Brad_Coovert

45 - 50 degrees - Blade baits and suspending jerkbaits 50 - 55 degress - Suspending jerkbaits, slow rolled spinnerbaits w/single blades, jigs 55 - 60 degrees - Same as above plus lipless crankbaits and Crigs Brad

If you have fish in pre, during and post spawn, then you have fish all over the place. The pads are a place that may hold fish. Thus, try the swim jig and see what the bass say. Brad

Bass are more active in mid 50's water temps than you think. Some of the biggest bass will spawn early in the cooler water in many lakes. My baits that I would have tied on would be a suspending jerkbait, a lipless crankbait, a single Colorado blade spinnerbait, a jig and a Crig. These 5 rigs will catch fish anywhere a bass swims in the spring. My first bait of choice is the lipless crankbait looking for active fish, especially around grass, rock and plain bottoms on points, drops and flats near spawning coves. Next is the jerkbait is in the same areas. Third comes the spinnerbait, slow rolled along the bottom, preferrable around wood near staging areas. Next is the jig around wood and rock cover in the same areas. Last, the Crig on staging points. Good luck! Brad

I love the Pointer 78. Won a lot of $ from my fellow club members on it. Still, when I have been on a good jerkbait bite and a lot of small fish were hitting he 78, I would move up to the 100. Also, the bigger fish may not be up in the areas you are fishing yet. Brad

Burley, you know the next step up in storage from a big tackle bag..... ....a boat. Brad

Lake Fork has a bigger 5 1/2" version on the way. I have been trying to order them for two months, but they are not ready yet. Lake Fork has been TOO busy filling orders for the the 4 1/2" and the smaller 3 1/2" version. Be assured though, I will have the 5 1/2" when it comes out. Brad

I use the Orings with no hookup problems and very few lost baits. In fact, I once fished 3 hours with the same Senko using an Oring and caught dozens of fish on it. My hook of choice is either A weedless Gammy wide gap finesse hook in 1/0 for 4" baits or 2/0 for 5" baits. I also will use the Owner Mosquito hook in open water. Brad

I've seen bass chase some really big forage. I was fishing for some smallies up in Muncie on the White River after work and saw a huge fish, probably in the 6lb.+ range going after some huge suckers that IMO, would never fit in its mouth. I have also caught some nice bass with very large prey sticking out of their throats. If a bass can east a large 6"+ gizzard shad, why not a big Trap or jig the same size? You may not get as many bites, but your quality may be much better. Good luck! Brad

Don't forget that these are also great baits fished weightless on a wacky rig. Brad

If I'm fishing a big spinnerbait deep in the summer, I like a single willowleaf blade. It has less resistance than a big Colorado blade and is easier to fish faster and still keep it deep. Brad

The 6' rod will work fine. Most of the time, I have the rod pointed down when fish these baits and set the hook to the side. Same as I would for topwaters, hard jerkbaits, etc. The shorter rod is easier to work this way. If I'm bank fishing, I use a 5'6" pistol grip rod for most baits. If the 6" bait is too big, you can buy the Sluggo in 4" as well. Good luck! Brad

I try to keep the Lake Fork Tackle swimbaits in stock, but they sell out at lightning fast speed. Just got some in this week though. As always, 10% off to members. Brad

Man, what a problem to have. I wish I had that problem here in Indiana. If you want to keep the 2 1/2 lb foish off your line, you'll probably be looking at some of the bigger hardbody baits. swimbaitnation is a good website to look at for swimbait fishing. Brad

The only way myself and the guys in my club use the crawtube baits like the MadMan or YUM Crawbug is on a Crig and then, we only use the smaller 2 1/2" sizes. Being a tube, they have a nice slow drift when you pause the Crig. The watermelon and green pumpkin colors have been really good. Brad

There are also many types of swimbaits. Wood or plastic body, usually with joints. These are the ones used most out west. Soft bodied with internal weights. Mattlures makes some awesome ones. Soft plastic ones, like the Lake Fork Tackle Live Magic Shad. These are the ones I use. All three take different tackle. Brad

You guys with cutting points must have wimpy hooksets. Kiding aside, cutting points makes hooksets easier. They can also tear a larger hole that a needle point. I have no hook brand preference. I use the hook that best fits my bait. Gammy, Owner, Mustad..they all have a problem - none of them make a complete line of hooks that fits all plastics. Take EWG's or G-locks. Thye have wide gaps, but sometimes they are too long. Owner's Riggin' hooks offer a short hook, but with a wide gap. For some small tubes, the Owner Riggin' hooks fit better for me. Brad

The Skip Gap Hooks work great. If anyone has trouble finding them, PM me and I'll help you out. Brad

Soft plastic jerkbaits such as Superflukes or Sluggos are great baits. I use them a lot of ways, but my main use is in shallow water around cover or over submerged grass. I use the Superfluke most times, rigged on a 4/0 Round Bend, Offset Gamakatsu hook. EWG hooks will work also, but I have found the round bend works better for me. I rig these baits on 15 lb. Yozuri line and a 6'6" MH/Mod Fast Esox rod. The mod fast tip allows the bass to fully suck in the bait and start to swim off and the MH backbone drives the hook home. This rod is basically my weightless plastic rod. My retrieve is simple. Random jerks and pauses that let the bait sink near cover or fast jumpking style movemnets on the surface. One of these works best most times for me. Just experiment until the bass tell you what they want. These baits are also a secret flipping bait on the trail for some anglers. They also work on a Crig. Good luck! Brad

Netbaits Paca series of craws and chunks are one of the best bait series out there. Something about the swimming motion of the claws really gets the fish. The YUM Craw bug or MadMan Crawtube are great on Crigs with EWG hooks. These are one of my club member's favorites for Crigging. Brad

I use EWG hooks on all of my Carolina rigged baits and seldom miss or lose a fish. Still, in cover when pitching or flipping, I will use a straight shank if possible because they come through cover better than anoy other hook. If the bait is too wide for a straight shank, I'll use an EWG Superline. For straight shank hooks, I like the Gammy Round Bend and the RI BMF hooks. The BMF's are super strong and will hold up to anything. For all Crigging, an EWG. For frogs, a ZOOM Horny Toad hook or Mustad Ultra Point Impact hook. For wide baits, EWG. Brad

Here's the cold, hard, undisputed facts on soft stickbaits (and anything else in fishing for that matter): The BEST bait for you is the one YOU like to use. Period. Brad

I would try a screw in style head such as the ones from Reaction Innovations or Picasso. Brad

There is no bad plastic bait or shallow water - they will all catch fish at some point, either swimming them, crawling them or hopping them. For imitating a baitfish, a Senko, Super Fluke or Live Magic Shad should all work fine. Swimming a soft frog like a Cane Toad or Horny Toad should work also. On the bottom, about any bait crawled along on a light jighead or Texas rig should work. Good luck! Brad

I've been using the snaps for years on crankbaits. Taking off the split rings will not hurt the action. Brad

I usually steadily swim them through cover with an occasional twitch or pause. Brad