Carolina Rig Posted January 5, 2019 Posted January 5, 2019 So I'll admit, I haven't been around bass fishing in about the last 15 years. I spent the better part of the day earlier this week reading about chatterbaits because I'd never heard of them. When I first saw one, it seemed somewhat gimmicky so I decided to read up on them and learned that they're very effective and people are now swearing by them. That got me wondering if there are more things out there that have really become popular in my time off that might be worth hearing about. Rather than spending countless hours on the internet trying to find them, I figured I'd ask everyone here and then use the responses for some more targeted research. Plus, once I found out I'm going to be able to bass fish again, buying tackle, studying, researching lakes, etc., has pretty much consumed all of my spare time and I think my wife is over it. So, if you had to list the top 5 new things in bass fishing, specifically largemouth bass fishing, over the last 15 years, what would they be and why? This could be anything from a new lure, a new bearing system in a reel, new boat electronics, new hooks, a new presentation of an old classic, etc. I'm trying to learn as much as I can between now and when I get down to Texas and get to chase them again, so your replies are greatly appreciated! Quote
Super User FryDog62 Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 2 minutes ago, Carolina Rig said: So I'll admit, I haven't been around bass fishing in about the last 15 years. I spent the better part of the day earlier this week reading about chatterbaits because I'd never heard of them. When I first saw one, it seemed somewhat gimmicky so I decided to read up on them and learned that they're very effective and people are now swearing by them. That got me wondering if there are more things out there that have really become popular in my time off that might be worth hearing about. Rather than spending countless hours on the internet trying to find them, I figured I'd ask everyone here and then use the responses for some more targeted research. Plus, once I found out I'm going to be able to bass fish again, buying tackle, studying, researching lakes, etc., has pretty much consumed all of my spare time and I think my wife is over it. So, if you had to list the top 5 new things in bass fishing, specifically largemouth bass fishing, over the last 15 years, what would they be and why? This could be anything from a new lure, a new bearing system in a reel, new boat electronics, new hooks, a new presentation of an old classic, etc. I'm trying to learn as much as I can between now and when I get down to Texas and get to chase them again, so your replies are greatly appreciated! Top 5 “Newer” things (past 15 years) to know IMO would be: •Jerkbait •Chatterbait •Wacky Worm •Neko Rig •Ned Rig 3 Quote
Carolina Rig Posted January 5, 2019 Author Posted January 5, 2019 Just now, FryDog62 said: Top 5 “Newer” things (past 15 years) to know IMO would be: •Jerkbait •Chatterbait •Wacky Worm •Neko Rig •Ned Rig Up and running. Now I have more research to do! Thanks! 1 Quote
Carolina Rig Posted January 5, 2019 Author Posted January 5, 2019 What is this world coming to? Cutting perfectly good Senkos in half?? I guess it's a good thing I bought about 65 bags of stick baits to get up and running again... 1 Quote
Super User MIbassyaker Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 4 minutes ago, Carolina Rig said: What is this world coming to? Cutting perfectly good Senkos in half?? I guess it's a good thing I bought about 65 bags of stick baits to get up and running again... Nah. You just wait until they're almost torn in half from wacky worming, and finish the job. Then each half gets a second life as a Ned body. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 In no particular order ~ Shallow water anchoring systems (Talons / Power Poles) GPS guided Position holding enabled Trolling Motors (Ultrex) Improvements in Electronics - Both Side & Down Imaging Improved Fishing lines - In Both Braid & Fluorocarbon The Umbrella Rig is pretty good too. A-Jay 6 Quote
Carolina Rig Posted January 5, 2019 Author Posted January 5, 2019 In my boat purchasing research I've come across those GPS guided spot lock trolling motors. That seems like it's almost imperative for a guy who will be fishing on his own quite a bit in windy places. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 Just now, Carolina Rig said: In my boat purchasing research I've come across those GPS guided spot lock trolling motors. That seems like it's almost imperative for a guy who will be fishing on his own quite a bit in windy places. Seems that way to me as well. The motor on my rig does not have that capacity. However, I would not be totally opposed to changing that. A-Jay Quote
FCPhil Posted January 5, 2019 Posted January 5, 2019 Not sure what all is new in 15 years but I’ll take a stab at some things to try: -WHOPPER PLOPPER!!!! -Glide baits (start with smaller ones) -Line-thru swimbaits -Hollow body frogs (not new but now so many different options) -Decoy X-S21 hooks (my secret weapon on larger topwater lures, a lot of people write them off but on certain lures they are killer at keeping fish hooked...hard to find though...) 1 Quote
Super User Catt Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 Every lure mentioned has been here before in some form or another. @A-Jay list is spot on with the exception of the umbrella rig, I would toss that out for the improvements in 4-stroke technology. 2 Quote
BoatSquirrel Posted January 5, 2019 Posted January 5, 2019 Having also come back to the sport in the past few years, one thing I have not seen mentioned so far is the dropshot. If you ever used to fish a texas rig, the dropshot is not that terribly different and will get you lots of bites. Plenty of tutorials and threads on it available. Welcome back and isnt it great to be fishing again! Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 4 hours ago, Catt said: Every lure mentioned has been here before in some form or another. @A-Jay list is spot on with the exception of the umbrella rig, I would toss that out for the improvements in 4-stroke technology. That's a fair assessment @Catt ~ And I'm sort of ashamed for not having the newest 4-stroke technology listed. Especially considering I did manage to get in on that myself recently. (and it's a pretty big deal for me) A-Jay 1 Quote
Dirtyeggroll Posted January 5, 2019 Posted January 5, 2019 When was bassresource started? The idea of mass fishing information online has got to be one of the best things that has happened for the masses for fishing. 5 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 18 minutes ago, Dirtyeggroll said: When was bassresource started? The idea of mass fishing information online has got to be one of the best things that has happened for the masses for fishing. Good Call ~ Although I wasn't here for it, looks like it launched in or around perhaps November 2004 (ish) ? A-Jay Quote
Carolina Rig Posted January 5, 2019 Author Posted January 5, 2019 6 hours ago, Catt said: Every lure mentioned has been here before in some form or another. Which is precisely why I asked about new presentations of old classics. I'll never claim to know it all, and I'm not disillusioned enough to think I ever will. I've fished about 80% soft plastics since I started and I still always learn new things about them. I'm sure there have been developments in how people are using them, and I'd love to learn more so I can put a few more arrows in my quiver before I hit the water. Great examples are the Ned Rig and Neko Rig, I hadn't seen these back when I used to fish. Although, to be fair, I've fished a Ned Rig nearly all my life, I just didn't know that's what it was called. My uncle always used to tell me, "To catch the big fish, you've gotta use the big lures." Obviously he was a little off the mark; but, I used to love days where I'd boat dozens and dozens of bass so I'd take my trick worms and cut off all but about 2 1/2" of it and rig it the same way as I'm seeing people rig them in these Ned Rig videos. My logic was that if I used a smaller bait, it'd be appetizing to all of the fish, regardless of size, and I'd catch more. So, while I'm sure a lot of these things have been around for a long time, they're gaining a lot more popularity now and someone in my shoes may not have heard of new twists on the old favorites. Perhaps someone else in my shoes might stumble across this thread and find it useful, so let 'er rip! Quote
Super User Catt Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) 13 hours ago, Carolina Rig said: That got me wondering if there are more things out there that have really become popular in my time off that might be worth hearing about. Rather than spending countless hours on the internet trying to find them, I figured I'd ask everyone here and then use the responses for some more targeted research. Today's electronics has opened up offshore structure fishing like nothing since Buck Perry. I've been an offshore structure fisherman my whole life, down/side imaging is almost like cheating. Boat positioning with shallow water anchors & GPS controlled trolling motors...you kidding me! On big bodies of water we have detailed mapping systems. With some you can build your own map of the lake you're fishing. To this dumb Cajun that's advanced the sport the most I forgot to add all of the above can be linked together! Edited January 5, 2019 by Catt Operator Error 2 Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 I agree with electronics, the sonar units with GPS accurate detailed 1' maping. Trolling motors with spot lock features allow a novice angler to stay on the structure. Light weight rods and reels, the improvements are phenomenal the past decade. Knowledge, this is both good and bad, good sites like BR with unlimited amount of good information, bad too much unfiltered bs on on utube. Hooks, we have excellent strong sharp hooks availble today. Line is debatable, most has been around more then 15 years including FC. Tom 3 Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 I have to agree with Catt. Advances in electronics have totally changed bass fishing in the last 15 years and continue to change it. 25 years ago, I might spend an hour trying to find some offshore structure. Now that same structure is as easy to find as a lay down on the bank. In the past I might spend an hour driving around dropping buoys trying to map out the shape and breaks on structure. Now I have high definition maps of said structure that I can study on my iPad before I ever hit the water. It should also be said that 25 years ago if you put in the work to find offshore structure, there was a good chance you would have it all to yourself. That's no longer true today. Top five GPS Detailed maps from recent sonar surveys Side scan sonar Trolling motor/GPS integration 360 imaging/Live Scan sonar 1 Quote
Super User NorthernBasser Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 On 1/4/2019 at 8:08 PM, Carolina Rig said: What is this world coming to? Cutting perfectly good Senkos in half?? I guess it's a good thing I bought about 65 bags of stick baits to get up and running again... For ned rig, get some Z-Man TRD's. They're made from this plastic called ElaZtech that has crazy stretch and is way more durable than Senkos. You can easily catch over 50 bass on one worm. Make sure you have the proper jig heads for them. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_Finesse_TRD_8pk/descpage-ZMANTRD.html 1 Quote
Super User NorthernBasser Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 On 1/5/2019 at 10:37 AM, NorthernBasser said: For ned rig, get some Z-Man TRD's. They're made from this plastic called ElaZtech that has crazy stretch and is way more durable than Senkos. You can easily catch over 50 bass on one worm. Make sure you have the proper jig heads for them. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_Finesse_TRD_8pk/descpage-ZMANTRD.html Also, make sure you keep the TRD's in a bag with other TRD's, If touching other plastics, they will 'melt'. Sounds weird, but it happens. Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 30 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said: Also, make sure you keep the TRD's in a bag with other TRD's, If touching other plastics, they will 'melt'. Sounds weird, but it happens. Sounds like back in the 70s when ANY worm would not only melt together, it'd melt troughs in your plastic tackle box. 1 Quote
Carolina Rig Posted January 5, 2019 Author Posted January 5, 2019 I’ll have to take a look at them. Fortunately, Cabela’s has their customer appreciation sale going on and I went deep on their stick baits. I’m not sure how; but, I ended up with almost a hundred bags of those alone, so I’m not gonna be hurting for them any time soon and cutting them in half once their worn seems like a good idea! If this supply ever starts to wane, I’ll probably pick up some of the TRD. Quote
deadadrift89 Posted January 5, 2019 Posted January 5, 2019 Things come and go over the years by many names from all over the world, saltwater/freshwater and get adapted from fishing other species. These all weren't developed within 15yrs but have gained lots of attention Spy Bait Ned Rig Drop Shot Senko Whopper Plopper Quote
TxHawgs Posted January 6, 2019 Posted January 6, 2019 SK XD10s and other real deep diving crankbaits Shakyhead Wobblehead Tungsten Quote
Heartland Posted January 6, 2019 Posted January 6, 2019 Top water - Show blows shorty, Stutter step, Whopper Plopper Ned Rig Elastec Plastics Drop shot hooks with swivels built in Tatsu, Sunline Defier Armillo, Gliss, Keitech plastic baits, Reins plastic baits. Just a few things that are new or have been improved upon. Quote
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