top_dollar

large bluegill every summer after june seem to head out on really long flat points on both table rock and bull shoals. Summer time table rock bass are such suckers for a split shot rig with a crawler, and a jiggin spoon....occasionally those same areas will hold monster bluegills by the hundreds.

I think this bait has serious potential. Im really looking forward to get my hands on one.

What color bandits do you use? and size 200? I have 2 tackle trays full of em, great baits, i just need to get the confidence to use them over flicker shads sometimes.

Good point...another way to do this is using a "lazy S" pattern as the outside bait will speed up and the inside bait will slow down, or simply pulling your rod forward, then dropping it back. That helps me often times to see if i need to speed up or slow down. I too have run flickers side by side with bandits and shad raps to see about a preference....I have never had flicker shads lose that battle though, so now i just use them from the start unless im needing to go deeper than 20 feet.

It has been about a month since i was down last, but i did pretty well with a 1/4 oz ball head jig and half a crawler (tipped with a yellow crappie nibble). Although, the biggest ones came pulling crankbaits. Im sure its totally changed since then. I was fishing on the bottom in 25fow around the mile long bridge and hawker point.

Trolling has been tough on stockton this year for me....no idea why. For long lining cranks, each person fishing will do well with 1 8-9ft, med heavy power, moderate slow action rod (OKUMA Classic Pro rods are perfect for 30 bucks a pop...but any downrigger rod works great). I would highly recommend metered braid line (power pro depth hunter), but as has been mentioned simply marking your spot with a sharpie works too. Tie a snap to the end of the line and everyone put on different color flicker shads (size 5,7, and 9 are good). Let out 100-200 feet of line out (vary this as it effects how deep your lure is going). After catching a few fish youll be able to put together a pattern of best color, size, and running depths. Trolling speeds of 0.5-3.5 mph has been effective for me, usually i like 2-2.5. Dont be afraid to go way faster than you would think...aggressive fish will chase it down, especially in hot water. I like the soft action rod with the no stretch braid, seems to give me the best hookups, and keeps em on for the long ride back to the boat, more of a personal preference though. When i detect a bite, i immediately put the boat in neutral and begin hauling in the fish...other fisherman in the boat also reel in to 1.) avoid tangles and 2.) many many times get a bite on the retrieve. I often times will simply make a U turn and go back over the area where i got a bite. Quite often you can triangulate an area where your getting multiple bites..especially if you have good electronics..then simply go to where x marks the spot and begin a more methodical approach to catching the less active fish. Its a great way to find fish and quickly pattern them. A rubber net, good pliers, and no carpet in your boat will also help you spend more time fishing and less time with a walleye pinned to the boat carpet/net with 2 sets of treble hooks. Get the precision trolling app. Its nifty if you dont wanna fork over hundreds for the book.

Never targeted them, but catch several every year while crappie and bass fishing. Most are 10-15inches long. Caught them out of lakes 33, 34, and 35. Last year i caught dozens out of lake 34 fishing for panfish, they were all 5-7inches long.

Just when im about to pull the trigger on one of these dumb things i see this post. :/ Im sure i will still buy one, but idk that it will replace a well walked chug bug or top dollar for me. From the videos i see, it seems like it causes a commotion much like a buzzing frog or shad (rage tail shad).

Walleye were biting good on jigs and crawlers on the main lake for what it's worth.

I went a few weeks ago and also struggled when I expected to be catching em...I was pulling flicker shads in spawning coves 15-17ft down. Only caught 10 keepers and 4 keeper walleye in 2 days.

30 dollar lures makes me think of effective cheapos. Rip bill Norman top dollar. Most underused and underrated top water lure ever. not to mention 5 dollars. There is no lure that I'm aware of that has the same profile and perfect pop/walk motion. If anyone has any they don't want pm me and I'll buy em from you! Down to my last 9. :/