Red Posted July 12, 2011 Posted July 12, 2011 I do alot of close quarter fishing in heavy timber, shallow, less than 8 feet most of the time.. Stumps, fallen trees, brush etc etc. I am wondering how you decide what bait to use? Mainly, why would you flip a Rage Craw over a jig or vise versa? Also, I am considering that it is 100+ temps right now and if that would make you choose one over the other. Maybe the bait dosen't matter so much and it is more on how you present the bait after it hits the bottom? Any info on this is much appreciated. Thanks Cliff Quote
Bass_Fanatic Posted July 12, 2011 Posted July 12, 2011 Actually, IMO the rate of fall is the most important aspect when flipping. I flip ALOT and I have seen days were going down a weight size or up a weight size produces more bites. Generally speaking, I flip Rage Craws the most, but will reach for a beaver when I want a more subtle approach and a big worm in the hot summer months. 1 Quote
Fat-G Posted July 12, 2011 Posted July 12, 2011 I agree about the weight. This is usually how I do it: Wood cover fishes easiest with a jig, vegetation with a t-rig. Quote
Super User Catt Posted July 12, 2011 Super User Posted July 12, 2011 2 rods that stay on my deck 24/7/365; Texas Rig & a Jig-n-Craw I switch off between the 2 staying with the one that produces the best on any given day. Quote
Red Posted July 12, 2011 Author Posted July 12, 2011 2 rods that stay on my deck 24/7/365; Texas Rig & a Jig-n-Craw I switch off between the 2 staying with the one that produces the best on any given day. That solves it!! I need another flippin stick!! Thanks! Quote
Super User Catt Posted July 12, 2011 Super User Posted July 12, 2011 FYI: I have an Excel Spread Sheet with 457 of the Texas Share-A-Lunker bass in it (needs updating) & here are the top lures. 206 were caught on some type of plastic, 92% was on a Texas Rig 97 were caught on a Jig-n-Craw 45 were caught on a Spinner Bait 37 were caught on live bait 30 were caught on a Crank Bait 17 were caught on a Lipless Crank 8 were caught on a Spoon 8 were caught on a Swim Bait 4 were caught on a Top Water There other 5 are listed as artificial, bait, bass bug, bass minnow, & Boudreaux bait; put these where ya want. Quote
A-Rob Posted July 12, 2011 Posted July 12, 2011 I pitch jigs to any cover I can get them through....trees, weeds, cane, whatever else. Once the surface is matted or the weeds are a bit more choking I go to a small t-rigged craw. So I guess my rule of thumb is I fish the jig until I'm annoyed with getting it snagged up or it not getting through the mat. I then turn to the T-rig. Weight to me is not as much an issue b/c I have different weighted sinkers for my t-rig and jigs. Quote
flippin and pitchin Posted July 13, 2011 Posted July 13, 2011 I love the way Cliff problem solves. Quote
Red Posted July 13, 2011 Author Posted July 13, 2011 I love the way Cliff problem solves. And I bet you also know what fliipin stick I am gonna buy!! Quote
BassIdiot Posted July 13, 2011 Posted July 13, 2011 You also have to remember the action of the bait. A jig will fall straight down and the skirt will flair. A beaver glides to the side each time you let it fall. A worm is longer so you get the tail action. A craw has the claws flapping but is usually a straight fall. Again, a combination of the weight and the action is what you have to figure out. Some days they want a quick fall for a reaction strike and others, they want is slowly falling so they get a better look at it. Quote
Al Wolbach Posted July 14, 2011 Posted July 14, 2011 I too flip/pitch a great deal to heavy timber, mostly pine laydowns. It has been my experience that plastic baits with tails and appendages, especially ribbon tails, tend to hang up on limbs during the fall. Which, of course, prevents the bait from reaching the bottom and normally the strike zone. This doesn't occur every cast but often enough to be annoying and causing rapid ducks from flying lead on empty hooksets. Creature type baits and worms seem to be the worst to me. For this reason I pitch jigs, craws and beaver type baits primarily. I don't fish much grass locally because grass is bad for the jet ski business therefore TVA kills all grass(in E.TN.) or anything green in color that may be growing from the bottom. I need to move to Alabama, their jet ski's are not bothered by grass.........Al Quote
Red Posted July 14, 2011 Author Posted July 14, 2011 Thanks for all the great info guys. I have read a recent report on my home lake that the jig bite has been good, so I am gonna tie one on and see what happens!! Cliff Quote
Super User Catt Posted July 14, 2011 Super User Posted July 14, 2011 Thanks for all the great info guys. I have read a recent report on my home lake that the jig bite has been good, so I am gonna tie one on and see what happens!! Cliff Ya better be careful ya might get bit! Quote
Joe D Posted July 18, 2011 Posted July 18, 2011 In the summer I tend to do better with jigs than anything else, two of the lake I fish are timber choked. Jigs are my first choice and a 10" worm is second, Sweet beaver third. Some days one works better than the other, but just another though on fall rate. You may be surprised but a 1/4 oz jig with trimmed down skirt and a stream lined trailer will fall alot faster than a 1/2 oz jig with a full skirt and a bulky trailer. Also a Texas rig with a 3/8oz will fall way faster than a 1/2 oz jig. So fall rate has more to do with bulk than weight size. Also don't over look the penetration factor. This year especially I have gone to much heavier weights than normal for shallow flipping. 3/4oz jig and 1/2oz texas rigs are pretty standard for me in heavy, heavy cover. I think if you try to much for a slow subtle fall, you risk never getting through the cover your are fishing. I came in behind some other guys fishing a beaver dam the other day and still pulled 7 fish out of it behind them. I truly belevie the reason is because they fished over the dam and I was fishing down in it. If I can get a jig through the cover, that is my first choice this time of year, but a 1/2 texas rig gets the call if the cover is too thick. joe Quote
Big-O Posted July 18, 2011 Posted July 18, 2011 All good info Red! After locating the fish when flipping, I try to first establish the profile size and fall rate that is most effective... Action on the fall seems to always be a benefit for me. Big O www.ragetail.com Quote
Super User Catt Posted July 18, 2011 Super User Posted July 18, 2011 All good info Red! After locating the fish when flipping, I try to first establish the profile size and fall rate that is most effective... Action on the fall seems to always be a benefit for me. Big O www.ragetail.com Hum! Like a belly weighted Lobster Quote
Big-O Posted July 18, 2011 Posted July 18, 2011 Hum! Like a belly weighted Lobster Catt, in shallow water using a 3/8oz Moaner weighted hook... the fish get into a slugfest over the Lobster and the Smokin Rooster. It's a bit slower than my normal flipping patterns and I have to make longer pitches and between the bushes to allow the horizontal fall, but it's often worth the effort. They rarely take it into the bush but more often make a run for open water. That's the kind of competition I like Big O www.ragetail.com Quote
Red Posted July 19, 2011 Author Posted July 19, 2011 Hum! Like a belly weighted Lobster I have been using this rig alot recently. It also works fantastic with a Grande Bass Rattlesnake!! Quote
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