Snakehead Whisperer

x2 on the chartreuse trailer.

I agree with all of the above. The only colors I ever use are blue/black w/silver blade and sexy shad w/ gold blade. I've had good luck using a 4" senko as a trailer. Also, after my horny toads get too beat up to use I cut the legs off and throw them on a chatterbait. It's a killer bait for fishing the edges of spatterdock around these parts.

As far as I know, all of their shakeyheads use a 4/O Mustad Ultrapoint hook... which is pretty middle of the road IMHO.

Maybe TetraMin. But seriously, I know a lot of people here in DC who chase carp on the fly with great success. I can only imagine the fight. I've foul hooked 2 carp in my life (never targeted them.) Both times were on ultra-light tackle, and both times I landed the fish. Their strength is admirable. If I ever get a fly rod, I may just go after them.

Remind me not to buy any baits from you on EBay.

Probably the best advice there is.

So, any update? Did you catch any on these cranks?

Nothing but respect for the big fish hunters. I have a good friend who I fish with pretty regularly, and he always pulls out the big irons. While I typically do better in numbers, he has caught some of the biggest fish I have ever seen in his pursuits (including a 14lb. 3oz. Virginia bass.) On the other hand, I have caught some real dinks using large baits. I've caught plenty of bluegill on a XL Minus 1. While it's counter-intuitive, I have caught most of my biggest fish on small baits. I caught my largest bass of 2012 (7.5lbs.) on a 1/16oz. jighead tipped with a 1.5" grub while crappie fishing. Go figure.

Well, I don't really have much to input as far as where to look for fish. But have you tried using the 'historical imagery' feature in Google Earth? It gives you the option of viewing satellite images taken at different times from the past. Often I can find an image from a time when water levels were extremely low, and see structure that isn't normally visible. This has helped me tremendously.

That's understandable, and by no means would I ever question a persons hook choice if they're catching fish. For me personally, I've found that I have a higher hook up ratio when using the smallest possible hook for the size of fish I am targeting. Admittedly I am a overtly finesse oriented, and I also tend to downsize baits more than most (so this is definitely a quirk of mine, and not the norm.)

St. Croix makes top quality casting rods, no doubt. But I am not sold on their spinning rods. The guides are just too small, and cause a lot of friction on the St. Croix spinning rods that I've used.

I know you posted this more than 3 years ago... I actually have one that is NOS, never been used.

I use an electronics vice designed for soldering circuit boards. It's indispensable. They run around $25 on amazon/ebay, and this tool will last a long time. http://www.panavise.com/index.html?pageID=1&page=full&--eqskudatarq=1

Just a matter of personal preference, but it's always surprising to me how big folks go on DS hooks (or most tackle for that matter.) I usually use a size 6 or 8 and boat many 5+ pounders on them. They've never let me down, and I can't really remember losing a fish on them once the hook's been set. My 2¢.

Thanks! Glad to be here.

Man, that's a nice walleye!

I was taught to make my leader approximately twice the length of the rod that I'm using. So that's what I usually do. As for knots I use an albright special (best knot for tying 2 lines of unequal diameter together, IMHO.) Just make sure that you wrap the braid/fireline around the flouro, and not the other way around. The design of the albright special knot wraps the braid around the leader line so that it's the braid hitting the guides and not the flouro. Just be sure to re-tie every so often. The other great thing about this knot is it's extremely small profile.

Welcome to the site. I'm new here too.

Here's an episode of Addictive Fishing where Blair Wiggins and Bill Dance catch some big redfish (although this doesn't appear to be too challenging of a spot either )

Yes, of course they'll work (is there an echo in here?) They slay crappie and walleye too. I'd recommend checking out the "Northland Whistler Jig." I just prefer the design over Roadrunners. The prop design slows the jig on the fall, and also gives it a nice fluttering action. Similar type of lure though. http://www.basspro.com/Northland-Fishing-Tackle-Whistler-Jigs/product/29820/?cm_ven=bazaarvoice&cm_cat=RLP&cm_pla=29820&cm_ite=productname_link

I have caught river smallies on just about every lure I can imagine, but there are only a few go to lures that are consistent for me. -Bucktail jig. -Dropshot w/ 4" stick bait. -1/16-1/4oz. jig head with 1.5-4" grub. -Slider jig with 4" stick bait. -Roach Walker weight on a 3-way rig with a grub on a floating jig head (and most other river walleye rigs.) -3.5" tube t-rigged on an EWG hook with rattle and a jig weight. -Wacky rigged stick bait. -1/8oz. buzzbait. -Zara Puppy

Thanks Glenn. Love the site!

Yeah, I remember that. I fish Roaches whenever I don't have time to go elsewhere, as it's only 10 minutes from home. PM Sent.

Thanks, I put a lot of time and effort into making baits. Like BobP said, stenciling is a good way to add detail to baits. Vacuum forming stencils is another method to look at, that way you can make stencils specific to the bait that you are painting and ensure they line up perfectly every time. The baits shown in my pic were painted free hand. The stripes were done shooting paint through a comb with bridal veil mesh stretched over it. There's a website called tackleunderground.com that is dedicated completely to tackle making, and they have a forum much like Bass Resource where users share lots of great info on tackle making specifically (including painting.) Anybody serious about making or customizing their own tackle should check it out.

If you live near Lake Huntsman, you are in close proximity to prime snakehead waters both North and South on the Potomac. If you have a boat try Little Hunting Creek, Pohick Bay, Fort Belvoir or Belmont Bay. If you fish from shore, Leesylvania State Park is a good spot. You'll get one, probably when you least suspect (and it will startle you when it strikes ) Wait until you see me dispatch a snakehead with a machete... that completes the whole Gallagher look. My hair is short now, however.