Stringjam

Sounds like you could be throwing it on too heavy of a rig altogether. I usually throw really small minnow type baits on the lightest action rods I have - - if the rod is too heavy to properly "load up" when you're casting the lure, than that is most likely the problem.......going to smaller diameter line may not help much.

Very cool! Boyd seems like a very down-to-earth fellow.

My guess would be that anise and garlic based formulas are FAR CHEAPER to to produce than an earthworm extract based formula - - additionally, these mfg's realize that most bass fishermen really believe that garlic and anise are like candy for bass. I'll believe half the stuff tackle mfg's try to make us believe when they prove it scientifically. I obviously wasn't there to witness the Berkley Lab, so who knows.....but right now it's the only study I've seen. Perhaps there are more out there - - I'd be interested in seeing them if there were.

You asked so you shall receive, http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1176348834/0#0 Right on.

Hmmm, I wonder where that chart is that another member posted a couple of months ago (I think it was a Berkley lab test) showing bass retention times for various ingredients. If I remember right, Garlic and Anise were two of the least preferred flavors by bass and were spit out very quickly, and that earthworm extract was by far the best, followed by a shad extract. I usually don't even use "scents" - - but if I did, I would be hunting down some earthworm or shad based formulas.

Sisson Slim Willie - - completely different action than you will normally see in a shallow flat-sided bait, you can almost get jerkbait-like action out of it. Nobody uses them for some reason. Catching Concepts FPC2 - - another flat-sided bait with a really crazy action. There aren't a lot of crankbaits that run less than 1' no matter what - - most of the ones listed so far in this thread will dive much deeper depending on retrieve, so if you are JUST looking for baits that you can reel at any speed and distance that run less than a foot, I would look at the Bandit 100 or other cranks with a near-vertical lip, if not, you have a lot more options. The old Rapala shallow Fat Rap with the vertical lip is a great finesse crank for shallow water - - they're discontinued though and getting harder to find, they still pop up on ebay pretty regularly though.

The Z-flats are the newest WEC's I have, and have had limited use. I played around with them over the winter, but that is it. They had a tight wiggle that you want in a flat sided bait; similar to the Sweet Pea's that share the same compartment. I had in mind that they would do well in later prespawn, when the water is in the 50's. I've probably caught my biggest fish on the WEC wobblers, which they don't make anymore. Thanks for the compliments guys...you will never hear me say I need all that tackle; I just enjoy buying it, owning it, and fishing with it. BTW...I've never heard of the Bee-Zee, but I do want more of the WEC baits. They represent everything I desire in a hardbait. Hmmmm......I wish I woulda picked up a few more Wobblers when I had the chance. I got some Sweet Peas, Ugly Ducks, Tapps, Z-Flatts and Wobblers for a good deal so I guess I'll find out how well I like them.....the Flats do have a pretty cool action though - - almost like a lipless bait.

I realize it will be difficult - - but methinks an experiment is in order.... : to be continued........(of course, I get to use my little tripod.....that's a given..)

You will have to use a flash for night time photos......unless you have a light source somewhere else. If you want to get artistic with it (and who doesn't you can turn the flash off and stand facing a lower intensity light source. This will require opening your aperture to a very large setting and really slowing down shutter speed (many times to several seconds). And remember to stand PERFECTLY still during the shot. I've never taken any night shots of fish using this technique, but in general photography. Here's one I took over the winter - - - you can see the effect..... As far as depth-of-field.....a good point-shoot will handle it fine, but a DSLR should handle it with ease, as it is largely a product of proper aperture setting combined with shutter speed. Smaller aperture + longer shutter speed = greater depth of field.

Hey Natural - - how do you like the WEC Z-Flats? I picked up a few this year - and is that a Bee-Zee Flat up there in the first pick in the middle-far left container?

No one is saying American manufacturers don't know what they're doing - but their whole purpose, as any business, is to make money. That's why Bandit took their quality made US product line and shipped production to China. It wasn't so we would have more fun and catch more fish. Bagley did the same thing - that company has changed hands a half dozen times. They don't care about Americans, they care about getting bigger bank accounts, and they'll sell out the quality of their product and the American workers to stay competitive and do it (obviously there are still some who haven't......good on em!) Poe's made a killer cedar crankbait line up out in California through the late 80's (I still have several of these from that production period). Then they sold out and sent production to Mexico, and the quality went right with it. My only point it, I could care less anymore what brand the lure is or who makes it - I only care if it is EFFECTIVE in my home waters. Some people pay $15 to go get drunk every weekend - - I pay $15 for a lure that helps me enjoy one of the most rewarding pastimes in life......worth every penny to me.

None of those companies make a Pointer.... Seriously, though....I live in a place where suspending jerkbaits win 90% of the money in the pre-spawn - Pointers simply have an action that cannot be obtained by jerkbaits from any of the companies listed there.......and try casting a Rogue in a 20 mph wind. For me, $15 isn't expensive for a lure that flat out performs, and especially one I'll rarely or never lose.

+1 Making a single bladed spinnerbait (or multi-blade for that matter) from components isn't difficult at all - - and if you just get a good selection of components together in a little box you can just make what you need on-the-fly.

One of the best "bargains" available is making your own stuff. I pour my own jigs in an Eakins-style mold, and make my own spinnerbaits and buzzbaits (sometimes poured, sometimes with pre-made frames). My father fishes blade baits a lot and saves a TON pouring his own Silver Buddy's (I would guess he goes through at least 100 a year). I prefer the lures I make to anything I've bought yet, and at a fraction of the cost. There is a lot you can improve or experiment with (wire diameters, hooks, frame designs, components...etc...) If you have a local tackle store that caters to the tournament crowd, they'll have all the stuff and advice you need.

The Slug-Go came out in the mid-80's - - the Banjo Minnow is little more than somebody's attempt at repackaging and marketing one of the most successful lure types in existence. Go pick up some Slug-Go's instead.......they still work just as well now as they did back then.

I haven't used many soft plastics yet that don't work on a C-Rig - - even non-typical baits like Flukes and Gitzits. Also, don't overlook baits like hula-grubs - they tend to breathe and move even when they aren't being worked and they do very well on a rig.

+1 ;D

There are times when swimming a TX rig worm with a light weight will KILL. It has probably been my most consistent post-spawn technique in the past 4 years - when there is enough shallow cover still present and post-spawn females haven't moved into deeper water. Fish it just like a spinnerbait (everybody else will be throwing a spinnerbait - perhaps further increasing the effectiveness of the technique).

Seems like more and more online companies are giving away crappy service......my recent experience with Blackhawk Custom Outfitters was horrible (after 3 months, I finally got my card credited for the items they never had and could never get in the first place).

Nice - - looks like you're going to be tossin some cranks!

Silver Thread AN40 is good stuff for sure - gets very little attention, but does an excellent job.

I love the crankbaits!! Probably my favorite way to catch fish......without getting too long winded I'll just list a few that I dig... Very Deep (up to a true 20'): Competition Cedars 4500 Long Reach Sisson P-20 Deep (up to 15'): Competition Cedars 4400 Bomber 3/4 oz. Fat Free Shad Catching Concepts DC2 Poe's 400 Megabass Deep-X 200 Med / Deep Poe's 300 Poe's RC3 Bomber 1/2oz. Fat Free Shad Storm Wiggle Wart (go-to bait for a crawfish pattern) Bomber Flat A and 7A Rapala Shad Raps Bandit 300 Shallow Sisson Slim Willie Lucky Craft RC 1.5 Bomber Shallow Flat-A Catching Concepts FPC2 D-Bait standard Bagley Killr B2 Zoom WEC Z-Flat I wanna go on and on because there are so many that do the job - and on some days some will work better than others. It just takes a lot of experimentation and time with them to get a feel for what you like and what works best in your waters.

I don't believe BK owes you any kind of explanation for doing something completely legal, and his his case (something do you didn't bother to inquire about privately before attempting to interrogate him publicly) completely ethical. 3) Out of respect for this forum and the rules of polite behavior established here, I will refrain from responding in the manner you so obviously wish to elicit. My respect for this forum and it's members, as well as "polite" behavior is why I responded - - as I take strong offense to seeing a fellow sportsman's character questioned in public fashion - something I feel is in very poor taste. I, however, hadn't read your response before posting -- although that doesn't change the way I feel about the original post or it's condescending nature, I will apologize for not noting your reply.

I don't believe BK owes you any kind of explanation for doing something completely legal, and his his case (something do you didn't bother to inquire about privately before attempting to interrogate him publicly) completely ethical.

Norman Crappie Crankbait Zoom Mag II 6" Straight tailed worm Garland DT Hyper-Tail Hula Grub (out of prod. :-/)