Search the Community

In this video I share how I have stored my Rodents (beaver style baits), Shimmie Sticks or Ochos and why for years while competing on Tour. Thank you for watching! James N.

Say I have a bait like a reaction innovations sweet beaver and a bait like the strike king structure bug. Now these baits look fairly similar but one has appendages that basically do nothing (just kind of move up and down) and the other has appendages that kick and twist and do all sorts of wacky movements. Besides water clarity, what would make me choose the sweet beaver instead of the structure bug? I have noticed that there are days when I throw one and it doesn't get a bite and then throw the other and I start getting bit. Haven't been able to understand why this is and how to recognize which one I should initially throw.

This summer I rigged creature baits and some craws sideways on a swim jig going for a baitfish profile quite a bit, but didn't learn until tonight how much of a trigger it can be. The bait pictured is a smash bug Jr that I found ran sideways like a baitfish if reeled up quickly due to the eye design on the jig with the snap. The water and air temps were sub 40 today on the river, pleasant lol. I got one pike working the bait slowly bouncing it of the bottom. Then when I was fast reeling over snags near shore I noticed a fish swipe at the bait, and that was when I noticed it was running sideways with a baitfish profile. I got it to follow at least 10 times even starting a shoreline figure 8. I did eventually hook up and land the pike. The big thing I learned was how effective this presentation can really be, while today was pike, I really see this working well, on both a swim jig and a plain jig

Hey guys, Which casting rod, under $150, would you personally recommend for use when utilizing Texas Rigged Worms or Creature Baits?

What colors should I use in my lightly stained pond? It's HOT in south GA so what lures and tequniques should I use?

Hey i recently started flipping and pitching with both spinning and casting gear. I usually use my casting equipment for heavier cover. I'm only 16 and my parents aren't millionaires so im not using the best of gear, but for my casting gear i use a Abu Garcia Silver Max on a 7'0" MH fast action Abu Garcia Vendetta rod. Like i said... not the best but for a very small budget, i do like the setup. My spinning gear consists of a Okuma reel, not sure what model, and a 7'0" MH fast action rod i bought a long time ago at a run down bait shop. Its actually a GREAT rod for flipping though. I'm looking to buy a Quantum PT accurist, and im not sure what rod. I also want to talk about what im throwing too. When im pitching heavy cover, I like to use heavier tungsten weights, up to 1 oz. when punching extreme cover. I usually pitch larger soft plastics, and creature baits texas rigged, although i occasionally use jigs. With spinning gear i like to texas rig with anything from 1/32 oz. to 3/8 oz. i mostly use curl tail worms and some creature baits, not a big fan of beavers though. My three favorite creature baits are 1. Gene Larue Biffle Bug 2. Zoom Brush Hog 3. Strike King Rage Tail Craw , some worms l often use are 1. 4" or 6" Original Culprit Worm 2. Trigger X Swimming Worm 3. Zoom G-Tail Worm. I fish PA and sometimes OH, the lakes here are really pressured, so i like to use small(er) plastics, lighter line, or new stuff, like creature baits. I've recently started spooling both my flipping and pitching reels with Berkley Trilene 8lb. XT clear/blue, which only comes in pony spools unfortunately, because i like it alot, its a smaller diameter, and its AMAZINGLY strong, i like clear/blue to help with line visibility. Well after sharing my gear i hope this forum can grow in popularity, and more people will share what they use and make recommendations for a 16 year old trying to maybe go pro someday, i haven't fished any tourneys yet but may fish one this year, and i hope to get into a club next year. Thank you for your time if you've read this long intro, and i ask that you spread the word and hopefully I can get some tips, and suggestions. Thanks agian! Derek Garner Please feel free to post ANY tips, suggestions, new products, etc. about flipping and pitching