Crestliner2008

The only rigging I use a hook with a barb is when I'm presenting a drop shot to deep water smallmouths. I've found through many years of practice, that a barbless ds hook will get thrown most of the time. Due mainly to the position of the weight, which gives the bass a tremendous amount of leverage on a jump. Something I've never been able to control. So, when I drop shot, I use the barb. For everything else I go barbless.

It does resemble a Scout. One of the first snagless cranks for fishing heavy wood.

Just what are you fishing for and where are you fishing (more specific - coves, shorelines, humps?) What species are you targeting? Water conditions - clear, stained, muddy? Need more input if you want a targeted out put.

Don't know.....don't care. It's one of my most productive drop baits I've ever had. Rig it on a 7/0 worm hook and she just flat out catches bass.

I'll tell you true, this Popn'Image by Bill Dance has been one of my easiest to work and most productive, top water baits I've ever had. You can easily 'walk-the-dog' with it, pop it in place, or whatever you want to do, with the least amount of learning and/or effort. Besides that, it's extremely productive, however you fish it. This is what this bad boy looks like:

For the buck, you can do a lot worse than the standard President. I own 3 plus a Trion. All these Pfluegers perform extrememly well. I, for one, would not pay the extra cost for the limited. But that's just me.

If you really try everything stated here, I can recommend you reading this previous posting:

Welcome to Bass Resource! You've come to the right place. What A-Jay is saying is probably your best option. That, or fishing dawn, dusk or at night.

I've been using crushed down barbs on all my hooks, single or treble, for many, many years now. I believe I land as many fish as ever before, when I use to use barbed hooks. But you do need to do your part and either back-reel or have a well conditioned drag. Most importantly, you must maintain pressure on the fish. Have I never lost a fish with a barbless hook? Of course I have. But did it spoil my day? Not a chance. It merely provides increased safety for myself and the fish. Let me add that I have found an increase in lost fish when using the drop shot if fished barbless. Fishing for smallmouth a lot using this presentation, hooked fish tend to jump. Not a problem per say, but the swinging drop shot weight gives the bass just enough leverage to throw the hook in many cases. So, my Gammy SS/DS hooks (I only use these in size #2) have retained the barb. Besides, they are usually hooked in the top lip and removing that is easy and comparatively safe. JMO.

Weren't the Snatrix Doug Hannon's first go at snakes? Anyway, if you want, I have a box full of Helicopter lures I'd let go at a reasonable price (inherited as well).

The good part about a river is that the water is always moving, supplying necessary oxygen and food supply. And most larger rivers have many underground springs rising into the main basin. I wouldn't worry about the surface temp of the water you are fishing. Just go out and enjoy!

Let's see here, if it's impossible for me to fish during the winter due to ice & snow.....and not recommended to fish with the water is hot......then that gives me about 4 months out of the year to fish. I don't think so!

Great article on the spooks. Did any of you catch the In'Fishermen's TV show this past weekend? They were actually catching BIG lake trout on a Spook over deep water! Would have never thought it in a million years.

Why bother with a drop shot when you can get them vertical jigging with 1/2 oz. blade baits in 60'+ water? We use light spinning rigs with 8# test Fireline Crystal for the main line and 6# test fluoro leader. Here's some results of a couple of months ago:

I'm a big crappie fan. Have several B n' M rigs which I use drifting a large reservoir here abouts for schools of them. In the summer they tend to follow around schools of bait, suspending just underneath them. Drifting 1/16 oz. & 1/8 oz. ball head jigs, dressed with either a straight tailed 2" plastic (BGBS) and/or CB Slider grubs, will get you into the action in no time. One of over a hundred we caught on 7/19/16:

Excellent job out there! That is one beast of a fish.

Too bad all rod manufacturers don't standardize their ratings. That being said, I like to keep it down to a medium light rating on the drop shot rod. You just need a sensitive/flexible tip to impart action (when needed - a whole 'nuther discussion!) and a decent backbone. A 6 1/2' to 7' rod should do it. But like I said, it's challenging to find ratings to reflect what is truly needed. A rod specified as a "drop shot" rod may not be what you really expect/need, depending upon the manufacturer. As far as reels go, you'd be hard pressed to find anything better than a Pflueger President, clocking in around the $50.00 range. Fill it with 6# test braid and 6# test quality fluorocarbon leader and you're good to go!

If you want to catch smallmouth in any river system, I can almost guarantee that a 3" curly tailed grub dressed on an 1/8 oz. ball head jig, is about as good as it gets. Simplify.....simplify.

Go on Amazon.com, you'll get them for a whole lot less coins.

I have used 8" and 6" Hudds on the Quabbin for smallies a few years back, along with some other big plugs. They will certainly hit them, no question. However, it's a low percentage game. Lots of casts.....few hits. Been fishing the Q for many decades and I know smallmouth fishing there. Swimbaiting would not my preference on that body of water. Not a large enough ROI for my liking. JMO.

Precisely My thought.....Fat Ika.

Has anyone ever used these? I've had two failures using the standard DuoLock snaps in the past and am looking for something without any moving parts (like bending open & closing a snap).. These seem to fit that bill, but I've never used them myself. Thanks for any opinions/comments.

I've had pretty good results with a 3" or 4" Fin-S Fish, depending on the size of the jig.

I was brought up trout fishing and the one thing I learned really fast is that fish face upstream. Doesn't matter the species. Moving water dictates that is what they have to do, in order to eat. Consequently, I always fish heading upstream when possible. Moving downstream puts you at a disadvantage, as the fish will probably have a better chance at seeing you, before you have of seeing them. If you cannot blaze a southerly trail on the land, before starting to fish up, I'd recommend a very slow wade downstream, allowing more time than normal to make your cast/presentation. Let things settle down before you even start to fish. Wear subdued clothing or camo and try to blend in. A white hat will definitely put them off. Good Luck!

Very nice indeed!