J Francho

Lower ratio = slower retrieve and more torque.

If you told me I could only use one line, it would be 12-15# P-Line CXX.

My sonar unit.

That's good stuff, Muddy and Catt. Thanks. I do like to hear about the evolution of certain rigging, and how each feature came to be through creative problem solving. I never thought the Carolina rig was all that different than what we called a Universal Rig. Mainline with a bell sinker, barrel swivel, leader, and hook. That rig has worked for everything from little redworms for panfish on up to cut bait and chicken liver for channel cats. Just replace the barrel with a bullet weight, add some clacky stuff for noise, and use a worm hook. What is very interesting it that weight not only serves to get the bait down, but it adds noise and a bottom stirring, agitation factor as well. Anyway, I'm not trying to contradict you guys here - I've only been fishing for bass for about 20 years, and you guys have obviously been doing it longer and know (or were part of) all the innovation that has led us to where we are now. I just want to be able to say, "I used a Texas rig," and have everyone know what I meant. Again, Thanks for lesson!

Please get a scale, and don't just lay the fish on the ground. :

I like the one the fish are biting. This means trying a few different baits - including a PW - and letting the fish tell you what they like.

In fact, the definition from this site's Glossary fits the description: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/bass_fishing.html#def117. Its easier if we are all talking about the same thing. Don't you agree?

That may be true, but in most current publications, the Texas Rig has a slip weight, z-bend hook and the bait is rigged weedless. Most readers would associate the crimp on weight version as a split shot rig. A weedless plastic toad may be a t-rig by your definition, but none of the advice on how to fish what is commonly accepted as a Texas Rig would not apply to this, or any other weightless/weedless rig. Its hard enough to explain techniques with the written word without semantics getting in the way, LOL. And yet so much of the finer things in fishing are all about semantics.

For the best value, you want to buy the minikits. You get a few different blades to build tons of different baits from one.

I have a T-1 that is light blue and white. Its a double Colorado type.

I use their Quickstrike spinnerbaits. They really excel at dropping in a hole after burning over the tops of weeds.

Thank you and be safe.

Spinnerbait.

Count the bait down to the bottom to get a baseline for that bait and trailer. Then pitch to a hole. If the bait stops before the end of the count, swing immediately. Do not wait to see if there is a fish there, since all you might feel is the fish spitting the bait. If it gets to the bottom, pop it a few times, or shake it. Anything feels just slightly different, swing. The bites are frequently subtle, and that is an understatement. Many times I've been flipping in weedbeds, and I've seen the strikes. Visually they are quite violent, yet on the tactile side almost not detectable. Its because they grab the bait on the slack line fall.

That is a mistake. get a heavy rod and try it. You will be rewarded eventually.

I assumed this occurred after the tourney, like at the launch before weigh in. It would be weird during a tourney.

Never made that connection with bubbles and baro. I have noted that when the baro is low, the fish are sometimes suspended.

Do you ever really look "cool" in a tx? LOL. The only time those goofy shirts look good is when you're at the weigh in and you have the biggest weight, then you look cool no matter what

This BY FAR is the most important thing you've done in your entire life. I don't even care that its fishing related. Real men spend time with their kids. Nice job brother!

With a skirted football jig, I use a rattle, with an open hook I don't. Never really thought about why until just now. It probably doesn't matter that much.

My biggest improvement has been swinging for the fences to get a lunker. The downside is you sometimes get skunked, or get a little discouraged, but it has been worth it. My other big add is fishing tournaments again for the first time in twelve years. I'd forgotten how fun it was.

I've witnessed small, swimming rodents getting eaten by some predatory fish - maybe a bass or a pike, but man they hit it hard. As a kid, I had a little mouse lure, and caught bass on it. Snag Proof has a plastic mouse similar to their frogs that would fit the bill. I've seen them in all the major sporting goods stores.

I haven't caught too may fish on the solid rubber frogs, mostly because I use other baits, specifically hollow frogs. I've done a lot of hollow body frog fishing this year, and hadn't given much thought to why I had just a few Snag Proofs in my bag in years past. Here is what I came up with: Snag Proof: all around good deal, good at weed/padless, good hookup ratio, durable Scum Frog: softest body out there, and best hook up ratio, tears up easily, inexpensive Spro: sublime action, tunable: cut one "leg" shorter than the other and you can walk the dog, body is too thick, you really have to wait to set the hook, lower hookup ratio, best colors, last forever, pricey Furbit: flat out unbelievable when nothing else works, pricey Basyrisky: they don't work, forget the name... :-X, actually, they are a different bait altogether, I like the smaller size Scumfrog Bigfoot: another weirdo hybrid, club/paddle feet are great for going through open water, then pads all in one cast. I think this is the bait that replaces all the paddle tail plastic frogs for me.

You need a decoy rig on your front deck, like a UL rig with a 3/4 oz. Cleo with a pink Senko trailer. Also, if it s a two day job, and you'll have a different non boater each day, put your console FF in demo mode, LOL. Seriously, I would guess that you know the hows, wheres, and whens about your "secret bats" - which are no secret at all really - and I'd think you'd almost always outfish the copy cat.

I hear you John. And I think its always good to question the what exactly the person was testing for. I don't feel that Dr. Jones is as interested in interpreting the data in a way that is favorable for his company as he is interested in finding some truth that his company can exploit to bring better products to the marketplace and more profit to his company. I work with statistics everyday, and the only truth in them is what you carve from the recordset to get your intended results. Four out of five dentists may actually only include five dentists, and four of them work at Crest, LOL. In this case, the good old plastic worm has proven one thing to me - it usually will catch some bass. There are better baits, sure, but its one bait you can set someone up with where they can actually learn how to fish. Its the second bait I like to introduce a newbie to, after a Senko .