Handy

I really would like to get some of the jigs for this wacky rig but it seems everywhere I look either they are out of stock or have yet to be in stock. So my question is what alternative hook can be used? I found locally the Falcon K weighted hook with weed gaurd and to me it seems like this would work well. I think it is 1/16 ounce and 3/32. Any other ones to look for? I know at some point the crazyness will subside and most places will have the jig I want. Paul

Well I can say that the test was at least intersting reading. I read an article on fly fishing for LMB and he used a short flouro leader and I thought well why not use it. After all that I may just stick to normal mono leaders. Paul

I am considering my first purchase of flourocarbon line and was wondering what the experts here have to say wich ones seem to actually perform as they are intended? I will be using it as leader material. Also what knots would I use? Thanks Paul

I get skunked allot but I fish for only an hour or two at a time. I go and fish when I have time and that is right after work and that means 2-3 hours at best. I fish weekends but I still sometimes only get a few hours in. But for the most part it doesn't get to me too much, I am outside fishing and enjoying it. Last weekend I got to take my brother out in my boat and although we didn't catch anything we both had a blast and to me it was a success, we "caught" a great time. Paul

When I catch one I will say "thanks buddy". I mainly do this after going a long while without a bite. Or the ussual "I got one". Paul

My brother and I would just killem with 3 inch curl tail grubs. But for some reason the last 3 years have been VERY slow for grubs. Paul

Well somthing about it is invisible, the money that left my wallet! It can be easily seen. Not a total loss for me as I put that line on my catfish reel. I will definately stay with suffix braid. Performance wise it handles well and casts well. I got 30lb. Paul

If I was with my brother or best friend I wouldn't have a problem. Maybe they saw something I didn't. If what you're asking is in the pro arena then I would have to lean toward yes. Unless the co angler didn't see anything(ripple in the water,stump) and the front angler did and said he was going for it(in a asking kind of way). Paul

Allot of guys here do not like them. I do like them however. I have caught some nice fish on them, my biggest crappie(14 3/4 inchs) came in one one and plenty of legal sized largemouths, no pigs though. I would either rig it with a curly tail grub or a zoom trick worm. The hooks are terrible and need to be sharpened. Paul

I had been using traps for some time with decent success but 2 years ago I saw the LC lvr and their awesome colors so I switched. In those 2 years I have not caught one fish on either of my lvr's. I would even go as far as saying that the traps swam better for me than the lvr. I could slow roll the trap but for some reason the lvr will kind of fall on it's side and come to the surface. So my question is, keep working wth the lvr's or go back to the traps? I have considered buying a SK red eye shad "trap" to experiement with. Any comments? Paul

Well I am going to use the largest beetle spin spinner arm and a normal jig head(1/4 & 3/8) with 4 and 5 inch curly tail grubs. I have been told this works well. I may just add grub bodies to my smaller spinnerbaits if the previous fails. Paul

Great reccomendations guys. I never have used a trap this early but I read that it can work so that's why I threw one. I really thought the pointer would hook up though. I will also give the spinnerbait a try too. I didn't have any jigs with me but I will definately throw a brush hog. I know allot of guys like power worms but I have never had a bass take one. Mabey try them again. Thanks Paul

I bought some of the berkely and I really like them. I don't like the hook they give you though. started to tear through the nose so I used a different hook. Most guys say they cost too much but I probably won't throw one everyday so a pack should last some time for me. Paul

I finally got out in my boat and went to the most likely warm spot, 3 foot shallows and the temp read 60 but most of the lake read 57-59. I started with a grub, tried a flat crank, went to a chatterbait then a rattletrap and then a LC pointer(75?). Decided to go to other end of lake where I ussually fish this time of year(always before from shore) started off with the pointer then a floating frog sounded good being that there were some of last years reeds and while messing around had a nice blowup at it but could not get another strike. The weather has been kind of freaky, a nice day then a week of windy wet cold, then one nice day again. We finally have started getting into the mid 60's for air temps. So next time out what should I throw? Did I throw some "normal" stuff to throw? There was a guy there and all he threw was a t rigged worm and he was kind of pitching it out in front of him. When I was loading up to go he motored up and asked how I did and I asked him the same. he got 5 keepers and many more shorties. My guess is he was throwing what they wanted and I wasn't. Paul

I bought one last year and thought I would just slay crappies all day with it. The very first time I used it I yelled "this thing is crap". The only way I could get mine to work was a very slow retreive, so slow it would not dive more than a few inches. I gave mine to my youngest son, LOL. Paul

For me it's my brother. No matter what we fish for he outdoes me. Somehow he has a keen sense of "throw your lure over there and you will get something". I do allright one my own but when he suggests where to put my bait I do and ussually I hook up. He did this to me last summer while catfishing. I had been fishing on the river for a while and nada when he stopped by after work. While we were talking he said try over there and sure enough after a minute I had a nice cat on the line, go figure. My bro is my best fishing partner and I never feel bad when he outdoes me. I always just enjoy that "we" didn't get skunked, LOL! However he has changed jobs this year and will have less time to fish with me so I will have to improve my "fishing 6th sense". Paul

You go and freeze your fanny off on 24 inches of ice just to go fishing. Paul

Berkleys version is called the hollow belly(?) It looks allot like the basstrix. So far it only in about 6 colors but 13 total are in the works. Apparently Ike uses them t rig style with a screw in weight. Paul

I have been watching the craze over these types of swimbaits but thought I would wait. Until they were at a local store and I have to say I really liked the look and feel of them(hollow belly). It has been a long time since I saw something come from Berkley that I thought would just slay them. On my package it said instructions inside but I found none. I get how to use the weighted hook but what about the treble? Can they be used on a jighead? I think I might go back and get more. Paul

The reason for the question is I am trying to lean out the tackle box and instead of carring 4 spinnerbaits I would like to carry 1. I read somewhere that the small silver colorado with a large gold wollow was a great all around combo. Just wondering what the wisdom here has to say. Most of the water I fish has maybe 2 ft visibility and the largest has maybe 6 ft. Paul

The reason I like Ike is some of the stupid stuff he does. it tells me he's a normal guy that sometimes shows off or loses his temper. Who here can can say he has never behaved like Ike. I know I can't throw that stone! I also like Ike for the whole "where he came from and how hard he has had to work" thing. I like the other pros too but I have my favs and Ike is one of them. Paul

Of the stuff I carry with me it would be a spinnerbait. I only use them once in a while and have only caught the occaisional fish with them. Next is the jig, I am going to try this year in earest to use them. Paul

Rondef, there is a support group for people like you(and me). It's called BASS RESOURCE!! And yes I always buy too much. My family thinks I'm nuts, "another rod and reel! how many are you up to now". LOL. Paul

Awesome, awesome, awesome! Thanks Glenn! Paul

I use a snap swivel because for me it prevents line twist and I change lures allot. But I do retie the snap swivel about every other time I go fishing. I know allot of guys say they fail allot but in all my years fishing I have only had it happen once and I caught a small northern with it open. I didn't realize it until I went to cast back out. I will say that when that happened I was using a different kind of snap. Now I use cross lock types, have yet to have one fail. Paul