Lard_Bass

Anyone use these? And what do you use for a trailer? And what is the color of that trailer? I typically use a 1/4 oz silver minnow with a grub trailer (typically white). I love using these for the kids rods (1/8 oz size) because they can chuck them with their little spincasting outfits and I don't have to worry about picking weeds off of them.

Muddy man, Check out this video (scroll to bottom and click on the shaky head video). One of the pros uses a finishing nail to rig up a "digger" worm. http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/news/story?page=b_fea_BMM_webContent_launch_Dec06 After I watched this I gave it a shot late last fall. I used a nail in a senko and liked the movement a lot. I am looking forward to using this technique a lot next year.

There are so many colors and combinations out there today. I listed the primary colors that are mainly sold. I typically gravitate to green / watermelon and purple.

Also, any good suggestions on trailers? I bought a pack of trailer hooks for when the bass are short striking. I was wondering if any generic grub would work.

Keep the suggestions coming. For those who want to temper the bait monkey, try this coupon ($10 off $25) but it expires by 1/31 at Dick's. This helped me load up on spinnerbaits. http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=240566 I had no problems using the coupon but did rack my brain trying to come up with $25 exactly on each purchase. Also, I think Dick's employees think I am addicted because I have been going down there almost daily to feed the bait monkey.

I have just started getting into Bass fishing more and trying to add a spinnerbait to my arsenal. I read a couple of books and articles during the winter and the spinnerbait has been, hands down, the most mentioned and recognized lure for searching an area for fish. The only confusing thing is if a single or tandem blade is better when going through some cover. I have read opposing opinion. One expert says a single is better while another says a 2 blades help cover the hook better. I understand the basic differences in blades. I may just go go load up on some Booyahs and Terminators. Also, given that most places sell willow/willow and colorado/willow tandem, I may just opt for those. Heck, I got a buddy who only throws the $1 spinnerbaits from Wallyworld and he swears by them. I got some for the kids and if they outfish me with my Booyahs and Terminators then I will switch!

dodgeguy, are you saying I only need double colorado blades? No willow?

Thanks for all the brand name suggestions. I am thinking of the following configurations for most lake fishing conditions: 1. 1/2 oz w/ willow leaf blade 2. 1/2 oz w/ colorado blade 3. 1/4 oz w/ tandem willowblade I was going to start off with a white / chartreuse combo as I am learning to use spinnerbaits. I have read that is the most popular. I also will get a dark color combo for some nighttime fishing. Any other combos I should be looking at. I stuck to the top 3 to keep the bait monkey to a minimum.

I was looking for reasonably priced spinnerbaits ($3-$5 each). Any brand recommendations? I have seen a lot of Terminator recommendations. Thanks.

Check out this list: http://www.fieldandstream.com/fieldstream/photogallery/article/0,13355,1179845,00.html I am a fan of the Zoom and Senko Worms and the Rebel Pop-R.

i was thinking you wanted to pull a water skier behind that canoe. ;D

Thanks for the advice. I am about to purchase a trolling motor and didn't even think about the how the weight will change the dynamics of the canoe. I currently have a 12' Double Pointed Radisson with sponsoons on the outside. I am probably going to get the floats. One more question, your 55 lb thrust motor seems awfully powerful for your canoe. I was thinking 30 lb would be enough. What made you go with the extra juice?

Avid, where art thou?

I purchased my first canoe this past fall to mainly use for fishing. I am very new to canoeing and my son has joined me on a couple of trips to a small lake at a state park that has a lot of visitors. This upcoming year, I am going to hit more remote and larger lakes. I am still learning to deal with stability and was thinking of getting outriggers such as these (cabelas has them cheaper): http://www.canoegear.com/catalog/product.php?productid=533&cat=0&page=1 I wanted to know if anyone has insight into using outriggers and if they are worth it from a safety perspective. The lake I used my canoe on has no powerboats on it but the larger ones I will be going to, some permit 9.9 hp or 20 hp boats. Thanks.

BF, I went out today and didn't get a bite the whole day. I did bump into a guy that caught a couple of dinks on some live minnows. So RW's advice is right on. However, when I fished a little down from the guy with live bait, his luck ran out over the couple of hours that I was within viewing distance. Maybe it's time to learn how to fish for steelhead?

Bass, I have been skunked recently too in SW PA. All the ponds / lakes in the South Hills have yielded nothing. Most guys I talk to along the shores are going for trout. I got a couple little dinks about a month ago and nothing since. I was going to give it a try tomorrow before the next cold front comes in. I haven't decided where yet but your post doesn't give me much hope in this area. :'( As far as what I have tried, I threw Senkos, Texas rigged worms, jerkbaits, Rat-L-traps, jigs, and tubes and came up empty. Drop shotted last week and no luck either. It was frustrating this weekend because my son and I saw some bass jump out of the water right after lunch on Saturday. The water was calm and they were feasting on the surface. I broke out some top water lures and no luck either. I may just try fishing tubes and worms tomorrow and nothing else. I'll let you know how I do.

Thanks for all the input. I came to the conclusion that I just fish whenever I get a chance. I check the pressure just to know what I am in for but rarely does that deter me from fishing. Even when I went to my remote camping spot, I fished almost all day and didn't do any other activities. Actually, I have been dropping other activities to make room for fishing. Gotta love having that fishing itch. The main reason I thought about getting the barometer was I got a free $10 gift card in the mail from Cabelas. I'll just allow the bait monkey to purchase more lures to crowd my tackle box.

I should have stated that I go out every year to a remote location where there is no TV or computers. I can go fishing, hiking, biking, etc. I was thinking of getting a barometer so it will help me decide whether I should fish or do something else. Granted, I will most likely choose fishing but I like knowing what I am up against if i do go.

2 questions, 1. Do you follow barometric pressure prior to decision to go fishing? 2. Do you have a barometer? I personally started following barometric pressure to increase my chance of success. I was thinking of getting a cheap barometer from Cabelas just to help me gauge whether pressure is rising or falling. I saw one review at BPS that did not recommend the cheap one. I was wondering if I should ignore the bait monkey on a cheap barometer. Thanks.

Any issues with using a horizontal rack?

Thanks to everyone on this thread on setting the drag. I got a nice 2 1/2 bass while down in Orlando. I used 8# line on my spinning rod and used 2 lbs of groceries to set the drag. The drag worked wonderfully as it let line out nicely during the fight. My old method of touch and fell or using a cheap scale would've lost me another fish but not this time.

RW, I have a spinning reel set up that was backlashing on me and was told to set the drag higher.

Thanks. The rod I was concerned about is a travel rod that I received as a company gift. I have never used it but was going to start bringing with me on little excursions. The rod says it can handle up to 8# test line, it's a 5'6" Light Action rod. When I tried calibrating it last night, I noticed that it was 2/3 - 3/4 bent with the bag barely leaving the ground (more like sliding). Your thoughts confirm my gut that the rod probably cannot handle the 8# line. I should go down to 6# then. Roadwarrior, another newbie question on drag, I remember telling you how I was playing around with a new reel when I lost a decent bass. I had a local store put some line on my reel. I went back to them once and told them that I have been getting a lot of backlash (wondering if they spooled it the wrong way). They told me that my drag was set too light, is that right? That doesn't seem right to me. I really think they put too much line on. I also bought some line softener and that seemed to help cure the backlash.

Bump. Tried the grocery bag trick and feeling pretty good that my drag is set right. Thanks for the tip. Quick question though, if you have a light action rod, getting the bag off the ground is difficult so do you just err on the side of setting it on the lighter side? I figure I am within the 25-35% range of the line's strength. I definitely set it too tight when I tried winging it on feel or using a cheap scale. Thanks again for that nice trick.

Try getting this lure back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3AepYiNcDQ For a nice laugh: