JacobB006

From my experience, lure profile is much more important than color. However, in certain conditions, color definitely comes into play. I find this especially true in low, clear conditions. Unless I need very clear contrast, like in low visibility or low light conditions, I always try and throw a natural color. With that said, you could likely get away with throwing white, black, and green colored lures.

I've fished all colors and haven't noticed any real difference. I'm sure in some instances different color flake would make some degree of difference, but you're really splitting hairs at that point.

Comfort and more Versatile - Stockingfoot Convenience - Bootfoot

Really depends on what lures you are looking to throw. I throw just about all my musky gear on 12" 80-120 lb fluorocarbon leaders and havent had any issues.

When they first came out I picked up a couple to try out for a slightly more finesse option in my clear smallmouth rivers. I noticed as well that it tends have a much more subtle plop. After throwing it around a good bit, I have retired all mine. The 60 gets a ton of blow ups and hits, but almost every fish misses it or doesnt get hooked. Now this is just my personal experience. I could be fishing it wrong, but I have tried every other size of whopper plopper and had good success. But the 60 just didnt work for me.

When I first started smallmouth fishing I waded the creeks around my house. Most of my summers were spent wading 2 mid-sized creeks. They were probably 10-20 yards across at points and mostly 1-2' deep with some deep pockets mixed in. I personally was able to catch decent numbers throughout the summer, but it was a grind. Dragging ned rigs and catching mostly small fish. The best spots we fished were almost always deeper pockets and pools surrounded by shallow water. Often the more active fish will be at the tail of the pools right before the riffle.

Thats what I'm thinking as well. I'll work some glidebaits low and slow and maybe find some deeper water.

No tackle restrictions that I know of. I've dragged jigs, worked flukes, slow rolled paddle tails, and glidebaits of various sizes. It's possible I'm not in the best area, but from reading the water, the area has potential. I think its more a skill issue on my part but I can't figure it out.

Hello. I've recently started fishing the Snake River below Swan Falls Dam. I've dont good with catching numbers, but for the life of me I can't catch anything of size. Out of 30+ fish from my last outing, the biggest one was 12". I just came from the east coast fishing the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. With 16 citation sized fish in the past month there, I've had good success with finding larger fish. But I still can't find any big fish in the Snake. I've thrown everything I've got and fished many different types of structure. Any advice or tips? How do you all find larger sized fish in your systems?Thanks.

Relly depends on the turbidity, underwater structure, and how much I am willing to retie a new leader. In general, 5-7 ft works fine

What general section of the snake are you fishing? I fished the area around Swan Falls last year for the first time.

Thank you for the insight

Hello. What are your favorite sources for lead used in casting jigs? I've been snorkeling in popular fishing spots and picking up sinkers to melt down for mine but I'm looking for a new source that might be easier. Thanks

Looks like SU has some in stock. A few on Ebay as well.

Personally I wouldn't think anything of it. If I am fishing with someone and catching more than them on a specific lure or color, 99% of the time I'll tell them to switch over, and often offer them a lure or hook/jighead if they don't have it. Quite honestly, as much as I want to be the one to catch the most numbers or even the biggest fish, I'm pretty much just as happy watching my friends catch them for themselves.

In my system, I personally believe they roam around. Of course yours might be different. You might be surprised how shallow a 20"+ smallmouth might lay midday. Shaded banks are at least worth a gander.

This is a good tip. When I first started bass fishing I was more impatient and I always wanted to twitch the popper way more than necessary (I even still do). I remember forcing myself to wait until the wake dissipated to make my next pop. I do recall my catch numbers increasing from that method. My popper takes are almost always on the pause.

Depends on the flows and conditions for me. In lower flows and clear water, I'll throw smaller lures. Higher flows and more turbidity, I'll throw bigger lures. On the rivers I fish, prespawn water temps range anywhere in the 50's. With that said, throw a variety of sizes and profiles until you find what they want. As you stated, low-mid 40's, I personally would work slower, but I we're fishing different locations. Every river system is unique with its bass behavior and forage size and type.

In a new spot this time of year I would probably slow roll a paddletail and then follow that up with a ned/tube.

#1/2 are important. I've found a huge part of it is watching the conditions and seeing how everything is setting up and knowing when you need to get out and fish. I'll stop by my spot a few times a week and just observe whats going on and leave without fishing. #4 is also huge. I have found that every fish is different. You can have 10 fish lined up in a 10 yard stretch and they will all respond different. Some you can catch on the first cast. Others I have worked for an hour before catching them. Every fish is triggered by different things. Try different retrieves/levels of aggression and different lures on every fish until you find what they like.

Not necessarily. This is more of a rule of thumb that I follow. I can still catch some citations on swimbaits and other moving baits, but in general, I have found that I catch more big fish when I slow down and really break down a spot. In my experience, big fish are less active than most people are led to believe. There certainly are exceptions to this, but this is what I have found to be true on the waters I fish during this time of year.

From 50-60º: Moving baits first if I want to pick up some smaller, more active fish. Work a jig real slow for the big fish

thank you. will give it a try

I recently got a Storm Arashi Glide bait that I want to modify with top hooks and make it suspend/float to give it a really slow sink rate. I have tuned a few deps slide swimmers and was able to simply drill out the weights to tune those. But the Storm Arashi Glider doesn't have exposed weights that can be easily accessed. I understand this isn't completely practical since there are many options for floating lures already that would require no modification. Does anybody have experience with modifying this glide bait? Thanks

Not sure what size you got, but I like to drift them weightless down current seams in the summer. The 3.5" rigged weightless on a #2 EWG is the ticket for me. Good luck