Pepe

Wow. Sounds like fun. I hope you get great weather and some toads.

I figure making baits is like music. There are only so many notes and so many ways to string them together, so similarities are inevitable. I'm not interested in making exact copies - but I do have some fun riffing on it. I'm just not sure about these dingle-balls at the end of the skirt. Thanks for the input

Don't forget the wiffle-ball bat. I think that was the main tool for the guy that rebuilt the transmission in my Suburban once I have a box full of "new" 20 year old clown colored rogues in the basement. Do those still catch fish on TR?

Quick R&D question; Anybody have good results with a Fat Ika? I guess you could call this this the "dingle-ball" version;) As always, thank you for your input.

Thanks for the report and rigging method, QB

Thanks for the report and the pictures, Bill.

Great report and follow up, Bill. Thank you.

Wow, we went out yesterday with George in a 20 ft bay boat with twin Honda 90's. George is a new friend from Florida that spend winters here and reminds me of The Dude from the Big Lebowski. I am aflat lander and prone to queasy on the seas but we never left sight of land and I never hurled. We went after Barrelete, a type of small Tuna /Bonita, that the locals do not favor as table fare. These fish run in packs and drive baitfish to the surface like whites do. Boat control was an issue because the swells were about 5 ft. And we had to get within casting distance without spooking the school. We used MH spinning rods with braid and leader; 1/2 oz bullet head jigs and white 5" grubs. Cast into the melee and fast retrieve was the ticket. They would hit, miss, and come back. When they did get it the battle was on. It took 10 to 15 minutes to get each one of these fish to the boat. They are like Small mouth on super steroids. I was positive each one was huge but they averaged 5 to 6 pounds each and are absolutely beautiful. We stayed 4 hours chasing schools, but 9 fish and I was toast. All were released healthy. The big trophy hunters can have the swordfish, mahi-mahi & tuna. This is a hoot. Going again tomorrow and will try to post some pictures

There have been some folks contact me who are doing a little "head scratching". I hope the following true story provides some light and is not too windy. Christmas before last (2012) my friend heard a radio story about some people who were anonymously paying lay-away charges for folks they didn't even know. Some of you youngsters may not remember lay-away, but it is like credit in reverse. It struck my friend as a great Christmas Spirit idea. My friend went to a Toys-R-Us store on the north side of St. Louis and waited in the long Customer Service line only to be told that the cutoff date had already been reached for lay-away items. They had to be paid in full by the 16th and it was too late. My friend left but never made it to his car before being struck with an idea. There was a young energetic store manager, my friend had noticed, bustling about the crowded store. My friend approached him with an envelope of cash and asked if the manager would use that money to pay for people's purchases who were currently in line at the cash registers. The manager agreed. My friend was able to observe from behind a display as the manager approached the first cashier, a young lady. As the manager worked with here to make a register adjustment and pay for that customers items, the young lady was visibly excited and the manager had an enormous grin on his face. He moved quickly to the next register. A similar scene played out at that second register, attended by an athletic young man who stepped out from behind his register and did a celebration whoop and dance reminiscent of a touchdown celebration. The manager showed the young a man how to do something with the register and quickly moved on to the next register where, more subdued, but similar reactions took place. My friend noticed that while the store employees were excited and happy, there was little visible reaction from the customers whose purchases were paid off. They, uniformly, gathered their things and left without much visible reaction. I am sure most of them expressed their thanks, but it was interesting to see who this thing affected the most. I think good people expect to pay for what they get and it can be an adjustment to just receive something. But I trust these are the same people who will always reach out to help when they see the right chance. My friend took a small item up to buy from that first cashier; the young lady, and said "hey that manager of yours seems to be in a good mood". She could hardly contain herself and gushed " it's amazing. Somebody just gave us the money and people are getting their Christmas presents. I think I'm going to cry. This is the best Christmas ever." There was not a huge amount of money involved but it was a real lesson about who gets the most out of such a thing. Nobody got more from it than my friend did. Mucho Gracias, Amigos. I am off to sun, sea and, God willing, a few "Barelleto" fish on the end of our lines.

Good looking baits. I wish I had the talent to do work like that. No need to swap. I'm happy to send what I can. Pay it forward as you see fit. It looks like you are already doing that, though, with the youth. Please Send PM with mailing info.

+ 1

Last year in March, we found a few dying Gizzard Shad on a very windy day. We went to the back of a cove the wind was blowing into and caught a half dozen very nice LM on spinnerbaits.

Wow. Why was that guy holding onto a camera instead of a rod? I'm glad he was though. Great video!

I used to compete in Long Distance Motorcycle Rallies where each competitor was required to document each "score" with a written log & photos. In this age of Go Pro Cameras and Major League Fishing would the following work? Video cameras on each boat, set up to record the angler. As he catches a keeper he weighs it, showing the digital weight to the camera, reading it out and logging it. Fish is released in place. Digital Boca scales, freshly calibrated, are handed out just before launch, as are blank SD cards. Logs and SD cards are turned in at weigh in and winners declared. Large video screen can be utilized to show the winners catches. Using the log, it should be easy to find the right clip As long as it is a keeper, it counts. No limit. Instead of a scale at weigh in, the TD would need video equipment. Thoughts?

I'm trying to get a permit from the Corp of Engineers for a small on-board nuclear reactor that will power my space heater and melt the ice around the boat;)

Scott, That batch is about depleted but I have another jig project cooking in the Skunkworks. I am going to make up some FB jigs with an extra-sharp lighter wire japanese hook. I will have to bend the hooks to make them fit in the mold but am interested to see how it works. I'm thinking that the typical heavy hooks can stifle the action of a smaller bait and keep it from "floating up". A lighter hook, hopefully, will allow more action on the bait. I'm also thinking that the hook needs to be super sharp with a lighter hook. I will send you a package when I get some made.

I really like my NRX worm rods but never could figure out how to test a rod without using it. My wife prefers her Kistler.

Wow. I bet they never even discussed cutting their own overhead. I have extensive experience with USACE and find them, overall, to have an intensely arrogant culture. We all have have people we need to serve. It is a shame many of those in government are only interested in serving their own interest.

Got you covered, Tom. Package going out to you in the morning

I did not know that. Thanks for that tip. Usual craw colors or ??

Tom, I may be empty, but I will look in the shop later and see if I have any in another bin.

I sent out Five (5) more packages by mail today. Again, I apologize that some of the jig eyes are painted shut. I had some "help" and did not notice that my helper got carried away with the powder coat. Jig eye buster or split ring pliers will open them.

We haven't been able to make a permanent move yet, but will never forget the thrill of finding our place at Twin Rivers. We spent all summer rehabbing the place and have loved every minute we are able to spend on TR. We have been very fortunate to make new friends and you almost certainly will also. Best sunrises and sunsets ever. Friends and family time is always special on the lake and the food always tastes better too. Congratulations!

That is a good point. No pun intended (well maybe a little). These may only be useful on pea gavel. The plastic "Y" guards are old school and that is what I intended to put on them, but the scent sponge idea has me intrigued. I'm thinking spawning banks with a hula grub and the craw oil "sponge"? Or a plastic swimbait and shad oil? Back to the Skunkworks to find something that will hold and release the scent slowly.

Wow. Over 20 lbs and it only gets you 4th place! These guys are GOOD. I'm not a gambling man, but if I was, I might bet on some of these guys against the Elites on this lake. Someone recently told me; if you don't think the fish are biting just go to the weigh-in.