Mobasser

Yes, I like the crawfish pattern also. I have a couple of old Beetlespins. The head shape was slightly different than what we get now. It was not perfectly round. Now they all come with a standard round head.

Chuck Woods, of Ned Rig fame, is given credit for carving the Beetlespin shape from a plastic worm in the 1950s, at a small tackle shop in Kansas City called Finkes tackle. The lure was picked up and sold by Virgil Ward through his Bass Buster tackle company. It was very popular here in Missouri, because of Virgil Ward and his Championship Fishing TV show. It was one of the first lures I ever bought in the mid 1960s. Professional angler Gary Klein has become known for flipping and pitching jigs, and has had a very successful career in pro fishing. Mr. Klein has also called the Beetlespin " the best lure ever made" and " a must have bait". They still work, just as they always have. My own choice is the 1/4 oz model in white, chartreuse, and black. When fish won't strike a larger skirted spinnerbait, the smaller profile of the Beetlespin will often work. They can be fished at any depth in the water column, from near surface, to close to the bottom. It's easy to over complicate bass fishing. Sometimes, simple is the best. Are there any fans of the old Beetlespin here on BR?

A-Jay, Im with you on the egg carton method for small parts. Nothing worse than hearing a faint " boing" and crawling around on the floor searching for a part. That part of cleaning reels is no fun.

I don't always tear mine down completely. Especially spinning reels. If they feel smooth when reeling, I clean the outside good with a soft toothbrush, and lightly oil and moving parts,( bail, handle knob, line roller, etc). I remove the handle and lightly oil the bearings. For a full teardown, I've had a local guy do some for me. I really couldn't tell much difference in before or after the tear down cleaning.

I'm a fan of full cork grips also. The only Lews rod I own now is probably 25 yrs old. It's been good, but is mostly retired I have a Shimano Clarus which has been a great rod. Depending on power, action etc, I think both could work well.

Crankbaits. They're proven to work well at times. I've left them alone for quite a while. Too much weed growth where I'm fishing now.

Bass are ready available, hit a wide variety of lures, and can be caught in different types of water. I'm not sure if they're the most popular around here. More folks seem to be fishing for crappie these days.

I'll go with an old one. Bill Norman Triple Wing Buzzbait. I like white or solid black. I still have three of these left.

Dont always follow along with everything you hear in bass fishing. Fish your style, your way.

Ive always liked pre frontal, cloudy conditions. If the front comes through, and it's bright and sunny the next day, fishing seems to be much harder.

I like the original Rattletrap in chrome. 1/2 oz.

Many years ago, I read the story of LJ Brasher. He became well known for catching many huge bass on the muskie jitterbug while night fishing. After reading about him, I bought a black muskie jitterbug, and, tried several times using it at a local lake. I never caught a single bass on the big lure. I did have good success on the standard size 3/8 and 5/8 oz Jitterbugs, and caught many bass on night trips with them. I'm not sure why I never did well with the muskie jitterbug. I may try it again this summer. I will say, if you've never used a jitterbug at night, your missing out on some exciting fishing. The bass blast these plugs at night, and the strikes are very hard, often, right next to the boat or the bank. Has anyone else done well at night with the muskie Jitterbug?

I'm not surprised at the number of guys who chose the plastic worm as they're #1 bait. After all the years, and all the baits we have now, the simple plastic worm still rules.

Plastic Worm. Various models.

I also use Big Game for casting reels. For your spinning rods, you don't have to use flouro. You might try a co poly line. Lots of guys use Yo Zuri Hybrid or P Line.

It's a common thing for bass guys to amass way to much tackle. It looks like the bait monkey has entered your life. And, bass guys love tackle. I had the same thing going on a few years ago. I donated to the local Scout troop, and have given away a bunch to my grandson and a couple of his friends he fishes with. I carry far less now than I ever have, and, am still catching as many fish as I always have.

I'll probably never understand the no hook thing. But, good luck cyclops2

I have a Diawa Revros spin reel that has the same type of drag. Most folks would consider it a good thing. More adjustable drag.

I keep my reel tools in an old shoe box. I made a small area out of cardboard and tape in the corner to keep reel.oil upright and keep a tube of grease also. An old tackle box, or a small plastic tool box should work well also.

#3 for me A-Jay

I get tired of extremes either way. I can add clothes in the cold. When it's super hot, I sometimes can't cool down. I like spring and fall the best.

When I started, my brother and I fished farm ponds on our grandpa's farm in Chillicothe Mo.Mid 1960s. We used lures we borrowed from our dad's and grandfathers tackle boxes. So, going back, my brother loved a small frog colored Bass O Reno. My fave was a black Hula Popper. I also used a re/ white Lazy Ike. Ol Crickety, I also have an ABU Cardinal 4 reel. Mine is retired now. Thank you for bringing back some great memories.

I had an uncle who was a top guy in the carpenters union in Kansas City Mo. He helped me get in, when they really weren't hiring people. I hired as an apprentice in 1980. I was required to attend classes two nights per week, and work during the day. It was brutal hard work, and, I had many days if I wondered if I was really cut out for this trade. But, I stayed with it. I eventually tested to make journeyman. I failed the test the first time. Four months later I passed it with a perfect score. Eventually, I left the union and went to work for my daughters small business, running a small crew remodeling older homes. I'm now 66 and retired. I have some knee and hip soreness from all the years as a carpenter, but I still work a couple of days a week, helping a friend with a small contracting business. Doing this type of work is like all trade work. It's all about tenacity. You have to be willing to stick it out, and, you'll earn every penny. It saddens me that more young guys are not interested in this work anymore. I supported a wife and four kids working as a carpenter. It's a good profession.

Yes, I knew this. Glad your still using them.

I'm wondering how many BR members still fish Charlie Brewers jig heads and worms? I've been using them for over thirty years. It's a relaxed non tiring style of fishing, and, it works very well. I've been able to catch bass on some really hard days with these worms and jigs. I also might add, these folks know fishing. They run a top notch outfit, and always ship fast. All they're stuff is made in Tennessee, and good quality. With all the " finesse" bass rigs we have these days, do we still have many BR members using the Slider?