Dorado

We think alike and I fish similar scenarios. This year, I've added the Rapala Rippin Rap (Chrome Blue) in 5/16 oz (2"), to the lipless arsenal and have had stellar success. It's very loud, rips great thru grass, and excels with the yo-yo technique, which works for me year-round. I will always be loyal to the 1/4oz SK RES series, but the Rapala lure gets it done. Check out their Red Crawdad pattern too (classic SW pattern).

Swim senko is on my next list of baits to try. I’ve heard nothing but great things

River2sea Rig Walker 100. My secret to trolling for stripers.

Strike King Bug (black and blue) with a Netbait tiny Paca Chunk (Toledo Special). Favorite finesse craw set up. Top 5 favorite pond baits for Largemouths, but try it out for smallies- who knows?

Do you guys use the Rapala knot with floating minnows? Will a Palomar Knot work just as effectively?

One last thing to add. Last year, I bought a baitrunner (see link below) and it changed my catfishing experience. When a cat runs with your offering, with the freespool “on”, simply turn the crank to lock the spool and the circle hook will do the rest. With this set up, I probably have a hook up succes rate at almost 100% http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/shimano-baitrunner-oc-spinning-reel

That link will serve him well. That instructor is a pro and an effective trainer. My favorite bais for cats are as follows (in order): live bluegill on a slip bobber rig, tilapia cut bait, mackerel, and chicken liver sprayed with Gulp! Alive! Shad scent.

My best advice is to start using Circle hooks (I love the Team catfish double action 3/0) and let the cats pick up the bait and run before setting the hook. In other words, don’t let them feel resistance! I use surgical tubing to wrap up the liver so it never falls off the hook during a cast. When you start getting nibbles, open the spool so you can watch the line swim off. Be patient. Once that cat swims off, engage the spool and reel fast. With a circle hook, no timely hooksets required! This is takes some practice, but your hooksets will increase tenfold. I promise you. I think a 6 year old will catch on to this technique as what I describe with the surgical tubing or even a pantyhose is worth the frustrations. Last thing, nibbles could be a turtle or a small cat that is hovering over the bait just being a nuisance. Find the spots with cats that don’t play games!

4” Senko in Green Pumpkin w/ Black Flake, Zoom Trick Worm (experiment w/ colors), and 7 1/2 Purple Powerworm are essentials in my opinion. A Strike King KVD 1.5 Squarebill in a bluegill color would be a smart Fall choice too. Good luck

@Catt #inspirednow I used a Junebug Zoom finesse worm on a spider slider during the postspawn and it got tons of fish this year. I have zero confidence with hair and Marabou jigs. In need to change that...... going to try the float and fly technique this winter with some Spro Phat flies. truth! I have quite the collection building up of expensive hard baits too that haven't seen a single tooth. Then I'll spend a couple bucks for a pack of grubs that will keep my rod bent a year long.

You got some style points right there from the judges!

I have four lures that have been skunk-less (2016 -YTD 2017) at various waters and used numerous times to get placed in a special category. Largemouth bass, along with some channel cats, have all fallen victim here. How much longer can they keep the streak alive? White Zoom Grub (3") on a chartreuse Roadrunner Zoom Trick Worm (Candy Bug) Tx-Posed on a 3/0 Gama G-Lock -Weightless Strike King Red Eye Shad - 1/4 oz Chrome w/ Blue Back Roboworm FAT straight tail - SXE Shad on a dropshot with a Roboworm Rebarb hook. Anyone else here? One rule, has to have a flawless record after at least three outings on the water.

I have a 7'0" Abu Garcia Vendetta Medium Spinning rod. It has a stiff backbone and feels more like a medium-heavy. I'm trying my 7'0" Medium-Light Fenwick HMG next time I go weightless because it has a faster tip so I can fling it further. It's great for drop shotting too with #10 PP braid and #8 copolyer leader I really like the 3/0 Gama G-Lock on the trick worm weightless. I fish at night mostly so I'm a little late on my hooksets since I can't be a line watcher. I always have my headlamp off.

Estes lake has some nice Brown Trout and plenty of rainbows. I used to do well fishing the dam with Dynamic Lures HD Trout (3" rip bait) in rainbow. Also, bring some chrome Kastmasters fish near islands or by sudden drop offs. Those areas congregate fish and they can't resist a falling fluttering spoon During the fall when the spawn occurs, fish the inlet where the Big Thompson empties in, with salmon eggs or be a hero and use a fly rod with Trout beads. I've had 30 fish days doing a combo of the above. Good luck! The scenery is surreal and the elk walk right up to ya. Check out the hotel from The Shining too. Spooky

I used to dread fishing weeds until I tried a weightless Zoom Trick Worm (candy bug). I like slowly dragging it along the bottom and discovered that it hovers effortlessly above vegetation. When dragging along sometimes, often you encounter a vertical patch of grass; you just finesse tug it through and that's when you also get a lot of bites too. I fished a swimjig with a paddle tail trailer for the very first time last Sunday and caught a nice bass within 15 minutes. I was surprised how well that cut thru vegetation and will use that more as a search bait for weedy Ponds ditch the weight on your TX rigged worms and see if you get similar results. Bonus feature of the weightless trick worm is the initial deadly fall too!

It's seasonal peaks with other species that dictate my priorities. I like to target stripers with paddle tails and underspins in coves in the winter and Trout immediately after ice out from my kayak. Catfishing with slip bobbers in the dog days of summer is a blast when the bass fishing comes to a complete halt. When the crappie spawn, I will always pick a couple epic outings to get some slabs. Fly fishing will always be my greatest passion but I haven't touched it since moving to Arizona :/

Nice crappie! I like it when you post the sonar screenshot. Keep it up!

Caught my first swimjig bass burning it above receding weeds. Weapon of choice: 3/8oz Pepper Signature Swimjig (Hawks Secret) paired with a BPS Speed Shad (Sexy Shad)

Finally had the chance to fish the Zoom trick worm and it was love at first sight. Had tons of bites but never had a solid hookset. I think I was using a 4/0 EWG What hook size and style will give a tx-rig newbie the best hooksets? My buddy who works at BPS recommended a 3/0 Gamma G-Lock and a member who turned them on to me recommended a 3/0 Gamma Offset Worm Hook. It will be forever since I get to fish next so I'm interested in getting a consensus. These worms have so much action! As always, thanks in advance for the advice. I can't stop learning from this site.

I would add a white grub and a trick worm to the mix especially for shallow waters

Since the square bill is a reaction type lure, I don't see why braid wouldn't hurt in clear water. The finesse game is all about FC or light hybrid line in clearer water Im curious what others will say because I don't like using braided line with anything with a treble hook. I like a little stretch in my line or leader when my rod loads.

I like using hoppers or foam black ants to get their attention to the surface. Then, I'll tie on 7-10" tippet on the shank of the lead fly with a trailer fly, usually a small prince nymph or pheasant tail.

Good line recommendation. I've always thrown 2" grub with bobbers to give me casting distance but hated the trade off of impeding that natural look during the retrieve. We catch channel cats all the time with 3" grubs and roadrunnners, but a flathead would be insane One of my favorite ways to ultralight fish Also, what reel and rod are you using with your ultralight set up? I ask because you definitely know your stuff!

Has anyone used the Lake Fork Live Baby Shad or Spro Phat Flies for crappie?

1/8 oz Kastmaster is one of my favorite trout lures. Never thought of giving it a try on crappies. Smart