Columbia Craw

I throw hammered copper blades in the turtle back shape. This blade seems to work well in muddy water and tannin water. The matched skirts are bright chartreuse and or black/blue. In certain situations, copper finishes have a better reflective property than gold.

My first bait casting combo was a Fenwick 555 Lunker Stik. It was a pistol grip and the material was Fenglass. I found this rod at a shop in Oregon City which closed years ago. I picked up an Ambassaduer 5000, the red one. I don't recall it having bearings, just bushings. I had a trout spinning rod as my second rod. I bought two black Bomber Bushwacker spinnerbaits, a some Manns Jelly worms, added some Water Gremlin singers and Eagle Claw J95B worm hooks and away I went. I've watched everyone of those items evolve. The spinnerbait skirts were vinyl, the wire heavy, the swivel had no bearings and the blades were small and stamped out. The hook was small and you carried a file to sharpen it as you did with all your hooks. A short time later, spinnerbaits came with heavier blades and larger blades and rubber skirts. The hooks began to develop and were larger and I even started to ad a Rebel ring worm or Uncle Josh Pork bass strip as a trailer. Strike King and Stanleys had two of the premier spinnerbaits and Manns added their own designed by Hank Parker. Components by the mid 80's were so much improved. I think it was Strike king that came up with Silicone skirts and that was a game changer. Then some independent pro from Georgia modified his 1/2 spinnerbait and switched the real colorado to a #7 willow blade and the fought to get that model on the market first. I went out and bought some Hildebrandt dual blade trolling flashers and cut them up and used this willows. I thought I was hot now. The rest is history and I am a spinnerbait lover. The baits available now, albeit the same configuration are so much more refined. That was then and now.

This last year I was contacted by a cousin in Canada I had not spoken to in 56 years. She shared information about my Dad's genealogy I did not know existed. It helped me appreciate where I come from. I have shared it with my children. That made me think about the history or genealogy of the stuff we use every day bass fishing and I only go back 50 years. If you care to share some observations, go for it. If you have a question, ask it. A-jay's still iced in so what the heck.

Interesting stories. When I graduated from high school I wanted become a physical therapist. I worked retail to pay the bills and ended up being promoted pretty fast and was successful but still wanted to enter sports medicine. My retail career was pulled out from under me. I was in the position of choosing to pursue what ever career I wanted. It didn't happen fast but I was persistent. I was sworn in at age 39 as a police officer, made detective and then sergeant finishing a 25 year career with only eight trips to the ER and one surgery. I've been retired for over two years now. I'd still like to be a physical therapist.

3/4 ounce chatterbait on #10 Mono ? Did I get that right?

I had an Epixor several years ago and it was an excellent reel and a really good value.

When I started bass fishing for real, my first three lures were a Bomber Bushwacker spinnerbait, Mann's black jelly worm and Cotton Cordell Big O crank bait. I remember when I purchased my first Strike King and Fleck Weed Wader spinnerbaits. Spinnerbaits have always been a staple. I even recall when the hot new mod for the bait was to change the back blade to a #7 willow. Wow, how I was in the big time when I bought a flasher set, took the blades off and set them up. Then came Lonnie Stanley adding spinnerbaits. I still have a couple of those OG baits. Has the spinnerbait lost it's allure? Not for me. But, I recognize there are situations when the flash is just too much for the fish so a swim jig and vibrating jig come into play.

Well I gave up on skin mounting a zebra mussel after I cut myself. Actually I might have a replica of my PB made of wood. A veneer mount.

I would print out my spread sheet but that would mean a new ream of paper. A very good friend of mine decided he wanted to start bass fishing two years ago and joined the club last year. I told him to come over and go through my gear and get some ideas. He told me I was ill. I already know that.

I'll find out this spring.

This entire dialogue makes me want to go out and skin mount a zebra mussel.

Fishing different bodies of water.

I can't speak to the other manufactures but a Dobyns Champion 736C is a far different rod that the Extreme 744C. The Champion 744C "jig Special" has a very fast yet active tip. It casts well and locks up pretty quick. My preference would be the Extreme 745C HP in full grip. For the extra investment you get much better components and sensitivity. You can frog with it as well. If all you fish are football jigs and find yourself a "dragger" the Extreme 784C HP is a great choice and is a second for a lighter pitching stick. All have exceptional balance.

I've always preferred longer rods, even since the later 70's. I like the 7-3 overall but would agree, if there was one length only available it would be a seven footer.

Zip-Lok bags and zippered worm wallets are your best friend.

Frogs and some other top water baits. It's all about timing and the manner in which the fish strike. AS said and said well, good hooks and the right line and rod and setting the hook is not an issue.

It's a business. Let him who has no spell check sin cast the first jig.

For rods I have a passel of Dobyns, a smidgen of Diawas, a pair of Cousins and a Lobo Marange' Lamiglas. For reels I have some Lews, Diawas and Shimanos. I ain't listing it all and I don't do spread sheets.

No pun intended i'm sure.

How do you pick out a favorite. Just added two Kadens and a Champion 805CB Glass.

That must be why they don't answer the phone.

I know a couple of club members who fish a white spinnerbait about 95% of the time but they will branch out and throw a Bandit 100 from time to time.

I've fished at least a dozen different brands and most are good to really good but one brand stands out for me, Outlaw Baits from Florence Oregon.

Thanks for having a sense of humor Glenn and yes, Smackdown is great stuff. I have 30. 40 and 65 in grey for casting rod application and 12 green on one of my spinning reels.

Fifteen years ago? None. Thirty five years or more ago, definitely. There was a time when some pros made a living with a spinnerbait but not anymore, but it's a must have bait.