crankbait I have ever bought. Anyone try the Rapala Snare 50? It gets good reviews on TW. I fish for big bass that do not get any pressure. Most will have never seen any lipless crankbaits. Getting something they haven't seen is not an issue. Rattle Traps have worked well, but I want to try something that works well bottom hopping. I may just stick with the Rattle Trap. If it ain't broke why fix it.

Seahawks defense will remain dominant, and will go all the way in 27.

What is your favorite lipless crankbait? two categories, bottom hopping and retrieved higher in the water column. Which ones do you fish around grass, open water, and riprap banks. Brand, size, colors. I only have experience with Heddon Sonic, and Bill Lewis Rattle traps. I haven't fished a Sonic since the day I bought my first Rattle Trap in 1977. I bought a LV 500 for bottom hoping, but haven't had a chance to use it. My best colors have been silver blue back, and baby bass.

I don't know if you can remove the rubber with a knife and still have a decent handle on bass reels, but all of my Shimano big game reels, I have had to remove the rubber. They have worked fine with just the white plastic after the sticky rubber is removed. I have no clue as to why Shimano hasn't addressed the problem, but I have 15 or so reels of many different year models that all ended up with sticky handles. The older Shimano 30 and 50 wide reels I have didn't have any rubber to start with, but every reel made after the year 2000 have had sticky handles.

I have worn regular baseball hats for over 50 years. Mesh ones in the summer non mesh in the winter. When I moved to Mexico I started wearing visor golf hats when out fishing. Lots of hair so no sunburn. I am currently undergoing treatment for Melanoma. I am going to buy one of those hats with flaps on the back to block the sun from my neck. I always thought people wearing those looked like idiots, but I guess I will now look like an idiot. I don't like hooded shirts, so idiot hat it is.

Purple skirts on spinnerbaits and bladed jigs work well. Purple and chartreuse skirts on spinnerbaits at one time were very popular, they still work, but don't tell anyone.

They are cheap. Buy more colors and try them all. Highly recommend light line and fish then around heavy cover.

It ain't no use if it's not chartruese.

Has anyone bass fished on the Columbia River out of the town of Vantage? When I was growing up we used to stop and eat at the restaurant there on our way to the West side of the state to visit relatives. I always thought it looked like a good place to fish, but never saw any boats on the water. Last year I drove by there again in on a weekend in June and didn't see a single boat on the water or trailer in the parking lot. The rip rap along the bridge sure looks fishy to me.

I had a Coastal 200 a few years ago, and it was one of the best reals I ever had. I used in Saltwater daily and fresh water every time I went. I liked it so much I bought a Coastal 150 which I still have and like, but it does not cast as far as the old Coastal 200 which I lost overboard. I have never owned a Coastal 80 so I can't comment on it. The Tatula 150 is a reel I use in both freshwater and salt, and have no complaints, but for some reason it isn't as smooth or cast as far as the Coastal 200 I had. None of these reals are in the same ballpark as my Zillion. They cast just as far, and catch as many fish, but there is something special about my Zillion that can't explain.

The tariffs may be suspended. Anyone know for sure if the tariffs are still on, or what the percentage is?

I use a 1/2 oz tungsten pegged punch weight with a skirt, and a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper for a trailer. I always snag jigs, but this setup gets through anything. I'm also fishing for big dumb unpressured bass, so no need to go light.

I just looked at Digitaka and they have Zillion SV TW reels for sale at $225. Best bang for your dollar. The extra $25 in your budget is well worth it. For another $50 you can get the Zillion TW HD. I haven't tried an TW HD but many say it is worth the extra $50. You won't be disappointed with any of the Tatula line reels, they cast well, are smooth, and can last forever, but the Zillion is in a whole different category. If you want a great dependable reel buy a Tatula, but your Lews reels already fit that category. If you want to go up a big step, then buy the Zillion from Japan. If you buy a Zillion, the only regret you will have, is you won't want to fish with any of your other reels.

That is my dream garage. All tackle, and no car.

I have one Zillion, and a few different Tatulas, and Coastals. They all work well, and I can cast them all equally well, but my Zillion is special, and I lack the words to describe why. My advice is, if you can afford to buy multiple Zillions' buy one, if you can't afford more than one, don't buy the first, because you will always want more of what you can't have.

Do you have a picture?