Crestliner2008

I love the Jelly worms. Have accounted for an awful lot of bass for me over the years. Color doesn't seem to matter, but I really only carry two; black grape and motor oil. I've always used them with an 1/8 oz. bullet sinker, rigging the worm texas style. Flat works! BTW: if you want to try that Senko, go with a 4" size, wacky rigged on a drop shot - nothing is more potent for anything that swims!

I like RW's suggestions - if you don't have a 1' grass coating on the bottom at that depth, which does occur on many types of northern lakes. If you are not bothered by that, then the Ledgebuster is a great option. Along with 3/4 oz. blade baits. However, current or no current, it'd be very hard to beat a drop shot on any body of water. IMO!

I sometimes get a kick out this "ya gotta set the hook sooner" comments. A bass can inhale bait or a lure at lightning speed. It has to in order to survive. It's his nature. I'm sorry, but no one's reflexes are that good! Learn to use the equipment you have, apply some of the suggestions you learn here and you'll do just fine.

Try using a drop shot. You'll change your mind fast about fishing deep water!

Bill Binkleman was using the drop shot way back in the 60's for walleye. It's amazing that everything new is really everything old!

This is where 80%+ of my fishing takes place each season (the Quabbin Reservoir): And here is my partner & I at it! Here's what she produces each time out:

Any piece of soft plastic that's <5". Worm, minnow, tube, Senko, helgrammite; whatever. All will catch fish on a drop shot.

As has been said here, keep the drag relatively tight until you're fighting the fish. That's no. 1. Next, are you using "In-Line" circle hooks or "off-set" style? Loose the off-sets and get yourself some of these in-lines; your lip hook-up ratio will be improved dramatically. Two more things, one of which has been mentioned: Do NOT set the hook! Just lift the rod and start to reel. Adjust your drag at that point (lessen it) and you're home free! 90%+ will be lip hooked. To facilitate hook removal, crimp down the barbs. Not needed with this style of hook.

And also, are fishing from a boat? Any electronics on board? How deep is the lake? What's the main forage base? Before you wet a line on any body of water, you need to some basic facts about it.

Early this year I bought several "trial" packs of the Gulp minnows and leeches for drop shotting. The last two time out, I caught nothing using the Gulp products; but as soon as I switched back to my Roboworms, I started hammering the big smallies. I'll still keep trying them for this year, but it's not looking good so far!

Roboworms when drop shotting for SM or Senkos for wacky/texas rigging for LM. But a lot depends on the type of structure I'm fishing at the time.

I agree. Even when I fish for largemouths I crimp the barbs. No need for them - in my opinion. Also though, if the cover you are fishing isn't that dense or weeded, try using a circle hook, with the barb crimped down as well. Barbs may have a place in tournament fishing when a lot of money is on the line, but there is no need when recreational fishing. You will rarely loose a fish this way. And so what if you do?

Try any kind of "slop" bait/frog (Spro Bronzeye for instance), from the shore out to where the surface water is clear of vegetation. Over the submerged vegetation run a Rage Tail Toad or similar kind of surface/kicking frog. You can also try "bulging" a spinnerbait in this area. Finally, I'd hit the rip-rap with a spinnerbait or crank. Good Luck!

What kind of presentations have you tried? And are you mobile or fishing from shore? With clear water like that, you need to approach super cautiously. I'd prefer to drift into the area you've seen those big bass, and anchor within a long casting range away. Then have a cup of coffee and let the area "settle" down. Even the most cautious approach can put the fish off right away. Keep low....no standing! No clanging of anything in the boat. No noise - period. When you start fishing, try casting a drop-shot rig. Light finesse style baits presented very quietly will force the larger bass to rush in, so as the smaller ones don't have a chance to get it.

Very good post brophog! If that doesn't help, nothing will.

What you really need to do is to buy a package of several brands. Then wacky rig each and drop them into a swimming pool or clear water along the edge of a lake. You need to see the differences in the action of this type of worm as it descends down thru the water column. Then and only then can you make a logical decision as to which performs better. By "perform", I am referring to action. Does the end of the worm shake and quiver on the way down? The original Senko was designed to do this quite effectively. Other worms of this type, can and are successful when fished wacky style. However, if the fisherman using them is honest, they usually get their strikes as they "jig" them off the bottom, manually creating this end shake. I think you will find that very few of the knock-offs on the market today possess this characteristic shake on the decent. Some come very close, some are just as good. But it's up to you to decide. Just put the odds in your favor and your confidence will put fish in the boat for you.

Try rigging them on a "Wacky Head" jig. Or even a small ball-head.

X2 - And get that help soon. Back problems don't go away on their own, especially if you continue doing what's created the problem in the first place.

Just my opinion after fishing with them for over 25 years, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better quality & bargain, than an Abu Garcia 5500C.

Sorry I didn't see this until today! I usually fish the other side of the hill (43 & 31), but I have fished gate 8 on occasion as well. I went out on the 25th., and caught a decent number of smallmouth. The bass were in the 25' transition areas. They were beat up from the spawn and skinny. But, there was a lot of bait in the areas I found and the water temps were still in the mid 60's. Way too cool for this time of the year! Scout for bait on road beds or drops in that depth range and look for bait. When you find it, drop shot anything else besides "Gulp" and you'll do fine! ;D How did you make out on your trip?

Any name brand in 3/8 - 1/2 oz. size, with a single, silver colorado blade and black skirt. Will catch anything that swims in clear or murky water. Add a trailer hook if you like and if pike are in the same water, don't forget a heavy fluorocarbon leader.

Same here in MA. Been waiting for the water temps to get above 70 on the Quabbin, but it hasn't yet! Almost July and it seems like early May! June has given us record rainfall of over 5" - so far. Cool daytime temps and overcast with showers almost every day for the last 3 weeks. The smallies have not yet set up on their summer patterns. Maybe they won't at all this year! Worse part is, the days are getting shorter now! Gimme a break.

It sounds like you have and are using a sonar to find those humps. Are there any bait fish on or near those humps? If so, then try using tubes and/or the drop shot. Works wonders for largemouths.

My Lowrance - too easy! Nothing else matters.

Great post! I totally agree. And you know, sometimes the lower priced items are actually better suited - in some cases. I really liked your "tackle investment" strategy. I've been saying that to folks around here for years. But I go one step further and tell them to "learn" their sonar above all else. Spend time with it and know what it is you are looking at. A truly invaluable tool. Thanks again!