Bdnoble84

Been working on trying hardbaits. I think ive got some really good action down with the stickbaits. They are comparable to an xrap but dont suspend. They kick out hard on the jerk. The flat side baits have a very eratatic but tight wobble.

Thanks Will. Forgot that discussion. Jig looks great btw.

What owner hook are you using, im assuming you modified it since i dont think owner makes a 30 degree hook?

Hey, they catch fish lol. Weather maraboughvor craft fur or bucktail. Only 1 12in smallie tonight but missed 2 others.

I think you are right on that, good call. The chartruese im pretty sure is bucktail looking at it closer. Need to see it wet.

Looked at that website. Does he source the blanks from the actual manufacturer? Or how does he get away with selling those referencing the brand name?

Definitely mustad widegap.

3/8 oz head, 3/0 mustad widegap.olive and brown bucktail with fl chart bucktail. Copper crystal flash. Green pumpkin grub. I think im going to have to throw this below the d**n this week. Bet it gets bit. Seeing the grub on it now, you guys are right, i think its a round bend hook.

judging by the angle the grub is sitting at, it actually might be a mustad 91768 wide gap. I probably have something similar laying around i can put together and see if it it looks the same.

5” Finesse worm, or 4” senko nose hook, wacky rig, neko tig, texas rig. Pick tour poison

I like ec lil nastys. Their sticky. If u are looking for a heavier wire, sure @smalljaw67 has some favs. He seems to favor owners and mustads in his videos on youtube

I have chart bucktail but no chart craft fur. Also only poisontail hooks are moded lil nasty sickle hooks, super light wire. i can so as many as you like as shown in the picture no problem, just have to substitube bucktail for the chart craftfur. If interested, message me. If not completely understandable.

I picked up a couple cedar boards at Menards just to get started carving Crankbait and jerkbaits. The first one I made turned out nicely and had a good action. If I’m getting more serious and make a consistent bait, are there better cedar bait options or do you think I can sort through boards to find enough consistency that way. Also, I’m not 100 percent confident on understanding grain for carving. Are the section where the grain isn’t visible best or the straight grain sections that are visible. Guessing the sections where the grain isn’t straight are going to be the most difficult to work with.

Perfect ive started getting action in the eddies near the bank in skinny water the last couple days on square bills and jerks so ill have to see if theyll come up as well.

I was thinking 55 plus. Usually i dont break the frog out til june but ive been making poppers and and some other hardbaits so i was thinking id give them a go. Earlier than normal

Thats exactly what i Was thinking. Maybe a snootie jig head?

1/4 oz? Craft fur isnt it?

First smallie on my hardbaits

Keep looking better and better

Looks great. If a smallie doesnt bite that, id say they are in quarintine.

Decided to try my hand on some wooden baits since ive made more jigs and spinnerbaits than i have time to fish currently. Here are a few of my first attempts. The carving part has been the easiest part for me. Definitely have some work to do figuring out lure placement. Also my first attempts with an airbrush so im nowhere near where i want to be on that front either.

Sure this has been addressed but it didnt come up in my search specifically for smallies, when do you all start throwing topwater (water temp)?

Very nice Will Wetline. That looks really good. I actually made something almost identical a couple weeks ago. They flow really nicely in the water.

Shabbona is going to be an absolute madhouse. By only opening a couple they are just inviting overcrowding. Opening lowden yet not castle rock which is about as low impact as it gets with its 2 boat ramps right on Rt 2. I dont get it. ?

First northern of the year, roughly 28”