the reel ess

I believe that was the first crankbait I ever owned and I caught a lot on them. I used them and T rigged worms exclusively for bass until I was about 18. My dad was of the opinion that you could catch al bass at any time with a worm. I bought some cheap spinnerbaits from BPS around that time and showed him otherwise. The bait monkey bit and I never stopped.

I'd like to amass more vintage lures. I ran across this little gem ;last weekend at the beach and bought it for $5. I learned from another member it's called a Johnny Rattler and probably from the 70's. Although it looks brand new. I bought it from an older guy who used to live on Clark's Hill Lake and I'm pretty sure he hasn't fished in quite a while. It's either unused or has a custom paint job.

All the same stuff you use in a lake should work there. And lots of topwaters! I find it much easier to get bites on top in small, shallow bodies of water. I even throw the big baits at them.

You can expect backlashes even when you've had a lot of practice. Pull off more line than you think you'll need and put some electrical tape on the spool there. Then reel it back up, of course. It will make all your backlashes shallow and easier to pick out. I don't do this, but I've known people that do. I bought a reel with a shallow spool for this reason. I keep the brakes and cast control tension in the same setting I would for casting. If you can, try a sidearm pitch. That gets the bait lower upon entry. You just stop the spool with your thumb when the bait contacts the water and allow the bait to sink. The bite usually comes on the initial drop. I can't tell you how many times I picked out a small backlash and the bass was already swimming around with the bait when I put tension on the line. Lastly, keep some extra 15-20# Big Game and scissors in your tackle bag. It can save a trip. I use straight braid for pitching/flipping and catch good fish on it. I've also done it with straight mono and braid with mono leader. I never noticed any difference in number or quality of bites except that braid helps tremendously with hooksets. You want to allow the bait to sink on a semi slack line. The fish usually take the bait on the drop. So the line shouldn't be noisy during the presentation.

NM. I was responding to a 12 year old post.

Aw Son! Unsolicited story: I caught a fish on my first ever cast with a Senko. I bought a pack at a sportsman show in Columbia, SC after watching a guide's seminar about wacky rigging it. I went very early spring (still winter) and tossed that thing at a stump. Only fish I caught all day. But the stick worm caught me.

Falcon Bucoo "Super Duty" 7'5" Hvy/X Fast. $109. But it can probably be found cheaper if you shop around. I have their pitching stick and it's the lightest rod I own. This is not a technique that requires a very expensive, very sensitive rod. Just the right action and light weight. https://shop.falconrods.com/collections/falcon-bucoo-sr-series/products/bucoo-sr-super-duty-brc-8-175?variant=13585160437860

'Tis better to throw the wrong bait in the right location than to throw the right one in the wrong location. You can throw the kitchen sink to to avail in a place with no fish.

I like braid on all my flipping and spinning rods. It's tough on wood. But I also agree with the above guys recommending 15-20# Berkley Big Game. They're both great. I just like the peace of mind of knowing a big bass is not going to fray my line on anything. On the other hand you do have the ability to break the mono if you have to.

All of them. But I do tend to shy away from deep cranks as I fish mostly shallow, weedy places. My favorite way to catch a fish is on a topwater. Sometimes I ahve 4 rods rigged with topwaters when I start out. I'll usually replace the buzzbait with a spinnerbait and one of the hard baits with a lipless crank or some other bait as the sun gets higher.

For me, for numbers, it would have to be the hollow-body frog. I catch 2 or 3 off it every time I go when the water is warm. This probably has a lot to do with where you fish as it's great around vegetation. And there are almost always bass in vegetation. Second, I'd have to say a prop bait, specifically the Whopper Plopper 110. It has been a killer bait for me this year. I have 4 fish over 5 lbs on it thus far, the largest 7.93 lbs., also my best fish of 2021 thus far. Third, Id say a popper, like the Chug Bug. I prefer it to the Pop R because it's much easier to cast on BC gear.

This happened recently with me. They were shiners.

In very clear water I'd use a brown jig. I almost always use a black/blue one though as it's never really clear here.

I did remove it. That was just on it when I bought it. I actually prefer Tactical Anglers clips for hard baits because I kayak fish and it's just easier to switch most of them with a clip. I noticed this bait walks a little. It has a cool action for sure.

This one appears to be balsa wood. It floats pretty high. For that reason it's not good for a steady retrieve. It likes jerks and twitches. I used it at my sister's place this weekend. I missed one bite.

Probably added the extra notch to avoid patent infringement.

@Team9nine Thanks.

Can anyone tell me anything about this lure? Is it vintage? I can't find any pics of it searching Google. I suspect it's just handmade. I picked it up from an elderly gentlemen at the beach for $5. He wanted to sell me his entire tackle bag. but I only bought this and a standard size Spook in bass pattern.

I was horrible at setting a hook with spinning gear. It just feels foreign to me and the leverage does not feel nearly as good to me as a MH BC combo of similar action. I got a lot better when I started using braid and premium brand (Gamakatsu) hooks. I resisted braid for a long time, but finally gave in on spinning gear first. Also, if you're not using premium hooks get a hook sharpener. It will help a lot.

That is as I suspected. But there have been years when I saw beds all over the lake. This year I saw less than 10 in 30 acre lake. But I've seen fry swimming several different times. I'm sure there were beds I missed.

Do the bass that stay offshore spawn in deeper water? Or do they enter shallows only to spawn?

Somebody asked me what I'd do if a snake fell in the kayak. I said I'd scream like a girl and go swimming. Then I'd get a change of underwear.

My daughter went with me once and I was fishing. She started beating her kayak with her paddle. I said "are you trying to warn every fish in the lake?" She said "I had a daddy longlegs in my kayak".

I'd take the two I figure I'd need the most and keep them "on deck". I usually have two that way even when I carry 6 or 7. It happens. I caught a 7 pounder on a jig I skipped way under some brush. That fish came up between two limbs and I had to go get it. I had so many spiders on my kayak, I had to paddle back to the landing, get out and remove them one by one. But it was worth it.

Well, I only have two colors of Pad Crasher, leopard and cricket. So I just throw either of those in any situation. I do have an Academy store brand black frog. But it feels much harder than the Booyahs. Thus, I don't ever use it.