Feeding the Bait Monkey

[Skippy]

OK - kind of going the opposite way of other posts I see about avoiding the bait monkey - I'm holding a banana for him - "here monkey, monkey, monkey"...

 

Planning on placing an online order in the near future and was looking for some suggestions for items I should be adding (a few new lures to try this year).  I feel that I am pretty well set for rods and reels - so no suggestions there please.

 

A bit about myself.  I fish mainly from a kayak and occasionally from shore - mainly in lakes/ponds/very slow rivers in the Kawartha Lakes area of Ontario.  I generally fish shallow - 10 feet and under and prefer to be firing baits around and under docks.  My standard set up is to take three rods with me - to keep everything manageable.  In most cases, I will have the following tied on:

1. a search bait (chatterbait most often, but possibly a spinnerbait or crankbait/squarebill)
2. something finesse - normally an unweighted senko or drop shot
3. something for bottom contact - jig, texas rig or shaky head

 

I will be trying the Ned rig for the first time this year.

 

I have a few spots locally where I can get tackle, but unfortunately (maybe fortunately) they do not seem to have many of the items I see people recommending in various posts.  The nearest big fish store is more than an hour away and being in Canada tends to have much less selection than those in the US...

 

Anyways - some items that I am considering:

• *** *** Elites - 3/8oz - really want to try to compare with others that I use (SK Hack Attack mainly)
• Z Man Finess Schroomz heads - light sizes - the stores near me only seem to have 1/5oz
• LC Rattle In 1.5 RT Crankbait - TO Gill
• Xcite XB-1 Squarebill - Copper Green Shad and/or Sexy Shad
• Little John 50 Crankbait - Chartreuse Black Back and/or Rootbeer Chartreuse and/or Spooky Nasty
• Luck-E-Strike Rattler Crankbait - Sunfish or Sunfish 2
• 6th Sense Crush 50X - Baby Bluegill and/or Ghost Threadfin Shad

 

I would love to get others thoughts on the above or other items that I should be considering in general.

 

Thanks in advance,

Skippy

 

[bigturtle]

Just buy everything, monkey will be well fed.

[Pacoac10]

Hi I'm new to this site also, the thing about a kayak is the limited room for tackle.

I think you'll have to pay attention to weather conditions as far as what you take onboard with you, it could change from day to day. But as far as tackle a green pumpkin tube with a 3/8 head might serve you well. 

 

I take it your going for smallies?

[Cgolf]

I would look for Anglers Coice 5" Wart Hawgs to use cut in half on a Ned Rig, not sure if your local shops carry them or not. Being skinnier and heavily salted, it gives a different profile and swimming action than my other Ned rig bait a half Zinkerz. If you haven't bought your Zman baits yet, highly recommend Zinkers over the finesse TRD. 

 

For the square bills, I have the Xcite XB 1 and really don't like it. I find myself using Bandit 100s and flat maxx, Bill Lewis Echos, and the now discontinued Xcalibur bait more often. It could be the way I fish them, because the midsize SK SBs don't produce for me either. I will say that the Bandit 100 has been my number 1 River Smallie crank for years, it tracks well and flat out catches them. 

 

Kalins 5" grubs and any old tube can be money. If your systems have an abundance of craws, the yum Crawbug is an incredible bait, it has caught more River smallies than all other soft plastic combined for me. Don't forget scent, Liquid Mayhem is my choice and comes from your side of the border. 

 

[KDW96]

I will tell you this. I would steer clear of the zman shroom heads. The barb breaks off, and some of the hooks snap where the barb is attached. There are much better choices. I would just order what ever you decide on, for all your bait and terminal from TW. The cost of driving 2hrs +, will save on any xtra to get it to you. You will no doubt get alot of good advice from others on this site

[CTBassin860]

GY Fat Ika