jr231

Could you imagine trying to pull back your bow on a deer like this ? I'd probably shake to death. Awesome though. Freak of nature.

I'm thinking a tube. It's versatility is almost unmatched and definitely works as a vertical presentation. Sounds fun btw. Besides losing all your baits. I'd rather lose baits and catch fish than have em and get skunked though. So in my eyes.. success.

Ha-ha good luck ! I can't find them anywhere . DSG, bass pro, cabelas .. no one carries em. I found a pack at field and stream.. but they had one color. other than that it seems you can't find them unless you shop online. Which Im not a fan of.

I'm sure there are parts on your car or boat that were made in China... but I agree that nearly everything that is stamped "made in China" is cheap..

You use things made in China everyday Tom. I understand more clearly now though.

So if I have a new Abu Garcia rod I shouldn't use it because it's not made in Sweden ??? You said don't use ANY Abu Garcia products past 2001. That statement is madness...

Man I've seen those eyes' get BIG. I've heard them called the worst fresh water fighters but their max size is impressive to say the least. I also admire their design.. some say they are ugly, I think they're neat. My mother used to catch them fishing lake Michigan with a crawler harness. Their table fair is questionably unmatched as far as freshwater fish are concerned.

Haha I was gonna say. I own 150+ rapalas I've hand selected (ya know, not just bought in bulk like 5 silver 07 shad raps) over the past 11 years and own plenty shad raps and glass shad raps. I have a glass fat rap.. and have never seen that color ! The insides look a little different too. Cool bait though. I wonder if he's fished it !! I'd like to know if he's had success on it.

You shape all these baits yourself ?? Regardless.. you have skills . Some of these are too cool. You never see colors like some of these. Nice.

I dont think it's rapala... it is oddly similar looking though.

I sounded a little rude after I re-read what I typed. But I disagree big time..my grandpa used to take me when I was little and we would catch huge perch and crappie.. I have a couple buddies in michigan that target pike/musky/ and walleye through the ice and I assure you the main goal is to catch fish and not a buzz. Who wants to pack all that gear and sit in the cold drunk ? That's not how I like to spend my buzz but I guess everyone has a preference.

So what exactly are the requirements that bass need to spawn ? Could I dig a 100ydx20yd pond and have male and female bass in this pond and they would spawn ? Assuming they could acclimate and have forage to eat.

You.need.punctuation. Your paragraph was hard to read..

I love small lakes like this. Big enough to grow a beast and small enough to navigate and learn the whole thing from a small boat. I'd try the north side right where the shallow drops off first. Good luck

I forgot to mention the pond is a little over 3 acres... I have access to 3 private "farm " ponds ranging from 1 acre to 4. And I believe they are all spawning because I catch young bass out of each. The 1 acre is actually over populated with small bass.. I was just confused on what he meant. Because im positive in 2 of the ponds they are spawning and I'm fairly certain about the other. And none of them have running water into the pond . He said "for bass to spawn in ponds, they MUST have running water IN and OUT of the pond" in other words water flowing in and draining out.. just threw me for a loop because these bass are spawning and don't have either.

So I had an older gentleman tell me the other day that a certain pond I fish will not allow the bass to spawn. The bass are definitely spawning I could see yearlings in the shallows this summer. Also saw them on their beds.. and have caught many young bass and the pond is 15+ years old. He said that the bass cannot spawn because the pond doesn't have running water into it.. I didn't feel like arguing with the man but I knew he was wrong. What exactly was he talking about ? This pond is on a hill. And sloped in at all sides... also has a drain pipe... and the bass and bluegill definitely spawn!!!

I'd go 1/4oz even 3/16. SK bitsy bug with a rage chunk has always yielded me at least one fish. I agree with trimming the skirt, threading the bait on, and you could try trimming the brush guard back.. Natural colors are the way to go. Browns, greens, and black.

Im 6 foot tall!!

Totally . I only add the trailer hook sometimes. Usually when I'm missing fish and the surface allows. I've had success with them !

Everybody misses fish on top water. Especially frogs where you only have a top hook. sometimes I add a lake fork trailer hook on the hollow body frogs.. I missed alot of fish on frogs this season. Probably around 50% maybe more. Sometimes they just explode on it and don't take it.. sure is fun though.

Right. I've seen it on some of the bomber lures too. 0-8 ft. It must float.

One of my best cranks I have is all chewed up... I'm sold it's almost always the action not the color! But I understand why you want them painted.. if it was me I'd find someone local. That way I'm not anxious/paranoid about getting em back.

Good write up.. and awesome fish. I'd rather do that than party any day!!

I agree. But it's fun using cranks.. sometimes the slow finesse style gets boring (IF you're not catching fish ha-ha)

Timing is the most key. I'd get out there not really bright and early, but as soon as it starts to warm up they will be closer to the shallows soaking up that sun and chasing prey. I'd say the mornings would be easier for you to locate the fish than it would be at night. The bass can become conditioned to your lures. So I would try and use something that you haven't much this summer. Whether that's a jerkbait/spinnerbaits/fluke/ I suggest a soft bodied paddle tail swimbait if you haven't tried yet. If you were to bring me to this pond. I would try these baits. Senko 5" + 4"- wacky and t rigged weightless Double tail hula grub- weightless Jig with a rage chunk. Green pumpkin and brown. (this one if I could only choose one) Rapala x-rap 07- probably olive/white and then a black/orange Keitech fat impact on a keel weight hook (or tx weightless with nail weights inserted ) Fat ika rigged skirt up... Pop-r And at night a jitterbug. Most colors and retrieve techniques would depend on conditions.. I use all these on a spinning set up. With braid. I will use a floro leader sometimes for the senko, ika and hula grub .