Munkin

I don't have any of those hooks laying around. Hook thickness does matter but the VMC and Gamakatsu hooks are both heavy hooks. If you want to make sure that hook fits you can call Barlow's Tackle and they will check for you. Maybe Cadman or Smalljaw67 will see this and be able to answer. Allen

I just checked and the 4/0 Gamakatsu hook fits perfectly in the 3/8 and 1/2oz cavities. Additionally the VMC 7216 in 5/0 fits these same cavities as well. While I am a fan of Mustad hooks the Gamakatsu ones I posted about are so much sharper than the 32886 Mustad ones. Generally Do-It molds will accept a lot of hooks and sizes not listed on the mold as they are cast. Now a CNC machined mold is less forgiving. Allen

http://www.lurepartsonline.com/Online-Store/Gamakatsu-Jig-Hooks_2/Gamakatsu-345-Swim-Jig-Hook.html Lure Parts Online sells a heavy 30 degree Gamakatsu hook in 5/0. Allen

TOW= Time on water is invaluable. Allen

Based on some of the replies over the years I am asking everyone to post a good fishing tip tp help other anglers. This isn't a use my second cousins hand poured worms because they are the best but a generic what works. What got me thinking of this is when Tom WRB posted that he uses worms in a muddy bottom and jigs on a hard bottom (Didn't mean to call you out I just want to express what a good tip that was from experience). So without pimping a particular manufacturer please post something that will help other fisherman regardless of location. Here is my start: Jigs, if you don't know what color jigs to use starting out just use ones in the same color of soft plastics that work for you. While this is a simple statement and concept I caught more bass the first day that I applied it than in the previous several years of fishing jigs I had no confidence in. Match the hatch: This has always worked for me and I know people will disagree but if bass are eating say shad the shad do not change color when the water is murky because of rain. What color to use in soft plastics: One of the KVD videos he explains that if you do not know what color to use try something that matches the lake of river bottom you are fishing. His explanation is that any prey will try to blend in with their environment to escape predators so you want a bait that matches the local prey. This is what I can think of for now and I am hoping this post is populated with useful information that can help others besides the "what is your favorite" Allen

While I do not know the exact quote Rick Clunn once said "Catching fish is easy but finding them is hard". The other saying I heard was "I would rather have the wrong lure in the right place than the right lure in the wrong place". I will say once I started concentrating on finding fish as apposed to whether my soft plastics had a certain flake makeup my catch rate went up. Allen

Use some 5 or 6/0 and I doubt you can bend them out? Allen

Drum do hit lures regularly but common carp will as well from my experience. I caught about a 10lb common carp during a tournament once on a baby brush hog. Allen

That is the one. Still not sure why my only option is read aloud though. Allen

Why is it everytime I try to post something the only option is to "Read aloud"? I am trying to post a youtube video from Guido Hibdon in which he shows how to hand tie a jig. Cannot copy and paste the link into the post or the URL option but I can get a computer voice to read everything on the screen. So what gives is this blocked or am I doing something wrong? Allen

Finally shipped mine out today after driving around with them for about a week. Allen

You can always buy the ever popular color selector. Allen

While my thread tying is terrible this is what I do. Allen

Trial and error but mostly error. Start with a 1/4 or 3/8oz and see how it works and adjust from there. Sometimes a heavy jig falling past then triggers a reaction strike. I was fishing a club tournament once and just wrecking fish on a 5/16oz jig but they were all 1-2lbers. While it was fun culling 1.8lb fish with 1.81lb fish is a pain to do. The catching was great but so was the amount of jigs I was losing in the process. Broke off all 3 of my finesse jigs in about a 25 yard section and was tired of tying on jigs. Reached in the rod locker and pulled out the 2 big jig rods. One had a 1/2 flippin jig and the other a 3/4oz football. First pitch of the 1/2oz jig I caught a 3lber so I decided to try the football and 2 casts later had a 4.5lb fish. Stuck with the football and culled up 9lbs in about 2 hours. Area I was fishing was laydowns in less than 5 FOW. Allen

This should just be pinned to the top. Allen

I care about what the fish want for the fall rate. That being said I have fished 3/4oz in 4FOW and 1.8oz in 30FOW. Allen

That is the going rate right now. I got a quote for a production mold for $5600 so I know what things cost for large scale production. Allen

Looks great but honestly I could not fish with that rod. That thing should be hanging in the Louve not on a Bassboat deck. Allen

Wherever has what I need at the time. I have so much tackle in my basement I am tripping over boxes of lures I didn't know I had. For something immediate I try the local Dick's or Wal-Mart but in general I keep "a few spares" and buy things either through Bassifieds or a local flea market. Looking at what I have and what I need for the next year I may have to break down and buy a spool of 12lb Big Game since I cannot find mine and am tired of looking for it. Besides that I have 2 $100 BPS gift cards and enough baits to sink my boat so I am good for now. Allen

Fish below Dam 4 or 5 and you should catch some. Allen

Going to send mine out in the next day or two? I was waiting on some GP trailers but I will just send the Blk/Blue since those are what I have now. Allen

Most manufacturers will list the size they are using or it is easy to find using Google. Personally I am not a fan of the MegaBass cat sausage hooks as the outbarb really scratches the bait. For replacements here is what I use overall: light trebles = Daiichi Death trap, Heavy= Owner ST, Average= Gamakatsu round bends. Allen

I don't think any of them actually attract bass, catfish and other fish but not bass. Allen

Gar, they will slam a spinnerbait but you cannot hook them. Allen

1/2oz is the overall best size for me and color didn't matter as much as weight. As for finesse worms you will find it hard to beat the price of a pack of Zoom finesse worms or swamp crawlers. Allen