Bazoo

Thanks for all the tips and tricks. I've actually fished the donkey rig before (unsuccessfully), but I called it a double fluke rig. I saw a youtube video from a pro showing it, but I don't recall who it was. I sort of thought it was a gimmicky kind of rig, something only for only a specific situation.

Thanks Glenn In the video, @11:00, he appears to be straight reeling a fluke, as if it was a spinnerbait. Does anyone else ever use a straight retrieve with a fluke?

Interesting to see mislabeling in any product line. @Detroit1 last time I was up at cabelas, a few years ago, they had them. Might could find a few that way.

Howdy and welcome.

I tend to like the wind. Others don't fish as much when it's windy, and the bass don't seem to mind it. Makes strikes harder to detect, but it also makes my presence less obvious.

I've been trying to really focus on flukes this year. I started fishing them 2 years ago when I got back into bass fishing. Zoom super flukes to be exact. The only way I've fished them, and is to have my rod tip low and give the line a 6"-12" jerk, causing the fluke to move through the water in a walk the dog kind of motion. I usually give it a jerk about ever second. Sometimes 2 per second, sometimes a 2 second pause, but basically the same. I slack the line after the jerk so it has a good action. I've had some pretty decent success this way, enough that I'm starting to have confidence in it. Today at a private pond, I was getting nothing on a spinnerbait, and after only a few casts I lost confidence in it and grabbed the fluke. Almost immediately I got a hit on it. I want to learn everything there is to know about flukes!

I've not mastered it yet with anything. But I want to master it with a baitcaster. I have mostly mastered overhand and side casting with a baitcaster, and I do okay left handed if I have to.

Excalibur Spit'n Image Terminator Titanium spinnerbaits Rattlesnake 4" mini worms I just got some of the USbaitCo worms that are similar to the rattlesnake worms, but they are smaller. Not sure how they'll do yet but I have high hopes.

I have no sound evidence. My confidence lies in dark green/od green mono though. I see fibrous algae that looks like this. I figure the fish can see the line to matter what, and even in clear water, the green line will look more like a strand of algae to them.

I know all about getting skunked. I fish a local city lake, Freeman Lake, which is heavily pressured from the bank. I made it my goal to learn the lake and learn to fish pressured fish. I have found that changing small things often improves the catch, or allows a catch or two when otherwise you're getting skunked. Using a color of lure that isn't available locally, or a size or type of soft plastic that isn't common, soft split rings for crankbaits. And, sometimes, lures like beetle spins and grubs, lures associated with kids/novices, work excellently in the hands of a skilled angler. Most anglers turn their nose up at them. Most anglers either power fish, or they do what ever the hot new fad is. But there is a world of middle ground lures, stuff like beetle spins and roostertails that work well.

This one was feeding on shad it appears. The boy caught this one all by himself. this was the first one he unhooked too. He unhooked this'n too.

I went back this evening for a bit. This is the largest bluegill I've ever caught, largest I ever seen in person too. I'd guess it to be a solid pound and was 1 1/2" wide. It fought like a bass of similar size.

These were a joint effort. I hooked them, he reeled them. I had been down to a friend's getting firewood before bible study wednesday so I didn't have my rods and bag with me. I had this 1 rod still as I'd forgotten to take it out, and the spit'n image that was tied on is the only lure I had. These were today, the boy makes a pretty good cameraman. This one was probably 2 1/4 lbs, didn't weigh him though. Got the first and this one on a 2"curly tail power grub. I don't fish them much, but I've resolved to do so more since they are pretty overlooked by most anglers.

Went the other day and I started off giving the boys pole a try. Then worked a lizard in a new color. Still learning flukes... The boy went worms only that day.

Thanks @Lottabass, that is encouraging! I had not thought about the time period following the flood, just the actual flood and immediately thereafter.

It's only a backlash if you have to cut it out!

It ain't too bad, because I am expecting to get larger this year. I'm going for a 6, and then 8... maybe I'll jump right to 10... Now that'd hurt! I been dreaming of a double digit since I was a kid. ---------------------------------------------- I got this little guy at Freeman lake. Not much biting today for anyone.

I agree.

Just in my short time using the Kreh loop knot, I am comfortable with it and have caught several fish when using it; granted, small fish. It gives a great action to rapalas and ratLtraps. I would have added a split ring to the rapalas in the past.

Interesting replies. The Pitzen knot looks easy enough, might just be the stuff when it's windy. I could see being able to tie it in the dark too if I had to.

Thanks. I didn't stuff it full. Perhaps I aint using enough.

I didn't know that Tom, the one I have learned is the Kreh Loop Knot. Thank you for sharing what you use though.

I have been replacing several tip tops. I started by removing one from a rod that happened to be the right size and putting it on the rod that needed it. I used this glue, but with not great results. https://www.ebay.com/itm/374574977171?_skw=fishing+rod+glue&epid=25066641506&itmmeta=01JRTRKMHN2AYG4556ZYXCEMG7&hash=item5736689093:g:lZoAAOSwwGdf82Pq&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1evTxy70%2BWMFmlaBEGi4Y3BqR95FnpVmxsipimXSRpkB%2FUkBikV5dz59j%2F1Ihll2FbO4UE1oAWpBCuh5HNtQqPvPp1dqbwh2ygm56R2aj5t1Rslw2IUzhnYVUJ3hjbZpUN%2F7qUZhr8E1Gy2Z70kRmnkHFxiIxfEw9vj0tOtx%2B%2F2JSgO02GJiQti7LdUmrkHgoxalJ8g85ZzlF8mxdFkqu2tsUwLf08eapo%2FXPmdqaHcuag2sim21AZmLsrSGZFXvHQ%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR87JztjGZQ The problem is, that the after the glue is dried, I can twist the tip top with moderate force. I've replaced this tip twice, with a used tip, one was a cheap one that didn't last very long, the other was a stainless. Both tips I've used a fair amount and they seem to have held okay, though one of them actually twisted a little on the rod and I heated it and straightened it. I then have purchased this, and used the kit's new top with similar results on a different rod. https://www.ebay.com/itm/374574977171?_skw=fishing+rod+glue&epid=25066641506&itmmeta=01JRTRKMHN2AYG4556ZYXCEMG7&hash=item5736689093:g:lZoAAOSwwGdf82Pq&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1evTxy70%2BWMFmlaBEGi4Y3BqR95FnpVmxsipimXSRpkB%2FUkBikV5dz59j%2F1Ihll2FbO4UE1oAWpBCuh5HNtQqPvPp1dqbwh2ygm56R2aj5t1Rslw2IUzhnYVUJ3hjbZpUN%2F7qUZhr8E1Gy2Z70kRmnkHFxiIxfEw9vj0tOtx%2B%2F2JSgO02GJiQti7LdUmrkHgoxalJ8g85ZzlF8mxdFkqu2tsUwLf08eapo%2FXPmdqaHcuag2sim21AZmLsrSGZFXvHQ%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR87JztjGZQ I do understand the sizing system, and I am pretty sure that I don't need the half size for either. I heated the old tip and removed it. Wiped the rod with a rag to remove whatever old glue there was. I cut a good sliver of new glue and put it in the rod tip, heated it and put it on the rod. I twisted it all the way around for a good adhesion, then held it in place until the glue cooled. Honestly I think the glue is not good in either instance. Is there a better glue? But perhaps I'm doing something wrong. I'd be open to a video of how to do it, if someone that knows what to look for can link one that shows good practices.

I appreciate all the replies. I might have to try some others, but certainly I won't be giving up my Rat-L-Traps. I might just have to give the Red Eye a better chance. Thanks all. @Bluebasser86 dang, that one wanted it bad! Very nice. Love the lipstick too.

I appreciate everyones replies. I guess the nature of my question is really more, what is your absolute top 10, with ten being a realistic number. Lots of good stuff for me try, and surprising to see what everyone's picks are. I got this nice one on a buzzbait last half of 2023 sometime. This came from a very heavily pressured spot I now call 5lb corner. I agree, buzzbaits are very underrated in todays world.