Luke Barnes

Are you talking about something like a Swimmin Dinger?

That's a good idea. One pond has a very clear weedline to work. I'm going to try that. Thank you. It was very tough at first. Well for the first month really. But its gotten easier as time goes.

I just got a pack of swing heads and from what I learned its best when you bang it into rocks and stuff to make it really move. I bought some Rage Bugs and Cutr worms especially for this. Without stuff on the bottom to bang on do you think it is still effective?

So many responses I cant quote them all. But thank you for the advice everyone, except that cranky old codger who suggests I drink to solve my problems fishing. 5 weeks sober today!! Anyways I really think for my style and where I fish the Neko would be a very good choice. What you all mentioned about the variety of worms, speeds, retrieves, it makes sense to me. Also @WRB what you said about picking apart an area rang true. The last few years I really worked whatever area I was in with different lures and presentations but this year I thought maybe I spend too much time in one place and need to move more. Well ive done that. Last year I did way way better by this time of year really dissecting one or two spots and not trying to cover the whole pond. So it culminates to slow down on the moving spots and try a Neko more. Also work the other techniques thoroughly before hopping spots.

I thought about powershotting. I just literally 5 minutes ago read the term Bubba Shot on my google news feed. Guess what I look up on google much haha. Ive thought about small finesse jigs. Seemed to me about the same pace as a ned.

I'll add more to my original post here. I'm terrible at line watching and feeling those tiny little sips of the lure into the fish's mouth. Probably why I am not that good of a finesse angler in all honesty. I'm decent at detecting the bite on a drop shot but that's about it. The pond i was at yesterday I couldn't see any visible cover or structure. It was super windy and murky water. Less than 1 ft visibility. Its a fairly large pond so would take quite a while to cover every inch and I dont have that kind of time. The Neko sounds like the quickest way to cover ground while still being somewhat finesse I guess. Ive only thrown it once so i really don't know. I always have a ned tied on but usually fish it slow. I guess I could speed it up. I'm just having a really tough year. Last year was so much better for me by this time.

I'm about over trying to power fish in these pressured public ponds. The fish see it all and I'm tired of getting skunked. I know downsizing and finesse is a good way to coax pressured bass into biting and I have a few dedicated spinning combos for finesse. My question though is unless I have a hard target like a lay down or weeds, how do I cover alot of water to find the fish but using finesse techniques? Wacky, Ned, drop shot all are slow and methodical and would take me an entire day to cover a whole pond going slow. I want to be able to find them, then throw the slow stuff to get more bites. Any advice?

So far the consensus is no chunks. I never used them before this year because I just got into finesse jigs. I have Rage baby craws and baby menaces. So I think I'll stick to those and only one small jig i have actually looks good with a chunk so I'll leave that one the way it is.

I'm new to the finesse jig scene and my first one was a SK finesse football head. I used a chunk trailer and a few things. It was long since I just hooked it through the meaty part and it made the hook visible and the skirt section seem really thin, since it has a thinned out skirt. Does everyone use chunks or a full bodied trailer to fill out the mid section, but I'm guessing a slim trailer like a rage menace to not be too bulky.

My first catch on a SK rage blade was a catfish. I thought this bass is sure fighting weird!!! But I would have to say a small lipless. Ratl trap, whatever you want to call it. But I have caught bass, crappie, green sunfish, sand bass, and snagged a shad with a lipless! But I would have to say a small lipless. Ratl trap, whatever you want to call it. But I have caught bass, crappie, green sunfish, sand bass, and snagged a shad with a lipless!

I just had an idea. I was going to rig up a float and fly type setup on a spinning rod. Basically a straight shank hook, split shot a foot or so up and a bobber. All I have to do to make it a split shot rig is take the bobber off!! Two rigs within two seconds! Yeah I'm doing this.

That does look really nice. I like it alot and have the menace in Falcon Lake and it's a great color!! I've really taken to it. I don't fish jigs much and catch with them even less, but making a good pairing is just so satisfying! We ought to make a thread of jig and trailer color combos!

Mine used to be a pit boss but ive been trying different things and did good with a rage craw. But I have two colors of rage bug waiting to be used for the first time!

I have JJs and Spike It that I bought for cor purposes. I bought a can of Bang spray in craw/shad scent. My belief is if you get a bite it will taste more real and they will hold on longer. I dont see it drawing them in or them smelling it and deciding to bite. But I very well could be wrong.

That's what I was thinking but I wanted to get more opinions. Ive been hearing so much about the shad rap that the tackle monkey is knocking but being primarily a bank pond fisherman I didn't know if it would be worth it. Maybe when I get my jon boat finished though. Which sucks though because I have some really nice bluegill colored squarebills I would to use in ponds. Doubles as in a treble with only two hooks? Ive never seen those. Do you just cut a hook off?

Besides lipless I rarely throw cranks from the bank. The one time I did and did really good was fishing a squarebill on rip rap banks at a lake. But as far as ponds go, do you think cranks are just not practical or maybe just wake baits and maybe square bills? I have a bunch but I never use them and want to more.

I see Minn Kota and Motorguide are the most popular for smaller transom mount trolling motors. What other brands are out there? I remember seeing a CHEAP one at I think it was Sam's Club but seemed sketch. I want quality but dont need fancy and bells and whistles.

How do you retrieve it?

Thats a good idea. I never thought about that. I wonder where I could get a foot long section around me. Ill have to do some looking.

You know I was thinking about a ned head earlier. Good minnow profile and kinda drag and small hop it to look like a feeding minnow I thought. Split shot rig is like a C rig but split shots and no swivel and leader?? Ive heard the name but never tried it.

My step dad told me about turning the control end around. I just have to figure out a way to mount it on the front. Then its getting boards that I'll put carpet on and figure out How to attach them to the trailer!! Also what brand does everyone suggest? Looks like Minn Kota is the most popular, but dont know anything about them. Im trying to keep costs as low as possible but i know I'll have to spend some to get quality.

I have a Tracker Topper 14 jon boat I'm wanting to get a trolling motor for. I weigh 230 lbs so I'm not sure what lb thrust to get. Would 40 be good? Also my step dad tells me I want to mount it on the bow, but ill have to buy a transom mount one and make a bracket on the bow for it to clamp to. I get why, so the wind doesn't push the front end around while I'm propelling from the back. But its been a project boat for 2 years and im tired of looking at it collect dust and want to get on the water with it.

A few questions about Gulp. First. How does everyone rig the gulp minnows to target bass? Ive used them on a drop shot with good success but have to fight off sunfish from biting the tails off. Ive used them under a bobber before with ok luck. Is there really a difference in regular Gulp and Gulp Alive? Is it just the juice or the plastic itself? Ive got a pack of regular ones and thought about buying some gulp alive juice to recharge them. Or am I wasting my time on something better used for Panfish and need to stick with regular plastics?

Wait..... Shake heads are supposed to stand up?? Since when? Why didn't i know this?!?! I do have a few David Dudley heads that have little legs on them but I always thought they would collect weeds and grass big time so I never use them

I'm a bank fisherman too. Only thing I'll pitch to is a dock or downed tree. Rest is swimming and bouncing. Thinking of trimming strands out of the skirt and making it more finesse style. But I like how the Arkie head looks. That's what I took from it. It just so happened that the Arkie style ones I was looking at yesterday was Arkie brand.