Bdnoble84

Ive started dabbling a small amt with bladed jigs in the rocky, snaggy river i fish in. I am finding it very difficult to fish these baits without snagging in the rocks. I really love the idea of slowrolling one just off bottom, ticking the tops of the rocks or employing a rip jig retreive. What are y’all doing to keep from snagging in rock and rubble. i make my own so i can come up with just about any modification that might help.

Skirt on or off?

I have no basis on science for any of this, but i could see it plausible that if they ate a ton of crayfish maybe they would develop a specific odor based on that diet? There are scenarios where that does happen. Again no just ification or evidence to support but thats what came to mind as plausible.

Speaking of Chrome, these metallic krylon paints can be really fun to play with. They have different glitter dust ones as well that can add nice accenting.

I started that way, but its so loud and I do alot of my stuff in late evening. Living in town I had a neighbor complaining about the compressor running at 11 at night. (She’s call the cops crazy, so no go there).

Im not an airbrush expert. I have an iwata neo that i got a couple years ago with the small air compressor kit. The compressor isnt worth the money. It doesnt have enough pressure range. The air brush works. Thats about all I can tell you with that. Definitely wouldn't say dont buy it but I dont know how it compares to others.

These do work through an air brush but thwy will need to be thinned down. Createx thinner works well and is available at hibby lobby, otherwise just mix a small amount of clear dishsoap with water. You will also need to crank the pressure up on your compressor to push it. Folk art i beleive it is has some cool colorshifts.

They fo call it a worm nose jig mold…. So yeah I think that counts. or is that a ballhead. Anyways, the mushroom head is called a wormnose. I can get up to a 4/0 lightwire hook to fit in the 1/4 and 3/16 weights i cant remember with the 1/8. Its what i use, but i dont do alot of shakyheading to warrant buying another mold or shakyhead jigs.

Yes, I beleive that is normal for those. I too like largos, esp for the price. They really have a nice body roll

A frog chasing minnows… DUH!!! ???

Im almost strictly river when it comes to smallies. I agree with time on the water as being one of the biggest factors in catching big smallies. However, what I an learning its not just getting more bites at the apple. as I spend more time on a body of water I start to learn the nuances of it and where to find fish. Location is key to me and if I stop catching fish it means they have moved based on conditions/season. as far as seasons, my biggest smallies have consistently came in July and August. Smallies are very predictable in location and the most aggressive they will be all year. This plays into my style of fishing.

I think the bucktail in the red and white one isnt bad, although i like to flair mine out alittle more. I dont know if it makes a difference though. I like tying rabbit zonker trailers personally. You can go single for more of a leach/worm profile or double for a craw. You can palmer a body in as well if you like. Me personally. I go less skirt strands so the hair has more room to undulate. @Smalljaw has a couple nice hybrid jig how to’s if you go to youtube.

Its not a great idea to breath it in. Definitely would advise wearing a mask. But im not sure on toxicity level

I was thinking Sleepy Hollow

Had to add this one. It was beautiful Saturday fishing in the snow.

Depends on the body of water. My home stream absolutely not. The bigger river i fish, most definitely. Realistically, the small river dumps into the bigger river down stream so If it comes out of the smaller stream ill just say it was produced in the bigger river and then wisper watershed ??

Ok. I was more wondering technique. Thank you.

Does anyone know what lure he was using. I never caught that.

I am honestly not sure what I would do in this situation. I will never see anything like this unless I travel. living in illinois, a 5lb fish would be a rare trophy around here. I cant fathom catching a monster like that. One silver lining to the fish being harvested. The dnr is going to gain a ton of information on giant smallmouth from this fish. Realistically, its a very old fish and it didnt have alot of reproductive years left. The knowledge gained could be very beneficial to understanding giant smallmouth. Or they could just discover its a freak of nature that wont be duplicated. Regardless knowledge will be gained for this fish.

For me it really depends on the bait im fishing. I tend to be lift and reel though with most presentations. My biggest change is in Pike infested waters. This will get me setting hooks harder and more frequently than anything else, and once set i really lean into the fish so it cant get the line in its mouth to bite me off. I admittedly miss/lose some bass because of this.

Or super stainless lol. Just dont boatflip it. ?

That’ll be prototype #2. I don't see why i couldn't get 5 #2 blades on there. ?

Not sure how it’ll track yet but its sure going to be hard to miss with all that flash.

Im not a ned guy, that being said ive been hammering them on hair jigs and wacky rig senkos lately. Really the senko has been working all summer to now

Only trolling? A 3.8 keitech on a 1/4 head is money. If they are that active on baitfish id be inclined to throw a white spinnerbait as well.