Crestliner2008

The thing about a Senko is that if there is a fish in the area, it will go after one. As a search bait, it is not that effective, but once you locate fish it is necessary to slow down and present them with something that is reliable. Senko.

I'm kinda different with presentation using tubes. I like to use internal weights (jigs or Tx rigging). Once on the bottom I like to snap the tube up off the bottom aggressively. Then let it settle and repeat. Caught a lot of big smallies with this kind of presentaion. And do not be afraid to try a 4" white tube either. As far as "when" to use it goes. Let the fish tell you. Try one thing....then another....sooner or later you'll key into their mood for the day.

Beautiful brookie! Congrats!

Well, I tried straight braid with my topwater baits. Didn't work out too well for me. The problem (for me) is that the braid gets hung up in the split rings of the bait. Probably due to the fact that I use a relatively light braid, but that's just what I like to do. So, I use a monofilament leader, connected to my braid, which is heavier than the main line braid. This increases the stiffness of the line at the bait and seemingly reduces tangles with the bait. Add to that, the additional shock absorption of a leader with the braid, makes it a good combination. JMO.

Another vote for the In'Fisherman.

Since I only drop shot off-shore for smallmouth, the line I use is 6# test Fireline Crystal, with a 6# test fluorocarbon leader. Have caught some pretty big smallies with this rig over many seasons now. Haven't lost many and none due to line failure. Very reliable combination in my opinion. I absolutely HATE PowerPro. Makes way too much "noise" through the guides, when reeling in your bait or a fish. Besides, I don't need 10# test anything to land a fish in open water and that's about the lightest pound test they offer. JMO.

I've just tried the Gorilla Super Glue Gel. I'm impressed.

Great job out there! Congrats!

Well, look on the bright side.....it's all up hill from here. Good Luck out there.....and please be careful! I have to admit, your post did give me a chuckle.

Confidence is key. If it gives you that, then any color will increase your success ratio. My opinion is that color with top water baits is highly over rated. If something is moving on the surface of the water, bass will attack it, regardless of color pattern. JMO.

Stick to spinning and take a hard look at the Lightning Shock series of rods, matched up with either a Pfueger Trion or better yet the President reel. This combo will serve you very well. In your price range I wouldn't consider a baitcaster. And you will not be any less off with a spinning rig. JMO.

I like using snaps to connect lures to my line all the time. If I'm using a spoon and/or spinner type lure, then I'll put a quality swivel about 18" up the line ahead of the lure to lessen any impairment to the action.

Line conditioner is kinda like using scent on your plastic baits. Purely a "confidence" thing, with no way to actually prove that it works, or for how long in use on the water . Since I switched from fluoro to braid (with a fluoro leader), I haven't used it much lately. But even when I was using it on fluoro and monofilament lines, I didn't really notice much of a difference. But that's just me.

From my experience the Alberto knot excels. Not as bulky as the Uni knot and have had no failures over several seasons of continuous use. The fact that the Alberto is a weave and not technically a knot, may be the factor. It produces a very slim knot that flows through guides quite well. It does take a little practice to tie, but I can do it with arthritis fingers & hands, along with poor close up vision, so anyone should be able to accomplish it with a little practice. In my opinion, this knot is a jewel.

True.....add split rings and change out those awful hooks! Put a pair of quality trebles on the rings and your hook up ratio will skyrocket. The factory hooks can be used, but at the very least, make sure you sharpen them every hour or so - and I mean "sticky" sharp. I also agree that a slower action rod and monofilament line will help. Bottom line is to practice and not get too anxious to set the hook. When you feel the weight, you have the fish! Good Luck!

Texas rig a 7" Senko. It will work just as well as larger worms. Just rig it on a 5/0 - 7/0 worm hook. No weight needed. You'll get bit.

Not knowing what kind of water you are fishing makes it very difficult to predict what could/would work. What is the water clarity? What is the temperature of the water? Weedy....rocky.....muddy? Really need to know more than just say what could work. Everything could work. Just a matter of getting down to specifics in order to narrow down the options. Are you fishing from a boat or on the shoreline? If you have a boat, do you have a sonar on it? BTW.....that is a fine catch indeed! Congrats!

Phenomenal beast! My PB is only 43" (here in MA) and that gave me a heck of fight! Can't even imagine trying to land a beast like that.

Going to try one more time with these pictures:

Now that is a fish of a lifetime! Congrats!

I take a two fold approach. First, my clothing (jacket, pants, socks & shoes and especially your hats) is treated with Permethrin spray (Cabelas). This is an actual insecticide, which has proven effective in preventing tick bites especially. It does repel skeeters to some extent as well. When insects come in contact with the treated materials, they die. The next step is to lightly coat any exposed skin with a 100% Deet lotion, such as Bens. Notice I didn't say spray, which normally contains less than 30% Deet. Just make sure you wash your hands well before handling your fishing tackle. Then I just lightly coat the backs of my hands & wrists with the same lotion, paying particular attention to NOT touching the palms of my hands. Been shore fishing for many, many years and have found that this approach works.

Pflueger President 6920.

Beautiful day to be on the water today. Air started out at 42 degrees which increased to the low 60's by noon. Water temps staying pretty consistent at 46 degrees. Launched at 7:30 am and pulled off at 2 pm. Winds light & variable. Great day for vertical jigging big lakers. Wish I could say we knocked their socks off today, but at least we had some defined quality involved. Again, using the Cicada blade modification - with the single 1/0 Siwash hook (depicted in my report in the Fishing Tackle forum. For whatever reason, when I try to "upload" pics from my computer, it restricts the size, so I guess I'll try to show you the big girl of the day and see it that will be uploaded. Sorry, won't upload that either! Says I'm able to upload 7.32 mb, and each picture I try to upload is only 5.54 mb (PhotoShop size)? Guess I can't show you anything anyway. Sorry Folks. Suffice to say she was over 31" long and weighing in the neighborhood of 12 pounds. Too bad you can't see it.

I can appreciate where you coming from for sure. Confidence is the thing and not without taking chances. But it does work.

Water temps are now hovering around 45 degrees up here. The big lake trout are coming in to chase smelt schools on their spawning mission. Blade baits are one of the most consistent producers of both lakers and smallmouth bass. But I really don't know of any species that cannot be caught on blades. The problem arises with the hooks on most of these blade baits. The trebles and double hooks on most commercially available lures are not the strongest. Lakers will literally crush most trebles and double hooks. Very powerful jaws. Similar to the salmon as well. Smallies are less powerful, from a crushing standpoint, but a sturdier hook will not be a deficit with this species either. Sure, you can switch out the trebles for better quality, but therein lies the second problem - snagging on the bottom - which can become expensive over time. So, I've gone to a single Siwash hook on these blade baits and have not had a single laker crush or twist the hook. It also significantly reduces - not eliminates - bottom hang ups. I go one step further and crimp down the barbs on these hooks. A similar requirement is mandated in some Canadian Providences. I was skeptical about doing this at first, envisioning loosing more fish than I land. But that has not proved to be the case at all. Last season was the first I tried this out. It has proven itself time & time again, catching many lakers and smallmouth bass. No going back to regular trebles and/or double hooks for me ever again! And for smallmouth and/or largemouth bass, this should prove to be a positive approach, which, with all species I've encountered, facilitates hook removal and reduces harm to the fish for us CPR folks. Here's what this mod looks like: