HawkeyeSmallie

I actually threw a french pearl last night for the first time ever. Going after bass of course and caught three crappies. One was 1/2" shy of an Iowa Master Angler award! First time I've ever thrown a jerkbait. Me likey.

Well this happened before the lure even hit the water. There’s a knob and a wrench for it.

What colors do you like to throw with some good wind/chop?

Well I treated myself to an extremely nice reel. Bought a Steez SV TW from a Japan store. No way I was paying the American price. Anyways, I didn't mess with the knob because I heard you didn't need to. I caught two really nice bass before I tried to make a longish cast. In mid flight, before the bait even hit the water I had a terrible backlash that snapped the line and sent my jig flying in the air. To say I was sad was an understatement. I watched a youtube video where a guy was making casts without putting his thumb on it and said it was dang near impossible to backlash. I was throwing I would say a 3/8 oz bass jig with a trailer on it. Not sure what I did wrong.

This over???????

Hot dang, went out this afternoon trying a different lake. Second cast of the day with my trusty white Terminator spinnerbait I caught an 18.5” bass. This girl had a massive body on it for that length. Definitely a top 3 bass for me this summer.

Abso100%lutely.

Thanks. I've got a swimbait rod that can handle 3.5 oz. At least that's what it says on the blank. I'm sure it would be fun to throw but with no electronics I'd just be casting blindly out into the lake.

What's a typical A rig setup weigh?

I'm around the CR area. Born and raised. Go Hawks!

Holy cow, maybe this is why I lose some fish as well. Sunday night my biggest bass jumped and threw my spinnerbait. I'm fishing from a kayak, but many times I'll set the hook on the right side of it and switch to the left to reel it in. I'm really trying to not let them jump if I can help it. This guy was farther out though and spit it before I realized he was coming up.

I'm a big catch and release guy. It probably shouldn't but it bothers me when I see some guys keep everything no matter how big or small. Not to be racist, but there's a dam I like to fish that's very popular and a minority population keeps EVERYTHING. Last time I was there a guy kept a 7 pound walleye and a 3 pound bass. At the same time he kept an 8 inch walleye. Literally kept everything.

If you don't mind, let's here some details. Mostly wondering what baits you were throwing. Thanks!

Look great. How much time does it take you to make one? I've never thought about making my own lures but could be a great hobby.

The spinnerbait I've been throwing this last week is a Terminator. T1 maybe? Double willow. I'm guessing it's 10-15 years old. Not sure how much it cost back in the day but I'd love to find something similar.

Casting. It’s a 6’6” MH fast action. At least 20 years old, Gander Mountain Guide Series.

Don't think I mentioned this earlier but I'm throwing them on a rod that wasn't getting much use. Throwing it with 20 pound braid. I'd say I land the majority but definitely not all. I'd say the largest one I had on I lost when it jumped last night. Second cast of the day. Is mono or floro better? Stick with the braid?

Well I went out yesterday once again and caught a good 10-15 bass on a Spinnerbait. Still throwing the same one, a 15 year or so old white Terminator. Gets stuck in the wood sometimes but in a kayak it’s easy to get out. It’s just an exciting way to fish for me, especially when they hit it right when it hits the water. They are loving this thing right now.

You know, I was thinking about this as well. I’m back from a long break, it seems anglers today have way more options now. Spinnerbaits vs chatterbaits vs underspins. I figure spinnerbaits work through cover the best, but the underspins are going to look way more natural. Not sure where that leaves the chatter bait. Lol Idk, this fishing seems way more “difficult” than it used to be. Paralysis by analysis.

Oh I agree. As I mentioned earlier, once I get out there I’m fine. Went out last night and had a blast for a couple of hours. Tried talking my wife into going and she shot me down. ALMOST, stayed home. Glad I didn’t.

Dang, this is how much I fish spinnerbaits. The one I was throwing last night was a double willow Terminator. A 3.5 blade and a 4.5 blade. Looks like they don’t even make them anymore. Darn.

I just watched a Rick Clunn video and he said the willow leaf blade is the worst. He says water displacement is the main key and the willows displace the least. He will still throw them but sounds like he prefers Indiana blades and Colorados. Found it interesting.

This isn't weird but it's something many of you do that I NEVER do. And that's switch colors. I know many will keep the same bait but just change the color. Me? I just change baits. Why? IDK, I'm still getting used to this.

Mind if I ask a quick question but related to your chatterbaits? I was going to order some but wasn't sure which blade color to order. What do you recommend if I'm trying to imitate a bluegill? THANKS!

Well, at least there are two of us in the world. Not from Iowa are you? LOL