Crestliner2008

I agree with WRB - focus on your strengths. BUT! Before your next tournament, do yourself a big favor and learn how to drop shot. You are passing up some big bucks if you don't.

No one should even consider fishing for bass without having first read: "Spoonplugging - Your Guide To Lunker Bass", by Buck Perry. Doug Hannon's earlier books were very informative as well. If you are a true trophy fisherman, Bill Murphy's book is an excellent read too. Simple answer.....read everything you can get your hands on and then start studying what you've read. Big difference between the two concepts.

1992 - 10lbs. 3 oz. - 8" Mann's Jelly Worm, Texas rigged.

Superb finishes on all the Koppers for sure. However, does that make them more effective? If a bass will hit an all white soft jerkbait, or a black worm, why is the attention to detail the cornerstone to Kopper's lures? Maybe more to do with catching more fishermen than fish! As I've said in the past, if it moves and can fit in a bass's jaw, it's fair game and will be attacked if seen by that bass. The bass has no choice in this matter. It has to react to an opportunity - or it won't survive. I don't think it looks at the pattern on the BACK of a frog and determines that this is what it needs to eat! JMO.

I couldn't agree more. Nothing can kill these beasts.

Check out the "Stay N' Charge". This is my 5th. season with the two batteries on my boat; a series #27 deep cycle and a marine starting battery. Both batteries have lasted well. No heavy, heat producing, on-board charger to be concerned with. Your batteries are being charged as soon as you pull off. Go to www.stayncharge.com for the details. No problems, no worries.

roadwarrior - Very interesting knot indeed! Precisely the "Chinese Handcuff" kind of knot. I'll give it try.

First off, bullhead and catfish are two distinctly different species. Bullhead are usually the smaller of the two, weighing under a pound in most cases. They also have a squared off tail and are darker in color. Catfish are usually much larger, lighter in color and always sport a prominently forked tail. Nightcrawler halves will take all the bullhead you could ever want. Chicken livers are best for catfish.

I believe it's always more about location than what you present, in any fishing situation. However, given equal condition, I'll take the Sammy every time.

I'm confident you've misunderstood something here; most folks use plain snaps on their cranks, or tie direct. I'd be very surprised to hear that anyone uses a snap-swivel combination. That's a tad too much hardware and will probably have a negative effect on the action of your crankbaits. Just use a plain (no swivel) "Duo-Lock" or "Cross Lock" snap and you'll do just fine.

What have you been using? And what conditions are you presented with? Which species of bass are you targeting? What is the forage base? Weed conditions? Water temperature? Ya just gotta give us something to work with here my friend.

I've had similar problems develop over the years. Especially fishing deep, off-shore structures for smallies. Some fishermen "know" my boat and deliberately follow me around. They feel they can capture a "short cut" to success I guess? That's when I usually take them "for a ride" and sight seeing tour. They usually get fed up after about 15 min. of being run around pointlessly. I had one guy zoom up on me like that once and park his rig barely a cast (short cast) away from me. Now understand, this is a HUGE reservoir and there are plenty of off-shore structures to fish. I calmly pulled anchor my anchor and moved up right along side the dude's boat (I'm talking about being right along side him, almost touching!) and started fishing. When asked what I was doing, I asked, "You don't like it? Then why do it to me?" They moved, I didn't.

A very productive top water bait! Allows easy "walk-the-dog" action and profile. About the easiest I've ever worked this way. They are out of production now, so if you have a source....buy more! Hint: great smallie bait, for use over deep, off-shore structures. Will draw them out the depths.

Are you shore-bound or fishing from a boat? Do you have electronics on-board, if you are fishing from a boat? What's the water clarity like? Temperature? Forage base? If we have a few more details, we can probably help you out a lot more here. I'm in MA and fish the Quabbin a lot, so I'm familiar with reservoir fishing for smallies. Just not sure what kind of conditions you are being faced with. So, please fill us in!

Wow! A lot of great information. However, there is "theory" and there is "reality". I offer "my" reality: I fish a large, deep reservoir for smallies. I anchor my 15' aluminum boat, quite often, in 30' - 45' of water. (I do a lot a lot drop shotting here.) I have 100' of 3/8" braided nylon rope, attached to a 3' section of heavy chain and a 5#, slip ring, fluke anchor. Been anchoring this way for over 20 years with no problems. This particular anchor is 11 years old. Have never lost it to stump - yet (and there are plenty of them to loose an anchor to!). Hanging a slip ring anchor is an easy out; just move out straight from the hang - motor a semi-circle 180 degrees from the hang - and pull free. Simple....effective. I let out the anchor until it hits bottom. Then let out another 5' or so. That's it. No problems....no worries. It's that simple. Please...do NOT over think anchoring!

The "Spittin' Image" walk-the-dog type bait has been discontinued and it's one fantastic small mouth lure over deep, open water structures! I still have two, but am afraid to toss them! Instead, I've used the LC Sammy, but it still doesn't draw them like the "image" did.

I always use square bills around cover. Especially through wood. The dynamics makes them kick off obstacles much better and they do produce. Always had My best luck on LM though. Not much cover to worry about in open water where the smallies like to hang out in summer.

Plecos make great aquarium pets and keep algae off the glass. Quite expensive in most shops and they do grow fast. My 55 gal. aquarium couldn't supply enough algae and I had to use blocks to supplement it's diet. bought it when it was about 3" long and it was almost 9" by the time I sold it! Got paid $55. for it!

Excellent response, Bass_Akwards!

I like aluminum deep-V's, but then again I fish a lot of big water and need the security and versatility they provide. Sometimes I just hate fishing in my buddy's flat bottom bass boat (Tracker). What a wet ride! And you know something? I don't draft very much more water that he does. So, for me, it's a no-brainer.

I found this site this past winter and have been experimenting with this hook and set-up now for about 3 months. I've hooked into several nice LM bass; biggest being 5.5 lbs. (nothing really big - yet!). I've concluded that this set-up flat works! Not sure yet if it's better than standard Texas rigging, but I enjoy trying new things. Some of you may be aware and have tried this set-up already; but for those of you who haven't, here's the link to tying this hook and rigging plastics on it. I've used it with 5" Senkos, Sweet Beavers (as in the video) and Fat Ikas. So far, no complaints. I'm just not convinced it's "better" than an EWG worm hook. This is the link: http://www.burniehaney.com/blank.html

I only use two hooks for wacky rigging. The first one is for open water fishing. It's the Gamakatsu 1/0 In-Line Circle hook. I've caught hundreds of 2 1/2 - 4 3/4 lb. smallmouth bass on this hook. And I even crimp down the barb. Rarely have lost a fish and they usually get hooked in the upper lip. No "hook set" required; just start reeling and the hook does the rest. The second hook I use is the Gamakatsu 1/0 Finesse W.G. Weedless, which I use in heavy cover for LM bass in the weeds, or when fishing smallies along river blow downs. I crimp the barbs on these as well and have had no problems. Either one of these hooks will help you catch a lot of fish.

A lot of good suggestions have already been made here, but I'd like to throw this out. How about an Abu Ambassadeur 5500 series? I have 1/2 dozen of these "round" reels and two of which are over 30 years old. They are reliable, work fine and are under your $100. cost limit. Best part is your kids will be able to hand them down to their kids.

That is the correct location; after going down Hockanum for a bit, take a 1/2 right or fork, onto "1st. Square Road". Do not take the immediate right onto "Parson's Swamp Road". You will see the upper (west most) lake on your right very quickly. A short travel down this road you will see a small unmarked road directly off of 1st. Square Road and going right. Take that road down to the lower section of the upper pond. Just make sure you have 4WD capability and you won't get into (too much) trouble. This upper pond is definitely the most productive. It has LM bass, crappie, yellow perch and carp. Good Luck and let me know how you make out. ps/ Brink LOTS of mosquito repellent!

Absolutely. You know where the fish is located and where her territory is. Now your only hope of catching that fish is if you focus on your approach. Wear subdued clothing that matches your surroundings. Wear soft soled shoes. Walk slow and quietly. Stay low, keeping your silhouette at a minimum. Take your time and do as has been suggested, cast out a Senko. Let it sit there. Do not move it at all. A big bass knows what's in it's territory immediately. Eventually she will come in close to investigate. She will take a dead-sticked Senko. Just step it up to a 6" or 7" model. Good Luck!