bagofdonuts

Already started moving shallow here. jig & trailer on wood.

Once had an amazing day on Ky Lake using Arkansas Shiner color.

Cool. That's not even that big of a bass.

Your probably talking summertime outside weed edge. Rate of fall is the key, sometimes they like a really fast falling jig, especially in summer. My thinking would be to start with a faster falling (1 o.z) and go lighter if not getting a reaction. You can cover water faster and trigger the aggressive bass. Greg Hackney has a you tube video that's real good on jig fishing the deep weed edge. He's the man, so I'd listen to him and get whatever he's using.

I fish out of an express. Its a great tin boat. I'd take a hard look at that one with a yamy on the back. Have the engine checked out and plan on some new trailer tires and your in business.

norman little n.

Great article.

I'm going all arkansans: Homer Circle, Cotton Cordell, Bill Norman, Larry Nixon, George Cochran, Bobby Murray, Mark Davis.

I used to have an awesome old skeeter tri-hull. Sturdy boat. That one looks like it was well cared for. Even the jell coat and carpet.

There used to be a great article on here about pre spawn spinnerbait tactics. I think the author was on Toledo bend and pitching them like a jig with a pork trailer into standing timber. Said he never really cast and retrieved them until post spawn.

I've heard several pros say that you always want to be where the fish are coming to not where they are leaving from. So it pays to be ahead of them.

You can. In fact there is one advantage a spinning reel has and that is the bait free falls on slack line, while it takes effort not to get a pendulum affect using a bc. Use this advantage by pitching to vertical cover like standing timber.

I have two of the originals. Paid 89 for them. There good reels. I'd check the drag, make sure it comes off smoothly. I've had to replace drag washers on both of mine. Not a big deal but could cost you a few more bucks if they haven't been replaced recently. I like them for flipping and frogging on bigger rods they feel better.

My favs are tubes, rebel wee craw, and a rapala skitter pop. All time fav tho is a black bunny leach on a fly rod. They hate it.

That's interesting. There's a similar trend here on the arkansas river. Bass that are relating to current(i.e. not spawning in the backwaters) will be at 5' or 12'. My theory is that depth also creates a current break, water in the middle of the water column is moving the fastest and there are breaks in the current speed at those depths.

i'm probably putting a bit more than half mono, more like 2/3rds mono 1/3rd floro. i use a double improved cinch knot to connect - three wraps on each side. i do the same with braid, but more braid and not as much backing.

for bass it doesn't matter alot, but the line to backing knots are stronger and easier to tie if the diameters are close to the same. if you have some 8# and some 10#, i'd use the 10, but i wouldn't go out and buy a new spool of 12 just to be exact.

As they said above. Swim jigs (i.e. skirted) excel in shallow weedy cover. You should also add the screw lock type either keel weighted or unweighted hooks for shallow weedy cover. Sometimes they want a skirted/bigger profile bait and sometimes they want the smaller profile of a screw lock type.

I guy won a big tournament down here fishing a silted in bay using a magnum drop shot. Weight would sink into the silt but worm stayed just above it.

Toad!

H2O in sexy melon.

When pitching i've got brakes and spool control all the way off. you may occasionally get some over spool but never a backlash. if so, you need to ease up. if i get a loop that's buggin me, i just make a 1/2 cast into the open, reel it up and keep goin. And whenever i move spots i make a cast to clear any loops. turn em off or all in and try to go easy/smooth you'll get same distance and less trouble.

Spool 2/3 to 3/4 of your reel with cheap mono. Spool only the last 1/3 to1/4 of the reel with braid. It will make the braid easier to handle and if you have to cut it off your not loosing a lot of line. Anytime you catch a fish or have to pull hard on a snag strip off some line and reel it back in before casting.

usually none. but occasionally i make a bad pitch and bounce off a limb going in, that's when you get separation (but not if it's pegged).

use 10lb braid