Good Days

["hamma"]

   Many have questions about what to do when the going gets tough, and being this site is a "resource" rightfully so. But what are your go to baits, bait of choice, or favorite technique when the goings good.

 You get to the ramp and the days skies are kinda cloudy, the temps are perfect. The winds are mild, blowing enough to keep the skeeters at bay, but not so strong to blow the boat around, making handling difficult. There's a evident bite going on as the past couple weeks barometer was high, but 5 days ago it dropped, and you can see off in the slight distance a feedbag is on, as there's baitfish jumping and splash's within them. It's going to be a good day, you launch the boat and park the rig, you climb aboard and the lake seems to be yours as there's no other rigs in the parking lot, and no other boats in sight., Your trolling away from the dock and decide to start fishing right away.

 What bait do you reach for?

 

 Personally, I will start with my favorite topwater, a pop-r. I will get my fill of that and when I get bored?,..... the finesse type bait,.. 1/4 oz. jighead and grub will be next and here's why.

 

 Many days the conditions "dictate" what we use, and we become slaves to their quirks. Tossing big deep cranks can produce pigs, but they can be tiring when tossing them all day, a spinnerbait is another good pig lure, but their "resistence" can beat one up too. I choose the pop-r,. as I love that topwater explosion, or even better yet,.. lack thereof, the telltale "sucked under" pigs bite. It just gets my heart pumpin a mile a minute, when I set the hooks after a sucked under bite occurs, and feel that big girls weight.

 But as good things in excess, can produce mediocrity. When the rush of the top bite fades?,..Id choose the jig and grub as its a easy bait to use. Its not so heavy that casting will wear me out, but yet heavy enough to cast a decent distance. Also, the single hook is a welcomed hook to avoid when you've been dodging a couple trebles all morning. If you've ever had a hundred fish day fishing smallies on topwater, you know what I mean. Furthermore, rigging a jighead and grub, is a breeze to me, I have been doing so for so many years now I can probably do it blindfolded, and if you glue your grub to the jighead? Usually, you dont have to re-rig much at all. Consider this to boot,...I bought some hardy grubs in bulk back in the 90's, and still have many as they are not so soft that they tear easy. I bought three of my best producing colors in this "tough" plastic, and I've been reaping the benefits ever since. I've fished days when I rigged one in the morning and used it all day without any further attention from me even when I loaded the boat with fish, so to speak. Only thing Ive done to it, was drop a couple drops of scent on it several times. And dont beleive the hype of bigger baits = bigger bass,..there "may" be some merit there, but I've caught some giants for around here on a 4" grub, and not even a year old bass on a huge 1 1/2 oz spinnerbait with a No.7 willowleaf blade slow rolled in deep water. So I dont follow that train of thought.

 

 This is what I do on good days,...And Im compelled to ask, what you do on good days? Is it your "favorite" bait?,.. Or, one you have many of?,...Or, one you'd like to dispose of?,.. Or ,..do you prefer to shoot for the lakes biggest grandma of a bass?, Or,.. test out new gear?,.,.. Or,..  specific specie of bass?,.. and so on.

 I mean really, we all see the threads about, what rod is best, or what lures to use, and what techniques to employ when the goings tough.,... what do "you" do when the goings good ??

 

  This could be interesting, as this site reaches far and wide, and we all, are as diverse as can be.
 

[scaleface]

hamma  

45 minutes ago, "hamma" said:

   rigging a jighead and grub, is a breeze to me

I wish it was for me . Ive been doing this for decades and I want everything perfect and straight. I just cant get it . The hook shank is hardly ever centered in the middle , The point exits off center  and either too close or too far away . I end up with a crooked , bent sideways running bait . To combat this I just purchased some short shank jig heads from DOA , shorter shanks = less room for error and a more flexible , livelier bait . I actually bend crappie hooks to a wider gap and shorter shank which is a risky maneuver , thats why I went the DOA route . 

 

 To answer your question I  usually  reach for a crankbait the most under perfect conditions . Ive had several  100 fish days or close to it and they are usually on a crank of some sort .

[lonnie g]

2 hours ago, "hamma" said:

   Many have questions about what to do when the going gets tough, and being this site is a "resource" rightfully so. But what are your go to baits, bait of choice, or favorite technique when the goings good.

 You get to the ramp and the days skies are kinda cloudy, the temps are perfect. The winds are mild, blowing enough to keep the skeeters at bay, but not so strong to blow the boat around, making handling difficult. There's a evident bite going on as the past couple weeks barometer was high, but 5 days ago it dropped, and you can see off in the slight distance a feedbag is on, as there's baitfish jumping and splash's within them. It's going to be a good day, you launch the boat and park the rig, you climb aboard and the lake seems to be yours as there's no other rigs in the parking lot, and no other boats in sight., Your trolling away from the dock and decide to start fishing right away.

 What bait do you reach for?

 

 Personally, I will start with my favorite topwater, a pop-r. I will get my fill of that and when I get bored?,..... the finesse type bait,.. 1/4 oz. jighead and grub will be next and here's why.

 

 Many days the conditions "dictate" what we use, and we become slaves to their quirks. Tossing big deep cranks can produce pigs, but they can be tiring when tossing them all day, a spinnerbait is another good pig lure, but their "resistence" can beat one up too. I choose the pop-r,. as I love that topwater explosion, or even better yet,.. lack thereof, the telltale "sucked under" pigs bite. It just gets my heart pumpin a mile a minute, when I set the hooks after a sucked under bite occurs, and feel that big girls weight.

 But as good things in excess, can produce mediocrity. When the rush of the top bite fades?,..Id choose the jig and grub as its a easy bait to use. Its not so heavy that casting will wear me out, but yet heavy enough to cast a decent distance. Also, the single hook is a welcomed hook to avoid when you've been dodging a couple trebles all morning. If you've ever had a hundred fish day fishing smallies on topwater, you know what I mean. Furthermore, rigging a jighead and grub, is a breeze to me, I have been doing so for so many years now I can probably do it blindfolded, and if you glue your grub to the jighead? Usually, you dont have to re-rig much at all. Consider this to boot,...I bought some hardy grubs in bulk back in the 90's, and still have many as they are not so soft that they tear easy. I bought three of my best producing colors in this "tough" plastic, and I've been reaping the benefits ever since. I've fished days when I rigged one in the morning and used it all day without any further attention from me even when I loaded the boat with fish, so to speak. Only thing Ive done to it, was drop a couple drops of scent on it several times. And dont beleive the hype of bigger baits = bigger bass,..there "may" be some merit there, but I've caught some giants for around here on a 4" grub, and not even a year old bass on a huge 1 1/2 oz spinnerbait with a No.7 willowleaf blade slow rolled in deep water. So I dont follow that train of thought.

 

 This is what I do on good days,...And Im compelled to ask, what you do on good days? Is it your "favorite" bait?,.. Or, one you have many of?,...Or, one you'd like to dispose of?,.. Or ,..do you prefer to shoot for the lakes biggest grandma of a bass?, Or,.. test out new gear?,.,.. Or,..  specific specie of bass?,.. and so on.

 I mean really, we all see the threads about, what rod is best, or what lures to use, and what techniques to employ when the goings tough.,... what do "you" do when the goings good ??

 

  This could be interesting, as this site reaches far and wide, and we all, are as diverse as can be.
 

nice read thanks . tight lines my friend lonnie

["hamma"]

2 hours ago, scaleface said:

I wish it was for me . Ive been doing this for decades and I want everything perfect and straight. I just cant get it . The hook shank is hardly ever centered in the middle , The point exits off center  and either too close or too far away . I end up with a crooked , bent sideways running bait .

 

 There is a trick to it, First, I bite off the head of the grub so its now got a flat section against the head of the jig instead of a point. Then I will lay the grub against the side of the jig ensuring the now flat part is tight against the jig's head. Not only take note of where the hook should exit the grub, but you can count the "lines" on the grub if there are lines, Or put your thumb on the spot the hook needs to exit, or just eye it, and keep diligent note of its location.

 Now, inserting the hook can be a pain, but just insert the hook in the center of the grub, and try to do so in one single steady movement, kinda like a star wars jedi would use the force, envision that hook running true through that grub. If you need two movements to thread the hook,.. do so with a unhindered concentration, just keep threading it to the exit spot mentioned above. Many grubs will have a seam from molding that will run true from tip to tail, whether you decide to rig the grub tail up, or tail down, exit the hook on that corresponding seam, right where you located the exit spot stated above

  With a little practice this will become a mainstay, and before you know it that once difficult action, is now easy

Edited January 21, 2017 by "hamma"
incorrect wording and one word missing

[CTBassin860]

For me its a swim jig and trailer.When all else fails I can always get some action on it.I really started fishing hollow body frogs last season and fell in love with topwater.However I find myself fishing my frogs because that bite is like no other.This season is all about spooks,dogs and jigs for me.I envision starting off with a popper,going to the jig and finishing off with some worming to relax a bit.Man am I ready for spring.

[WRB]

When bass are active the first thing I do is target big bass with big wake baits, swimbaits and jigs at locations where these bass live.

Tom

[riverbasser]

If there really feeding I'm fishing topwater as long ad I can. Whether its a frog, walker, buzzbait, popper or prop bait.

 

Why?  CUZ ITS FUN!!!

[A-Jay]

6 hours ago, "hamma" said:

 

 You get to the ramp and the days skies are kinda cloudy, the temps are perfect. The winds are mild, blowing enough to keep the skeeters at bay, but not so strong to blow the boat around, making handling difficult. There's a evident bite going on as the past couple weeks barometer was high, but 5 days ago it dropped, and you can see off in the slight distance a feedbag is on, as there's baitfish jumping and splash's within them. It's going to be a good day, you launch the boat and park the rig, you climb aboard and the lake seems to be yours as there's no other rigs in the parking lot, and no other boats in sight., Your trolling away from the dock and decide to start fishing right away.

 What bait do you reach for?

 

 

 

I like topwater as much as the next Bass Head - who doesn't. 

I do it a bunch but so few of my biggest bass have been taken this way. 

In the scenario presented there are a few factors that would probably help determine my choice, season, lake I'm at, presence of over large tooth fish, but by & large I'm reach for something I can chunk & wind.  A bait that they will knock 2 feet of slack in regardless of the retrieve speed.  I like crankbaits but spinner baits, swimjigs & swim baits are nice as there are no treble hooks to deal with. 

More often than not it's a crank bait of some kind, one that runs at the strike getting depth, could be anything really.  I'll usually start with a medium size bait & keep increasing the size of it until I stop getting bites; at which point I'll tie on the last one that they ate and go to work.

At some point in this whole evolution, a jig & craw is getting presented Low & slow. 

I can't help it.

A-Jay

[whitwolf]

37 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

 

At some point in this whole evolution, a jig & craw is getting presented Low & slow. 

I can't help it.

A-Jay

 

I'm right there with you AJ!