thinkingredneck

I appreciate this extensive discussion. I learned a lot. I think it should be pinned.

Thanks

Do you tack them down before cutting, and do you use a straight edge? Could probably throw them on a fly rod, weightless.

I just rearranged my tackle. I put my Elastec stuff In binders and everything else in plano type boxes by type of bait, and labeled them. In this way I hopefully can keep my Ned rig stuff from melting my other plastics. That was a mess!

I tie flies and Crappie jigs, so I am confident that I can tie hair jigs for bass. 1. What style jighead do you use? 2. Do you tie with a weedguard? 3. What weight? It seems that this could be finesse, or not. 4. When do you decide to use them over a silicone jig? I saw A J's post and think those look fishy. However, is this a clear water bait? It seems that they would work where Crappie jigs work. I have some Uncle Josh pork frogs I was going to try wit them..

This made me think. If I am in thick stuff, I probably land only 70 percent.

I usually start and end with a weedless trick worm. Weight to suit. If fairly clear, use watermelon red flake or green pumpkin. If stained to muddy, I go with Junebug or Candybug. When things get warmer, use more action like a creature or curly tail up to u vibe worm.

I fish the same way, and I am 60, too. Coincidence?

I have everything in plano boxes. I have hooks in one and jighead/swimbaits in one. I use "bead boxes" from the Walmart craft section. Divide plastics by type. I have been working on this today, oddly enough. I obviously should be on Zoom's Christmas card list.

I may be simple minded but for braid use a heavy hook i.e., superline. For mono and fluro, I lighten up. I mostly fish braid in the slop.

Good job!

I have Scroungers, swimjigs with skirts, plain jig heads, chatterbaits, moaner weighted hooks, weight forward Gamakatsu hooks, hooks that swivel on a ball weight, shaky heads and underspins. I have swimbaits, grubs, flukes , creatures, a ton of different worms and craws. What do you use with what? Trying to branch out from t rigs and jig and pig.

Subjectively, I have not found that scent makes a difference. I still use Megastrike a good bit of the time. I also wear my lucky cap, but it doesn't always work either.

I have used this swivel idea and have been pleased. I tried the toothpick through the hook eye, etc. This works best for me. I wonder if the weight clicking against the swivel attracts bass, similar to a c rig. Anyway, I use it all of the time and it works, and the Bass don't seem to mind.

Those weighted hooks also work great to rig a plastic worm, just like you would a t rig weightless. Subtle slow fall. Sort of like a rage rig,.

I have had some Okuma Spinning reels for years, excellent. Don't forget Pfluger President reels! They are a great reel for the money.

I bet you caught fish, too. If it is strong enough for salt, a Bass ain't gonna break it. I don't use many snaps because I have trouble opening them with arthritic hands. Tying is easier for me.

Go fish it

Terminal tackle organization has been hard for me to get happy with.

I carry three plano boxes in a shoulder pack. One has topwater, one middle (cranks, grubs, spinnerbaits) , and one bottom. I admit that I mostly fish t-rigged worms or jigs from the "bottom" box. Dark colors as the water is stained to muddy down here. But, don't be afraid of bright colors as an option. Some days fire tail or white is the trick. Or merthiolate. If the bottom is mucky, try weightless trickworms or a "Bubba shot." Your rod selection is basically what I carry in my kayak.

For a while, I used a small worm binder. Spinner baits and buzzbaits fit in the pockets. Now I carry a shoulder bag made for plano boxes and put spinners in the open end of the box, as shown above. I also have a flambeau small plastic box (satchel) loaded with various baits that I can loan to friends or kids that I am taking.

Try a weightless t rig trick worm. Or a 6 inch scoundrel. Late or early, or at night. Use dark worms. Use scent. If that doesn't work, try a bitsy bug jig with a small twin tail grub. Maybe a Ned rig or Senko. If none of that works go really big with an ole monster in Camo or Junebug. Or use something like merthiolate or bubblegum. In otherwords, go out on a limb.

In the spit it of frugality, I use an Ugly stick with my Ned Rigs. I still have some original Gopher mushroom jigs. I have some Zinger Z cut in half, some finesse TRD. I like Junebug and Coppertruse in stained water. I also have some Z man jigs and some elaztec grugs, lizards, and worms that I t-rig. All in all, I still do better with finesse worms t-rigged than Ned rig. Maybe because I fish stained water to muddy water.

Go read Ned Kehde's articles. He just uses cheap fishing gear. One of the points of Midwest Finesse is it is frugal. I think, as best I remember, he uses an old cardinal reel with the bail removed and a Shakespeare med rod. Light braid to leader. Nothing over 1/16 oz mushroom jig.

The guy from China is just messing with you. I call BS.