BrianMDTX

Well, in a fit of desperation after nada on jigs on a HF, Senko WR’s on a MF spinning rig and a 6th Sense squarebill on the FR705CB, I tied on a 3/0 EWG with a 3/16 oz tungsten bullet weight and a Mann’s Jelly Worm in blackberry on the Dobyns and gave it another shot. Third cast was fish on. Once again, not a big gal, maybe 1.5 lbs, but the rod did a great job of detecting a light bite and setting the hook. It really casted that bait far as well. Experimentation to continue!

We have had thundershowers on and off all day, tomorrow looks like a washout and chances of t-showers or storms through 7/5 range from 40%-60%. What a great week for vacation lol. But there was a brief respite this evening after 6:00 pm so I decided to fish from the bank for a few hours. I only brought three rigs: a H/F for jigs, a MH/MF for a squarebill and a MF spinning rig for a WR. I started with jigs on the HF. Tried a Strike King SG Toad as a trailer, then a Rage Tail Rage Craw, and finally a Strike King Rage Swimmer. In between using those trailers I casted a Senko WR on the finesse spinning rig and a 6th Sense squarebill on the MH/MF. Not. A. Bite. Started to get dark and saw lightning in the distance, so I took the squarebill off and tied on a 3/0 EWG and a 3/16 oz tungsten bullet weight with a Mann’s Jelly Worm in blackberry. I know the Dobyns Fury FR705CB is not designed as a Texas rig rod, but I tried it once before with a Fat IKA and it did fine, so I figured I’d try it again. First two casts was more of the same. The third cast made it almost to the bank when it stopped. Didn’t feel like it got hung up on weeds or sunken limbs, so I twitched it slightly. I got rewarded with that tap-tap-tap we all love. A quick pop of the rod tip and the hook was set. Not a big bass, but always nice to beat the skunk. I have to say, that FR705CB does a good job at something it’s not designed to do. Granted, I really have no clue how much of a difference there truly is between a fast and moderate fast action in the real world. I know on paper what the difference is, but empirical evidence so far shows me it does a pretty good job of driving home EWG hooks. Maybe not so much on a big bass, but that remains to be seen. It’s pretty sensitive, too. That bass did not hit that worm hard, but the bite was unmistakable.

I agree. Gaudy and fishing don’t mix IMO.

“The Headless Horseman caught a bass!” Where's the flaming jack o’lantern? ?

That’s a pretty good day!

I was using a MH/F rod. I have a HF. Maybe I should switch to that for jigs. I was actually surprised that I did not have to de-muck the jig once. That’s promising.

I fish both, and I say reasonably well. But those bites today were not similar in the least. Compared to a jig, a Senko sinks slow. Pretty simple to see the line either stop too soon, or it starts running. A weightless Texas rig is basically the same. A TR with a bullet weight either stops too soon, or I’ll feel that tap-tap. I can’t recall working a Texas rig that just started running off that I never felt. And it’s been a long time since I’ve tried to set the hook on a TR and only got water lol. I’ve hooked a few weakly that threw the hook, but not a total whiff. These jig bites today were complete misses on my part.

Topwater is always fun!

Better day today than lately, but still nothing over 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. Caught six total. One was a true dink. Three on a #956 Senko WR, one on a X-Zone True Center Stick WR and one on a spinnerbait with a Rage Tail Craw trailer. But that one felt like cheating as it got hit as soon as it hit the water. Missed quite a few working a blue and black jig with a Rage Tail Craw trailer as well.

I felt like Kwai Chang Caine that could not hear the grasshopper at Master Po’s feet lol.

I don’t fish jigs often, as they normally get pretty fouled with pond muck. But I decided to throw a jig this morning as bottom baits we’re staying clean. I tied on a 1/2 oz blue/black jig with a Rage Tail craw trailer and boy, did those bass make me look foolish. I had 4 strikes that I simply missed on the hook up, and one (that felt pretty decent) that took me by surprise and simply started swimming off with it without me feeling a thing. By the time my brain went “Duh! The line’s moving!” it was too late. It was likely spitting the jig out as I tried to reel up the slack and set the hook. All I felt was weight, and it felt good. I caught five 1-2 lb’ers and a dink on other baits, but I think the jig was attracting bigger bass. I need to get better at that!

I have had good success fishing a Daiwa GYBC Neko Macho, as a Neko rig and as a weightless TR. It’s a versatile bait.

It was 46 years ago for me lol. Chemistry in HS. I remember pouring one liquid atop another and using a hook to pull the nylon 66 that was created where the two liquids were separated. I’m guessing the ol’ Remington Nylon 66 got its name from that.

Was that Nylon 66?

I tried to clean a filthy license plate with brake cleaner once. ONCE!

Same. The day I cast with 6’ or more of leader past my tip will the last lol.

I would keep the 8 lb for something else (Big Game is cheap...but very good). Get a spool of 10 or 12 lb BG and learn how to cast a baitcaster without spending $$$ on line.

I use 3/0 round offset worm hooks. The worm only slides down when I get a good strike!

Weightless Zoom Tricks TR Weightless Fat IKA and/or Neko Macho TR’s Megabass PopMax Whopper Plopper 5’-7’ squarebill

That’s one lure you can tell how fast the retrieve is by the sound of it. It is a great night fishing bait.

That, or a 40 year-old black Arbogast Jitterbug would be mine.

I like a good, tall Beefeater or Bombay Sapphire and tonic with a wedge of lime and three olives in summer. Very refreshing. I’ve also been drinking this jalapeño cocktail: Sobieski Vodka, jalapeño, lemon juice, sugar (or simple syrup).

X2. They’re good baits!

Must be where “he drinks like a fish” comes from!

When I first started using EWG’s, I almost gave up on them as I missed more bass than I did with round offsets. I stuck with them as they are much better when rigging bigger baits like a Fat IKA or Neko Macho. I don't know what I did, but I must have changed something as my hook-up to bite percentage on EWG’s is close to 100%. And that’s on rigs as diverse as a Falcon Lowrider All ‘Round Fast MH/F baitcasting rod to a St Croix Bass-X ML/F spinning rod. If I had to guess, I think I stopped setting the hook as fast as I used to and give the bass an extra second to really take the bait. And that has not resulted in gut-hooking bass.