JacobB006

Looks like SU has some in stock. A few on Ebay as well.

Personally I wouldn't think anything of it. If I am fishing with someone and catching more than them on a specific lure or color, 99% of the time I'll tell them to switch over, and often offer them a lure or hook/jighead if they don't have it. Quite honestly, as much as I want to be the one to catch the most numbers or even the biggest fish, I'm pretty much just as happy watching my friends catch them for themselves.

In my system, I personally believe they roam around. Of course yours might be different. You might be surprised how shallow a 20"+ smallmouth might lay midday. Shaded banks are at least worth a gander.

This is a good tip. When I first started bass fishing I was more impatient and I always wanted to twitch the popper way more than necessary (I even still do). I remember forcing myself to wait until the wake dissipated to make my next pop. I do recall my catch numbers increasing from that method. My popper takes are almost always on the pause.

Depends on the flows and conditions for me. In lower flows and clear water, I'll throw smaller lures. Higher flows and more turbidity, I'll throw bigger lures. On the rivers I fish, prespawn water temps range anywhere in the 50's. With that said, throw a variety of sizes and profiles until you find what they want. As you stated, low-mid 40's, I personally would work slower, but I we're fishing different locations. Every river system is unique with its bass behavior and forage size and type.

In a new spot this time of year I would probably slow roll a paddletail and then follow that up with a ned/tube.

#1/2 are important. I've found a huge part of it is watching the conditions and seeing how everything is setting up and knowing when you need to get out and fish. I'll stop by my spot a few times a week and just observe whats going on and leave without fishing. #4 is also huge. I have found that every fish is different. You can have 10 fish lined up in a 10 yard stretch and they will all respond different. Some you can catch on the first cast. Others I have worked for an hour before catching them. Every fish is triggered by different things. Try different retrieves/levels of aggression and different lures on every fish until you find what they like.

Not necessarily. This is more of a rule of thumb that I follow. I can still catch some citations on swimbaits and other moving baits, but in general, I have found that I catch more big fish when I slow down and really break down a spot. In my experience, big fish are less active than most people are led to believe. There certainly are exceptions to this, but this is what I have found to be true on the waters I fish during this time of year.

From 50-60º: Moving baits first if I want to pick up some smaller, more active fish. Work a jig real slow for the big fish

thank you. will give it a try

I recently got a Storm Arashi Glide bait that I want to modify with top hooks and make it suspend/float to give it a really slow sink rate. I have tuned a few deps slide swimmers and was able to simply drill out the weights to tune those. But the Storm Arashi Glider doesn't have exposed weights that can be easily accessed. I understand this isn't completely practical since there are many options for floating lures already that would require no modification. Does anybody have experience with modifying this glide bait? Thanks

Not sure what size you got, but I like to drift them weightless down current seams in the summer. The 3.5" rigged weightless on a #2 EWG is the ticket for me. Good luck

Thats the best way I've found. Weightless is the ticket for summer

The River Rock Hellgripedes absolutely crush smallmouth in the summer on the Potomac.

Awesome looking craw. What hook is that tied on?