thinkingredneck

I just bought some and have to try them. I learned basic worm fishing from a friend, T rig. I had no faith either, so I just focused on nothing but worm fishing for a summer. Now it is about all I use.

My experience has been that any color works as long as it is Junebug. My approach lately has been to try Junebug and change SHAPES of worm until I find the shape that works best. Usually, Trickworms work best, but sometimes they want a U-vibe, Ole Monster, etc. I mostly use plain ole Junebug Trickworms and that does the job. I still can't catch anything much on a Senko. Go figure. Yesterday, we went catching instead of fishing. We hammered them at least every other cast, mostly around 1 lb-2 lb cookie cutters. June bug worked. When we tried other colors, they shut down. Picked back up when Junebug was tied on. That has been my general experience.

I met an old man at DSG who was buying baits on clearance for parts. He says he can buy blades and hooks and split rings that way and then put them on his own designs. He was a bit eccentric, but then I guess we all are.

I like your jigs! Bucktail is good to work with and you can get a ton of colors and flashabou and krystal flash to match. Christmas tensel works on larger sizes. Catching fish on something you tied is the ultimate for me.

I got a cheap jig spinner and straight wires with and without preformed loops on the end. I made quite a few in-line spinners that worked fairly well. With the price of them now, I think I will make some more. BTW, Brass bullet weights (and painted lead weights) work well for bodies. Cheaper than some of the other stuff. Fun stuff. Thanks for posting this topic.

I got into fly tying when I lived in CO. I tie some Crappie jigs, too. I still tie flies for Bream and Bass and some salt patterns. I started making spinner baits while in the Pacific NW because of the cost and how many I lost. Plus it was/is fun. I have not had any desire to try soft plastics or lead pouring. I may have to try lead pouring, since I have my Gradads old lead pot.

I like the kit idea

I found some 6 ft Ozark and Daiwa rods at a second hand store. They had shorter handles. Ideal for my kayak. I think that they may have been customized to shorten the handle. They sold them cheap so I bought them. They are ideal for kayak fishing. I also use a 6 ft Bass Pro tourney and a 6'6" tourney. I also use some spinning rods that are that short for finesse.

I dunno. When you figure it out, please post it. Interesting.

I mostly use soft plastics worm: Zoom trickworm, old monster, U tail, etc. Most of the time Junebug or Candy bug work best where I fish. I also use Creme Scoundrels a lot. Call me old fashioned Craw: Christie Craw or Rage tail Stick bait: Senkos and generic. Haven't done well with either. frustrating Haven't fluke fished much, so won't comment. Frogs: generic from Walmart and Zoom toads Jig: Arky style with chunk or craw by zoom, usually black and blue. I don't have a specific Jig that i am loyal to as I am still learning this technique. I have several brands. I mostly fish soft plastics or spinner baits. For spinners, I use DSG house brands, mostly. Also have some BPS and Booya. For hard baits, I like Rapala and Cordell. You know, looking at this you would think that I am a cheap ole guy. Guess so.

There are a ton of threads about this. you have your binder guys , your original packaging in plastic ziplock guys, and your plano guys for soft plastics. Plano vs generic vs Flambeau vs Bass mafia guys. Backpack vs soft side, vs tackle box. Don't forget specialty boxes for spinner baits, etc! Some carry a mix in a small bag they refill (kayak) while others carry a tackle shop. I think that sums it up. I have tried them all except Bass Mafia, and they all seem to be a compromise of some sort.

sounds like you figured it out.

I tie a jig with rubber legs and a red marabou tail. 1/80 oz with #10 or 12 hooks (not sure). Simple and effective. You can tart them up, but no need. I am convinced that red works best for Bream, and you need some rubber legs. Those are key strike inducers. You can also soak them in Gulp juice, once your kids use up the bait! Hang them under a small bobber or slip bobber.

I Ave severe arthritis in my right thumb. Some days a BC reel is out of the question. I fish mostly stained to muddy water. What finesse baits do you recommend? Or, would you just fish with a stiff spinning rod with what I would use on a BC? (I.e., t rig, jig, spinner,etc)

All I know is on most days on the rez, either Junebug or Candybug work better than Green pumpkin, watermelon red flake or black. Same bait or retrieve. I generally start with one in trick worm, when it works, I then change worm shapes to see which shape they like, such as ribbon, u vibe etc. Probably BS and I should just throw trickworms. I dunno. Keeps me entertained. I think flakes matter in dingy water.

Weightless is generally a sight fishing, line watching deal.

I have a painted lead bullet weight that is beat up and I think it does better, too. Who knows why?

Lessons will definitely help. Also, read Ellis' book, Bassin with a Fly Rod, and Dave Whitlock 's Orvis guide to Bass fishing. Also books by Terry and Roxane Wilson and Lefty Kreh are excellent. The low end Orvis combo is a great deal. Bass pro low end Combos are okay. I think you should start with top water like a foam popper or hopper. Get a "Bass" leader and good tippet. I like Maxon tippet. I like furled leaders and a WF line. Feather Craft has a good furled leader system. In my opinion, you need an 8 wt for LMB and a 4 or 5 for blue gill. If you are going to try to straddle it, use a 6 wt. With a 6, stick to smaller poppers, size 4 or so. As stated, Wooly Buggers work. The more heavily weighted the fly, the harder to handle. Heavily weighted flies kind of defeat the purpose of fly fishing, too me. In general, the more air resistant or heavy the fly, the heavier rod and more dramatic your line taper will need to be. Wear sun glasses for eye protection. Don't get a junky rod. You will have a difficult time learning on those. That being said, a fiberglass Eagle Claw is fun and might serve your needs. It is slow and forgiving. Don't start with an ultra fast tip rod. IMHO the faster the rod, the harder to learn on. Reel doesn't matter as you strip line in. You might want ro wrap you index finger with tape to prevent line burn from stripping line, or get a finger guard. The advantage to fly fishing is to cast small, lightweight stuff that you can't cast on other rods. Deep water fly fishing with a sink tip or heavily weighted flies is a pain to me. It wears thin quickly. If I am fishing over 4 ft deep, I go with BC or Spinning rod. But nothing is as much fun to me as catching a Big bass on a popper! Next you will be tying flies. Another sickness. Good luck!

This

Trickworms. Different colors. T rigged. Green pumpkin, Junebug, watermelon redflake, Candybug, Scuppernong Candy are my favorites.

I have caught a couple dinks on Senkos. Not much. None on Ned Rig, or finesse in general,- and I keep trying toads yes, frogs no maybe because I fIsh dark to muddy water.

Reel just fast enough to feel vibrations, and adjust speed to get the most vibration. Works for me.

This. I fly fish for gills and love it. You can use a small float and spinning rod with flies, too. I suspend them under a popperI am looking into the finesse side right now, and the Ned rig and slider are good to try.. Trick worms t rigged for bass almost always works for me. Another way to think of it is to fish a pond like a cove of a reservoir, and fish a cove like a pond. d**n, I am Zen today.

I am having the opposite problem, getting bad arthritis in my thumb and some days using my BC becomes difficult. Hurts and sometimes just won't "act right." My boss uses a spinning rod for everything from finesse to tarpon, so I may try that.

Pretty much like everyone said, jig t rig worm t or c rig creature/lizard spinnerbait or swimbait toad The first 3 are my primary techniques. I like plastics and jigs!