dougs snakes work???

[Maxximus Redneckus]

One big bass hardly means anything,, consistancy wise  and it wasnt all that big anyhow ,ill stick with my Manns augertails .I have caught  1 or 2 6 pound bass with beetle spins  in 15 yrs it didnt make me think HEY i got me a consistant lure that catches big bass

[Crestliner2008]

Hmmmmm.....I thought the snake was designed with one thought in mind - and only one: to catch the BIGGEST bass residing in the area you are fishing. (And in less than 5' of water.) So I guess that if you are a true big bass specialist, this lure might just have to be added to your arsenal. Yes, I did buy the package; but not just for the lures, rather for the knowledge contained in that package along with the lures. I mean, this guy Doug Hannon is no slouch when it comes to big bass knowledge, right? If you buy knowledge (one book - $40.) and learn one thing, I guess you've gotten your money's worth. BTW, I've learned a lot more than just one thing, I guarantee you! And NO....I haven't caught anything on them....yet. Only used them a time or two, but next season I'll focus on learning the lure's niche and how to properly present it. Then we'll see  

[Jake.]

Wow. This is entertaining.

[George Welcome]

Wow. This is entertaining.

Not entertaining, just plain dumb.

[Gatorbassman]

Not entertaining, just plain dumb.

x2

[roadwarrior]

What makes a fish go after a lure or pass it up? Everyone who has fished for various species with a wide variety of baits knows that a variety of baits have a good potential of getting attacked at any one time, water and location. Versatility allows one to fine tune the best lure action, color and profile and presentation to the conditions, structure, depth, season, time of day and the average fish's aggression level.

If you look at baits that work in spring on prespawn bass in shallow water, you find a huge assortment that fit the bill.

If a bait cannot get even a nod from a bass during this time period on a consistent basis, the lure is junk! For those diehards that insist the lure is worth the money, report back to us after using the bait when the water is warming from 50-70 and the weeds are emegent and tell us how the Snake does as compared to the standard baits that always catch fish in spring in shallow water. I have used the lure in spring and it cannot compare to the success of even the most basic lures I've used for twenty years. Not to bust someones bubble, but I'm only here to warn others that gimmics are rarely worth the money and that includes this lure.

Fish are dumb but super sensitive to their surroundings and anything that enters it's domain. If you thinks in terms of a snake that gets stepped on and bites to a toy mouse that is stalked and then attacked by a cat, you understand that fish aren't much different. Reflex is one thing; getting in position to pounce is another. If a lure and angler's manipulation of it can get the sequence of stalking to pouncing to occur, the lure is worth using. But, if you can't work a lure more ways than one to get a fish to strike, you're better off finding lures that can.

The snake is uni-action, uni-location, uni-usage. This causes me frustration because I like to be able to work a lure in ways that might not have been thought of by others. The snake is one dimensional and poor at how it's supposed to perform at different speeds. I would have been more careful before associating my name with this bait.

My opinion, for what it's worth.

Your opinion is highly regarded.

Thank you.

This was a well written post highlighting a number of concerns for those considering trying the lure.

[FivePoundBluegill]

bass109 I didnt mean to sound rude in my last post...so sorry if you interpreted it that way. I never was raving about the snake lure being bad. I honestly cannot say that since I havent tried the lure.

The snake lure works great for you in the lake you were fishing which is a fact, im just saying since everyone fishs different lakes and rivers it will not work for everone. Some fishermen do great with a lure and others do terrible with the same lure yet not all of it is to do with the skill of the angler. Most anglers on here know the basics of useing each type of bait anyway. Under the conditions you were under the snake worked and under the conditions others were under it did not.

Maybe you should go back to that same lake you caught the bass in and fish other types of topwater baits and see if they produce just as well. Thats all I was saying.

Fishermen can argue about how good or bad a bait is all day especially on the internet and it will not change the other guys opinion. The reason for this is each fisherman has a different style of fishing, different strangths and weakness, and most of us fish different lakes. Im not goin to post on this thread anymore since I have said everything I wanted to say already. Again bass109 I honestly do not mean to sound rude and I am glad that the snake lure works for you

[Micro]

What this should all really boil down to is looking at what the LMB's main forage is in your area. Here in IL it is NOT snakes. Sure you'll see a snake swimming across the pond every once in a while, but in all of my years of fishing I have never seen a fish try to eat a snake. I actually don't know of any area of the country where snakes will make up a good portion of a bass's forage.

I'm convinced that bass don't naturally predate on snakes. I've observed and caught snakes for the better part of the last 30 years and given the numbers of edible sized snakes I see in bass water, I can't draw any other conclusion.

Studies have shown that bass see in color. Studies have shown that LMB actually avoid certain species of baby turtle with colors associated with species with particularly foul musks. If you've messed with reptiles for any period of time, you'll find that there isn't a turtle alive that can musk to the degree a snake can. Additonally, many "non-venomous" snakes actually have venom glands and may have venoms or toxic salivas that can be deterimental to fish. I think if bass are hitting plastic snakes, it's purely a reflex response and not a predation strike.

If you want to fish plastic snakes, I think Mann's has a new 10" snake...

http://www.mannsbait.com/Images/NewProducts_FW_Scaled.jpg

...that looks a lot more versatile. Like a fat-headed worm. Helluva lot cheaper, too.

[Hookemdown.]

What this should all really boil down to is looking at what the LMB's main forage is in your area.  Here in IL it is NOT snakes.  Sure you'll see a snake swimming across the pond every once in a while, but in all of my years of fishing I have never seen a fish try to eat a snake.  I actually don't know of any area of the country where snakes will make up a good portion of a bass's forage.

I'm convinced that bass don't naturally predate on snakes.  I've observed and caught snakes for the better part of the last 30 years and given the numbers of edible sized snakes I see in bass water, I can't draw any other conclusion.  

Studies have shown that bass see in color.  Studies have shown that LMB actually avoid certain species of baby turtle with colors associated with species with particularly foul musks.  If you've messed with reptiles for any period of time, you'll find that there isn't a turtle alive that can musk to the degree a snake can.  Additonally, many "non-venomous" snakes actually have venom glands and may have venoms or toxic salivas that can be deterimental to fish.  I think if bass are hitting plastic snakes, it's purely a reflex response and not a predation strike.  

If you want to fish plastic snakes, I think Mann's has a new 10" snake...

http://www.mannsbait.com/Images/NewProducts_FW_Scaled.jpg

...that looks a lot more versatile.  Like a fat-headed worm.  Helluva lot cheaper, too.

Nice information there.  It's nice having a snake guru for things like this...

Here's my take on the subject.  If you like it, use it.  If you don't like it, don't use it.

Whatever floats your boat...

[The_Natural]

Just for comparison...here is a 4lber (4lbs...1oz) I caught a couple of weeks ago...

[Jeff H]

Naw....heck, thats an 8lb'er ya got there.  

[grimlin]

I'm almost tempted to use natural's picture for my background on this computer... ;D

the way he points at that fish is priceless..and his face expression just rocks...

[Gatorbassman]

I wouldn't want that ugly mug with the crooked finger on my computer. lol

[The_Natural]

I'm almost tempted to use natural's picture for my background on this computer... Grin

the way he points at that fish is priceless..and his face expression just rocks...

Definitely a pose...the only thing the camera couldn't capture was me knodding my head in approval of myself .  I think I was still drunk from the night before...

I wouldn't want that ugly mug with the crooked finger on my computer. lol

12+ Natural Lights will do that to you...it may be permanent.

[Guest avid]

FivePoundBluegill,  

Before you start raveing about a lure being bad you have to used the lure.

Not necessarily.

Certain lures have a long standing reputation for being effective in a variety of situations.

One example would be the original floating rapala.

Other lures have a reputation for not being particularly effective.

An example of that would be the berkley frenzy rattler.

Of course there will be some people who do well with the berkely rattler,

and others who can't catch a cold with an F11 rapala,

but there are just too many lures out there to try them all.

We belong to forums like this so we can make informed choices without having to blow the budget trying out every thing on the market.

Obviously you have had good success with the snakes.  

It's equally obvious to me from all the posts I have read that most people don't share your experience.

As an admitted bait junkie I will pass on Mr. Hannon's snakes.

It still amazes how a Florida boy could produce a lure that melts.  

[slomoe]

I say...

Lock it up. This became a pointless thread seven pages ago.