Bitethis

Giggers blame the fishermen, fishermen blame the giggers....I would find it a safe bet that there is plenty of blame to go around. Just my 2c.

I had pickled pike one time...like butter! Was very delicious, much to my surprise.

probably for the same reason that I catch more whites on stockton with a white roostertail, but on bullshoals I do better with a baby bass pop-r or a 3" stick bait...white rooster tail is like a bare hook for me there. Osage river, chartruese roostertail will catch them all day any day, white is useless there for me.

Berkley Products (powerbait and gulp) seem to be no argument for most people who have confidence in scents. May not always use them, but even those who dont say that it makes a difference (*fishinwrench). Anyone have opinions on wether it would make a difference or not for White Bass (like on a grub, jig, roostertail, swimming minnow). I always assumed them more of a sight fish then anything else.

So there are a thousand different scents out there to choose from. I have NEVER tried them, and been nominally successful at whatever I fish for, whether it be LM Bass, white bass, catfish, etc. (Crappie fishing isn't my strength). I have noticed a new product by KVD called fishsticks in a couple diff scents.(Shad, crayfish) So the lineup is something like this: Fishsticks (Shad, Crayfish) Chompers (Garlic, Anise) Basspro 8UP (Baitfish) B.A.N.G (Garlic) Berkley Powerbait (Bass, Crappie, Walleye, Trout) Berkley Gulp Alive! (Crawfish, Garlic, shad/shiner, nightcrawler, minnow) Strike King (coffee) YUM F2 (Shad, Crayfish, Garlic) and probably 4 or 5 more brands/scents. So....do you use it? What have you found to be most effective, if at all, and on what lure for which species? Chompers is the only Anise product I can find...does anyone prefer this over the normal garlic?

My biggest bag isn't big, but it was 27.5" and 7.5lbs (Stockton lake)

I will lose my lure long before it starts getting lime....usually through hang up or snag. Interesting concept though, I like the idea of doing that to my Rod and reels. Thanks for the tip!! I will have to try the Glass shads too, /nod!

Report for 1/28/13: I used rogues and RC Sticks from 9am-430pm. I fished primarily barkers hole. I fished for 90 mins about 1/4mi up from the boat launch in in Shadow Rock. They were running water for a bit, so moved up to just below the dam on powersite side. Only fished these 3 places...not even 1 bite. I ran into a few others that claimed they were not catching anything either...was very disappointed.

I hear guys using these swimming minnows, or 3-4" plastic fry, and placing them on football jigs or heavier jigs. This concept is kinda new to me, do you just bounce it along the bottome real slow? Also, heard the fish sticks are B.A....ever try berkly walleye scent?

alright, good to know...thanks. I have caught some big ole catfish in the late fall and winter on Stockton (14lbs and 12 lbs in Dec.), didn't know if Shoals would be any good. I have never seen catfishing happening down there, but thought I would ask.

Has anyone ever done well Catfishing on Bull Shoals, like around Barkers Hole area, maybe? Was thinking of giving it a shot.

anyone ever try using the new Berkley Havoc Sick fish? It comes in like 5 colors, 4" long. I was wondering about throwing on a stand up jigging and working it slow on the bottom like a grub? Thoughts? Think it could/would be effective? Maybe use some berkley shad scent on it? Here is the link...http://www.basspro.com/Berkley-Havoc-Sick-Fish-Swimbaits/product/12052509153041/

Are you hooking the Gulp through the nose, or sliding the bait down on the shaft? and if you care to divulge your color of choice, I wouldn't be mad at ya ;-)

Awesome, thanks for the tip...if you to recommend 1 color, what would it be? I am giong to try one, see how I like it, and I want to catch something!

He has a website too, neat stuff! http://www.smithwickcollector.com/

I just can't justify paying $20-$30 for a stickbait, I love those MB 110 +1 looks and design, and i hear guys have great success with them. There has to be a comprable jerk though? I even have a hard time spending more the $10 on a lure. But, if you are saying that a $25 lure will definitely catch more fish, then maybe I will rethink it.

Can you recommend a good website for instructions on how to do this? Or, would you be willing to explain that process. Sounds like fun to experiment with? I often find that the jerks I use dont have the action I desire.

That is a great chunk of information, thank you for sharing!!!!!

approximately where is that located, looking on google maps and didn't see it. Thanks in advance.

Is there a good boat launch access point between Cape Fair and Galena? Even for a jon boat? If so, is the water normally high enough to boat in that area?

my preference is: Shallow: 0-3' of water, floating Open water: 4' fow or more, suspending.

anyone like the xraps? I have had luck on jerkbaits without feathertails, but not so much on jerks WITH feather tails. @Slider - I hear banjo minnows tear easily? never tried them though, always looked like a gimick for the novice fisherman that is attracted by glitter and flash. Have good luck with them?

Its right next to the power plant (no the fish are not deformed). Yes you can fish it, and there are always ppl there doing just that.

At powersite, I have good luck with Rogues, blk/orange. I like the floating because the water there is more shallow, but suspending if in open water. 4.1/2" works for me. I have also had luck with blk/chro, and firetiger. hope this helps. At stockton, I really like bomber crank baits in fire tiger. I caught a nice 7.5lb in nov on that. Lipless cranks work well for me too in late summer early fall, experiment with colors ;-)Cant give away all my tackle tips.

I dont even have a boat...and the sound of this tournament has me all geeked out! I wish so bad I had a boat...and thus the oxymoron...if i could fish and win, I would have one! But 400 anglers, and guys that know the lake WAY better than I...I would have to be a lucky SOB to win something like this, but the experience itself just sounds awesome! Best of luck to all, i'm jealous!