Bdnoble84

im not sure about straight jigs because the water is dingy to muddy. Best i can hope for is 2-3 ft vis. Anyone ever had success in lower visibility water? Ive tied a couple so far. I actually did an all black one and attached a vibrating jig blade. Caught one smallie in the river then proceded to snag it, but def potential up north here.

Grew up throwing spoons when i was younger. The red eye wiggler was a go to as was the classic red and white. Caught alot of fish on those. Gone away from from alot of those first baits over the years.

1/4 in spade bit works well. Rotate back and forth. If paint is cured it may require hitting it with a hammer

Thats more of a smallmouth thing. Great time to burn a double willow just under the surface.

Also Barlows always seems to have the best price. If its a matter of wire diameter, you can make it fit by inserting the hook and placing it in a vice or hitting on it with a mallet. Just know you might get some flashing when going back to a lighter wire hook. Nothing that cant be worked around. The bigger issue is the length of the shank to the eye. I have a mold that can take a 4/0 lightwire in the 1/2 oz size, but my ec 500bp’s have to long of an eye shank. In order for it to sit in the eye slot it has to sit at an angle which soesnt allow it to come out properly. Sure i could make it work, but at that point thats more work than i want to go to the trouble of. Take Munkin's advice and call or email Barlows.

For the price its probably worth a try.

Agree with that. Ive caught/ lost some of my biggest mid-late summer

I have had luck on a texas rigged toad buzzed on top in place of a sammy or spook. Also, senkos or flukes could be good. Or flipping with a weedless jig. as far as bite in the dark. I personally have never had luuck on smallies, but i only ever fish in the dark after nightfall so im not the best person for this.

I pour blank worm mold heads to warm up my mold. I save them and use them for neko weights.

What are your color choices. Color can matter in diff light conditions. Me personally, i’d still throw a spinnerbait. I feel confident i can work through and around cover.

19”. I dont carry a scale much. My goal is a 20” this year. Ive caught a ton of 16-18’s. My rivers do have some chunks.

Hard to beat a 3/8 os spinnerbait with double willows in white or chart across the current or a dt6 in craw running the seem. Smallies sit in fast water when its really hot because of oxygen content.

I feel it would be super simple. And yeah i think i would just go with a roller-bearing/crane swivel. I think i slightly slower, more wondering/fluttering action might be desirable on the fall? ??‍♂️. If I have time i’ll whip one up tonight. I’ve been turning out beetle spin style spinners.

Thank Alan.

As some of you have Seen im sure, I love colored blades. I paint my own. I’m struggling to find a clearcoat I really like. I dont like anything i need to brush on because i dont have a turner to help level them. So that rules out 2part epoxy. I tryed uv cure but it managed to peel off. Guessing it didnt actually bond to the metal? Kbs is ok, but it takes awhile to dry. Polyurethane has actually been the most durable, but i feel like even the gloss stuff leaves a cloudy tint. realistically, kbs or poly are my best options but I was wondering if anyone else has any ideas.

Never owned a bad battery persay, just undersized battery (24 size). Left me stranded 2 times. In fairness i was in the water 8+hrs both times and also running a amall depth finder. Upgraded to a size 27 and i get alot more juice.

Personally, im not a big fan of ball head jigs in rivers. I have opted for poisontail and walleye jig styles. I loose alot less jigs. Do you prefer a heavywire or lightwire hooks. For lighter wire options i prefer 2/8 powerpro braid on a mlxf or med/fast rod.. The sensitivity of braid helps me navigate rocks and not get snagged as much as picking up on light bites and bottom structure changes. I stick to braid gor heavier wire. I like 20lb power pro on a medium action baitcasting rod. I make poison tails with both style hooks but i bend out 90degree ec bp500s for my lightwire options.

They do that too, but its sure fun when that predatory rage gets triggered and the hit with reckless abandon

First glide bait bass. It needs some tweaking still because the hooks are too close together and i really need bigger hooks on it to keep em pinned. Also need to add alittle more weight in the front as the tail sits lower than the head. 1.15oz currently.

? very true. They are definitely rebels. So easy to tick off and lash out violently. Thats why i love them so much. You burn a bait in front of their face enough times, they will eventually crush it.

Some of them based on the angle i do think are sitting at the bank, but alot of them very well could be trailing. So whether its just coincidence or they are trailing and see a predatory opportunity is hard to say. I view it like hunting and funnels. The bass are using their surroundings to increase the success rate while using the least energy possible.

Smallies are lighting up!

I have always heard that they are a pack predator, but, maybe its just the smaller rivers I fish, i rarely find a school. Just randomly spread out. Might pick one or 2 off a spot. Although, now that ive started fishing a larger river hard, i have experienced some of this.

Pattern was on fire last night! All within 2-3ft of bank. Last one was pushed up on the bank! Caught 4, missed a handful more.

Who needs eyes. ???