ElGuapo928

A lot of it comes down to mechanics and confidence. I learned to flip back in the 80’s, standing on a 5 gallon bucket in the backyard (I think it was Dave Gliebe that said this was a good idea in an old WON article). While this helped a lot with focusing on maintaining balance and a good stance, I still get off kilter on the water and lose my mechanics sometimes. For reasons totally unknown, my boat has the trolling motor mounted on the “wrong” (starboard) side - I have gotten so used to working around it, that I can’t flip or pitch to save my life off anyone else’s boat. Stand on the deck in the driveway, drop the trolling motor and hit some targets that way - set up buckets of water to get the splash to a minimum.

I don’t like painted surfaces, but that’s a personal thing. I put EVA foam on my trailer fenders in place of the carpet and I love it - easy to clean and has spent 2 years in the Arizona sun without any sign of peeling (cheap Amazon stuff). When I get around to recarpeting my decks, I plan to foam the bottom/cockpit of my Ranger.

Not really a big issue - I usually throw them on a 6.6, but any reel is fine for the fairly slow retrieve they need.

They’re all equally bad anymore. I’ve had a UPS package from San Diego “in transit” for the last 2 weeks - made it as far east as Kansas, was orbiting Pluto or something for a few days, and finally made it to Phoenix this morning.

I carry 2 dedicated spinnerbait rods on the boat - Identical BPS 7’ MH Tourney Special rods, one with a 7.5 Carbonlite reel, the other with a 6.6 Tourney Special, both spooled with 15lb mono. I’ve found these to be perfect for the 3/8 and 1/2 oz ‘baits I typically throw, and have a great backbone for pulling them out of the trees.

Try a Deps Bull Flat (flat side up) on a light (like 1/16 oz) weighted swimbait hook. Will slow spiral right down in there.

I usually let it sit on the bottom for 15 seconds or so, then start jigging it back. During the Shad spawn, I just throw it and burn it along the bank or brush lines.

Around here the when the carp start their aquatic version of Burning Man, the bass will either move deep or cling really tight to the brush. They’re pressured and paranoid anyway, the carp just make it where you have to be a little more patient and methodical.

Currently on the deck: Spinnerbait DD22 Choppo 10” worm on 3/8 Spot Remover Dropshot Reaper 6” straight worm on 1/8 darter head

My experience targeting bigger fish is that the bigger ones stay closer to deep water access, and tighter to the given cover. Same general areas as your usuals, but fish 30-50 feet further out from the normal targets. And don’t look down on the dropshot…..there was a 16 picked up here not long ago on a dropshotted Morning Dawn/red Roboworm.

Looking through my disaster area of a spinnerbait box, I found a couple others to add to the list of tough spinnerbaits. Strike King Potbelly: Cheap, effective and absolute warriors. I’ve got a couple that look like victims of tragic farming accidents, but the wire is still straight and solid. McCoy VTwin: Have several that have been drug through brush and rocks to the point that I rolled the hook point over, but no harm to the wire. Skirts aren’t as durable as some makes, but still a solid platform.

Dobyns are a solid choice, Persuader spinnerbaits take more than their fair share of use and abuse as well.

Great video! One of my best summer evening techniques is getting a dropshot with a short 6”-10” leader, and a reaper or small minnow bait then letting the breeze drag me across shallow flats. I’ve put 5 in the box in under 30 minutes more than once dropshotting in 4-6 feet of water.

I’ve got a couple left - Always thought they were the best shallow water rattle bait ever made. Little slower fall rate than the RatLTrap, little tighter action than the Spot (and way more consistent in manufacture).

I like throwing an Evergreen with either a Chatterspike or Zako as a trailer. I’ve had pretty good results with the Slobberknocker as well.

Glad everything got fixed and back up!!

Early spring/prespawn I usually do the best between about 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM, then it tapers off some till around 2:00 PM.

Bagley DB3’s are my “secret” weapon.

Doodling is an old school western finesse technique for deeper suspended fish….basically a Texas rig with a glass bead between the sinker and hook, with a 4” worm worked vertically. Shake the rod tip for 2-3 seconds, then pause for 20-30 seconds.

Out here deep fish are a way of life. Dropshots and doodling are my preferred baits, with the Little George at the ready all Summer. Always have fin clips and a fizzing needle handy. I’ve found that clips and a little time in the cool livewell with a dose of Rejuvenade will get them back “right” without the invasive needle.

I don’t like Uni-knots on fluorocarbon - seems to burn the line worse than anything else. I’ve gone pretty much exclusively to San Diego jam knots, and keep a bottle of Reel Snot on the deck to lubricate my knots. I haven’t had a failure on the cast for several years now.

Thanks!! It’s a labor of keeping my 80’s dreams alive!!

Good point on the pleasure boats getting bigger. The wake boats now are bigger than a cabin cruiser of 20-30 years ago (yet they rarely ever venture more than a couple hundred yards from the ramp), and the typical 18’ bowrider has all but disappeared around here.

Any plastics - I’ve tried and tried, but never any real positive results.

Definitely go down on the weight - I don’t go to a 1/4 oz until I’m over 30’ deep. For skinny water (6’ or less), my preferred dropshot sinker is a #4 splitshot, with a 4”-6” dropper.