1 hour ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

The larger popper on the right (bluegill color) do you know the brand? I pulled one out of a tree last year and haven’t been able to place it. 

Looks like a discontinued 6th Sense.

On 12/2/2025 at 10:46 AM, Goby said:

This was my first year fishing Sieberts Jigs and couldn't be happier that I found them... "Thanks to this site."

I did so well with smallmouth on swim jigs that I just placed an order with Siebert for 45 more;  IMO they are the best, and I especially like the wire tied skirts.

1 hour ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

The larger popper on the right (bluegill color) do you know the brand? I pulled one out of a tree last year and haven’t been able to place it.

Storm Arishi Cover Pop

The bladed jig produced 8 fish over 5lbs this year for me. Biggest going 7lbs and 07oz. Smallest going 5lb 04oz. Hottest bait for me for awhile now here in Central Iowa. 

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!?

  It was snowing yesterday, but the fish didn't seem to notice.

No notes or records, just feeble recollections.

 

Rage Bug - numbers, by far, as well as most over 5#.  Could be because 4 out of every 5 casts involve a Rage Bug of some sort?

Exactly one fish on a Whopper Plopper, but it was one of biggest bass this year. 

Biggest came on blade bait - which is easily best numbers bait every Nov-Feb.

More fish on flutter spoon than ever before.  But I did really throw it a lot - seems the more I learn about the bass in my lake, the more I find that there are bigs chasing shad offshore at ALL times.  Love love love throwing big spoons at them.

  Spent more time with ARig than previous years.  Caught fish, but unless it hooks up every few casts, I really am disliking it.  Even the good fish on it aren't really fun - like snagging a wet bath towel.

Lots of flukes mentioned above- but for maybe first year ever, I don't think I caught one bass on a fluke this year.

 

One other observation on the year:

I am learning that I don't fish shallow enough. (Or deep enough for that matter.)  I spent over ten years on tidal waters and shallow rivers - many many entire days in less than 5 FOW, and considered myself somewhat skilled at skinny water fishing.  Still, I was shocked to find more bass over 5# in less than a foot of water this year than any year I recall.  (Also just learning how to target LMB in 30-35 FOW, which I had rarely done before last couple years.)

 

50 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!?

I just got this reference  

On 12/13/2025 at 7:20 AM, Jigfishn10 said:

I just got this reference  

 

On 12/13/2025 at 7:20 AM, Jigfishn10 said:

I just got this reference  

?

On 12/13/2025 at 7:44 AM, Choporoz said:

Still, I was shocked to find more bass over 5# in less than a foot of water this year than any year I recall. 

 

Me too, Choppy. I was amazed to find fish in the same skinny water. 

On 11/29/2025 at 3:26 PM, WaskaCrank12 said:

-Jackall - Dera Break (mini-chatter bait) with either a DEPS Deathadder or Nories SwitchOnTrailer

 

Very interesting.

Not typical chatter trailers.

 

Do you keep the appendages on the Nories Switch?

 

Did you come up with that on your own or did you see it somewhere? I’m just curious if there’s underwater footage?

 

Thanks!

@HawkeyeSmallie - I came in to using the DEPS Deathadder (3") and Nories SwitchOnTrailer (2.5") as trailers on the Dera Break micro-chatter bait thru trial and error - I just kept experimenting with different trailers and these were the ones that caught the most/largest fish and seemed to allow the chatter bait to move/track/dart/dive well, they allowed the chatter bait to do it's thing - I did keep the appendages on the Nories SwitchOnTrailer (although after an handful of catches generally one or more of the appendages were bitten off, so I would change out the trailer once it lost two or more appendages) --- the Nories seems to have less action to it yet enough that it attracted bites, the Dera Break chatter bait tracked very true with the Nories on it --- The 3" Deathadder was great, the fish seemed to love it, the only negative is it tears easily (wish they made an elastomer version) and I had to make sure I super glued it on so it would stay on the hook/lure, I think the size/weight/movement of it's pin tail is a good fit for this micro bladed jig --- The YouTuber - NorthernStrainStyle has some awesome underwater footage of baits/lures if you are looking to check out the actions of lures/baits

In no particular order.

 

7" Stinger on a shakey head in Purple Haze

 

5" Stinger on a dropshot in Morning Dawn

 

Bully 1.5 DD in Shimmer Shad 

 

DC 8" EEL in Black/Pearl  TX rigged and weightless. 

 

Wise Whacker (creature bait) in Purple Haze 

 

All Deep Creek Lures. 

14 hours ago, whitwolf said:

In no particular order.

 

7" Stinger on a shakey head in Purple Haze

 

5" Stinger on a dropshot in Morning Dawn

 

Bully 1.5 DD in Shimmer Shad 

 

DC 8" EEL in Black/Pearl  TX rigged and weightless. 

 

Wise Whacker (creature bait) in Purple Haze 

 

All Deep Creek Lures. 

 

I'm glad to see this.  I really wanted to support them, but didn't have a lot of success with the few Deep Creek baits I've tried.  I will revisit.

I had an off season on the river this year. No real dominant lure.

1.Mooch minnow

2. Whacky worm, JuneBug

3. Whopper Plooper caught as many musky on that as I did bass.

4. Berkeley 3.8” swim bait

5. Few fish on a Ned but not as many as I usually do.

River was high in the early season which hampered fishing. Then in August the river was a foot below normal. Which hampered me getting to some spots.

Running a Jon boat with a 60/40 jet.