Millerman

Here is some food for thought...Last winter I went through this same thing...I had a head style I liked but the hook sucked. I could not find a mold to satisfy the needs, so I made one. There is a guy in NY...George @ In-Shore Tackle...he made me a 4 cavity mold out of silicone of the head style I wanted. It cost $35.00 plus 4 bucks to ship. It is good for 1000-4000 pours per cavity. I had to modify it with a dremel to accept the hook I wanted before I got started. I also found a company that supplies the silicone (Poly-Tek out of PA.). They have a trial size silicone package for about $125.00. I have made about 8 molds with it so far with enough to make 3 or 4 more. As far as cost...I am not really sure. It takes alot of time and patience to get something that looks professional. However...I now have a jig that is to my specs and does NOT lose fish. The previous hooks were lite wire and would bend out on hooksets. I hope this helps.

I am looking for some good articles about shad seasonal movements and crayfish seasonal movements...especailly in regards to the Mississisppi River...but will settle for any. Anybody have some good links that you are willing to share? Thanks in advance!

Don't forget to pay attention to the wind, sun and barometric pressure when you go.

I prefer to use baby brush hogs in green pumpkin on a c-rig around sand bars/humps and rock/rubble/gravel. I think they imitate a crawfish. Have done well on LM and SM this way. Haven't really t-rigged them...I usually throw a tube or a jig n pig in the t-rig situations.

From what I know, you will not only need a bachelor degree but also a master's degree for anything relating to Wildlife managment/fisheries. Especailly if you want to make any money whatsoever and be located some place in the country you don;t mind living. I went to UWSP (University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, supposedly one of the best Natural Resource Schools in the nation). I graduated with a watershed mgmt dgree and a minor in soils. I could NOT find a decent job in the state! I ended up working with my dad and am still doing so today. My suggestion would be to keep the love for natural world as a hobby and do something else as a job or career. I know too many folks that are not happy with working 9-5 doing their hobby? what do you do on the weekends then? This may go against the grain of what everybody else siad...but...you can make up your own deceision.

Same thing as thetopwaters...it will dart side to side with the same rod motions as listed above. Since FAt Ika isn't a floater, it will "walk the dog" beneath the surface.

skin hook=less agressive? I never said this this? I had to reread my post to check--yup, didn't say that. I only said that when one is skin hooked, it seems there are a lot that are. I really don't know why it is? If they are "sucking it in" more or what? I am very concious of my hook sharpness, I set the hook very hard with no stretch line and reel in as much slack as I can. When they are skin hooked, it is in the top of their mouth, down deep. The hook can't go "up" into the top of their mouth beacaus of the angle (the eye of the hook is still in thier mouth). Maybe I am setting the hook too quick, before they try to spit it? this is what how I am understanding your first post. I don't read it ias the hook didn't penetrate (therefoe sharpness, line stretch and hook set power are factors)?

Do you guys beleive in the th esolunar Tables as far as bass activity or peak game periods? I know that there have been tourney days that we caught most of fish from say 10-noon. When returning to weigh in and talking with other anglers they same the same thing. when we get back home and check the table, sure enough, that was close to a peak game time. It never fails that If I check the table before hand, it never works thoguh! what are your thoughts?

Try www.*.com. They have good pricing. not sure about accomodating the custom colors though? I did contact Schubert's/Lakeland Tackle about some custom tube colors. I think minimum was 1000 pcs. At that time, I remember him saying he was the one that made Gander's bulk platics. I am not sure they do the craw tubes or not? It has been a couple years so my memory is foggy.

I think that when it is in the skin of their mouth, it is a matter of the angle they take it or how aggressively they bite more than a factor how hard of hookset, line stretch or hook sharpness. I use 30lb fireline (zero stretch) and set the hook like a mofo and hook the fish in the skin of the mouth quite often. Keep trying and get some "reps under your belt". I usually find that if I skin hook one, they will all be skin hooked that day.

Well....least favorite technique would be anything over 12 ft deep, don't matter what lure or technique. AS for the c-rig, I absolutely despised it until last July. I fished a Stren Series Tourney and both of my partners threw it in at certian times. So, I thought I should learn how to use it. Honestly, I fished it from August through october and found it to be very productive at specific locations and times. IT for sure has it's place. It would even out produce my previously favorite techniques in the certians locations. It is now a mainstay. For those that don;t believe, try it more than once and you will be a believer too!