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Today was a tough day for me on the water. Got a late start with the full moon still out when I woke this morning. I went to a local pond to try out some new PTL plastics I had ordered but got no love from the normally hungry bass., so I switched gears and started slinging a MegaStrike Strikeback SB only to have it snapped clean off by a very aggressive snapping turtle - we're talking 30" shell here in length. He also chased after one of my PTL Sick Sticks and got hooked again only this time I go him closer to the yak and he turned suddenly and almost snipped the end of my Shimano rod off. With that lure now gone as well, I decided to do a 180 and try to seek out some aggressive fish perhaps hangin off the banks. The pond itself if only 5.5' deep at the deepest spot with most of the depths ranging between 3-4' after a short dropoff at the bank. Mucky bottom and murky water. Water temps hung around the shaded end of the pond at 52 degrees with the area exposed to the sun heating up to 56 by midday. I ended up parking the Hobie on a rock long enough to go back to the van and snagging my rod rigged with a CB. I ended up only catching one on the day, a lonely 17" LMB, but it was caught on a Rick Clunn square bill in the citrus shad color, and he flat out choked it. This was a first for me, as I had never caught a fish using a billed crankbait out of the kayak. I have to give props where props are due though. Thanks go out to the local kid who was extremely intrigued with my Pro Angler 14 who gave me the tip on slinging a CB. He said it is what he does when they won't hit his creature baits. Until that point, I had thought about it but didn't make the effort to go get it. It was a breezy day with winds gusting around 10-15 mph all day, but at least there was no skunk!! Also, a huge thanks go out to the good folks at HawgTech for their handles. I was cranking steady with my Revo Inshore, St. Croix AVID for three straight hours and never got tired once due to hand or arm fatigue. Those handles rock and are worth every penny!! Thanks again for a quality product!!

I got some sweet looking 1 ounce jigs in the mail today from Siebert Outdoors. I have not had a chance to use them yet but they look awesome, the design is excellent and the construction is top notch. Can't wait to throw these things. Thanks Siebert Outdoors

About a week ago I was sitting around pondering what are two lures I throw the most and have the best success off of. How can I get these two together. The answer is a Big O Brush jig and a Rage Craw. How can I get these two together? This got my mind thinking. Why not offer Strike King Rage Tail products also!!!!!!! I am now carrying Rage Tail Lobsters, Craws, Baby Craws, Space Monkeys, Chunks, and a couple Smokin Roosters!!!!!!!!!!! I have all of the new colors and the staples in stock! Pictures will be added to the website. http://siebertoutdoors.com/ Pictures will be added to the website.

Bouncing bass is new to bass fishing and came about when B.A.S.S. tournament rules changed to disallow the use of landing nets. This happened when ESPN owned BASS and I believe that happened not as a conservation tactic but as more exciting TV. Bass flopping around on carpet does more scale damage then any net can. Flipping, the original presentation, used very strong and long rods (without reels) and lifting bass out of the water and into the boat was how it's done. This technique also contributed to bouncing bass or high sticking by weekend bass anglers. Tournament anglers are also in a hurry so getting under size bass in and released as fast as possible factors into lifting smaller bass out of the water to unhooked it and toss it back has always been part of bass fishing. The rod rating system that uses power ratings; 2, 3, 4, 5 for medium light, medium, medium heavy and heavy came from how much dead weight a rod could lift before bottoming out or be fully loaded. Live weight is very different because the bass can help by swimming itself out of the water or apply more pressure by turning at the wrong moment, then something is going to give! Rod mfr's can tell when a rod has been over loaded verses a flaw, hence the warning. Tom

I'm a little ways north in Maine, but the ice is just about gone and I've been eagerly waiting. I start with jigs, jerkbaits, and super slow rolling spinnerbaits. Targeting mostly steep main lake banks, points, and bluffs. Along with deeper submerged grass. Most guys wont even think of a spinnerbait when it's really cold, but I've whacked 'em crawling one along the bottom on some nasty days

Here's some I made up last year and did very well with LMB: Pre-painted tungsten weights for bodies, silicone skirts and 2/0 owner mosquito hooks. Here's one I did for a member on here:

I don't consider it bad etiquette either ... Just realize that you may not get the whole truth from them. Prime example. One tournament last year I was paired with a boater who was fishing a tube. It was my first time fishing with tubes so he offered some tips to help. I asked him what color. He said a "greenish color" would work. Wouldn't say much more. In observation I saw his was not greenish at all. In addition he was putting some type of scent on it as well. When asked about weight he says it can vary based on the condition but didn't disclose what size he was using. You can tell how far a person is willing to go with their advice. The key there is NOT to push it. Be grateful for the information they did share and learn and explore from there. He ended up winning the tournament so I am glad I was paying attention.

Next time you talk to the guy tell him you took his advice and have been killing it on that rig ever since.

I agree with Brian, though I don't fish competatively, it may be all in how you ask. You'll always get more bees with honey. Additionally, I will always take a few monents to help out a youngster who seems genuine, and polite. I've been know to cut a bait right off my set up and donate it to the right cause. Some one did that for me way back when and I've never forgotten it. A-Jay

So after waiting 15 days, my Devcon Epoxy finally came. I clear coated my lures that same night. I was going to add glitter, but I used a lot of pearls and iridescent colors so I decided against it for these. I still have a couple new jerkbaits & topwaters that I'm working on, but I just got a new boat and our first tournament is this weekend. Anyhow...here are my first two.

if your water isn't extremely clear, just go all braid. If you have to use a leader, just use a 2 foot or so leader, and just don't reel all the way up to the knot. For me, I usually use a 2 foot leader, my knot never gets into my eyes of the rod. I never reel my lure all the way up to my rod tip, I always have at least a 2 foot distance between my lure and rod tip before I make a cast. I know a lot of guys who only use a 1 foot leader or less. My main body of water is extremely clear water (20+ ft visibility) and a leader is a must on braid. But on lakes where water isn't as clear, I have no problem going straight braid.

The word "best" is too broad - best at what? So, here's several "bests" (left-to-right): Best caster (and most technologically advanced) - Calais DC Best made (subjective, but it's just like a little Swiss watch) - Conquest 50 Best value (and, arguably, most satisfying to use) - ProLite

Right - like the Frogomatic 2000 ~ A-Jay

Not when you use a blender

High sticking isn't lifting bass into the boat with the rod. It's playing or lifting a bass, or really any loading of the rod with it held vertical which places unnatural stress on the rod's tip section.

x2

Congratulations! Rage Tail is a great addition for you. Good luck!

High quality jigs at a reasonable price.

Sounds like you have a whole lot of somebody not knowing what they were doing. One battery on that size TM running on or near max is only going to give you a between one and two hours run time. , If it was me, I would make sure the cranking battery was a good dual purpose, preferably a group 27, battery and connect everything but the TM to that battery. However, before I did anything, I would do my recommended load test. Then I would run #6 cable (the stranded stuff from Home Depot will work but marine is better) between the other two batteries. If there is room in the back, I would get that battery out of the live well and move it to the back. I think you will find the boat will run much better, unless it's wanting to porpoise on you when it's back there, that is a problem tin cans have when the weight distribution is not right on them. Two good group 27/31 deep cycle batteries in parallel should run you all day with no problem unless the TM is living on high or very near it.

God's garden is a good idea - in theory. In practice, I believe in selective harvest - I really do. I have no problem with you catching a few fish - of any species - to eat. If you catch a bunch of bass or whatever fish to eat all the time, or every time you run into a bunch of fish - well, the title of"meat hog" comes to mind, and that is being kind. I don't think that that is the most enlightened way to fish or that it is the best thing for the resource over the long term. I have a really big issue with catching a bunch of game fish and then giving them away. Game fish are controlled by limits, number & size limits, for a reason. To keep a limit of game fish (or more) every time out becomes at the very least greedy and self centered. As opposed to resource centered, which is the side of the fence that selective harvest is on. Basically,when you keep a bunch of fish to feed other people you aren't being selective any more. My question then becomes, "What are you really feeding here?" Are you feeding a bunch of people who may or may not be hungry, but didn't catch the fish, and thus didn't earn the right to consume the fish? OR Are you feeding your own ego, telling yourself that you're a great fisherman, that you can catch a bunch fish whenever and care so little about them that you just give them away? That son, is a genuinely fair question. Basically my point is the game fish population, nationwide, is a resource and I don't see any reason to decimate the resource, just to feed poor & needy people. There are other more efficient and less resource decimating ways to feed poor & needy people. This rant applies to game fish, those fish protected by statutes, conservation departments, and by the vast majority of fishermen's sense of right & wrong. It does not apply to Asian Carp or snake heads. Should you desire to feed poor & needy people fish, become an asian carp specialist. Feed as many carp to that section of society as you can. Feed so many that you make a dent in the carp population. Now that would make you a hero, not only in my book but in lots of peoples books. If your fishing ego needs feeding, now that would be an honest socially and politically correct way to feed it. OK - rant is done now - thanks for reading

Over and through grass. I usually start by reeling it fast enough to "tick" the top of any milfoil/grass that's growing, popping it off any grass it hangs on, and killing it several times during the retrieve, letting it flutter down into the grass and ripping it out. Or I'll let it sink into the grass and rip it out and pump it back to the boat the entire retrieve. 1/2 oz. sized baits work great for this from the bank out to about 8-10 fow. I use the position of my rod tip to follow and keep contact with the grass as I work it back to the boat. 9 time out of 10, I'll catch bass when it's either falling into, ticking, or ripping out of the grass. With a straight retrieve , Pike seem to bite more often.

Because a lot of rods they are using when they are lifting fish can take it. I rod lift most anything under 4lbs............on my jig/worm rods, or flipping and pitching gear. Yet I will net, or lip a 12" on a spinning rod. If you use the fishes momentum, on stout gear, it puts little stress on the rod.

This is one of the key reasons I made the Big O Jig with the Owner XXX Strong hook. Every other hook we tried did not hold up like the Owner. They bent, dulled, rolled, or broke. Thank you all for the kind words.

If you call in sick to work to go fishing, make sure you don't have a sunglasses sunburn when you return the next day.

I've used the zenith jigs and second that notion. Great jigs!

I buy jigs and shakeyheads from Siebert Outdoors and I can safely and with 100% honesty say they are the best jigs and shakeyheads I have ever used. Thanks for a great product,(s) second to none customer service, and great prices, Mike!

In some areas deer hunters have participated in similar programs. As of late there have been problems from certain organizations trying to stop shelters from serving wild game because it hasn't been properly inspected. Beggars can't be choosers, unless you live in the U.S.

I've been out a handful of times in the past couple of weeks. I've caught 4 and missed a couple others. Been having better luck in the evenings then the mornings. All my fish (catches and misses) have been on spinnerbaits (red or chartreuse) or a Rage Tail Shellcracker rage-rigged and have been caught around lily pad beds or shallow flats close to shore.

Just starting to heat up here. Try a Rage Recon worm if you're fishing slow or a 3/8 to 1/2 oz swim jig with a 5" swimbait trailer for bigger fish.

Size 1 maybe a better choice for the smaller finesse worms. Also take a look at Owner #5133 size size 1 for weedless rig, I use both Gamakatsu size 1 and the Owner 5133 size 1 with Roboworms on 6# FiC.Whatever works for is OK. Tom

That is sweet!

Is the skin hard to chew on those ? A-Jay

I was using one of Sieberts jigs today and hooked a big 'un, then he wrapped me up in some bushes and came off....but I so much pressure on him the hook buried itself into a tree branch and....boy it sure fought good! LOL! The point is, I yarded on the thing with 50lb test, and when I finally got it out, the hook wasn't even bent or dull!! I was using Seaguar Kanzen and amazingly enough, it was in perfect shape. I was back to fishing without retying or adjusting anything. These are some sweet jigs!

Fantastic! This is great news!

Thanks, never used but will try

I've been using these jigs for two years now. Top notch stuff. What did you expect from a BassResource sponsor?

Nice move, Mike! I'm pretty stocked up but I'll probably order a few more Big-O football heads in the next couple of weeks as I have some clearwater lakes with lots of rock on the agenda in the next couple of months. I use the brush jigs a lot but I'm pretty sure I have all of those I need. I can always use extra packs of craws and I know I could use an additional color or two of lobsters.

One stop shopping!!!

It's an "Always Hold" for me!! But that doesn't have the same ring to it, does it... LOL

Just got my first order of Siebert jigs in the mail today... They look amazing! It's obvious that you (Mike) put a lot of care into these things. Figures that you'd be stocking these trailers just after I placed my order... Bummer! Oh well, there will be a next time!

Bad-A!! Now I don't have to order from you, then go to TW or bps in store and get my trailers. Man this is awesome.

Here's an inline experiment that went awry...in my mind actually...I made this a couple of winters ago and it still makes it out of my tackle box on those ocassions when the bass are being less cooperative: Well, maybe it didn't turn out to be an inline. As I was building, I had some wire left that was long enough, so I tried the safety pin version of a twin spin musky lure...crazy huh? This has given me some fun days of bass fishing. EDIT: Here's the same spinnerbait cleaned up with a new skirt and zonker strip: Should be a good spring bait.

It is a fine line, a no hitter is one game and to risk your career. But when your outta gas who is in charge of pulling the plug. The manager wants no part, the player wants it and will gut it out. Here is something that will make us all laugh... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/alex-rodriguez-salary-astros-2013_n_2975057.html

Like you A-Jay I have been on both sides of giver and receiver. The reaction you get when you cut off a bait and give it to someone that just saw you catch a fish or two on it is worth much more than the price of the bait. As a younger man I was given a few darter jigs and a bag of grubs along with some on-the-spot training on how to use them in that same situation. Another time I was catching very nice striper hybrids on a roadrunner. I broke off the last one i had. As I was rummaging through my meager collection trying to find something else to use a guy came up and asked what they were biting on. I told him. He gave me a couple and drove off without making a cast. I will never forget either indecent and if I can pay that back along the way I'm good with that.

I don't think so at all, just keep in mind you may not get completely honest answers. Especially if the guys are fishing a tournament. I would pay more attention to what they have tied on or watch their retrieve (moving bait, slow/fast bottom contact, jerkbait...)

I like zoom the packages come with alot of bait and there are tons of colors and sizes

I would start with proper grammar, a resume, and finding a local club... Just "getting" sponsors doesn't really happen.

I fish lipless cranks year round. They are great in the spring. Lotsa great colors but depth, speed, and action are most important. I like painted fluorescents (charteuse or red-orange) or pearls in low vis conditions and reflective metallics (chrome, gold) in high vis conditons. All sizes work -heavier ones sink faster and are fished deeper or faster. Vary your retrieve: stop-n-go, accelerations, pump and drop, rip weed walls, high speed burn, etc .... . They can be ripped clean through sparse weeds or at weed edges but are prone to snagging wood so have a plug knocker handy and some extras. I've tossed a few including: Heddon Sonic, Bayou Boogie, Cordell Spot, Rattle-Trap, Strike King Red-Eye Shad, BPS RattleShad, Yozuri Rattlin' Vibe, Matzuo Rattle-Eye, and Sebile FlattShad. They ALL work but have diff properties -amount of vibes, sink rate, posture on the fall.

I started my younger sister out on a zebco 33 and one of my old st.croix rods. For bait I gave her a gambler big ez which is a soft plastic swimbait they are completely weedless this is important and all she had to do is chunk it out there and reel it in slow. At first I gave her a senko but after the 3rd gut hooked fish I could tell she couldnt detect the bites there is no missing a bite with a swimbait. Keep in mind you probably wont be doing much fishing yourself keep the mindset that you are guiding her and not there to fish. Staying patient with my sister was the hardest part but it payed off. Watching her catch her first big fish was more rewarding then catching a 10lber myself. This is the 5th bass she ever caught on her 2nd trip with her zebco 33 she uses a bait caster now. 6#10oz

Am I better than a bucket fisherman? No...........sometimes, depending on what I am fishing for, I AM A BUCKET FISHERMAN. I keep a lot of the bluegills, and other panfish I catch through the ice. Never more than a legal limit, but often more than I can use right away. I just fillet them and freeze them for future use. I don't keep bass ever, and I don't keep fish from ice out, till ice up. What I , or anyone else is doing, with in the law, is none of your concern. Bass fisherman take a holier than thou approach to keeping and harvesting fish that is nonsense, and ofen borderline hypocritical. Some people who would see you hanged in the town square for keeping a limit of small keeper bass, are the same idiots who toss used plastics, or cigg butts over board like it's perfectly harmless.