ww2farmer

I can skip a lot of stuff well..... EXCEPT a buzz bait. That thing gets me every time

I love it all. But if we were to groundhog day one specific time it would be the mid summer weed flipping bite with a big jig or heavy tungsten Texas rig. That never gets old.

It's a strange bait. I have not found a way to use it effectively. It's as big around as a fat ika, if not fatter and that thin part before the bulbous tail is really fragile. I had several "tails" fly right off trying to skip them weightless under floating marina docks and moored pontoon boats mid summer when I bought a pack to investigate and try. They require a big hook to have enough gap for good bite. Personally I don't have any use for it, and it will be filed away to the "I don't like it" heap of baits.....but then again I don't like the fat ika either , but I know you do, so YMMV

I make my own skirts. I fish a lot of clear water, and pressured fish. 44 strands (2 full tabs) of my main color(s) is what I like, and then just a 2-3 strands of my accent color. For example my "bluegill" swim jig gets a tab of dark green pumpkin for the back, a tab of green pumpkin candy, and then 2 strands of pumpkin with orange fire tip, and 2 strands of watermelon with chart. fire tip.

I have a 703c Fury, I like it for moving baits like spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swim jigs, but I prefer my 705cb for all treble hooked stuff. The only exception is jerkbaits, I like a little faster rod for jerkbaits and use the 703c over the 705cb for those.

Jack of all trades.

A good cranking bite has for the most part alluded me the last few years. Not because they are not effective on my lakes, but since 2017 I work a "regular job", 5 days a week, rain or shine. Back when I was farming....storm coming, take the day off we're not going to start anything, and/or I would have odd weekdays off, and what not. I was able to take much better advantage of the "windows" when they shined. Now I go when I can go, and I have just not had one of those epic cranking days in a while.

I have never met/seen/or know of an all encompassing "expert" in bass fishing. And anyone who would tell me they are one, is someone who's opinion I would instantly discredit and avoid. That's a title best reserved to be bestowed upon you by your peers only when you have achieved a level of excellence and success at your craft. Every angler has their strengths and weaknesses, at every level. I strive to be able to catch quality fish of both species (largemouth and smallmouth) consistently from ice out to ice up, on every lake in my little rotation of home lakes. I'm generally pretty decent at it. I'll never claim to be an expert, as there's always room for improvement, and new challenges to face/overcome.

#1 will always be location, you have to be where they are. #2 is timing, you can be on them and catch a few, but if your timing is right, a few turns a bunch #3 is presentation, if you got the location down, and the timing right, if you get them dialed in on how they want it, a bunch turns into a lot. #87 is color. If your on biting fish, and presenting your offerings in a manner they are wiling to bite, they will bite with little thought to color. Color matters to me more than the fish. I use what I have confidence in, and because I have confidence in it I get bit on it.

Didn't dive deep enough into the grass for me. We don't have a lot of traditional "square bill" water here, so they get used a lot of the time for me to crash through the grass....kinda like a lipless crank, but they come through better. Baits that don't dive deep enough into the grass rarely get bit for me, and baits that get too far into it and really dig in are infuriating to fish. The KVD square bills are about perfect for this, and once I change the stock hooks out to the 1x strong, 2x short mustad KVD triple grips, they come through even better, and give that bait a slight pause before it slowly rises when I feel it contact grass. That slow rise is also key, helps me keep it down in the grass, there's nothing worse than having to stop it to rip it out of grass of have it float back out of a wad and it comes to the top quickly.

If you plan on going with mustad KVD triple grips... specifically the 1x strong, 2x short TG76 hooks, then upsizing one size from stock is perfectly fine. 1/4 oz comes stock with #6, 1/2 comes stock with #4, and 3/4 comes with #2. I generally don't upsize them, but have in the past and there's been no ill effect. Just changing the stock hooks to the better hooks will be a dramatic improvement, even if you don't upsize. I have also played around with Owner ST-35's and ST-36's on these baits, and they work well too. The ST-35's are shorter shank hooks so you might be able to get away with upsizing. The ST-36 are normal shank length, so I'm not sure about upsizing with those (I haven't done that with either of those).

I fish out of a really beat up (now) 16 year old aluminum 16' bass tracker w/a 25hp 4 stroke motor with a bazillion hours on it. I bought the boat new and paid for it in cash with money I earned/save by working side jobs over the coarse of 2 years. I upgraded the stock 12v TM to a 24v system, and added a simple 2d Sonar with GPS to the bow. I have fished out of this boat almost daily for the last 16 years, including tournaments on lakes all over the area. I do OK with it. I have won 30+ tournaments out of this boat on multiple lakes, cashed 100's of more times. That old tub owes me nothing. I'm in the process of saving for my next rig....and it's going to be even less fancy. I want a 1660 Crestliner Retriever Jon Deluxe w/a 40 hp tiller. I'll add a 24v TM to it, and the same basic electronics, and fish out of it like I stole it. I DO NOT want carpet, consoles, hidden wiring/plumbing, wood, batteries/pumps/and other stuff that's a PITA to get to, or any frills. My guess is I'll get sneered at but still take the money from the 21 foot weekend warriors with regularity for years to come....health/good fortune permitting and god willing.

I can do everything with 4. Two get rigged up with one thing and stay that way 24-7, all season long. They are both 7' ML's and one get's a ned rig on it, the other a drop shot. The other two are my "floaters". Depending on the day, time of year, etc... they will have multiple things on them. For example, on my 7' M, It can have a Neko rig, finesse jig, weightless wacky rig, flick shake, shakey head, light t-rigs, open hook tube, and more. And on my 6'6" ML it often has a weightless plastic for dock skipping, or a small jig head for throwing grubs, and finesse soft plastic swimbaits, or what ever else I feel is needed.

I just get more bites with a leader....I don't know why, but I do. I don't know if it's a visibility thing...sometimes I think it is. But I also think, just like braid transmits feel back to you better...it's a two way street. I believe it to be fact that braid makes a lot more sound coming over wood, dock posts/supports, and other hard cover. It might be "white noise" to a bass, but maybe not. I just feel more confident getting that sound...even if it's just a couple feet away from my bait, gets me more bites. And that right there might be why I catch more with braid to leader....confidence in the system. I just don't have the problems that other people have with it either. The Alberto knot has been bulletproof for me for 10+ years now. I have boat flipped 6lbers on leaders, cracked them hard in deep heavy cover with big rods, skillfully guided 6lb insane smallmouth out from under docks on light line, and a host of other pucker up moments without issue. PLUS, I hate using fluorocarbon, or mono as main line, so braid to leader is perfect for me. The only time I don't use it is frogging. I used to go straight braid for punching, but in the last 2-3 years started doing it with heavy 20lb leaders and have gotten more bites than with the straight braid, and even with the big rods, stout hooks, heavy cover, and powerful hook sets, it's given me ZERO issues. No broken leaders, knots, etc..... Works for me, but not for some. Only you'll know what works for you through trial and error.

Yup...seen tails sticking out of throats 1000's of times, but never a head. And the same, but in reverse for craws...I have seen claws, and antenna sticking out of throats, but never tails.

Perch are worlds better than crappie. Crappie have always been "mushy" and a little bland. Perch are firm, flakey and are "fresh water haddock"....only smaller IMHO. Walleye are similar to perch, but I don't think quite as good, and both perch and walleye are a notch below bluegills IMHO.

Every lake I fish has healthy thriving populations of both. Time of year dictates what I target. Smallmouth are the main focus in sub 50 degree water, and Largemouth are the main focus in 70+ degree water. Between 50 and 70, I'll fish for both in the same day. I'm blessed to live in an area where I can catch tons of 3-5lb class fish of both species, with the occasional 6+ lber of either color.

Afterwork trips are done now. With the clock switch, there's not much daylight between the time I get out of work, get the boat hooked up and get to the ramp. It's pointless to go through that hassle for an hour of fishing. How long I keep going after that depends on the weekend weather. I'm fine with cold, I'm fine with light percipitation, I'm fine with moderate winds. But I won't go out in sub-freezing temps, 20+ MPH winds and sideways snow. The gear usually come out of the boat now, and I'm ready to pull the plug at any minute depending on the weather, but the final "I'm done" stuff......batteries removed, lower unit oil changed, engine fogged, mothballs distributed through out the boat/compartments, cover cinched and strapped down "winter tight", etc.....happens when the long range weekend forcasts are hopeless.

Once in a blue moon I'll keep a limit of small keeper largemouth caught late in the season from cooler water. They are OK, but I still prefer bluegills and yellow perch caught through the ice. I did that with smallmouth once...and it will be the only time. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary on how I clean, prep, and cook them from the largemouth, perch, bluegills, and crappies. They were the WORST fish I have ever had. FWIW...I hate crappies and catfish too. I only like the bluegills, perch and occasional small cold water largemouth.

Yes the $6.99 one's. I don't have a "go-to" color. I bought a few to try, but they don't get used much because they don't fit my needs, so I really couldn't tell what color is better for me. About the closest thing I have for a go-to is the color BE gill. It's a good bluegill imitation in clear to mildly stained water. I'm letting go of my small collection of LC baits in favor of just sticking with known producers for me, so unfortunately that's about all the insight I have, or will have on them for the forseeable future.

The best producing squarebill I have ever used is a Strike King KVD 1.5 + 2.5 The just get bit, and do what I want them to do. The last few years I have thrown them little, due to wanting to try other stuff, but that experiment is over and I'll be busting them back out and making them a go-to again. Here's what I have tried and used in the meantime, and my thoughts on each: Lucky Craft 1.5 + 2.5's: Good bait, they dive shallower than the SK baits, which for some can be a plus, but for me it's not as desirable most of the time. They are also EXTREMELY buoyant for a plastic bait. If you stop this bait it rises quick...I personally don't like that. I know it can be modified to slow the rise....but I don't have to do much with the SK baits other than change hooks and they do what I want. I have not caught nearly as many, or as quality of fish on these baits as the SK's either. Rapala DT Fat 3: Another good one, but not durable. Part of that is my fault, slapping balsa baits on the water to get grass off the hooks is a known no-no, but it's a habit I can't shake, and I have broken too many of these to know that me and balsa are not compatable. Berkley Square Bull: Not a fan. These things come through grass terrible...and that's a big deal for me, as I'm just as often cranking the tops of milfoil with a square bill, as I am to be banging it on hard cover. I need a bait that can do both. This ain't it. Spro Fat Poppa: EXCELLENT BAIT....but it's pretty expensive, and when pike are on the prowl, it stings too much. Plus they DO NOT catch 2x the bass as the SK, even though the are 2x the price. Booyah XCS: Dud for me, I was never a big fan of the Xcaliber XCS, and that carries over. They dive too shallow for me, and they just don't work out in my routine. The one exception was the little smallmouth bass color Xcaliber XCS that was lights out in cold, gin clear, super shallow water for me. Booyah didn't re-introduce that color, and OG Xcalibers in that color are big big $$$ if you can find one....I didn't/don't love it enough to pay the stupid prices they now fetch. I'll have a buddy painting me up that pattern on the "nude" SK 1.5's for that little niche situation when I need that bait. Rapala Brat: Total dud. I bought one, and was glad when a pike bit it off. Storm Arashi: I actually like these. Durable, dive to the depths I need them too, and have caught fish consistantly when I use them. If I had to pick a #2 behind the KVD's, these just might edge out the LC 1.5's and 2.5's because of the slightly deeper running ability. The $9+ price tag they carry at TW and other vendors is too much though. But if I see them in clearance bins (which I often do) I grab a few.

Maybe, but... I fish a local OPEN trail against guys with the latest and greatest. I have a 16' foot aluminum boat, with basic 2d sonar/ GPS. no power poles, no spot lock, etc... Guess who was the only person to win more than one event this year, and cash multiple times on every lake we go to? It wasn't one of the 20 guys who show up regularly with their 21 foot pro-grade rigs.

I don't buy "expensive" jerkbaits. We have too many pike. A $15 LC Pointer is my limit, and even then that's a bit on the pricey side for me. I fish A LOT of $8-$10 baits and here's my thoughts on a few them: Lucky Craft Lightning Pointer 98XR and 110SP. The 98XR has caught me a ton of cold water bass, but it's a little on the aggressive side, if you need to really let a bait soak and hover it's not the ideal bait. The 110SP had been a total dud for me. I'm sure it's a good bait, but it just hasn't produced FOR ME. My biggest complaint on the 98XR is consistency....which you wouldn't think is a problem with LC brand baits, but it is on this one. It's not been uncommon to get a couple that don't act alike, (for example, if I buy 6, 4 will be perfect, one will need tweaking, and one will be a dud) and they are VERY sensitive to hook changes, but you never know how they are going to act with replacement hooks until you test them, some are fine, others need only minor tweaking, and others just become worthless once the stock hooks are changed out, and seemingly will not respond to ANY tweaking. The good thing is, they do come with stout (for a jerkbait), sharp, and good quality stock hooks, that last a really long time. But when you do have to change them...buckle up and enjoy the hair pulling ride. My advise in these baits, avoid the 110 SP, and if you want a cold water jerkbait that you can take out of the package and fish aggressive, the 98XR is good for that.....the 98XR is also the BEST casting jerkbait I have ever had. You can really bomb this thing. Berkley Skinny Cutter 110: This thing is surprisingly good...BUT it has no weight transfer system, so castability SUCKS. It's caught me a bunch of fish, but it's not a go to because of the casting issues. Stike King KVD's: These might be the best "budget but not junk" jerkbaits on the market. Every one I have ever had was very very consistent in action, how they suspend, how the sit in the water, etc....(paint jobs can often be an adventure, but that true of ALL SK hard baits). They are the LEAST sensitive to hook changes of any jerkbaits I have every fished....provided you put the hooks that the stock hooks were designed to be replaced with on them. I have had great luck replacing them with Mustad KVD TG76 1x strong, 2x short, elite triple grips. They are heavier than the stock hooks, and you'd think they would alter the suspending abilities or action of the bait, but they don't...it's almost voodoo like. If I had to only fish ONE low cost jerkbait, this would probably be it. As it is much more versatile than the Lightning Pointer 98XR. It's not the best casting jerkbait, but far from the worst. I have also found it to be the easiest to tune jerkbait. I have never gotten a dud that from them that I couldn't make do what I want with a little tweaking. Lucky Strike RC jerkbaits.....take one out of the package, throw it in the garbage, and tie the package on your line and fish with that....the results would probably be better. I don't like these at all. Rapala X-raps: These are much like the LC Lightning Pointer 98XR, a good bait when they want something a little on the aggressive side. I'm not a fan of their color options, or else I'd use these a little more. Rapala Shadow Rap series: These have just not been good for me...I don't know why. They act/look/do what they are advertised to do, but productivity has been poor.

Whoops....I got my Strike king products mixed up...they make so many, it's often confusing when your not familiar. I just realized I have never fished an Ocho to my knowledge. The bait I was referring to in my original post was the Shimmy Stick. Totally unimpressed with that and not very productive for me. Now I'm going to have to buy a few packs of Ocho's and see what they are all about.

In clear water Japanese shad has been good for me, and when everyone is throwing red craw lipless baits in the spring, I have done really well on Albino Craw. I've been using Lucky Craft LV500's lately, but at the rate I'm feeding them to pike vs the bass I catch on them, I can't sustain that on my budget. The Red Eye Shads will be going back to work for me here real soon. The RES catches them just as good, and hurts a LOT less when things with teeth come a calling.