gitnby

Loved the video! My younger brother is a Lt Col currently at Pendleton and is headed to Naval War College in Newport, RI in a couple of months. He flies the Cobras, which are shown in the video. He just recently turned over his command of HLMA Scarface and we attended the ceremony in San Diego. In fact, he has been in 29 Palms quite a bit recently. Call sign "MEAT".

If they're bustin on top, almost anything will get em. I really like the Norman Top Dollar! Seems like just the right size? I've caught a bunch on a jointed Redfin, and sometimes any of the 3 black bass species will come up and get it.

Been using the float n fly this Winter and really like the way it catches fish! Not an expert by any means, but I'm gettin pretty good at slingin that 12' leader on a 9' 6" rod. Couple questions though? Maybe Mr Babler can chime in on this? With the water warmimg up, can this rig still be used? On Dale Hollow, I see where some guys use it with a slow retrieve and jerk it a bit along the way for smallies? Maybe try it on gravel flats that have a little wind on them? Spawning banks? Shorten the leader length? Where else can it be effective?? Any help is appreciated. Was also wondering why you couldn't tie on a a 3 -4" grub with this rig and drag it or use a stop n go retrieve? Seems like that would give you good depth control? 12' leader with a slow retrieve should keep you in the 10' range.

Here is the site for a mid-lake webcam that says it is Joe Bald Rd facing Kimberling City. http://www.kimberlingcitymo.info/webcam/ Kinda hard to make it out. Can anyone identify the 2 points? At first I thought it was Hoot Owl, but doesn't look right to me?

Nice bag to win it! Any reports on what they caught em on?

I'm still working on how to get the boat back on the trailer, but I'm pretty sure it involves a high-speed run at the ramp and the proper launch angle?

They are all useable! Just spray a little PAM on the hull, raise the motor, unhook the bow snap, back trailer to the top of the ramp and hit the brakes hard! Park the trailer, slide down the ramp on your butt and then swim out to your boat!

In re-reading your original post, I think I see some other differences in our approaches. First, would be how we hook the worm. I usually just run the hook through the worm once, right around the 'collar', Some guys just hook them once through the 'nose'. Ideally, this makes for a more natural-looking presentation. Secondly, since your worm is free-falling, there may be times that the bass suck it in, spit it out and the bobber never moves since there is no 'connection'. On a tight line, I can feel that 'tap-tap' that indicates the fish has flared his gills and sucked it in. Third, while I agree that the 'fall' of the bait can be enticing, I've caught tons of fish after the bait just sat there for several minutes. The wriggling of the worm and the natural underwater currents can keep that thing moving and exciting the bass. Keep in mind that if I place my split shot 18"-24" above the hook, theoretically I will get a 'fall' of nearly twice that distance once the split shot reaches it's final depth. (can't show a pic, but I think it can be visualized) Nice chattin with ya on this!

With a split shot or drop shot, I do have complete control of the depth I'm fishing. At the time of year I'm fishing the crawler, I already know the fish are at least in that 22-30' range, if not deeper. I'm certain you have had success with your method, but in my experience over the past 40 years on this lake, getting it down to the right depth with a healthy, fresh crawler is more critical than how, or how far it falls. Hopefully, others will chime in on this topic.

I think it's safe to say that several of us on here have caught bass with a live nightcrawler. Tough to beat it in the Summer months over deep points, near bridge piers, etc. Not sure I see the value in the bobber, though? We've always gone straight down on 4-6 lb line on light spinnng outfits. Some guys like injecting the worm with a shot of air to keep the tail up. Certainly, calm water makes this method easier, but I've caught them bouncin around with the waves, too. And, yes, a lot of times they will take it on the fall. But if you're at the right depth, sometimes just letting it sit or jigging it every so often works great! Brings back memories! Many hours catchin em off Pt 7.

skeeter is exactly right! The slip bobber won't impart the same shaking action. I used Fireline as the main line, so even breathing on the reel causes the swivel to transfer the action right to the line and jig. The long rod is really not that hard to use. In addition to the obvious need for casting such a long leader, the rod makes the hookset much more efficient, and since the bobber is independent of the lines, you don't lose any force as you would with a slip bobber. A shorter rod would require a much quicker and harder hookset. I'm no expert at this, but I hooked every fish that moved the bobber. Can't wait to try it again!

2 differences from what I was doing versus what is shown in video 1. much longer leader 2. shaking it in place, not draggin it in BPS has a kit for it, but I used Punisher jigs, 3 way swivel and a weighted foam float. Some guys use a slip bobber with a bobber stop, but the 1/16 jig is hardly enough weight to pull the line down through the bobber once it hits the water. Can't wait to get back out and use it some more!

Fished Saturday from 7 AM to Noon. Saturday nice keeper LM on a jerkbait, and 1 keeper Spot and several other shorts on the float n fly rig. No bites after 9:30. Sunday 6:30 AM to 10 4 lb LM on 3rd cast of the day with X-Rap, only fish of the day. one bite on the grub, missed him. First time tryin the float n fly. Took a while to get the hang of it. 9' 6" rod and 12' leader below float is a challenge, but it is fun to fight the fish on that rod!

Champ, how long were you pausing the bait? I fished KC area bit yesterday afternoon and varied the pause from 5-30 seconds+. Couldn't stir up anything with the X-Rap, so I tied on an old Silver/Black rogue. Second cast, hooked a nice 4 lb smallie, who nailed it as soon as I paused it after a double twitch. Thought I was onto something? An hour later, I caught back-to-back Kentuck's, both right at keeper size. That was it!

Spring-like weather comin our way for the next 5 days! Any guesses on what the bite will be this weekend? Jerkbait would seem to be the ticket?

Ditto! Fished Saturday from 11-4 around KC. Water temp 44-47. Nothing on jerkbait or wiggle wart inside points and on chunk rock banks on channel swings. Marking some fish in 40-45' off of bluff ends and along bluff walls. Tried spoonin em, no luck. Dropped a grub down and quickly caught a couple shorts, and then they just quit. Still, it was a great day to be out, and saw a couple of bald eagles on the bluffs across from Pt 7.

Has anyone found my wife's sunglasses? She lost them back in Mill Creek!

That water temp seems awfully low? Hard to believe it has dropped that quickly.

Fished from 9-11:30 AM on Friday and again on Saturday from 3 PM-dark around KC. 1 good keeper smallie on an Eakins jig off a main lake dock corner on Friday, and a few more on chunk rock between docks. Nothing on crank or blade. 2 good smallie keeps and about a dozen others in the 13-14" range right before dark on Saturday. They were eating up the small jig on the pea gravel, and got one on a grub. Missed a monster that broke off 10' from the boat. Not a great report, but sure was fun fishin with my 2 boys. First time in several years that all 3 of us were in the boat together.

Great pics of the crawdads! Always wondered why the purple color worked? I can see it in the first 2 pics, especially the second one.

With the big cold front movin in, and the morning lows in 20's and 30's the water temps should start to drop. It looks like Friday and Saturday are gonna be bluebird days, though? I'm thinkin the dock bite should be the deal. Any other thoughts?

I agree with Mr Babler on the craw trailers workin better than twin tails lately. Especially around the docks. Really like the Zoom speed craw, green pumpkin glitter(not sure of exact color name) The speed craw holds up really well, and doesn't tear as easily or get bit off like some others. I've been dippin the tips of the craw in chartreuse dye. Seems to help?

Am I missing something here? I did not perceive that Champ188 was accusing Tfish4bass of taking pictures of the same fish? I have caught smallies on this lake for many, many years and I never noticed the white mark either. As far as I can see, Champ188 has always been a respectful poster on here. Sprint21fter is only adding to the confusion. Please figure this out, guys! We don't need this kind of stuff.

go to home depot or lowe's, maybe even wal-mart and buy the electric heated pipe wrap. you run it along or around the pipe and then wrap it with some insulating tape. plug it into a thermostat-type plug that then plugs into your 110 outlet. when the air temp drops below 40, the plug activates and the element heats up. I use it on my pipes in the pump house, and on a backwash pipe on the water filter, which is outside on the north side. never freezes!

Saturday-7AM-noon and from 4-6:30PM-had 4 keepers and maybe 10 total, mostly on the FB jig in 20-25' on main lake points. Sunday-7AM-11AM and from 5-6:30PM-3 keepers, one on a redfin right at dark. FB jig and Eakins jig again on main lake and secondary points. Monday-fished from 7 AM-11AM-couple of fat keeper K's early on a redfin, ran up to dam to fish dropshot on deep points. nothing! Moved in on points with FB and Eakin's jig and caught several nice smallies from 12-18' BTW, I really like Zoom's speed craw trailer on the jig!(Green Pumpkin w/glitter) good action and it holds up well. Caught at least a dozen smallies before I had to change it out.