Mobasser

Tailspinners. Mann's Little George and similar baits. I used to catch fish on them, but quit throwing them years ago.

Baitcast- Big Game. Spinning- Original Stren or Trilene.

I don't know so much about roughing up soft plastic baits when they're new, but I'm a firm believer that a worn chewed up worm that's caught some fish, will work better than a new one. I can't explain why, but I've proven it over the years. I usually fish them until they're unfishable.

Going through my older rods, I found two Lews rods I bought years ago. One is a glass casting rod, the other is a TN( graphite) handle spinning rod, which I still use sometimes. Both these rods are marked Lew Childre and Sons, Alabama. A sporting goods store I shopped at carried the full line of Lews tackle in the 1980s. I think they were ahead of the pack years ago, and made some really good, innovative tackle. Top quality guides, unique handle styles etc. I think they still make some nice tackle now too. I know that the BB1 casting reel( the Paul Elias model) was made by Shimano. I've also seen some older spinning rods like mine for sale advertised as Lews Browning rods. Did Browning make some of the rods for the original company? What year did they become Lews, the current company? I later moved on to ABU and Shimano, and have liked them also, but this summer I'm dusting off my old Lews casting rod. The slight tip flex on this rod worked great years ago for lipless baits, spinnerbaits, and topwaters. Like many of us, I just had to have a faster, stiffer, graphite rod. Maybe not the best choice. Sometimes, old school is a better option. Anyone know about the Lews/ Browning connection here?

Choppy water, overcast days a lipless bait can be good, a spinnerbait also. On calm sunny days it's harder. A plastic worm or craw fished slowly can catch fish. You could also try a plastic grub, or small swimbait also

Years ago I read in a magazine that bass doubt strike soft plastics in colder water. Many people thought this, but it's not true. A small plastic worm fished super slowly has worked for me. It's slow going for sure.

I fish a spot on a small lake that looks like your rip rap area. You can try casting parallel to the shoreline, but if that doesn't work, fan cast out in front of you, and move slowly to cover the area. Somewhere there is probably a drop off within casting distance of the shoreline. That's where I've found fish, hanging on the dropoff.

Spring fishing can be tough period. On days when I'm.not catching fish in the spring, I'll try and downsize to a smaller bait, and fish even slower. Look for bass in deeper water near an area where they might spawn.

A-Jay, agree on Longmire. My wife and I watched the entire series. Good show.

I like Makita also. We have drills, impact guns, and hammer drills by Makita. Currently we use a Dewalt portable table saw. Accurate for a job site saw, and light weight also. Bosch is part of Skill tools now. I've used a few Bosch tools, and they seem good. As mentioned, you might check out the Bosch worm drive table saw. Looks like a good product

I've done pretty well with a red craw color Rattletrap at certain times in spring.

Good luck with them Fred. Get out there and stick em!

I'm always curious about what plastic worms the BR members will be throwing for the new season. I'll kick this thread off. Mr. Twister Phenom purple and motor oil. Culprit 7.5" ribbon tail blk/blue. Mr. Twister Mag 12" Buzz Worm blk/ and blue colors( hope to be my night fishing worm). Zoom Trick Worm junebug. Zoom Finesse Worm junebug, watermelon, old purple. Roboworm 4.5 " and 6", Folkestead Special, Mm111, and Marg Mutilator. Mann's Jelly Worm 6" and 9" grape. So far that's my selection. How about you guys? What plastic worms are you packing? Any new ones for the upcoming season? I love a good worm thread!

I've seen quite a few post from novice bass fisherman here on BR about learning all the new techniques. We have so many now, it gets confusing at times. Many members here( like myself) started bass fishing before everything became so technique specific. Is casting a spinnerbait into a stump field a technique? Or is casting a lipless bait around a choppy water cove a technique also? How about slowly reeling a big, 10" weightless worm over some pads or moss patches? Is this a technique too? Do any of the more experienced fisherman here think that a beginner would do better by taking a simpler approach, and not try to absorb so much technique specific info? I think they would do better this way. What are your thoughts here?

I would fish on. Sounds like you've got a great outfit there.

Good post. I'm getting back into tube fishing this year. Thanks to a link from A-Jay, I ordered new tube baits from Provider Tackle. I received them on Friday, and they look great. Good quality products.

Both these worms are good. If they won't hit the bigger Trick worm, try the finesse worm. They'll usually hit the smaller bait. I like junebug, black, and any purple/ blue colors the best.

The Dicks in my area has very little fishing gear. I quit going there over a year ago. Now, Academy is where I get most of my stuff.

I like to use the finesse worm in a clear water quarry lake I fish. Other areas, I use the standard Trick worm.

Wow!

I'll have to say a t rig plastic worm

Jigs can be great bass lures. Like all baits, they have they're time and place.

Plan on fishing more tubes this spring. I've gotten away from them in recent years.

I throw treble hook baits from the bank and the boat.

I'll throw in some older ones for good measure. Mann's Jelly Worm, Producto, and Ditto Gator Tail.And we should never forget the Creme Scoundrel, the one that started all the hype.