bagofdonuts

zoom candy bug worm-i think they're 9", t-rigged,

I have a friend stocking a lake for smallmouth and the fisheries biologist said that smallmouth bass don't do well with bluegill as they won't eat them often enough to control the population. They are stocking rock bass and crappie instead.

The problem with spinning tackle for buzz baits isn't the retrieve speed its that it throws slack with the cast. The slack causes the buzz bait to sink initially making it hard to get it back on top. You want the buzz bait on top from the moment it hits the water. You'll get most of your hits in the first few feet, so if your buzz bait isn't working in the first few feet you've missed the game.

Get a couple buzz baits(black and white), learn how to tweek them to make them run slow v fast. There's a reason they are well known as a big fish bait.

nobody mentioned the old rebel wee craw. love the big o as well.

Yes. One of my hottest spots right now is just that. Just make sure there is some good current and bait fish schools.

Not sure about the mississippi, but I fish the arkansas river alot here in arkansas and they're probably pretty similar. Right now i'd be close to the main channel fishing current breaks (wing dams, jetties, etc.). I would also look at sand bars that have deep drops nearby, bait and current. Recently the bass on the arkansas moved from the jetties to the sand bars. Been doing well all summer on deep diving crank baits in citrus shad, chug bugs, and a candy bug zoom worm. white spinner bait is always good on the river as well.

its been pretty hot here in arkansas, but i've been killing them on the river. the bass group up in areas with high current and more oxygen. try a river.

thomas & thomas 6 weight with ross reel.

Bigger poppers are slower moving target baits. There usefulness comes in staying near the target longer. They are not really what I would call search baits like a buzz bait. But if for instance you want to target a specific type of cover like cypress knees they can't be beat. You need both.

Had an amazing 30min of fishing on the arkansas river this am. Got a big school of really nice lm and spots fired up on crank baits. This is the only one worth stopping for a second to snap a pic. We were giggling like school kids for awhile.

another vote for the ez in copperfield. try a littel ez on a swimjig as well.

if your on okeechobee get some braid and throw a gambler big ez in copperfield on a big (7/0) screw lock hook. You'll break that 5lb mark soon.

Thanks for the tips. I have heard that the injection 2 strokes were good motors but never owned one. It's located in an area with lots of lakes so finding a dealer to check it out shouldnt be a problem. I'm a bit curious as to why a guy would put $1,500 worth of new lowrance electronics on it, then buy a new boat.

Im looking seriously at a 98 bass cat 19ft panterra. It has a 200hp mercury efi engine with only 150hrs on it. Anyone have any experience with that engine good or bad? I plan to have the compression tested. The rest of the boat looks great, new updated electronics, carpet and seats all look good. Price is right at the average NADA retail. Everything seems to be in good working order. I'd appreciate any tips on what to look out for. Thanks.

Nice fish. I need to go to Spokane, Sweatshirts and smallie fishing sounds nice, I think its gonna be a 110 here today.

I like greg hackney. he does a lousiana sportsman show that's pretty good. he's entertaining and maybe the best jig fisherman out there.

A fluke should work similar to bunny leach. small stream you need something that lands softly. make long casts and be stealthy.

purple bunny leach on the fly rod. just let it swing and drift around below you. smallies can't stand it.

Fish tubes alot. Best way to insert lead head jig is backwards of what your probably thinking. Don't insert head of jig up from bottom of the tube. Insert hook into head of the tube about 1/8 inch down (leave enough room for the jig head above the hole and then some), then run the hook all the way out the hollow part of tube pulling the jig head into the hole made with the hook point until just the line tie sticks out. Wetting the jig head will allow it to slide in the hole made by hook without tearing the tube up. Doing this way allows you to 1. use hooks with weed gaurds, and 2. change tubes without retying. I think the action you get with a lead head jig is much better than t-rig. It falls in a circle just like a dying baitfish.

If there's a deep grass edge you can try a big/heavy jig with rage craw or similar trailer. Pitching to the deep weed line ala Greg Hackney. Throw slack to the bait and let it fall fast to the bottom. Couple hops and do again. Key is the fast fall,

Right now been catching them on crankbaits on the jetties with current. shad colors or citrus shad color. just run boat parralel with jetty till you find them (sometimes there on the tips and sometimes closer to bank, but always in current). last few times they've all been on the upstream side of jetty. i usually have a couple crankbaits on - one shallow diver and one 10-15' diving bait. Somedays they eat a spinnerbait better than a crankbait for some reason throw a white one in the same places.