king fisher

Rebel Jumping minnow. Very easy to walk, casts far, cheap

When I was 13 I fished a section of shoreline on a small lake. I would cast parallel to the shore from points on the bank. One day I decided to troll my only lure,(purple tandem Colorado spinner bait) , by holding my rod with one hand out as far as I could, and walking slowly along the bank.. Part of the bank was large rip rap. Fell in many times trying to jump from one rock to the next and still keep my bait spinning. I spent most of that summer walking that bank back and forth trolling my spinner bait. Would be in better shape if I started using that technique now. Might even catch more fish.

Thanks to all the members for the advice. Leaving on my trip tomorrow. I will start her out on a mini spinner bait or Beetle spin first, then a T rigged swim bait. Will try Senko's once she learns to cast and control the speed of the lure. I will be trying everything. Probably starting off with a KVD 1.5 but am ready to fish something slow if need be. I hope she will be proficient in few techniques by the time the trip is over. Don't want her to go the way of the girl friend, I tried to teach to duck hunt. She didn't even give me my shot gun back.

Some one correct me if I'm wrong. Mister twister's sassy shad the first swim bait, Rapala had the first minnow, Mepps the first French blade inline, Panther Martin the first shaft through inline, Fred Young the first square bill, and Heddon the first lipless crank bait. Heddon the first walking style surface bait, Don't know who made the first spinner bait , plastic worm or living rubber skirted jig. Every manufacture all over the world has copies of all these baits. If it catches fish someone is going to find a way to make it cheaper. Sometimes the cheaper copies work, other times they don't. When I had very little money I always bought cheap nock offs. Now I tend to buy the mid priced brands. I think it would be a very bad decision for a company to no make a type of lure because they didn't come up with the original idea. I see nothing wrong with this type of competition. That is my opinion, but I have been know to be wrong from time to time. If the idea is protected by a patent than that is a different, issue, and illegal. I'm still waiting for a cheap version of the helicopter lure.

I was thinking she might not have the patience to fish a Senko slow enough. I might be wrong, sure would be low maintenance for me. Any readers ever start a new fisherman out on Senko's?

Would like to use the 90 size. Does the whole lure spinning spook the fish, or just twist the line?

My girl friend who has never fished is going fishing with me. I bought her a medium 7 foot spinning rod with 8 pound test mono. We will be fishing for both small and large mouth. Trout and Bluegill also present. Stained to dirty water from 3 to 10 feet deep. Rocky bottom with no wood, some weeds in bays. low 60's water temp. Looking for a bait that is easy to cast, easy to fish, doesn't tangle, and wont snag all the time. Leaving me a chance to get a few casts in. Lots of action with small fish would be preferred over a few big ones. Hopefully. I'm thinking inline spinner, or Kietech swim bait. What are readers favorite bait for beginners?

As far as bass go Rock Lake has only large mouth. 30 years ago the Lake was always stained with large algae blooms in the summer. Thanks to more environmental friendly farming practices it gets very clear in the fall and winter. The outlet creek is dirty all year and is where the small mouth live. No public access to the creek. When I grew up in the area I caught, mostly large mouth, now almost all small mouth. I haven't ever used under spins but I will pick some up and give them a try. What brand and size do you suggest? I also bought tubes, which readers highly recommended.

If catching the most fish is your objective, than fishing a few confidence baits according to conditions is the way to go. I have some disease that makes me want to change lures even if I'm catching fish on my favorite ones. A friend of mine always asks why I'm changing lures when I'm crushing the fish on what I have on. My only answer is, to see if they will bite the latest lure I spent money on. If they bite that lure, than I change to another older one, then back to a new one, on and on. Tackle companies love me. It's a sickness. I never have too much tackle. I have the most fun fishing if I'm constantly experimenting. If the fishing is slow, I tend to stick with my confidence baits.

Private land in the Rock Lake drainage.

good idea. I will get a couple.

Made my tackle order yesterday for my two week trip to eastern WA. Tried to follow the advice from numerous people on this forum. Will be fishing stained to muddy water, 58 to 65 degrees, mostly small mouth, up to 6 lbs. some large mouth rocky bottom with Crayfish the main forage. Little to no fishing pressure. Every year I fish here, and try other lures, but always catch my biggest and most on #3 inline spinners. First time to try soft plastics will be this year. I'm sure I bought more than I need, but I guess need has nothing to do with how much tackle a person owns. Here is a list. Did I miss anything? 8 packs Keitech fat impact swim baits. 3,8" and 4.3 four different colors 4 packs Rage claw Green pumpkin 4 packs baby Rage claw green pumpkin. 4 packs Hula Grub 4 packs senko 4 and- 5 inch. green pumpkin, june bug 1/16 OZ. round jig heads 1/8 oz. round jig heads, 1/4 ounce foot ball jig heads 1/8 oz. weighted hook, 1/4 oz. weighted hook 2/0 3/0, 4/0 Owner worm hooks 1/4 0z bullet weights 2- War Eagle spinner baits, 1 single Colorado black, one willow tandem blue gill 1 Cavitron buzz bait chartreuse 2- whopper plopper 3/8 oz. size 4 KVD 1.5 black chartreuse, and Red craw 2- Rapala DT. 10 Red Craw 6 Bandit 200 series assorted colors 1 Lucky Craft pointer 100 Already have numerous floating Rapala's old spinner baits. pop Rs., old Bagely square bills, Rebel Jumping Minnow, old Big O, Rebel Deep WE R, and inline spinners. Thank you to the readers for all the help.

Rebel jumping minnow

I have worked as a fishing guide in Western Alaska for 25 years. Clouds of mosquito's are out 24 - 7. Every year clients come to Alaska with the newest bug protection on the market. I have only seen two things work. Clothes and a head net, or DEET. I hate wearing head nets, so I use DEET. The lighter concentration sprays will work for a short time. 100% for longer periods. For white sock nats, and no see ums only large doses of 100% DEET, used often is effective. Like I tell the new guides every year. DEET is toxic, but it's better than bleeding to death.

I have worked as a fishing guide in Western Alaska for 25 years. Clouds of mosquito's are out 24 - 7. Every year clients come to Alaska with the newest bug protection on the market. I have only seen two things work. Clothes and a head net, or DEET. I hate wearing head nets, so I use DEET. The lighter concentration sprays will work for a short time. 100% for longer periods. For white sock nats, and no see ums only large doses of 100% DEET, used often is effective. Like I tell the new guides every year. DEET is toxic, but it's better than bleeding to death.

blade bait such as a silver buddy. Cast parallel or jigged vertical

Chartreuse has caught every species of fish I have ever fished for, from sunfish to blue, marlin small big and everything in between. Salt water fresh water, clear or muddy doesn't seem to matter.

I fished this river system almost everyday during summer break when I was growing up in the Seventies and early Eighties. I don't ever remember seeing any beds. Most of the time I will be standing on dry land. Most of the shore line is steep and rocky. Two steps out and it;s over my head. Will try my best not to step on any beds while wading.. I only have two weeks in the end of May to take my vacation. Would rather fish post spawn but am not going to spend my time golfing in fear of disturbing Spawning bass. I will release them in the exact location they were caught unharmed. Have never believed in moon cycles effecting the fishing before, but I have recently read lots of theories on the subject since getting ready for this trip. Not sure what to believe. Just want to be as prepared as I can be. Appreciate any advice.

I will be fishing for both small mouth and large mouth bass in WA three weeks from now The water temps. will most likely be in the low to mid 60's. I have recently learned that bass spawn on the full moon cycle. The moon will be full the first day of my trip. The water will be dirty, I will be walking and wading large sections of shore line little or no current in most places.. I doubt I will be able see beds to cast to. What would be the best lures to use at this time casting blind. Most of my bass fishing experience has been with crank baits and spinner baits. I am hoping to learn to fish soft plastics. I have taken the advice from readers on this forum and purchased rage claw, hula grubs, and keitech swim baits. As well as the terminal tackle recommended for each of these baits. Any other suggestions.

great idea. Thanks

Thanks for the help. I will buy some from Barlows and try making some. I don't need a weight in the front, but can't figure out how to connect the wires together. Any suggestions?

Has anyone made their own umbrella rigs? I guide king Salmon anglers in Alaska for a month in the summer. I want to try umbrella rigs for them this year. I wood go broke if they work and I have to buy them already made. I have seen how they can catch bass. May be the best thing ever for King Salmon. Does anyone have any suggestions? Where can I get the wire? What would I need to make them? I wont be using soft swim baits on them, just spinners. I already have hundreds of spinner blades. Need Information on wire and weights. I know this is a bass fishing site. Because no Salmon fisherman use them, there is no Salmon anglers to ask. Would appreciate any advice.

Thanks to readers for the help. Looks like I will buy a few packs of Keitech. by far the favorite. Everyone seems to have a different way to rig them. I'm already buying 1/8 and 1/4 oz ball head jigs for hula grubs, and tubes. Was wondering if I really needed to buy different swim bait jig heads or weighted hooks? Also, a friend recommends Strike King Caffeine shad but not one recommendation for them on this post. Anyone have any luck with them?

Yes. I do mean the soft paddle tail type. Have heard good reports on Keitech. What about Strike king? How do you like to rig them, (weighted hook, ball jig head, T rig)?

I'm planning on trying swim baits In eastern WA state the last week of May. Both small and large mouth in the river system. Water temps should be in the mid to high 60's, rocky shoreline, with some weeds in bays. primary forage is crayfish, but there is a large bluegill, and carp population, would assume the bass eat them also. I have received good advice from readers concerning crank baits and soft craws. Would like to hear what readers favorite swimbaits are. Would appreciate color and rigging suggestions.