Flippin and Pitchin

Trying to make myself try other techniques and not just put them down and pick up a plastic worm when I don't get bit after five minutes.

Trying to make myself try other techniques and not just put them down and pick up a plastic worm when I don't get bit after five minutes.

 

This is what my partner does and he always seems to outfish me.

 

I'm going to spend more time cranking...even if he is whoopin up on me.

Drop shotting -- which I've never done -- and shakey head which I rarely do. This season I plan on doing more of both.

And after watching a bunch of the MLF, skipping a jig under a dock would have to be another one for me.

I am going to work on fishing with a jig. I haven't ever gotten them to work but i will this year.

The early season is alreday here in the Mid South. When your season opens I STRONGLY recommend

the Red Eye Shad and Smithwick Rogue. I don't know exactly when the topwater bite will catch fire, but

when it starts: MegaStrike Cavitron, Zara Spook, Rage Shad & Menace. I think you should also consider

the NorthStar Original Swim Jig with the Menace as a trailer.

Now that we've covered all of the sponsors... hahaha jk   Red eyes and jerk baits are a must in early season.

After watching an episode of Timmy Horton I have placed an order for stuff to fish the MJ rig. He fished a lake that I also fish and he drilled them. Basically a Senko with a spinner tied into the end and ripping it thru grass.

I'm planning on expanding my skills and confidence what the baits that already I have but use infrequently. I'm gonna try the jika rig and switchblade jig this year I've seen a lot of good stuff about both. I also want to try some new things with my soft plastics and cranks. I am going to try carolina rigging crankbaits for example. 

Definitely going to be dedicating some time to my finesse fishing, namely shaky heads and the split shot rig.

 

Treble hook lures in general I could use some practice on. Namely lipless cranks and jerkbaits.

I need to work on lipped cranks and jerkbait I haven't used them as much because I have been fishing a LOT of flooded timber and shallow really rocky water.

Working to get confident with flipping/pitching jigs towards heavier cover and fishing the drop-shot rig.

 

Also want to work on knot-tying, which is a weak spot.  I can tie the palomar well, and a lame improved clinch.  Want to nail those down while adding the uni-knot and some other loop.

This is what my partner does and he always seems to outfish me.

 

I'm going to spend more time cranking...even if he is whoopin up on me.

Fishing is sooooooo!!!!  much more enjoyable learning and using a variety of technics. Put away the senkos and learn to fish.

Jika jika and a bunch of experimental baits I am working on.

Jay-

Jig fishing. It is something that I have done very little of in the past, but something that has caught me some fish in the past. I want to use it much more and get much better at it.

Last year, it was the jig.  I'd never properly committed to it before, and I didn't have any confidence with it.  But, I tied one on one of my rods, and I kept one tied on the whole year.  The work paid off.  Other than my old standby (a weightless senko), a classic jig (primarily Northstar Black series) and trailer caught more and bigger fish than any other presentation.  And, since most of the strikes I caught fish on were aggressive pops after the bait had hit bottom, I believe I'm missing far more than I'm catching.  So, this year, I'm going to concentrate on catching those, as well. 

 

In addition, I plan on working a shaky head, a flick shake (more), and a drop shot. 

 

Other ideas I'm going to work on include a heavier drop shot weedless near or in cover (ala bubba shot), punching (once the weeds come in), jerk baits and lipless cranks (in the early season)...

 

Arggg.  I'm having a hard time waiting for ice out...

Hoping to learn to fish with a jig this year. Also hoping to become better with a spinnerbait. I've never had so much as a bite on one.

This isn't anything "new" for me, but I'm looking forward to tossing some Rogues again. I threw them a ton back in the mid to late 90s, and caught tons of smallies with them.  I got away from them, but I'm adding them back as soon as the ice melts.

oh forgot this one its called the boob tube rig!

Real close to retirement, so I want to go angling more often, and just enjoy the experience. But I also need to scratch these new hard baits I bought, the bait monkey really got me this winter, with all the sales.