airborneduckhunter

On the water, I have seen some strange things as well. I have caught frogs on frogs, big bullfrogs. Caught one back in April that hit my frog so aggressively I thought it was a bass. I've also seen deer swimming across a lake, while I was duck hunting.

No problem. Well come on and maybe you can teach me some of the old secrets. lol I just saw an annoucement from LDFW they will be drawing down Anacoco starting in August, so I probably wont be able to fish it too much this fall.

Well, Vernon as been full since about March. I have fished it a few times but have been struggling and the only thing i can think of is now that it is full, the fish are spreading out to the old haunts from before the drawdown. Lots of underwater/flooded vegetation now. I catch a few when I go but not like before. I haven't fished Anacoco but a few times this year and it seems about average overall. I don't fish it enough to give a good report. Bundick is finicky. Plenty of fish and water is usually nice, just stumpy and shallow overall. Deep spots toward the south end and along the creek channels. I have really been fishing Toledo more this year than I ever have before. Been doing well overall and always learning. Hopefully one day I will figure out the Carolina Rig.

Vernon Parish here so Vernon Lake, Anacoco Lake, Bundick Lake and Toledo are my usual spots. I do venture out to Kincaid Lake one or two times a year. Only fishing I have done south of that is Big Lake chasing trout and reds.

I have caught fish on the Banjo Minnow and I honestly had one of my best topwater days with the Helicopter Lure. Bank fishing a 3 ac. pond with lily pads all around. caught them on top through the pads and letting it helicopter down in the open holes. Seriously though, that "lure" in the OP is wild looking. Hate you got caught.

Fished for a few hours yesterday morning in Pirates Cove area. Missed 4 on topwater frog around some grass. Caught one a 6XD Crankbait near an island by main channel. Hard to focus with my 3 boys in the boat. Thankful it wasn't extremely windy though. My first trip to the bend this year. Gonna try again soon.

TnRiver, I ain't that terribly worried about it. lol I appreciate the offer though. I would get it and throw it all day and not get a single bite anyway.

After I made the post I googled just to see if I was correct about them being discontinued. I just can never find them in stores around me which is strange. guess I will need to order at least two of each color now. hahaha

What I have learned is fish slow and then fish slower. Almost like fishing a dropshot. let it hit the bottom and let it sit. very small bounces or slight wiggles as your hold the line tight.

I have a similar problem, I typically always buy two of the exact same lure with the thought that if I am using it and its working then if I lose it I have a back up. I have a lot of doubles in my tackle. One lure I wish I could find is the Storm Thin Fin. I received this lure in a package when I joined B.A.S.S. when I was a teenager. I wound up using it after several years of having it and was having a great day with it until I lost it. After that I couldn't find it and learned it had been discontinued.

Structure Bug is my absolute favorite. Just curious as to why you would want to switch to something else when what you are using is cashing fish?I aam a huge fluke fan. I have tried many different styles of soft plastic jerkbaits, but I never can find anything that compares to the fluke. Just my personal experience though.

Thanks for all the replies everyone. It just seems strange like maybe I am doing something wrong. Case in point, My buddy had been whacking them on a brush hog for a few days in a row. I go with him and we tie on same color and size. He starts getting fish and I can't even get a hit. I did my best to do the same things he was during his retrieve, which was nothing new to me, but nothing. I switch from the brush hog and put the rage bug on and start catching almost immediately. Just seems strange to me.

Awesome! Maybe one day I will get somewhere that I can chase smallmouth.

I prefer a 2/0 for the super fluke. I don't often fish the junior. Standard EWG, typically on mono, as braid and flouro seem to affect the lure's movement to me. I do like to use either the junior or the swimmer modal as a trailer for chatterbaits, swimjigs and spinnerbaits.

I know everyone has their own preferences and flavor when it comes to what they throw. I am comfortable with most of your "standard rigs," but I struggle with lures that others excel with. For example, I cannot seem to buy a fish with a brush hog, but have no problems with a rage structure bug(T-rigged on both). Also, have never had any success on a C-Rig, but I have had success with a split shot pinched on my line 12-18 inches above a weightless plastic. Jigs have never been difficult for me, but not very good with a lipless crankbait. Does anyone have similar experience? I do try and fish with the lures I struggle with, especially if I know people are having success with them at the same places I fish, just cannot seem to have any success.