Nick49

What does this mean? ---------------------------------------- For me, it means that I choose a chatterbait (usually 3/8 oz) over a spinnerbait in almost all instances where I used a spinnerbait in the past. I use a buzzbait often but when the chop on the water is great enough I will sometimes use a spinnerbait. In other cases, especially around laydowns and docks, I will use the chatterbait.

The chatterbait application has all but replaced the spinnerbait for me.

For mono (which I only use for lighter topwater, shallow & medium cranks), my favorite is Stren fluoresent blue. I am a big fan of P-Line CXX and Power Pro braid.

Like many I use Plano boxes to organize full inventory of hard and soft baits as well as terminal tackle and jigs. I reserve a couple of additional Plano boxes for the boat which contains the hard baits and terminal tackle (i.e. worm hooks, weights, etc) to be used on that particular trip. I use several labeled ziplocks for the soft plastics to be used on that particular trip as well. I am able to fit those plastics in one of those blue carriers that BPS gives you for renewing your membership. That particular bag has a small zippered compartment that I use to store my MegaStrike tubes, wacky o-ring tool, etc.

I use many of those previously mentioned, but I love to fish a Jitterbug.

Agree with Papajoe. You can also rub the first 6" or so of your line or leader (nearest your lure) with some candle wax. It shouldn't interefere with the action of the lure and will help solve the problem.

Great bait. I like to use the Swim Senko for trailer. Fish it much like a spinnerbait. Also like to run it along sides and fronts of docks.

Fished deep around points, 10 and 12 inch plastic worms are very effective.

It has been my experience that t he length of day plays a pretty big part in the fall transition. Even with relatively high water temps migration of baitfish is well underway.

Picked up a at left hand model Lews Pro Speed Spool from Bass Tackle Depot today for $104 (now shipping cost). Big 30% off sale.

Its hard to beat some of the commercial breadings like Shore Lunch or Andy's, but back in the mid 70's in central texas there was a local fishing show called Mertis & Denver (anybody remember them??). Their bass recipe called for soaking the fillets in Louisiana Hot Sauce for several minutes then shaking them in a paper bag of 1/2 corn flour (not corn meal) and 1/2 flour with a couple table spoons of Lowrey's Seasoning Salt. The hot sauce adds terrific flavor and just the right amount of heat. It is still my favorite.

Very nice northern LM. At 8 lbs I would think it would be more than 21" though. Congrats!

Regarding durability of the senko, I use 5" sennkos alot, and with an o-ring (wacky style) the number of bass per bait is quite high - about 6 or 7 to one. In just about every case the worm gets knocked up the line following the hookup. That said, most of my "bait losses" come from bottom hangups or smaller fish pulling the bait through the o-ring. I am convinced that confidence is a big factor with any bait/technique, but I have yet to find a senko knockoff that produces like the real thing.

Several of my setups are with PP. I have been using moss green for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and buzzbaits and hi vis yellow for soft plastics. I have used leader (mono as well as fluoro) and in other cases no leader (used sharpie to color last few feet of the braided line). Catch rate was the same. The comparison was not tested in what would be classified as "clear" water. I prefer to use fluorescent Stren mono for cranking. Sold on Power Pro.

Top confidnce baits - Senko, Baby Brushhog, Deep Wee R, Fat Free Shad, Rat-L-Trap, Buzzbait, Jitterbug.

I have a theory that I have applied to amateur and professional athletics and I think it explains at least a little of the difference between the pro anglers and the rest of us. When a gifted athlete moves from the amateur ranks to the professional ranks it truly does become a full-time job. They were talented enough to make the jump to the pros but they usually won't stay there very long unless they continue to grow in their abilities. Meanwhile the amateur who didn't quite make it to the pros still may devote considerable time to the sport they love but not nearly to the extent that the full-time pro does - thus, the separation between the amateur and the pro continues to grow. You have to be exceptional to get there, but you better get even better if you want to stay there!

I love to fish lipless cranks - great search bait and also effective with schooling bass (white bass as well). My favorite is the floating RatLTrap. I have found that one out of every three floating RatLTraps fail to float. I like to skip a silver floating trap around/under docks. They slap and skip on the surface alot like a shad being chased and trigger alot of reaction bites.

You are in my prayers twspook,

I use this bait as weighted t-rigged and in combination with jigs. My question is - does anyone know if this softbait has a negative reaction (disolves, melts) with scent enhancements such as JJs Magic or Spike It? Thanks.

Currado E & 7' M Carrot Stix, 20 lb hi vis Power Pro & Fluoro leader - weightless plastics/stickbaits; Currado E & 7' MH Veritas, 30 lb hi vis Power Pro & Flouro leader - T-rig worms & lighter jigs; Pro Qualifier & 7' MH Carrot Stix, 30 lb hi vis Power Pro - Jika rigs & football jigs; Quantum KVD & 7'6" heavy pitching Skeet Reese, 50 lb hi vis Power Pro - flipping & pitching weighted plastics; Orra & 7' MH Veritas, 30 lb moss green Power Pro - buzzbaits, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits; Lew's Speed Spool & 7' M Falcon Bucoo, 15 lb fluoro - lipless cranks, jerkbaits and other light cranks; Pro Qualifier & 7' MH Skeet Reese cranking rod, 17 lb mono - med & deep cranking; BPS R Clunn & 6'9" M Veritas, 14 lb mono - light/med cranking. Also, 3 spinning rigs - dropshot; shakeyheads/light topwater; and inline spinners, flukes, and other light lures for schooling bass. These rigs get varying use depending on time of year. Used almost exclusively at Lake of the Ozarks, where i keep my boat year around. The rigs I use "back home" when not at LOZ are similar but considerably less investment (Vendetta rods and Black Max/Silver Max reels), fishing from a smaller "converted" semi V with 9.9 hp Yamaha (many of the lakes I fish near home have 10 hp limits).

After ordering and picking up two "online ship to store" older model Vendettas I noticed a local ad for the Vendettas for $29.96, so I took the ad and selected a 7' MH Vendetta spinning rod (next generation). They were very hesitatant to honor the ad, insisted that it was an "error" in the ad, but with the ad literally in their hand they pretty much had to honor it - which they did. I realize the Walmart rods take a beating on the shelf, but I have liked the fact that if you break a tip they provide a replacement no questions asked. I wonder how they will handle that policy when/if you have to return one of the older model Vendettas?

I fish with left handed reels. Like many, I began early fishing with spinning reels. Because of that, with baitcasting reels it is alot easier to maintain deliberate cadence with my retrieves when holding the rod in my right hand and reeling with my left (a direct carryover from using spinning reels). It really is not much more efficient (except for flipping) because I still adjust my grip on the rod after making a cast and before beginning the retrieve.

Still an avid hunter, but gave up spring turkey hunting in order to spend more time fishing.

Picked up my two $29 M 6'6" Vendettas this afternoon (ship to store). I believe they are the older version, but very satisfied. Most of my applications call for a MH, but these Mediums are pretty stout.

IMO you got a decent reel but a very poor rod in that combo purchase. WalMart currently has their $79 Vendetta on sale for $29. Combine your Black Max with the Vendetta and you will have a fairly good combo.