SENKOSAM

You and me both.

About 15 years ago my club had a panfish tournament on our local lake and between my partner and I we brought in over 70 pounds of only white perch, average size 5-6". This year I've noticed a population explosion of WP with the largest average size up to 12". WP are fun to catch - being of the bass family, they go after many bass lures , but after checking out their biology stats and checking with different state DNRs that have problems with them, I'm concerned for the other species in the lake. The reasons are as follows: 1. One female is capable of laying 300,000 eggs that are fertilized by many males. The eggs are dropped while the female swims and the eggs stick to vegetation - no nest for sunfish or WP to raid. 2. WP invade the nests of all species any time of year - this includes sport fish and forage species such as yellow perch, crappie and sunfish. 3. WP compete with all other species for forage which includes fingerlings of all other species and minnows as a usual part of their diet. The schools can hold over a thousand fish that sweep areas clean of forage that can be swallowed. 4. Once WP reach a certain size, they don't have enough large predators to control their population and they eat larger fish as they get bigger, not just fingerlings or fry. One state, Kansas, recommends they never be released when caught and another state has seen the destruction of walleye populations due to WP over populations. My own local DEC fisheries biologist told me recently that WP were not native to one of our largest reservoirs and that the large population increase could be a problem for the native fish such as different species of trout, bass and walleye. Fortunately I haven't heard too much on any site regarding WP, but having caught over 500 in all sizes this year, prompted me to report it to my fishing club which owns a launch on the lake. Hopefully the club will have a few targeted WP tournaments and restore balance. Otherwise, only larger bass will survive but only as long as their forage bases holds up to get that large.

Hard to believe bass have the intelligence to know the difference between poisonous and non-poisinous. I've caught LM on bright colored lizards and spotted Mr Twister salamanders for years.

Great attitude! Isn't that what fishing is all about - attitude?

I agree with fstr 385 - driving miles to a location and getting skunked sucks!! I don't care that I don't know the water or that I couldn't find an active fish. The lake was supposed to yield a limit!! But in the real world, knowing the water supersedes everything else and I've got to accept the fact that money is wasted fishing far away, strange waters fished only once, twice a year or maybe every other year. loudCherokee has the same mindset I do when rec fishing - if the bass bite seems impossible, fish for panfish. What's been fairly consistent over the years is that when I find a good panfish bite in a section of lake, somewhere nearby are bass that bite. So, when I can't find a good bass or panfish bite or pattern, then I know something has really made all species inactive and go home thinking about killing them tomorrow in areas I neglected to fish today. The challenge won't end even with a few skunks if I can come away with a few ideas or discoveries, the trip is never a waste.

A person's credibility and integrity are sacrificed when that happens and almost nothing they say or that is printed about their opinions or reasons for anything can be accepted at face value. The fact remains that there are more ways to catch fish than women have shoe in their closets. Even if a pro uses many different brand lures because he has confidence in their uses for specific situations, unfortunately his hands are tied by a contract. It's not like a celebrity selling a car or perfume in TV ads - you know they are there as attention getters and not because the really own or use those products. Pro anglers are a different story. When they push something that they claim won a tournament and it's obvious what was on their line, a red flag goes up. If a pro pushes a lure that isn't nearly as versatile as he says it is (ie Helicopter Lure), you tend to forget what made them famous and see them as sad examples of those that rely on a past image to make a few bucks. Many a retired sports figure was forced to endorse products just to make ends meet. MegaStink really did his homework !!

In the northeast we are experiencing a wicked heat wave where air temp reaches 90 by 1pm. Water temp near surface is around 70 and the spawn is pretty much over. I wanted to experiment with a few baits in different areas of the lake and test a few theories (who doesn't go out just to get confirmation of certain theories?) The first thought I had was, will bass take bright colored jigs and trailers? Here are a few I tied with colors I never thought would work (except on a spinnerbait), along with a light root beer with lime green and black flake trailer.: Other than the usual pickerel, the jigs did well catching dinks and bass weighing up to 3 lbs. So much for using darker jigs and trailers! The other discipline I wanted to experience was using the drop shot with micro baits - species not important, but the feel of the strike and hook set very important. So I nose hooked these hand poured, 2" minnow type baits on a circle hook: I caught different species in all sizes: bass, pickerel and panfish. Best locations were on rock humps and near pads. The strike felt was the usual thump and loading up of the line as it moved sideways (braid with 18" of 6 lb test mono leader to sinker). I stuck it out until 2:30 pm for two days but had to leave when the air temp maxed out at 92 with a heat index of 94. Interestingly the bite lasted from 9 am to 2 pm probably because the water temp was much cooler in the low 70's. Active fish were found in water 2-8' deep - in shallower water, pads were present. Questions answered!

I feed bass by hand in my pond when I get back from the lake (have a permit). Four or more bass respond to the boat and trailer pulling long side the shore and then wait six feet away for some panfish to splash down. The feeding frenzy is amazing. Guess you could say the bass are trained and one even swims parallel to me as I walk the shore hoping I'll throw it a food item. Funny but they don't always like earthworms...

Wow, that's some reply! Keep them coming! This site needs more people like you and another reason not to post here.

I have no reason to copy or use the Rage Tail again now that I found the Basstackle 702 mold. Sometimes I copy something just to copy it (not sell it) for the challenge. In fact, I will alternate between the 702 design and Zoom Speed Craw for extreme tail action trailers. That video was cool! Thanks. All of the comments on this topic should be a wake up call that opinions matter positive and negative, especially the informative ones and that anglers stop visiting a site when it's only one sided. Glenn designed a well thought out site with a tremendous amount of information for anglers at all experience levels and he approached me to write a few articles years ago. I was glad to do so for the sake of sharing, the same reason I post in the forums. Any trashing concerns the individuals who haven't graduated grade school, chose to trash ideas not their own or that don't respect the truth or other opinions, which tends to lower site credibility. Frank

I use a zip strap. No more thread or wire. Shown above is a trailer keeper wire attached to the zip. 3 tabs upper skirt, 2 tabs skirt closer to hook of I'm using a trailer; otherwise 3 and 3

No need to give up using Rage Tails since I can copy them in colors I chose anytime and make the craw attachments more durable by over-pouring a bit. Good point, well said! There are subtle differences in trailer tail actions and like most similar type lures, discriminating anglers have to feel something is appropriate, individually and with bias. Cost is a factor when unit cost is beyond the unique value of something - such as the Rage Tail - and I personally do not chose to pay triple for something I could make myself or find a reasonable or better substitute costing less. (BTW the jighead I used and added a skirt to was from Lurecraft. I wouldn't suggest buying them because the bristles fall out after a few trips. I buy most of my jigs from http://www.tourneyjigs.com/ and add skirts bought from fishingskirts.com.) Frank

As far as durability, I caught two nice size pike and two bass today on the same jig and trailer. The craw is about 3.5" long but two other size molds are also sold - one larger, one smaller. Earlier this week II started using a 1/4 oz. jig with silicone skirt and then changed to a 3/8 jig with round rubber I tied on this morning. The flare and bulk of the rubber skirt didn't affect the tail action at all and I prefer it to the black silicone which doesn't have much action like other silicone colors and patterns. Too soft I think. Zoom Speed Craw is another I highly recommend. Haven't had any experience using my Paca Craws as trailers. Anyone?

Same situation here! I only have two left of Helin's Flatfish in a certain color and size that always catch fish in certain situations and I'm afraid a pike will eat them. Same for the original POs crankbaits before the company was sold and the quality went out the window. Those baits are at least 30 years old!

or retirement! What I meant Paul may apply not only to me but that when I'm in a tackle store or thumbing through a catalog I'll be impressed by a lure -especially if it's on sale - , fantasize myself catching a nice bunch of fish on it and order a stupid amount just in case the lure goes up in price or is discontinued. Wishful thinking for sure and what keeps my collection growing (though at a much slower pace!)

Wow!!! Thanks for all the support and relevant opinions!!! They are not a reasonable facsimile. They are unique in tail action and so far have helped me catch over ten bass and many pickerel either swimming the lure or jigging in 15'. Brand loyalty is fine until someone or other company can produce a lure that is uniquely better, the same and/or cheaper. The companies mentioned produce great baits, but now with companies like Basstackle owned by a great guy named Bob I've been doing business for years (who produced the laser cut craw mold), the hobby of lure creation and design is no longer limited to those with the means to mass produce and protect with design patents. Unless I've actually tried a bait, I can't make an informed comment of its usefulness or characteristics, negative or positive nor comparisons. I don't promote companies nor sell baits so I have no reason to hype something I didn't strongly feel could blow away fellow bass anglers hungry for information that another had discovered and was blown away by successes. Thanks again for keeping an open mind. It's what make the sport interesting and challenging and for independent thinkers, extremely satisfying. Frank (Someone asked if I make my own jigs. I don't and buy them without skirts online. I add skirts from a site that is exceptional in color choices, price and service - bar none. Sadly of the many colors I've purchased (around 50), I still gravitate to using only a few that always work.)

That the best reply I've read that describes what I've started trying to do with the many lures untested for many situations. Knowing that will be invaluable and cut down on all the wishful thinking lures.

I always look for cheaper alternatives when it comes to lures, especially soft plastics. I bought a mold in December and made a few trailers to try in spring. It proved to be the perfect substitute for the Rage Tail or Speed craw. Creme sells it on their site for $1.99 a bag plus many other soft plastics. Here it's rigged on a 1/8 oz jig I caught bass and pickerel on in the last five days: Once my usual trailers are used up, my craw will be the only action tail I'll use accept my frog copy: The attached picture is of a Creme Craw. Frank

I'm forcing myself to experiment with lures not normally used or that I need to reconfirm uses. I carry one small organizer box with partitions that hold a limited number of confidence baits. But for all others I carry individual lures in zip lock bags. These are baits I either made myself or lures I want to try again. They run the gamut of lure designs: many different types of soft plastic, a few spinnerbaits, a few jigs with different trailers and a few crankbaits. When a baits is successful, I document its success in my decades old log book and replace them with new lures in bags that I have hanging on a rack. For some reason I can't seem to want to try lures from a large tackle box no matter how organized and tend to use the same old lure for hours. At least when a lure is bagged separately, it becomes special and I can focus on when and how to use it. I know that a limited number of colors do fine for most lure designs and types so it's just a matter of action and size - still limiting to a few. Variety is the spice of life, but too much variety without a plan and some thought leaves me in the same old rut of carrying lures never used or put to the test nor remembering what a pro said that got me to buy them. My best advice is to learn what you have and limit your tackle to what does best in situations you will encounter after building on your experiences. Keeping a log is the best way. Today I found out that a trailer I poured this winter worked great for jigging or swimming a jig. I worked a large beaver I poured in wetland flat waters and caught bass and pickerel. I took out a Blade Dancer and again caught bass and picks - time to retire the lure until next year and replace it with a new one never used. Stored lures don't catch fish. Frank

Easier said than done, especially if you've never fished the water before. IMO to be versatile requires one to strive to fish different waters and at the same time use lures and presentations, new or basic, that allow one to confirm their usefulness and versatility. Fishing with someone who knows a new water and uses lures you are not familiar with or in ways you thought would never work, saves a lot of time and frustration by expanding one's choices through experienc. That 's not to say I should once again become a lure junkie, buying every new model that hits the market, but that to know the versatility and limitations of a small group of basic lures (jigs, soft plastics, plugs, spinnerbaits, topwater), makes one a specialist that is versatile using each arbitrarily in high potential situations. For example, take the lowly plastic worm. C-rig, drop shot, split shot, surface jerk, shaky head jig, as a trailer and of course, the Texas rig make this lure one of the most versatile at different depths, in different cover, on different structures types, used at different speeds, successful in three seasons and in rivers or lakes. How many of you can say you really know when and how to use the plastic worm the ways mentioned? If so, you are a lure specialist, versatile in its use but only if you've had proven successes more than a few times. Flukes don't count. This goes for every basic lure category ----knowing when each has the greatest potential for catching bass, but only if you know the water and structure you can use them on and when to interchange lures and presentations as the need arises thereby fine tuning your approach. (For that to happen, sonar is essential !!!) Sure, a plastic worm works many places a jig will work, but a jig will work better at times because of a jig's unique characteristics - bulk, skirt flair, trailer. By realizing and capitalizing on those differences, you are more versatile but also more selective because depth and cover types are less daunting and you appeal to a bass's senses in a different way. Besides knowing the bottom or structure like the back of your hand, timing is everything. You can have the best set of lures in the boat, but knowing even the time of day they might produce better adds to one's versatility. A specialist won't catch bass using lures fish won't bite (maybe because of sun angle, hourly water temp change, sky brightness, etc) or aren't even around to bite because they went deeper or deeper into thick cover. Active fish aren't active every hour of the day and respond to all lure types. I don't have the experience of many of you, but I have caught fish on all lure types and presentations at one time or other. That doesn't make me specialized or versatile, just experienced and at times just plain lucky.

A previous post brought up mostly hard lure for topwater fishing - Spook, popper, buzz baits. What wasn't mentioned were the large number of soft plastic designs that are sometimes more effective than any hard bait. A few I use are: Mighty Bug by YUM T-rigged and used as a buzzbait or twitch lure Largest size Beaver or Ugly Otter (YUM) Taper tailed sticks used as walking jerkbaits Flukes and other nose-hooked twitch baits frogs with super leg action Floating worms The list goes on and on but on any given day most will get wacked!

There are times when the topwater bite is on and the type of bait used (hard or soft) doesn't seem to matter much if it can be worked without getting caught on vegetation. The spawn is usually a no-brainer and fish that are hanging out waiting to spawn are susceptible to lures cast to within eight feet or less. If the lure breaks the surface and causes ripples and splashes, it'll get hit. One pound bass are extremely touchy and smack spooks, poppers and YUM Money Bugs like the intruders they are to it's mating area. They travel the distance. Other more sedate pre-spawners need the lure to come to them for an ambush style hit. Water temperature and weed growth coincide though not directly. If temps are above 55, expect weed growth to be well on its way toward surface. This is the case in the northern climate zone when water still doesn't exhibit much of a green stain and is moderately clear in shallow water areas. The need for weed is essential in my book for topwater at this time of year. Cloudy days also offset lack of weeds that haven't made it to the surface and fish are more tempted to venture into the shallows if the water temperature is above 50. On those days, rock walls and hard shallow structure also seem to have potential for topwater. Being that fish are still spooky, long casts and stealth make for more hits in a 30 yard stretch. There may be eight different topwater baits fish will hit in one period or day depending on irritability and water conditions. At other times only a few types might invite some hits, either ambush or from afar. Experiment. (Personally I like the challenge of catching bass on different lure types to include the old classics like the Torpedo, Spook and buzzbait.) All of the above might not apply to the state you fish in, but I'd bet it would be a close bet.

All of the ideas above address different water conditions such as temperature and stain, seasons, time of day, weather conditions, weeds and other cover types and the type of bites you can encounter. Sometimes you can cover more water faster with on type of lure, but at other times need to slow down or go vertical or work a lure slowly along the bottom. The lures mentioned have a time and place but when the fish are active and shallow, pretty much most lures will work, but color, size, speed, depth and action are key 100% of the time! It's easy to get fooled by the success of one lure and the lack of success of another, whether that be in one day of fishing or one year. Few lures always do well year after year but many lure types, like those you mentioned, may only work 60% of the time whereas others that take into account color, size, speed, depth and action may fill in the gaps the other 40%. The best illustration of the above would be the need for a slow finesse presentation (drop shot rig) versus using a crankbait or spinnerbait when fish aren't chasing or are in weeds pockets whereas active school bass may prefer crankbaits or spinnerbaits at a certain depth not covered by a drop shot rig.

Strike King came out with the same material and Doug Hannon used it in his snake years ago. For some reason it never caught on even though the baits are indestructible. It may be because they are super buoyant and must be weighted and unlike the Super Fluke don't sink with just the hook rigged. They look good in the water Neko rigged, on a shaky head, C-rig in grass and on a drop shot rig. The last few baits I bought on clearance were salt impregnated which gave their fluke a bit more weight. Many retailers still carry them on-line.

Wish I owned a golf club.....