matstone7

I would also go with the soft plastic like Catt, all you need is 5 fish. As for the jig, seeing as it's a one lure tournament, how is your jig gonna work without a trailer, lol.

The point is up, checkout this image, it explains everything. Rage Toad Rigging

Catt hit the nail on the head with deep structure and as for the cut tail, I love it! Also, if you read any of Big O's posts from early this year and last year, most all of them include a thumper. Here is a great example:

Glad I took the time to read the full topic before adding my two cents before it got to 6 pages. As for the original question (or reason for the original question), I personally ever owned 2 medium action rods. One was used specifically for senko type baits in a weightless application, 7'er. That is actually was, the only thing thrown on that rod. Not enough back bone imo for anything else. My other medium action rod was for throwin' 1/4oz or less crankbaits. I have since found that a quality MH rod makes more sense, especially when you can get moderate, fast and extra fast tips. If you want to take chances on big fish, so be it and good luck. As for the hyjacks, a great topic this has become. Where to begin; there is plenty to agree and disagree with as you read. I agree that, having an idea of weights (not exact) of certain baits gives you the information you need to make a good decision for a given situation as it relates to fall rate etc. I disagree that, this preparation and knowing the ins and outs of your baits as they relate to your rod choice alone will not give you confidence before actually catching something on that bait. That is not ego, it's just paying attention to the details, making a decision and standing by it. That is confidence in your decision. As for Big O's hyjack continuation, if any of you think fall rate doesn't make a big difference. You might be reading the wrong topics or books about bass, it makes all the difference. I have fished with Big O quite a few times and let my own EGO/confidence get in the way once he has figured out the bite. Let me just say, when he dials-in the fall rate for the bite, you better be watching if you want to catch something. An 1/8th ounce makes a huge difference, in some cases it's the difference between 10 and thirty fish. That same 1/8th can also be the difference between the 4 pounders and the twelve pounders. With that said and heading back to the original question and hyjacks. I applaud those thinking outside the box, looking for more information and those willing to tinker with baits, presentations and using that knowledge to it's fullest to make the best decision or to build a confidence with it. This is what makes fishing what it is, an addiction.

I love these toads and if I can catch 3-4 fish per bait, that's as good as any other brand.

Three great choices Catt.

My first choice is the Rooster too! Followed by a naked rage craw or lobster.

Good answer!

This is a big "what if" scenario that might be fun, hope you play along. Imagine if you would; your three favorite anglers, legends or fishing idols are standing in front of you. Each of them willing to take you on the water for a day to hone your skills with a specific tactic, presentation or application. They are each great anglers but, each of them are exceptional at specific applications. Who are the three anglers in front of you? Who do you choose for the day on the water? What application, presentation or application do you request their help with? My answers: #1- Bill Dance, KVD & Shaw #2- KVD #3- Lets face it, KVD is really a fish in a mans body. He knows more about finding a fish under competitive pressure than anyone. To spend a day on the lake with KVD to work on patterning bass on new waters, would be like 4 years of college. Hope you guys play along.

Congrats on the NPB!

I would like to submit... Someone already began with a jig on the deep brush, points, channels etc, and already caught the kickerz.

Sounds like a great little fishin hole Nate, like the looks of that Nucanoe to. That's a sweet water craft!

It sounds to me like you drag your bait which imo, is great. If that is the case, this example may help. If not, the example may still help. Example: while fishing the bottom with a T/rig, I personally drag my baits more than hop them. My drag retrieve is a low rod tip to the side, sort of 9 to 3 o'clock if you can imagine. The bait is dragging fine then suddenly, something changed, an obstruction of a sort has stopped the movement. Before I tug hard, I change the direction of my line tension to up rather sideways. This subtle change often is enough to get it goin' again. This subtle change works real well while fishing standing grass without clogging up with grass, of course in grass, I fish with a hi rod tip and often need to change to a sweep to get it going again. Hope you get it figured out Gman.

The Baby Rage Thumper is already proving itself here, even in water still in the low 40's.

Congrats guys, you will both make great additions to the staff.

Hey bassfisherjk, my grandfather was from Tyrone.... @ Lund Explorer, on another forum, a fellow talked about something he read in a book by KVD that talked about oxygen levels around different vegetations. I had also wondered about ph levels around certain things, might have something to do with it also.

It was a blast to fish Texas, especially with Big O. We had a great time and despite the weather, boated quite a lot of fish on the Lobster, Rage Craw and Smokin' Rooster. Will have to get out again sometime Big O, it was a blast.

One Green Tree - Pre Spawn Bass Tactics Patterning a LM Bass isn't always easy, sometimes it can be down-right frustrating for that matter. But, with a little education, a little practice and some time on the water fishing, each of us can become more comfortable patterning Bass. I would like to share a little story about my latest fishing trip and talk in a little more detail about some of the factors that made a big difference in our pattern. I'll be scratching the surface of some key areas of patterning Bass without a ton of detail so, if anyone wishes to ask a question, add anything to this or make a comment, feel free below. During my recent trip to Texas we fished a classic pre-spawn pattern for bass based upon the 54-60 degree water we found throughout the week. It's during this time of year (pre-spawn) many anglers will concentrate their efforts fishing creek channels leading to spawning flats and the various drops and drains found adjacent to the flats because the fish are stacked-up just waiting to move up and spawn. We know the fish are there, next thing was to identify the depth most of the fish are holding and what they are relating to. By that I mean, what kind of structure are they near or what is different that they like. These fish can be caught many ways, anything from chuckin' crankbaits or spinnerbaits to dragging big worms, jigs or craws. In our case, the fish were holding in 8-14 feet of water tight to cover which was submerged bushes and brush. We now had the pattern but, is that enough, the answer is no! Being tight to brush meant we would be flipping Rage Tail Lobsters and Smokin' Roosters tipped with JJ's Magic into the bushes while we fine-tuned the pattern. With the occasional drag of a big Thumper worm on a drop-off. Don't get me wrong, this is enough of a pattern for many and that's fine. Anyone could flip these bushes all day, chuck spinnerbaits around this brush and catch loads of smaller fish. Truth be told though, it's the fine tuning of the pattern and an understanding of subtle differences that catches more bigger bass and produces the big limits. These subtle differences could be bait color or profile, it could be fall rate or retrieve it can even be something like direction of retrieve or two kinds of structures coming together. The point is, while you work towards fine-tuning your pattern for bass, you need to keep a close watch on everything. When that fish bit, what did you do? Was your bait falling fast or slow? Where was your bait in relation to the structure being fished? Anything different about the structure? These are the kinds of questions you must ask yourself with every cast and more importantly, with every fish caught. The two pictures shown (above) were caught during the basic pattern flippin' bushes and fishing drops and drains. As we dig a little deeper into the fine-tuning of our pre-spawn pattern; an understanding of nature, pecking orders within a species and dominance comes into play. Fish like other animals will establish dominance within an area. The most dominant bass eats first (generally) & the most dominate bass gets the best place to feed, hide or spawn. Knowing this, now look at your pattern and structure again, what are the best places? Is it the bushes right on the ledge? Maybe it's the bushes on the point that gets first sun, it's up to you to figure out. In our case, funny as it may seem was one green tree. Imagine if you would, submerged bushes in every direction, I'm talking acres of brush all holding fish. Which bush is the best bush? Which bush is holding the biggest fish? Can you believe is was the lone green tree in a field of seemingly dead bushes that held big fish? We thought is was a fluke till we duplicated the pattern. I can never tell you what actually set the one green tree apart from the other bushes getting ready to bud themselves. Maybe ph levels around those green trees, maybe the way they reflected light, it's really anyones guess. The important point and moral of the story is that something so silly as a tree being green while all others look dead may be the ticket to the bigger fish. If you can be watchful, methodical with every cast or pitch, you can figure out what is making the difference and fine-tune your pattern for bass. Once you identify that difference or sweet spot within a pattern, you can duplicate it in similar places and get that new personal best or winning limit. The last fish pictured was a new personal best for me and just one of the huge fish caught by a lonely green trees. Caught on a Rage Tail Smokin' Rooster dipped in clear JJ's Magic. If you want to see the first "one green tree" fish, check out Big O's fish in this topic: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1298739171 Good luck out there next time you need to pattern a pre-spawn bass, hope this helps ya.

You have to tie some sort of clinch knot with them, a palomar is impossible.

That's definitely a Jacks Worm from Case Plastics, one of the all-time best river smallmouth baits. Rig that baby on a jighead and add a little life.

In one word, "yes" they should give them a try. They can be fished from a small boat, from shore and are in no-way limited to just flippin' and pitchin'. As for the appeal, I like to think of it as the motionless motion. Even when you aren't moving the jig, it's moving. Good luck.

Nice fish!

That sure is great when your timing is right. Dicks has great end of season sales for sure.

I would like to see some sort of regional license also. It would be much easier. I have PA & NJ this year but, would normally also have NY and CT. The price of a NY license has gotten really out of hand imo and lets think about all the fisherman screwed by CT this year, at least anyone who bought their license early with a huge increase, only to have the state wave that increase few months later without compensating the early license buyers.

The Eeliminator on a Carolina rig is amazing! I never had much luck with a C/rig prior to following Big O's suggestions, now it's the first thing I grab. As for the Smokin' Rooster, keel weight that baby and slow roll or drag it bouncing the bottom, swim it along weedlines or through structure has worked really well for me.