New Plan For 2009-2010

[roadwarrior]

My focus this season, besides hooking up with the New

World Record ;D ;D, is to spend more time fishing artificials.

This is how I might break it down:

1st hour: Topwater

2nd hour: Jerkbaits

3rd hour: Spinnerbaits

10-2:00 : Jig

2:00- Dark: Minnows if the lures haven't worked

Thoughts?

8-)

[Uncle Leo]

Bet you get the WR on a jig! Use a Rage Tail Chunk as a trailer. 8-)

[retiredbosn]

I am a huge fan of the jig with smallies.  The smallies here just seem to love them.  Good luck

[J Francho]

That sounds like a plan for big fish.  Its a lot of commitment, though.  There will be times you'll want to react to whats going on, though stick with the big fish mentality.  One situation is when fish are busting the surface, feeding on bait fish in the middle of the day.  Gonna be tough to stick with the jig when that is happening.  Tie on a HUGE musky-size top water or jerkbait, and see if there's a monster, waiting in the wings.

[sodaksker]

The last couple of years I have put more emphasis on musky fishing than bass.  I have been surprised by the number of big bass I have caught on  six to nine inch baits or big double bladed spinnerbaits.  I have also been amazed at the number of 1.5 to 2lb bass that will hit these big baits.

[roadwarrior]

The issues involved in sticking with a plan are complicated by

specific events, like busting bass for example. A quick switch

under those conditions is probably the right move. However,

more generally, we never know if success is the spot, lure, time

or presentation.

Jig fishing can be the worst. An hour without a bite, then BAM!

What if you had quit or changed tactics after 59 minutes? On

the other hand, the bite last weekend was a few minutes into

the first drift. No confidence issues there!

So, I appreciate the insight and will keep my "event" options

open, but still maintain focus on one technique at a time. I

think this is how I want to roll, but would you fish something

else or would you mix it up with more variety 15 or 30 minutes

at a time?

[retiredbosn]

There were two things missing that struck me as odd, I didn't see your hula grub single tail mentioned , or soft plastics at all. Also didn't see crankbaits mentioned either. For me at 2 pm it would be too early to switch to minnows if I were really trying the lures first, looking at your time frame you will be giving the minnows more water time than the mixture of lures in the summer months. I think that some plastics need thrown in and cb's including rattl traps. As far as switching out, I try to give a bait an hour before switching, sometimes I'll start throwing and just feel like it isn't going to work that day, more overcast than I thought to sunny, to windy etc. and will switch pretty quick.

[roadwarrior]

I fished soft plastics last year a minimum of two hours on

most outings. I caught a lot of spots and largemouth, but

smallmouth were few and the ones I caught were small.

Now, don't get me wrong, soft plastics are my strong suit

and I appreciate the observation. It didn't work out last year,

so I want to try some other things.

Regarding crankbaits, the Rat-L-Trap type lures is an option.

Deep divers are out for the most part, they will all be lost. The

guys I fish will be fishing live bait and I just can't interrupt them

to go after lures: Use it, be prepared to lose it.

p.s.

The GYCB Single Tail Hula Grub was my best producer last year

on the river. This bait has performed significantly better for me

than tubes. Regular grubs are very popular too, but I can't keep

the Kentucky bass off them.

8-)

[Fat-G]

With all due respect, and there is A LOT of respect to be due, why wouldn't you just fish was just working? I usually do.

[roadwarrior]

With all due respect, and there is A LOT of respect to be due, why wouldn't you just fish was just working? I usually do.

I want to fish artificials and target big fish.

8-)

[Dan:]

I think focusing more on artificials is a good idea. Chances are you will get more frustrated but it will also be more rewarding.

If you are specifically targeting big fish, why not allot some time for swimbaits?

[roadwarrior]

I have had some luck with GYCB Swim Senkos,

but have not fished a classic swimbait. I could

be a pioneer, but I don't really think that's the

ticket.

[Dan:]

Why not fish a real swimbait? When the topwater bite is on I'd be willing to bet that a big smallmouth would be just as willing to hit a big wake bait as it would be to hit a big spook or something.

[roadwarrior]

I appreciate the suggestion. That might be the answer.

Have you caught some quality smallmouth on a big swimbait?

If so, which one?

8-)

[Dan:]

I appreciate the suggestion. That might be the answer.

Have you caught some quality smallmouth on a big swimbait?

If so, which one?

8-)

Nope, we don't get real big smallies around me. I've caught a lot of largemouth with a 7" Slammer just this summer and I think with their aggressive nature it would be a great way to catch big smallmouth that are actively feeding on the surface and even some that aren't. The undulating action and noise of a true swimbait can really be a fish magnet. If you're targeting BIG fish then it's worth a try.

[Tin]

If you want big smallies on a fun pattern and light tackle learn to drop-shot. Look on the graph, see the fish, drop the drop-shot down on its head, feel the weight, then reel up. It is the best way to target big smallies because you can see them. You can look at how long the arch is, proportion it to the depth, but a weight on it, then decide if you want to fish for it. Worst comes to worst you fight a big drum or sheeps head on 6 pound line and a medium-light rod. Good times...

[Chris W]

RW I have had some luck fishing the 4.5 and 5.5 Strike King swimbaits on Dale Hollow. I have not had a huge fish hit them yet but have had several in the 4.5 to 5.5lb range on them. It will be interesting to see if this fall if I can catch some bigger ones on them when the crankbait bite starts going. Are you fishing Pickwick?

[roadwarrior]

I rarely fish the lake, I fish the river below the dam.

Occasionally I fish the Wilson tailwaters, technically

Pickwick Reservoir. I'm a river rat!

8-)

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Kent, look at the 3:16 Hyper Herring.  http://www.316lurecompany.com/baits/hh.html

Has smallmouth written all over it.

[Volman482]

If ya are going topwater WTD type, you got to try Tail Walker Lures.

They are awesome!!!

[the crab]

Ever fish with soft plastic jerk baits much?  The Case Plastics SSS (salty sinking shad) is a phenomenal big fish bait for smallies.  It's very similar to a super fluke but I think it has a little more action.  It's my go-to in moving water.

[Dan:]

Ever fish with soft plastic jerk baits much? The Case Plastics SSS (salty sinking shad) is a phenomenal big fish bait for smallies. It's very similar to a super fluke but I think it has a little more action. It's my go-to in moving water.

It sinks quicker which is great but it is also a lot less durable. I still like them enough to buy them.

[Lucky Craft Man]

My biggest producers for Smallmouth are Drop Shot, Jerkbait, Shakyhead, Senko, Tubes (or Equivalent), Lipless Crankbaits, and Jigging Spoons.  I don't know how these lures would fit in on a river setting (since I fish almost all lakes), but I think your game plan is solid.

[RoLo]

My focus this season, besides hooking up with the New

World Record ;D ;D, is to spend more time fishing artificials.

This is how I might break it down:

1st hour: Topwater

2nd hour: Jerkbaits

3rd hour: Spinnerbaits

10-2:00 : Jig

2:00- Dark: Minnows if the lures haven't worked

Thoughts?

8-)

That list looks pretty deadly to me!

I might add "tubes" to that list, and to the jig listed I'd try a "curly-tail grub", "pork rind strip" and "live worm" (oh yah).

As a side note, Billy Westmoreland caught "two" 10-lb smallies on a 1/8oz black hair jig dressed with pork rind strip.

With regard to the next world record though, I'd have to go with "live minnows"

As if you didn't know 8-)

Roger

[roadwarrior]

The "plan" isn't working out too good. Last Saturday my

partner had twelve in the boat, a couple 4+, and I had

not had a bite until I switched to minnows. Five minutes

into the drift I caught the big fish of the day. We ended

up with 40+, several 4s, 5s and a 6+...all on minnows.

Live bait 40

Artificials -0-

I'm changing up the mix a little, but still plan to spend two

hours at least working lures. It's REALLY hard to do with

the guys I fish with.

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