bigal basser

Shane, you nailed it--this is exactly what I was looking for. Sometimes words aren't enough, or it's difficult to put into words you can understand. A perfect example of a picture being worth a thousand words. Many thanks. Al

I believe this is what I was looking for…but yes, it was hard to put into words in my original post. Other tips here are appreciated and may help as well. Thanks, guys. Al

Sorry guys, it seems perhaps I wasn't clear enough on what I was asking…and I'm still not sure how to word it. Sam, you were closest to answering my question. Roadwarrior, I did check out the pictures on the Rage Tail site, but on the creatures shown, they are using a jig rather than the hooks I mentioned. And in that case, naturally, the weight and shape of the jig will enable the bait to lay naturally in the water--not fall over on its side. With the hooks I am using, I know to go down into the nose, then out and back into the bait, but I don't know exactly where on the bait. If you lay the bait down flat on a table, looking down at it overhead. should the hook run in and out of the side of the bait, in the seam area, or should it be centered on the body of the bait…in the nose, out of the back (or front), rotate, and go back into the back (or front) of the bait? With a worm it doesn't matter, but I wouldn't think, generally speaking, you would want any creature bait (brush hog, craw or otherwise) laying on its side. And I would think where the hook is located would be of importance. Wish I had a few pictures of these creature baits actually tied on, where I could see for clarification.

Hey Guys, I'm a lurker--do lots of reading and not much posting. That said, I need some direction. I've caught many bass over the years on plastic worms, but then a little later in life, did not fish for many years. I'm back at it now and I see that creature baits have become very popular. With that, I have picked up a few packs of Zoom Brush Hogs and Baby Brush Hogs, and also plan to try some of the Rage products. I'd like some feedback as to how to rig these baits…specifically where to position the hooks in a texas rig set-up. With a worm, it's easy--you don't have to worry about it rolling over on its side or how it is laying, but just not sure with the Brush Hogs and other creature baits. They have a top and a bottom, so I'm wondering how to position the hook to where it will be presented naturally to the fish. I plan to use two methods of rigging, so I'd really like some feedback on each one. I will use a standard Owner Twistlock open gap hook (like I do for my worms), and also a "Rage Rig" type set-up with the keel-weighted hook, for when I want a more horizontal presentation. Somehow, I picture that I might need to run the Twistlock worm hook in and out of the side of the bait, on the seam, but the keel-weighted hook just the opposite--centered on the top and bottom of the bait, so as not to flip on its side. Hope this makes sense. I would think I'd do the same thing with the Rage Tail craws as well as other creature baits, since they all have a top and a bottom--the back and the belly. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Al

Tom, Chris is right--I am using the Premier with Alien head. From what others have stated and from some communication with Chris, this style of head will be very effective for my conditions. By the way, very few rocks in the rivers I will be fishing--mostly clean, sandy bottoms with a lot of stumps, logs and brush. Because of the current and dark water, very little grass and weeds. Also, they are both generally slow-moving currents, with many breaks and slack areas as well. I am fishing 15 lb. copoly P-Line that is pretty tough, so I think it will be up to the task of being able to do just what you suggested, but yet, hopefully, not create too much drag. Chris, some good tips here. It is dark water, so I tend to work fairly tight to the cover, meaning shorter casts, thereby accomplishing just what you said--minimizing the amount of line in the water. I worm fish an awful lot--it's what I'm most comfortable with, so I'm used to fishing with my rod held high. Sounds like that will also help with what you stated here and virtually eliminate line drag. Thanks, guys. Good stuff.

That's a great idea, Bo. You never hear of anybody adding weight (in this case, by using a slip sinker) to a jig, but I don't see why not. After all, we use them with worms, don't we? Another plus to that idea, at least for me, is that, since I will be fishing dark water, the little clicking sound of the slip sinker hitting the head of the jig when I hop or shake it, might just enhance my presentation and help Mr. Bass find it more easily. Thanks to all for your thoughts and ideas--I appreciate the input. I'm thinking I will be just fine with the 3/8, and if need be, I can always add a small slip sinker to get the desired results. I'm excited to try and learn to fish the river...not to mention, seeing my new Northstar jigs and Paca Craws has me a little pumped too.

Thanks a lot, guys. I look forward to learning from all who share their knowledge. It's a fun place to spend some time for sure.

Hey All, I'm new to the forums and also new to jig fishing. Done plenty of bassin' in my life but never thrown a jig. That said, I'm gonna start, and to do that, I ordered a few 3/8 oz. Northstar Premiers to get me started, along with some choice Paca Chunks for a trailer. They came in today and look great. My question though is this: I plan to start fishing two nearby rivers that I've never fished. They are both good bass waters and are what most would classify as dark-water, slow-moving rivers. I expect most of my jig fishing will be in 2 to 8 foot of water, maybe occasionally up to 10 feet or so. With a slow-moving current and at that general depth, will the 3/8 oz. and Paca Craw be enough to keep contact with the bottom, or should I go heavier. I've caught many bass on worms and also use as light a weight as I can get away with. That was my thought when I ordered the 3/8 oz. jigs. I plan to order quite a few more but want to be sure what will work best in this scenario. Thoughts? Thanks for any input. Al

Just signed up today and wanted to give a shout out to those who post on the forums. I have been lurking here for a few months now and enjoy checking out various fishing forums to glean information. That said, I have to say that BR truly is the "Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource" thanks to all of you who bring such a wealth of knowledge to the forums. Lots of good information here, and I look forward to learning more about my favorite hobby.