larrybass

Yup, I'm with the other boys that said big worms will do the job, as long as they're black or motor-oil... Oh ya, I love those 10 inch long and fairly fat floaters that I'd add a split shot or two up the line a few inches, if I need to sink that puppy much. Rampaging big mouths just slaughter these snake-like plastics and have even been known to frighten grown men, with their viciousness, when hog Bass are in attack mode, in close quarters. Top quality 5 or 6/0 wide gap hook, Texas rigged all the way... cheers,

Hey there FBL, nice to see another dude wanna tie his own killer jigs! 8-) I've tied a few jigs in my time and I've tried to streamline the process over the years. One of my teachers, WAY back when was none other than Big Jim McLaughlin. I'm not braggin' here boys, just qualifying that's all. A vice (doesn't have to be expensive) and a Bobbin, like Jomatty mentioned, are your main tools. Some #10 thread on a spool that fits your Bobbin, in your favorite color, a little hunk of beeswax perhaps, if you can find it, or candle wax will do in a pinch and a bottle of fingernail polish from your local Dollar Store are the other items you need. Now friend, I've saved the BEST for last. Skirt material! The mind boggles! Over the years, I've tried to steer more towards the "old ways" and have tried to keep my lures as natural as possible. Plastics are great and I use them a lot, but I LOVE catching fish on natural stuff like say, fur and feathers and even a beat up old "real sheep's wool" sweater, sometimes... ;D Seriously my friend. When you roll your own jigs, you get to have FULL control over everything! You can not only make whatever, thicker and bulkier but you can run the full gamut of being creative here. Nothing escapes your scrutiny once you get onto it. My big charge in fishin' comes from a fish eatin' one of my little natural jig-craw patterns, built with long, deer, body hair, with the matchin' long, chicken hackle "arms" out the business end! This plain lookin' little jig RULES! 8-) No trailers necessary. Man, I don't even have to juice these babies! Once you get going, almost any Thrift Shop will sell you an old fur hat or coat even, for a few bucks. : That will turn into like, a gazillion jigs. ;D Maybe you know someone that hunts deer? Even if you can only get the tail from them, you're set for another one hundred plus new killer jigs. If you haven't used "Bucktails" yet, you owe it to yourself to do so! Especially when the water's cold, like now. The natural materials will be way more active than ANY of the plastics in that cold water. I've been using an old pair of leather gloves I got at a yard sale for 50 cents, that are lined with Rabbit fur. I still haven't dug into the second one yet and I've made 133 Killer Croppy BBits with it so far... ;D It's kinda like you have become an artist FiveBasser, your canvas, is covered in the exact skirt materials of your choice... Hope this helps ya out a little, friend. Let us know in here, how yer makin' out with yer new creativity there dude! Tight lines, lb

Welcome to the forum! I'm a newbie in here too. Looks like a pretty kool spot from what I've seen so far! 8-) lb

NEVER underestimate the power of a well worked SR9 Shad Rap in your favorite color. 8-) VERY verstile lure this, when twitched and jerked, anywhere in the water column, where the fish are. Fish it like a jerkbait not a crankbait and you WILL catch plenty of fish on this ol' standby killer lure! Catt mentioned a Rebel minnow and if it's the one I use, it's called the Spoonbill model and it is deadly. Also, there are NO rattles in this lure and it still really catches fish for me, even after doing so, for over three decades now! How you fish these lures is the big key to their success. Don't be afraid to experiment with different retrieves. They want different stuff on different days. The price isn't too outlandish on these puppys either! lb

I've caught a passle of fish over the years on the larger Shad Raps. I LOVE these lures! I work 'em fairly slow usually, so I can feel 'em tap bottom and stuff. Many strikes occur on the resumption of the retrieve, after a little pause, when feeling it bump bottom. Other times, I've trolled with it at a good clip and have nearly had the rod ripped from my hands more than once with this speed trollin' wizz bait! 8-) The other DD'er I like a lot is Mann's 20 and 30 Plus plugs. Not the long skinny ones either. I mean the shorter, fatter guys. They REALLY dig hard and deep without putting undue strain on me or my tackle. I usually fish these bad boys on 20 lb Clear (flouresent) Stren and you'd best be holding onto that pole real tight if you ever try these puppys out! ;D Happy Bassin' ! lb

Well folks, after huntin' bass for over 4 decades, I'd have to say my #1 surface lure for SMBass is easily the Tiny Torpedo by Heddon! I've caught Smallies on this lure, everywhere I've ever tried it. Don't be afraid to try different things with this killer bait. While you're pausin' it or sof-twitchin' it, a bassie will come up and bust it for you, if you're doin' it just right! 8-) Now for the Bigmouths, in sloppy, weedy water, I go along with Culprit and say that I've Walked more than my share of scrappy largemouths with Bill Normans Weed Walker than I can even remember. My ex used to hang a pork frog on the back of her WW and always ended the day with bigger bass than I did. I never did let on that without the pork I could usually spank her. There is something special about seeing a smiling woman with a six pound hog bass drapped over her thumb! 8-) May the hogs attack yer surface lures everytime on the lake this year folks... ;D lb