bassnleo

Hey all, Just a quick review of these hooks. I can honestly say I really like this hook. I purchased a pack of 4/0 and used them in Zoom Super Flukes. I've often had an issue with the fluke sliding down the hook shank and balling up. Not with these hooks, they work like a charm. I added a Gamakatsu stinger to the hook and my fluke and I think I've found a really effective flukin set-up that will increase my landing percentage. Just order 2 more packs, I can see many other uses for them.

Kel-Tec PF9 for me, Summer, Winter, and on my ankle as a back-up while on duty. Inside it I carry Federal Hydrashocks, 124 +p+.

Yes, the clear blue will look like a fluoresent blue.

What body of water, I may be able to lean you one way or another. PM me if you'd like...... I'm gonna guess, based on your screen info, Raystown?

Every "Technique" has it's place and time. Within each technique, there could be hundreds of bait choices to use. That's what makes bass fishing so fun for me. Trying to first figure out what technique will work and within that technique, what bait to throw to acheive the desired results. I've said this before, IMHO, the best fisherman are the ones that can look at the day and all the components of that day, and pick a technique and location given the time of year, and put bass in the boat. It's not about the right bait, it's about about using the right bait and technique at the right time.

The vast majority of the docks on Northern lakes are metal (at least on the lakes I fish).. Reason, the owners remove them before the lake freezes. Like already mentioned, docks that produce more often have a better bottom, like rock or weeds, but that being said, in some cases any dock that has shade will hold fish. Bottom line, if it's a dock, metal or wood, fish it!

Make sure that when you flip or pitch there is enough slack in the line for the bait to fall straight down. Often times when flipping in thick bushes, the line is over a limb or branch and if it does not have enough slack to fall to the fish, the fish will swirl up at that bait like you mention. If the fish does get the bait, more than likely it's the end of the bait which explains why you get a bare hook back. Allowing some slack will allow the fish to get the bait in it's mouth. Make a pitch or flip, reel up the slack, and if you feel tension or the fish moving off, immediately hit him and reel for all you're worth to get it up or out of the cover. Make sure the hooks you are using are the right size for the baits you're throwing. With 65lb braid, you should be using a heavy wire hook. I mostly use a Reaction Innovations BMF for beavers and craws, Trokar tube hook or Gamakatsu superline EWG for tubes. These hooks will not flex like a light wire hook thus increasing penetration with heavy rods and line like you are using. Also, if you are using a hook like the BMF, definately use a snell knot. A properly tied snell will force the hook point up when you set the hook. I have many fish hook themselves with this knot. If you aren't, peg your weights. In thick bushes you'd be suprised how many times the weight falls on one side of a limb and the bait on the other. Would also cause a fish to swirl at the bait. One last thing.....make sure your weigth size is appropriate. Try going up or down in weight until the fish tell you it's right. Sometimes they just want a slower rate of fall, others they want it falling at light speed.

I recommend using one of the launches on the Presque Isle pennisula, the West Pier (also called Marina Bay) launch is the largest and most used launch. Just do a search for hotels around Pennisula Drive, Erie PA. I personally like the Inn at Presque Isle. It's close and there are tons of stores and places to eat very close. If you do make a reservation at the Inn or any hotel, do it soon, they book up regularly. Also be sure to mention you are fisherman, they offer a fishermans discount. August may be a tough month for the Lake. Often times the fish are out deeper and kinda tight mouthed, but if you cover depths of 20-40 feet and look for structure, you should be able to find some. If the lake is too rough to fish, the Bay will have lots of weeds and the largies always bite. Best of luck.

Bird number two took a dirt nap at 0550 hrs this morning. Was 50 yds away on the limb, flew down, and strutted right up to my decoy. Game over for me, tagged out.

For flippin: El Grande, or any of the Strike King varieties that have a solid head. For open hook / inserted head: 2.5" and 4" Mizmos, 3.5" Right Bites

I downed bird number 1 this past Wednesday. The bad part was I missed the same bird 2 days earlier. Least I redeemed myself. Beard was only 8 inches due to him loosing some from snow and ice this winter but he made up for it in spur length. Both were 1.25 inches, pointy sharp, and had black tips. Cool hunt that lasted a whopping 10 minutes! Heard him gobble twice at 0725, pulled the trigger on him at 0735, after having to crawl 40 feet to a tree when he gobbled 60 yds away. Still have tag number 2 to work on! Anyone else having success this Spring?

I use only the originals. It suprises me that some have never caught fish on them, but like anything else, they are a situational bait. I have seen days where they outfished a spinnerbait, but also days where the spinnerbait was #1. I've won tournaments on them. The constants for success with them seems to be: Active fish Stained to dirty water Cover such as weeds, pads (or stems in the Spring), or wood / bushes. I fish them just like a spinnerbait and on a heavy action Kistler jig rod and 30 lb braid.

A friend of mine was up on the 30th also and experienced the same. He mentioned that they needed to keep the bait on the bottom for best results. I have yet to get up but may this week sometime. Turkey hunting has been less than stellar in these parts so maybe I need to go to PIB for some smallie action!

I'd definately suggest a Magnesium with micro guides. The mags with regular guides are good, the micros are awesome. Micros will reduce the overall weight of the rod and increase sensitivity. I own about 10 mags, a mix of micros and regular guides, and I love them all.

I used to use straight GAMMA flouro, 6 lb test, on my drop shot set-up. 2 years ago I switched to 8 lb braid and a leader of the same GAMMA line. I'll never go back to straight flouro. The braid eliminates line twist issues common with both mono and flouro, gives you great bite detection even in deeper depths, and lasts a long time. I've also switched a few other spinning set-ups to braid w/ leader and experiencing great results. The only downside I've noticed with braid is that it is not abraision resistant around rocks. That's where the flouro leader really shines.

I'll have a pack tomorrow from Tackle Warehouse. I will be trying them myself this weekend so I'll report back!

And, seek out the warmest water on the lake. A protected cove on the N end may be a degree or two warmer. Sometimes that's all it takes!

Thanks for the replies, but I guess I want to know is how does the Trokar's Barb keep the tube in place? Two prominent reasons for missed or lost fish when texas rigging a tube: 1. Tube slides down the hook and "balls up" around the hook and bend thus not allowing good penetration, 2. The hook gap is not wide enough for the wall thickness, and overall thickness and hardness of the tube's plastic. Number 2 is usually easy to fix, use a wider gap hook. The Trokar's kahle style should be ok in those terms. Number 1 is the main culprit regarding lost fish and what I'm most interested in regarding the Trokar.

Just wanted to know if anyone has used the Trokar Tournament Tube Hook yet? I just ordered a pack to try out for flippin tubes, gonna stray from my Eagle Claw HP style, just for a try. The HP does a good job of keeping the tube in place, especially on a tube with a hollow head. The Trokar Barb has me interested. The weak point with the HP hook is the metal clip. I bend those things left and right and once they are bent they are junk. I suspect the Trokar may do ok with a solid head tube (like the Strike King Denny Brauer style) but a regular Gamakatsu superline hook does as well. The test will be with the hollow head tubes like I mentioned.

Tournament anglers that win alot are versatile in many ways. Not only are they good at a variety of techniques, but they know how to adjust to the days conditions and not fish past memories or what worked yesterday.

I mainly use the flouro but also like the co-poly. I most often use the co-poly for topwater and cranks. I did some crappie fishing over the weekend. I spooled a reel up with 4 lb co-poly and on a medium action Kistler Helium. I was fishing a 1/32 ounce jig under a float and around dead lilly pad stems. The fish were really hitting light, I mean on some bites the float wouldn't even go under, just a small bobble in it. If you didn't get on 'em quick often times they spit it out. I decided that any little odd movement of the float and I'd snap set, trying to break the line. Didn't do it once, and the bonus was taking home 23 crappies, all over 10 inches.

YOU are the one who asked in your original post if you handled the situation wrong. I gave my opinion. If you do not want dissenting opinions, don't ask. You tackled a dog over a bass. Then you grabbed it by the neck and took it to the owner. This after you were already "ballisitc" over not catching a fish. Had you injured that dog, without cause (defending a bass, really?), you could have been charged with cruelty. In our state your actions may have also bought you a disorderly conduct citation at a minimum. Next, you take it upon yourself, with the police station close, to tell the woman a bunch of explicatives. Textbook harassment and depending on what you said in public, disorderly conduct. Have you ever seen a serious dog bite? I have and rabies are the farthest thing from the victims mind. I've seen dog bites from a variety of breeds, none are pretty. In the mood for a scrap, that's great, get charged with assault also and all over a dog grabbing a bass you laid on the ground. What you should have done is called the police when the dog did what you allege it did.

IMHO you handled the situation poorly. You could have also been cited. Judging by your story and actions, harassment, disorderly conduct, and possibly cruelty to animals, comes to mind. Not to mention being bitten by a dog unfamiliar to you. You're walking a fine line with the owner also. Would you have done the same thing if it were a male owner? I'd venture to say no. If it were my dog and you treated it like you describe, you may have ended up with more than you bargined for. The dog owner desereved being cited, but if I investigated the incident, you would have also been.

A stores stock will replenish if they order more! Part of the rebuilding process is to get the word out to local stores and dealers that the line is back in production and can once again be ordered. One of the hurdles that GAMMA is working to overcome is the word that the company is out of business for good. Many anglers, stores, and dealers, are still under the impression that GAMMA is out of business, and that was partly true for a period of time, but with the acquisition of GAMMA by Dark Knight Industries, GAMMA is back.

Very cool!