Doug Hannon's Snakes

[rondef]

I just purchased these online and I am wondering how many of you are using them.  Has your fishing improved?  Are you catching bigger bass?

[Bassboy15]

I haven't used this, looks like a good lure, I think your aiming for BIG bass?

[rondef]

I am hoping to finally catch some big bass and I am really looking forward to trying these.

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

Please post a report on the Snakes after you have fished them a few times. As you may already know, Doug Hannon, The Bass Professor, has a section here on the Forum where you can ask questions and he will respond.

[rondef]

I will report back once I receive them and have used them a few times.  I have been fishing for bass with spinners, buzz baits and chatter baits and have done ok.  I have yet to catch any real good size bass yet.  I have however landed a 31 inch long nosed gar on a boowah boogie bait, its kind of like a chatter bait, the gar was the largest fish I have caught this year.

[rondef]

I am surprised that no one has posted anything about their experiences with these snakes yet.

[Davis]

From what I have read.........not too many people are a fan of them.

There was a lure thread somewhere about lures that people can't catch anything on. The Snakes was listed a couple of times.

No dis-respect for Doug intended.

To me they look like they could be in the category of the Flying Lures.

[rondef]

I am excited to try them after watching the videos on his web site.  I figured $40 was a small price to pay if they help me catch some good size large mouth bass, with shipping it comes to approximately $3.53 each snake.  That is a fair price for a lure if it works, if not I will chalk it up to a learning lesson.  Doug, your videos are very impressive and I am hoping they work well.  I hope I catch a big bass that I will be proud to mount on a wall in my sports bar.  .

[soccplayer07]

I think you meant "proud to mount a replica at my sports bar"...

[rondef]

No I would take it to a taxidery guy in Northern Virginia who does incredible work.  He is the best in the area and they are not replicas.  I have looked into the replica fish in the past and they do not make them to exact size of your fish.  They use molds and you have to pick the size you want to purchase.

[roadwarrior]

I hope you catch your PB on one of the Professor's snakes. These would be my suggestions as far as mounting goes:

Any largemouth weighing 22 lbs 5 oz or more should be skin mounted.

I loves me some smallmouth and don't want them killed, but if it's 12 lbs, by all means mount it.

Otherwise, replicas are DEFINITELY the way to go.   8-)

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I will be nice this time       :-X

[JCrzy4Bass]

I have to think in an area of dense vegetation and weed beds on the Occoquan, or Potomac for that matter that these will fare well.  Seeing as not too many people from this are ahave tried this or even posted anything on these lures in Northern Virginia (as far as threads I can find), it is definately worth a shot.  We know from watching FLW Tours and such that the Potomac holds some BIG bass and there are definately areas where this would be interesting to try out such as creek mouths, pads, brush, etc.  I have some decent hopes for these things (not HIGH but decent) and think these may produce some bigger bass than what I am used to catching (1-2 lbers and dinks).

I figure if the senko worms action is this appetizing, as well as the ribbon tail which has a very distinct wiggle and swaying movement to it these stand a chance.  The videos are probably shot in areas where there are naturally BIGGER bass, but someone has to try these things out around here.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Ps:  I guess I'm kinda excited since I'll get to use em' too lol.  

[Bass XL]

snakes- have them, dont like them at all...when i got them, the action dosnt look anything like whats in the videos...should have let me known, i would have givin mine to you for free.

[rondef]

Bass XL, did you watch the DVD that came with the snakes?  I am guessing that the action is based on techniques that are shown on the DVD.  If they don't look or work like they show online I think that would be false advertising.  I have a hard time believing that Doug would promote a bad product or one that is misrepresented to fellow forum members.

[Bass XL]

well, we'll just wait and see if you have the same problem.

[rondef]

I will let you know if I agree with you after I try them out. I guess they shoukd arrive some time next week which means I will try them out on the 24th and 25th unless by some luck they arrive before this weekend.

[rondef]

Just to clear things up about mounting a bass. I do live by the catch and release theory and I would only keep a LMB if it was a state record. I believe in letting others share in the excitement of catching bass and that can't be done if I don't release the bass back to where they were caught.

[rbrick]

I bought the kit,put a lot of hours in them,not even a nibble and they don't cast well.However the hooks that come with them are the best I've ever used.They are an offset hook with a barb above the offset.They really do a good job of keeping the head from sliding down and balling up.They are also very sharp and the hookup % is great.They can also be sharpened.If your interested in the hooks but not the snakes:

http://www.backwatersonline.com/category.cfm?Category=1825&CFID=854509&CFTOKEN=9532

[Bassn Blvd]

I have posted several times about my use of the snakes.  The action they provide is realistic, to me anyway.  I found them somewhat difficult to cast.  I used them on a 7' m/h spinning rod with a Stradic 4000 reel lined with 40# power pro braid.  I also used them on a Calcutta with 7' Loomis and with my Curado 200, both with 15 mono.  I wasn't able to cast them very well.  I believe it's due to their size and shape.  In my opinion, I think they will catch bass but not at any significant rate that would keep me occupied.  I fished them a few times  (3 hrs total) without even a hit.  I fished them in bass populated areas too.  I fished the same spots with regular 7 inch worm and frogs and did good.  I don't like fishing for hours and hours and hours hunting for just one big fish to eat the snake.  

[Pond Hopper]

I have a hard time believing that Doug would promote a bad product or one that is misrepresented to fellow forum members.

I use to think that too about Bill Dance and Rowland Martin and Jimmy Houston, and those guys let me down too >

[Bassn Blvd]

I have a hard time believing that Doug would promote a bad product or one that is misrepresented to fellow forum members.

Are you kidding me..  People promote whatever fills the wallet......

[rondef]

I am a little nervous about my order since I have yet to see anything positive on here about these snake lures.  I also am worried because the phone number that is listed 1-877-CATCH-10 has been disconnected.  Doug if your reading this thread, what is going on????

[mattm]

I THINK, someone please correct me if i'm wrong, that Mr. Hannon once promoted a bass decoy to draw fish out of cover.  Obviously everyone swings and misses sometimes.

[Taliesin]

I'm not sure what to think about these lures, but there are some pros and cons:

Bass DO eat snakes. I have seen and heard too many stories about snakes in bass bellies.

These are lures intended for BIG bass. you might get an occassional small (less than 17") bass on it, but probably in the fall when they are stocking up for winter and will attack anything.

Don't expect many bites on it, but the bites you get will be BIG.