abkeenan

PBJ's are probably on back order from a certain someone in parts unknown Kansas hoarding all of them. In the mean time I think back orders are being fulfilled from Dave's Garage Shop Tackle Co., also located in parts unknown Kansas....go figure.

You are certainly right in there with them. Find those transition from chunk to gravel banks and secondary points with gravel (wood on them helps) and you will find those brownies all around KC to the dam. I would tell you a guaranteed spot to snag a good one but I myself will be down there next week and don't want people hogging my spot. I am sure it is going to be a battle just to find a spot next week with all the cabin fever guys (me) and the pre-fishing stuff going on for the BASS Elite the following weekend.

With the wiggle wart bite about to start (one would think), this video was shared on another website and I thought this was an informative video as far as colors explained by an FLW Pro which has a background/degree in fishery/biology/etc. Makes perfect sense and thought I would share: Also will couple this video of how to fish the wart that was posted a few months ago and worth watching again with Dave Barker: Will also add in these other 2 videos of Stacy King about Wiggle Warts/Cranking and Jerkbaiits:

Great read Dave. Thanks for posting.

Might also have some good ol' white Rooster Tails in that mix for the whites.

Oh, so now we are keeping secrets Dave? I see how it is...guess I should have kept my mouth shut about the Pink Helicopter Lure™ rigged on a Jika Rig then. I guess I will start holding stuff back now too.....

DangerClose, Nice heads there. I really like that double weed guard version you have there kickstanded. Look perfect for the Ned.

When I get the urge to go walleye fishing I just fill up the bath tub, throw a bath towel in there, close the shower curtains and drop my crawler harness over the shower rod until I snag the towel. Sometimes they bite quicker than others and I supposed it has to do with the water temp I draw the bath at. Satisfies my walleye urge except the towel doesn't taste nearly as good.

The cable guard on the model I posted earlier in this thread collapses pretty easily. A LOT easier than the fiber strands in other "weedless" jigs. Have just enough strength/stiffness to pull them over and through stuff but don't impede hook sets on fish at all.

I haven't had that problem. The hook isn't the best of quality but I've done just fine on them.

I use Arkie brand from Walmart that are a button/mushroom standup style head with a cable guard. Come in both 1/4oz and 1/8oz and I use the 1/8th for Ned Rigging. Around $2.50 for a pack of 5 heads.

I've said this in other threads but line visibility with me has almost gone out the window with the introduction of the A-Rig. Guys flinging a metal contraption on 65-80# braid that is easily visible. While I understand that it is a moving bait and a reaction bite I also seem to think fishing actually seeing the line is overrated. I don't think the fish care as much as WE do. I think the line pound test and diameter is more important in the aspect of casting distance, effect on the action of the bait thrown and abrasion resistance. There is a happy medium for each type of presentation. I used to try to get away with a light as line as I could in order to be "finesse". When you are chucking 1/2+ jigs you don't need to go to 8lb test IMO and are better served with 12-14lb as you should still be able get good distance on that jig. I like knowing I am battling a fish on that higher test also and the thicker diameter will be better on abrasion resistance. Lightest I go is 8lb on my spinning gear in which I am throwing lighter baits like Ned's and whatnot. That's just my 2 cents.

I usually always just take my brother in the boat, not to have him enjoy fishing, but so I have a person to blame for my backlashes and missed fish.

Nailed it.

Good chart and yes I meant 2011 not '10.

Another Matzuo fan here and also Sickle hook fan on certain applications as well. I use them swimming grubs sometimes, use them on my a-rigs and also use them exclusively on my crappie jigs.

Honestly I don't mind the jet skis all that much. It's the ski/wake boat's that really bother me with their back and forth, back and forth throwing big wake especially when they turn to head back down a cove/creek.

That would be a question for the MDC or MDNR and their biologists. I have no clue as to the growth rate of bass. I know that their should be some great years coming from the insane water levels in both 2008 and 2011 that no doubt had great fry spawns. One would think it had a very high success rate of survival for the fry and smaller bass. Had maybe the best weekend ever back in spring 2011 when the bushes and trees on the banks where totally flooded. If you didn't get a bite every cast at the edge of the treeline in 10-15 FOW you were disappointed that weekend. Caught more 2-3lb smallies in 2 days than I have in most years combined. It was crazy good. Sucked to have to use a paddle boat to get out to the dock but I'd do that every single time if they always bit like that. Edit: the year was actually 2011 with the 2nd big flood.

Should have said he was using a Mustad wacky hook...lol. Might have been a million dollar pay day. Awesome fish and has beautiful markings as well.

If you are on a budget and looking to fill 4 bait caster rods then the Lew's Speed Spool would be the one to go with in that case. They are $99.99 but can be had on Ebay and other online sellers for around $80 a pop. Bass Tackle Depot has 20 and 25% off sales pretty often on Lew's reels so its good to get in on that. They are only magnetic but they are one badazz little reel. I have 4 of them and then one of the 79.99 (from BTD with 25% off was like 60 bucks) Laser Speed Spools I bought just to try but I wouldn't recommend saving the $20 on that reel because the graphite frame has flex in it that I don't like. Stick to the all aluminum frame. Another budget reel is the BPS Pro Qualifier I mention before which at on sale for 79.97 right now and has both the centrifugal and magnetic braking systems built in and is great for the price. Another that I will throw into the mix is the H2O Express Mettle made/sold by Academy Sports. I have NO experience with them but I have heard LOTS of people that praise the heck out of them for the price. Over on BBC one of the members there that is a reel tuner/cleaner/etc that breaks down reels and sees everything from high end Shimano, Daiwa, Quantum, etc and said that when he took apart the H20 Mettle that he was shocked at how nicely it was made relative to the cost and that most of the gears and parts were all metal and not plastic like other reels at that price or even a lot higher. They go on sale pretty often at Academy for like 29.99 but have this year just updated the model and are a tad more expensive that the previous model and I have yet to see them on sale YET. I want to pick one up just to try. Good luck in your search.

I like a 1/8oz head most of the time and I can throw that 1/8oz Ned rig a frickin' mile on 8lb Yozuri Hybrid. I fish the dam area the majority of the time so the water is deeper there as a whole so it gives me a little more flexibility to hit them in 5-10 FOW or 25-35 FOW. I like having a little extra weight with the 1/8oz just in case the wind does kick up...which is pretty often on the rock.

Wow great day. About 100 guys would have killed their first born for those two fish this past weekend. Nice report.

You sure you aren't thinking of something else Bill?

Honestly I think that is the best way to become proficient at throwing a bait caster for those just starting out. When I was about 10 or so my Grandfather handed me an old Ryobi bait caster that probably had never been cleaned or lubed since he bought it and was nearly impossible to throw the thing. Had that paired with with a 5'6" pistol grip Shimano speedmaster rod. I guess I learned pretty quick by being thrown into the fire so quickly so to speak. I practiced out in front of the lake house for a few hours unitl I started to get the hang of it and continued after that never going back to the Zebco 33 Classic's.. Once I got a newer and more legit bait caster (Quantum EX500) is was like childs play compared to that 1970's or 80's Ryobi I had trained on. Practice makes perfect. Kinda.

I have Lew's, Shimano's and BPS PQ's. I like all of them but I seem to prefer the centrifugal's myself. But the PQ's are very nice when you get them for $65 a pop during the spring sale with a old reel trade in. If you are worried about backlashes then the PQ is the easiest of the bunch to throw without getting any. People bash on BPS brand stuff and rightfully so on lots of it but the BPS PQ's are one of the good ones. They're a winner in my book. I would have no problem if every reel I owned was a PQ...they get the job done.