Wayne P.

Rigging examples-the bottom hook in the picture is used for another bait.

Two days ago, out of 40+ bass caught, about 20 of them were with the Zoom Horny Toad. I used a total of 4 Toads and still have the 4th one rigged up, although it's riddled with teeth marks. I used the Horny Toad Hook and the three other Toads I used were torn off the hook including the spring. I was using it over submerged pad stems in about 2' depths-66 degree water. I was buzzing it with a slight pause every couple of feet. I prefer the Zoom Toad because of it's heavier weight as I can cast it farther and cover more water. I use the G-Mag Oversize hook for slower presentations. I also do not put the hook into the body, I put the hook bend between the legs and the skin hook the point in the back. That prevents the bulky plastic from taking up room in the hook bend and results in better hookups.

I agree with the H2OC and the H2O.

Use the same scope on a .22 that you would use on any other rifle as long as it fits. Why would you want to sacrifice clarity and magnification just because of the .22's relatively low power? The better you see your target, the better you can hit it. Lots of people spend more for a scope than they do for the firearm. For squirrel hunting, I use a 6X, 30mm tube, 40mm objective scope on my Ruger Target pistol. I didn't put a varible scope on it because of the extra weight and not needing the lower powers.

samurai361, I like your idea about the aluminum angle. 2"-3" angle probably. I use the anti-skid tape already just on the tongue but making it wider should be better. I have been on a trailer with those walk-ways like in the BPS catalog. Too weak for my confort.

The best one is not made any more, BassBuster Scorpion, The next best is www.soblures.com

Zoom finesse worm in watermelon red flake

BOAT only

Same situation in Central Va. I'm guessing it's because the water temp drop lately. The week before last, the air temps were in the 80's and the water was warming up fast-the catching was good. The recent colder weather dropped the water temp., we had some nights in the 30's -BAD THING this time of year.

All my 9#+ bass have been caught using a Zoom Finesse worm rigged weedless wacky style.

10 lbs. 6 oz. on a wacky rigged Zoom finesse worm in Watermelon Red 10 lbs. 5 oz. " " " " " " " " " " 10 lbs. 4 oz. " " " " " " " " " "

Any alignment shop that can align the Ford twin I-beam front axle can align your trailer axle. "Been there, done that".

Looks like dogeguy is a believer of another line myth. Red line being invisible or low visibility. That red COLOR does become less visible as the water filters out the red COLOR as it goes deeper, but it does not dissappear. The color shows up as brown to black.

I've caught several dozen Va. bass this year already at weedy lakes with the Chatterbait. I prefer the 1/4 for that presentation. I add a double curlytail white trailer to a white skirt and crome blade. To get maximun vibration do as Rick Morris suggested, use braid.

The fishing was tough today with high winds and colder water temp than the last time I fished a particular lake, so I tried out the 1/8 Chatterbait. Threw it for about 15 minutes over shallow grass and caught one bass about 1 1/2 pounds. It vibrates more than I thought it would for being so small. I got to get some more just in case I loose them.

I was in Dick's Sporting Goods today and saw some 1/16 oz and 1/8 oz. Chatterbaits on display. Also some GIANT Chatterbaits for saltwater fishing. I purchased a couple of the 1/8 oz. to experiment for finesse presentations where I would normally use a Road Runner.

One of the lakes in Va. had a bass slot limit for years and it was eliminated this year. The reason was the practice of catch and release was working too well and having a slot limit for fishery management was no longer an effective tool. The stocking of fish is for recreational harvest and not the exclusive purpose of tournament fishing.

I disagree with Edwin Evers analysis of the use of braid when Carolina rigging. While it does float when not under tension, it is smaller per pound test than any mono including fluorocarbon and has less water resistance. When Carolina rigging, the line is under tension all the time due to dragging of the weight. Carolina rigging is not a slack line presentation that would preclude the use of slightly floating braid. Another thing, the braids float as compared to monos but even the slightest tension will pull it under the surface. The weight of a bare hook will pull it under. Even mono will float due to surface tension if not prewetted or weighted. Try it sometime, just throw a couple of feet of dry mono overboard and watch it float. Have you ever gotten mono line around your trolling motor shaft or OB propeller shaft-someone discarded some line and it didn't sink. Don't leave it there though, LOL. As far a leader material, I use fluorocarbon with lures that I want to keep close to the bottom. I use regular mono when I don't want a bottom hugging presentation or I want a slower fall especially fishing in weeds.

I don't use any additional weight unless the wind is blowing, in current, or I am fishing deeper than 5 or 6 feet. I use a fluorocarbon leader with braid and the fluorocarbon is for the weight since the braid floats. In the summer, I use a lead nail (Lunker City) weight to catch bass in 20-30 foot depths. Since I use that rig so much and the lead nails are hard to find and expensive, I buy size 3d finishing nails by the pound and use those when necessary. I used almost a full pound of those nails last year. Just bought another 1 pound box yesterday for this year. Also I use spinning gear 95% of the time.

Additional information. The Gamakatsu Octopus 2/0 hook is the #02412, and the 3/0 is #02413. The 2/0 is used with the finesse worm and the 3/0 is used with the Trick worm. Owner has a similar hook with a slightly smaller wire size but the largest size available is 2/0, it is the Mosquito Hook #5177-121. I mash the barb down to make removal easier on the fish and me. It's makes hook penetration easier and doesn't result in any lost fish. I also carry a pair of curved hemostats for hook removal since the hook shank is so short, it is difficult with fingers or even straight pliers. Those same hooks are used for exposed point rigging also when the chance of hangups is minimal.

I rig it this way. http://mysite.verizon.net/restmvit/wacky.html

You know the ole saying that "big lures catch big fish". Well little lures catch all size fish. I use the 1/16 oz. Roadrunner a lot with a 2" white curlytail grub and have caught bass up to 7# with it. It's a great post cold front lure. The best ones to handle bigger fish are the ones with the Gammy hooks. I use 20# Whiplash and a buddy of mine uses the Spiderwire Fusion in 10#, both lines are no longer available.

Avid, a 6 turn uni-knot will not slip if you do your part correct. The only "slip" I have ever had is the line will slip through the hook eye gap with the smaller diameter lines when Tx rigging if I don't keep checking it's movement. I've had the most problem with the 30# Spiderwire Original since it's equal to 6# mono in diameter. I've since solved that problem by blocking the gap. I tie a polamar knot, cut the line and leave the knot in place, slide the knot around to the gap before tying on the hook.

Favorites, Stren Super Braid in 20# and 30#, Stealth in 50#, Original Spiderwire in 30# and 60#, Stren Magnathin in 12# and 16#, XPS Fluorocarbon in 14# and 20#, McCoys Mean Green in 6# and 8#, Fireline in 14#.

I've been using super braids since they were first introduced. I always use mono backing to about mid depth of the spool and then fill up with the braid (about 50-75 yards) on spinning gear and baitcasting gear. I can get three reels spooled with one braid purchase and the braid will last for several years. I reverse the braid when it looses it's color or starts looking frizzy. Also after I have retied enough to see the joining knot on a long cast, I just replace the rest with enough to fill the spool again. I don't particularly like Power Pro, it has too rough a texture for my taste.