XLFISH

You are right R.MD.Angler, the book touches on many different aspects of swimbaits. I have an autographed copy and Bills video. Some of the info in the book must be "tweaked" a little for our waters, but the concept can apply wherever bass live. I dont remeber the book talking about river fishing though, but I have used SPRO"S BBZ-1 smaller swimbaits and they work well in rivers. Years ago I looked at the score and decided that I had caught enough small fish and decided to target big bass. I looked at where I was fishing and elliminated all but 3 or 4 bodies of water. These 3 or 4 bodies of water had the potential to produce fish greater than 8 pounds with consistancy. Which means if there are numerous 8's there are several 10's and and a few bigger. There is an equation for that. I decided to leave those dink factories alone and concentrate on those 3 or 4 lakes. I think that was a step in the right direction. I did gamble last year and fish a couple of old farm ponds and whacked a couple of 7's and 8's but still not the fish I was looking for. No matter what lure you are throwing, if you are after big bass, you are wasting your time fishing waters that do not yield big fish with some regularity. If you are going to gamble, why not put the odds in your favor. You may already be doing the right things, but you are doing then at the wrong places.

I gave New Angler my Phone #. The topic of big swimbaits is just too vast to delve into on here or even an email. Several years ago I was going door to door at some tackle stores with big Optimum baits when they were a big hit. I was telling guys that swimbaits were the wave of the future. They basically laughed at me. Well a couple of years after that swimbaits started showing up and rapidly caught on. For once I was on the cutting edge, at least on this coast, and was ridiculed. I digress, swimbaits have come a long way since then and I am still learning as much as I can about them. Mentally it is a different ball game when you commit to throwing big baits. By big baits I mean seven inches and up. You have to forget most of what you have been taught and relearn with a new set of rules. This may sound like some deep Rick Clunn mumbo jumbo, and it basically is. There is a "Zone" assosiated with big baits. For 99% of us it nearly imposible to be "Born agian" and make the committment to change everything we have been taught. The book called The BBZ, the big bass zone touches on some of this. I enjoy throwing baits from five to seven inches but just cant make the move to throw 8 to 12 inch baits YET. I have some and will force my self to test drive them this year. But I can quickly loose confidence in swimbaits and reach for a jig which tells me I am far from being committed. I have probably not come close to answering your question which brings me full circle to saying there is just TOO MUCH TO TELL

I fish around alot of heavy cover so a thick gauge hook is a must. I use braid 90% of the time as well. I stick with Gamakatsu and Owner. I have driven these hooks through gill plates and skulls. If you are using light line and or you are NOT fishing around alot of cover, use a thinner diameter hooks for easier penetration. Both of the brands I mentioned offer a wide range of hooks and they are reliable.

I have several of the 4" and a couple of the 7" blue gill. I talked to my contact at Tungsten this week to get a few of the 5" which should arrive as soon as they are available. The 4" is a good looking bait. Runs good, and has a great appearance. It is just too small for what I am after. The 7" gill is sweet. It may look big at first but trust me, it is not big in comparison to the forage in most lakes. SPRO and Strike King also offer baits in the size range you are questioning. The SPRO 6 inch is the next biggest hit for east coast anglers.

New Angler, I am short on time but if you want to shhot me a P.M. I will talk Swimbaits with you tomorrow.

I have a trip planned in April but the weather usually gets my trip re scheduled every year. I use Greasy Creek Outfitters. www.greasycreekoutfitters.com The New is the oldest river next to the Nile I believe. The Va state record of 8 and some change came from there. I have used Greasy Creek Outfitters several times and always had a great trip. Healthy smallies that are well worth the trip. April is typically a good month for pre spawn. You may not get the numbers, but 18 inch small jaws are common. Mike Smith runs the service and has a lodge. I was lucky to get a spot in April the last couple of years, but May could be an option for you.

Glasses are tools of the trade. Several good points here from you guys. You get what you pay for. People always say I loose or break my glasses. Well not if you shell out a days pay for them. Cheap glasses are just that, cheap. If you spend alot of time on the water glasses are an investment. You need polarized lenses. You need something that provides 100% UV protection. Ultra violet rays can cause malecular degeneration (not sure of spelling) which is the leading cause of blindness. UV rays can also cause cataracts. You need a pair of shades that also provide a shatterproof lens. How about a life time waranty? How about hand made in Florida? How about real live english speaking people on the line when you call? The list goes on and on. You get it all from Costa Del Mar. I cringed when I dropped the $ for my first pair but seven years later I still love those shades and I bought a couple of more pairs. Check them out online. Tools of the trade and a life time investment.

This is certainly ..exciting?

I was sent a couple recently but have not used them yet. I have however used quite a few swimbaits including the King Shad with great results. I also throw SPRO baits, Castaic baits, Tru life Tungsten baits and so on. The best time for a begiiner to throw swimbaits is when the bite is on. This spring when you are whacking them on a spinnerbaits, put that spinnerbait down and throw the swimbait. This way you will build confidence in the bait and learn how to use it at the same time. Keep your rod pointed at the bait parallel to the water and use a sweeoing strike. Do not look at the lure as hard as that may be, but rather look past the lure for followers. Cast out, let it sink to the desired depth if it is a sinking model and begin a slow and steady retrieve. Give the rod an occasional jerk, jerk to add a directional change to the bait. If the fish are highly aggressive you can burn that bait. Just like every lure you have ever picked up, it is a learning experience and swimbaits definetly require detication. You have to be willing to give up those little senko bass and be willing to target the biggest bass in the lake. Sometimes that means going home empty handed. You have to decide whether you have caught enough little bass and you are ready to target a trophy. Sorry to get off track there Billy. The bait will work if you give it time and use it at the right time. Try the King Shad as well. Also the SPRO BBZ-1 four and six inch baits. There is alot to be said about swimbaits and I am running out of room. I hope this helped a little.

I just shook the Magic 8 Ball and it told me you guys should all get together and plan a trip to Briery the first part of April. There is a motel right off the exit and you can make a solid weekend of it. Use that site I gave you for current updates and Wayne P. knows that lake like the back of his hand. Yea thats it...a road trip. I have to go count my jigs to make sure there is exactly 365 before I go to bed. Good night.

I am going to start in N.C. as soon as this weather breaks. I plan on fishing there for about three weekends and then gradually work back to the Farmville area (Briery Creek) and then migrate your way so I stay in the pre spawn/spawn mode for two months. (hopefully) Well laid plans often fall apart though. Its all reliant on something as unreliable as the weather.

I told you I would take you out some time. No kissing and telling though.

fishingva.com

Go ask Alex when he's ten feet tall. White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplain. We can use Alex in place of Alice in wonderland. Who's burning at both ends now? The Vapors baby.

I think I have maxed out on cough syrup and i will go read a chapter in Sowbelly, the quest for the world record bass. I read it every winter out of boredom. Its been a stone cold groove gentlemen. See ya in the big bass zone.

Good thing we are not on Jeopardy.

I wouldnt think you would have to be a stunt double in a Cheech and Chong movie to get that one. If you have never done tubes then lets move on. I think its clogged Thai. So how big did you say?

How big do those sweeties get? I have whacked some fish called Bowfin or commonly called Mudfish in the south that destroy some baits and put up a heck of a fight. They look similar. Bowfin get up to 18 or 20 pounds.

I figure five to seven inch swimbaits work so why not try them. Thai thanks for the National Goegraphic crash course on Snake Heads there. At least I wont leave here empty handed or headed should I say.

Thats a good story to stick to. Hey I guess I wasted my time putting a heater in the tank when I had those fish in an aquarium. If they are surviving these harsh conditions I guess they are here to stay. About fifteen or twenty years ago they sold snake heads in pet stores. Unfortunetly we see the end result. Keep working those "Tubes". Hey speaking of tubes (again) the lure type this time, I ordered some 8 and 10 inch tubes called Tube Jr.'s from Reaction Strike that look like big bass candy. Check em out online.

It looks like you may be holding the ICKIEST OF THE STICKIEST. And I dont mean the fish. LOL Maybe thats me I am looking at though.

Speaking of tubes, it looks like you just did a dozen. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!

Hey Nottoway, did you see any decent or hard to find swimbaits? Glad to hear you and the family had a good time. C.J.

I for one think it is important to support stores like Green Top. I compare Bass Pro Shops to the likes of Wal Mart in the sence that they are retail monsters that come to town and crush all the mom and pop stores that have struggled for decades through some tough times. I could walk into Green Top and have them order me an item if they do not carry it. They take the time to listen and do not baffle you with B.S. if they do not know the answer. I know what they pay for merchandice because I get the same price they do for 90% of what I need. They all stick it to you because they are running a business but at least Green Top uses lube where as B.P.S. just grins and shoves it all the way in. Again I think it is important to help support the mom and pops and the average Joes. If large chains like B.P.S. and Wal Mart corner the market, they will monopolize and charge you what ever they deem "Reasonable". Sorry to get off the subject. I got mailed a couple of tickets to the show and if boredom drives me to it, I will be there. I am glad to see you guys are making the drive. Your comradery is impressive.

Hey Q-jig I have a trip that may help the cabin fever this wintwer. Check your PM's. Aluma bass you already know about these beasts.