SWVABass

I need some rigging help. I fished these the other day, had multiple bite bit could not get a hook up. I'm fishing them on a med heavy fast action rod, 10 lbs floro. I used both 2/0 and 4/0 hooks. I did notice the tails were tore up pretty bad compared to the bait so sure I was getting tail it. my question is what size hook works best for these baits? I'm fishing t rigged on an ewg hook. Thanks for the help and any pointers!

I would say if you can't make any other style stick bait work for you invest in a mold and injector. As you wear out bait save them, melt , and pour. Might save a lil bit. There are a couple sites where you can find Yamamoto senkos for cheap but you got to be on top of it the good colors sell fast.

Instead of letting mine plop in at the end of a cast I feather it much like a buzz bait stopping it for a quiet entry and immediately begin to retrieve. It stays on top and begins to plop immediately. The high rod angle helps, but I would say about 3 o'clock works well for me. Fish it slowly, reduces the bait wanting to roll and cause line twist, seems like burning it blows it out. And pop the bait as you begin your retrieve if your having problems with the tail spin, just like you would a rooster tail. the line twist issue and the tail spin are problems I have not had just ideas that come to mind to try and help.

I've never fished them in current other than wind generated current. They seem to excel when you are crashing them into anything, rocks, stumps, pilings. I haven't noticed any difference between different baits of the same size. If your fishing clear water match the hatch for size and color. Reduced visibility chartreuse black back or chartreuse sexy shad have worked well for me. A bait I've started to throw instead of the square bill is the 1.5 flat and I've caught less number but better quality just and option to try as well. If I'm not hanging them up I'm not catching fish.

I love to fish the 1.0 and 1.5 in the spring. The silent and rattle version both produce. The only time I see a drop in catch rates has to do with color selection am where I'm throwingoing it. I agree with AJ try some more and spend more time throwing it but throw it during times of the year it will produce and under conditions it will produce. I've had previously frontal days where I couldn't keep them off of it post front couldn't get a bite.

As someone who had little tourney experience I joined a local club. It's been a huge benifit. I'm lucky to say I've fished behind some talented guys. One of them having fished on the BASS top 100 circuit. I would look into your local clubs, and find one that fits the level you want to fish at. Some clubs maybe more of let's have tourney and it's just about people being on the water vs an ultra competitive club. Then get behind folks my club allows me to pick who I fish with as there is only one other non boater. But other clubs may have a draw for non boaters. As far as competitive angler you will need to be a very versatile angler as you have to fish behind someone that's fishing there style. So get comfortable with some different presentations and use the them at the right time to pick off fish behind your boater, and if they offer you the bow jump on it. My boater this year after filling his limit gave me the bow to work a big female on a bed. I didn't get her but the time and experience was extremely valuable. And always offer to chip in on gas (they might not take it) and help your boater before and after if at all possible.

This is how I take my son fishing and he's 3 and it works awesome. Drop shot any bait you want but we use roboworms, pro worms reapers, and Berkley gulp minnows. I try and fish it at the end of points in rocks, and in or near any cover I can find. I use a 1/4 Oz weight, #1 drop shot hook, 14 in tag end 10lb yozuri hybrid line on the Abu Garcia Ike d.s. rod with a lews reel. Pitch it out pick up the slack and slowly drag it around if you don't get bit right away.

Thanks for the input guys. I was pretty lost. I managed to catch a few on a crank. We did have good rain but it didn't bring up the water level. I fish a lake that provides water for irrigation so as of now the lake has dropped 30' over the summer. Water Temps weren't falling here they stayed the same.

Day shaped up like this, heavy cloud cover, low light, light winds, on and off light rain. Water Temps were 70 to 75, visibility 1 to 3 feet. Water level was dropping but very light current coming in on the main river. I caught small fish on a t rigged senko, and a drop shot as a non boater. My boater caught three squeakers and one decent keep to give him 4 fish for about 5 lbs. I couldn't get bit on a crank, or topwater. We fished main lake points, secondary poits, flats, coves and drop offs. Any clue where I could have done something different?

Awesome info, thanks again. Next time I'm out I will try the Rapala knot. In your opinion under what conditions does this lure shine? I'd only fished it once before and that was during the early spring, low pressure system blowing through, water was really clear and about 60 degrees. I watched a friend put together a solid limit in front of me that day.

Tom, First off thanks for the info, you knowledge in regards to baits is amazing! I have to different lip size the smallest and medium sized bills. I don't have anything in the 1/2 Oz size. My problem was fishing one in about6-10 fow that was stained about 1 to 3' visibility. I couldn't get it to wiggle at all with a direct line tie using a palomar knot. When I go deeper I will give the direct line tie a try again, I personally do not like the idea of using a snap but will have to figure it out and trust it.

Thanks Jeff I will look into those.

I fished these once before yesterday and they had a snap ring, but the one one it straightened out when a 20" walleye chocked it. But I saw how effective they were so I had my buddy make me some but without the snap ring. Yesterday I fished them tied direct with a palomar knot. The action wasn't there??? My two questions are is the snap ring necessary and if so what would be a good stout brand and what size? Thanks for the input, Colten

I fished the 90 in bone the other day. I fished it on a slow and steady and caught mainly largemouth with a couple smallies mixed in. The guy fishing behind me pulled out an old single rear spin top water and fished it with more pops stops and rips. Caught a 2lb behind me.

Well I caught a lot of fish early yesterday on a whopper plopper until about 930. After that picked up a few on a crank, reapers. Couldn't catch a keeper to save my life and blanked in the tourney. Water Temps were in the 80,s and we fished main lake stuff, never deeper than 12ft though.

WRB, Thanks for the input. I've never had much luck with the hula grub, but will try it again. Jeri baits are a weakness too. I have done quite well with roboworm, leaches, and reapers. I usually can cat them on a crank as well. I just have not been able to put a big fish pattern together in four years now. Loved your piece on crank bait fishing you did. That really helped me a lot! How is Casitas fishing? I spent a week in Ojia last summer on fire assignment but never got a chance to wet a line, was extremely disappointed.

Yeah it will be from a boat but I'm the non boater. My boater does not like to fish deep than maybe 8ft year around though.

Hot rod, Primary forage in my lake is mainly gizzed shad or threadfin. Crayfish are present as well, but sunfish and bluegill seem pretty much non existent. Currently we are loosing water at close to a foot a day, and inflow is well below the 2,400 cfs they are pulling, so it creates current but with constant drop to the water. With as low as the lake is there is no cover at all, just rock points, walls, and humps. What would be your first thought?

Thanks, this is a great site to try and pick up some new things. Appreciate how open people are about stuff on, it's helped me out at times.

Good morning, So I didn't know I was supposed to do one of these to begin with so my appologies. Name is Colten, live out west in NM. I've been fishing since I can remember, but took a break after high school. I have my wife to thank for getting me back to fishing, and when she complains I'm a tackle junkie I tell her you created this. I try to fish as often as I can, and I have my son starting now at the ripe age of 3. He just loves catching smallmouth already. Thanks for all the good info aND insight provided here.

There are a couple clubs who fish here. Elephant butte, and Socorro clubs fish it. Also American Bass fishes here as well, and I think Sun Country. The NM BASS federation is talking about a tourney here nest year, at least that is the rumor. That is probably the only pro am kind I know of. I think ute and Conchas have some pro am though. I have only fished my club tourneys though. The aba seems to be the most competitive here even on a bad day still seems someone finds 5.

First post, Earlier this year was in the market for a new spinning rod, and wanted a st. Croix legend tournament. Cash was tight so I got a new Abu Garcia Ike rod, for dropshot, and I love it. But just yesterday local tackle shop was have close out on the exact rod I wanted picked it up for 140, so now I need time off of work to go fish it!! Love this page I show it to my wife so I can say "see babe I'm not the only one with a problem!"

GnM, t-rigged plastics are a weakness for me. Can't seem to buy a bite. I have picked up the dropshot a lot this year and have done well. Green pumpkin, watermelons, and shad based colors work well over here. I have never tried the westy worm. Senkos seem to produce year around as well. This year I've learned they will still munch even with dropping water levels, and shallow as well. My 3 year old just busted a 2lb l.m. yesterday on a d.s. in 4 fow. I've fished other lakes in sw nm but nothing on your side of the state. Try a shad color senko or roboworm on a d.s. and let me know how that works.

Alright I'll give it a shot and see how I do. Found out I'll be fishing with someone else next week so I'll see if I can put it to work behind him. Thanks for the input!

OK I'll give that shot, I will have to see if my club allows them as well. What would be your thoughts on the continuous dropping water level? Would you stick with the off shore stuff mainly?