Spro Bbz 1

[abkeenan]

I was also thinking of picking up a slow sink. I want to try for the 6" but for TR that just seems HUGE and might be better off going with the 4". 8" just seems ridiculous unless you are fishing southern lakes or Cali lakes.

[Sprint21fter]

A 5lb bass on TR can easily eat that 8 inch swimbait. Its all about wanting a big bite when you throw the bigger swimbaits. I have caught bass on TR that have 8-12 inch gizzard shad down there throat. Its all about getting them to commit to the darn thing. Another note, if you want to see how big of fish the TR has throw a big swimbait around when conditions are right and you can pull them up and watch them look at your bait, they may not eat it but they follow it right up to the boat. It can be scary how many big fish over 7lbs TR has in her.

[Moswimb8slinger]

Also with larger baits is that your not going to go out and catch 30-50 fish day. Your looking for 1 or 2 bites, but those usually will be a wall hanger worth bragging about. You can go days maybe weeks without any hits maybe a follower.

This technique requires some dedication and time put in looking for that one fish...

Start small, 6inch baits, and build your confidence like i have. I threw that King Kong for a couple of weeks before i figured out how to fish it then the first cast i made into Table Rock off a secondary point over in the Kimberling area, thats when i got that 22inch smallie.

Put your time in and be patient, trust me the anticipation will almost kill ya and when that bass finally explodes on that bait, you'll giggle like a little school girl and once you land it, pat yourself on the back. Once that happens you'll be hooked on tossing swimbaits

[dtrs5kprs]

Richy...are you swapping out the hooks? See a lot of suggestions to run Owner ST41's or the 2X-4X Gammies, but have a hard time thinking it would be needed in TR. Seems like a regular wire Owner or Gammie would be fine, and might straighten with braid.

[abkeenan]

Richy...are you swapping out the hooks? See a lot of suggestions to run Owner ST41's or the 2X-4X Gammies, but have a hard time thinking it would be needed in TR. Seems like a regular wire Owner or Gammie would be fine, and might straighten with braid.

I would for SURE go with the Owner ST41's and not the 36's. A big fish WILL bend out the 36's. I had about a 4lb flathead bend out my 41's but that was due to all the frickin' twisting and twirling those beast do. But it made me think if a 4lb twisting cat can bend those trebles then I better be dang sure not to go any lighter on the hook if fishing for pig blacks and browns.

[Moswimb8slinger]

I do swap the hooks on several baits that don't come with good hooks. I've had pretty good lucky so far with Mustad triple grips.

[Bill Babler]

Why are you guys swapping out a Gamakatsu hook on this bait. For my money that is just about the best hook you can get. If I were going to swap it with any thing it would be a Death Trap, but the hook on that bait is way good enough.

A mustad triple grip is about 1/2 the hook that is already on the bait.

Personally I have yet to have very much success with the bait, and I have every size and color. This thread makes me for sure want to try them again.

[dtrs5kprs]

Why are you guys swapping out a Gamakatsu hook on this bait. For my money that is just about the best hook you can get. If I were going to swap it with any thing it would be a Death Trap, but the hook on that bait is way good enough.

A mustad triple grip is about 1/2 the hook that is already on the bait.

Personally I have yet to have very much success with the bait, and I have every size and color. This thread makes me for sure want to try them again.

Bill...only things I can add on the hooks are that I have had a terrible time getting fish to hook up on the 4" BBZ, and that all the CA/AZ types are swapping them out. I run gammies on most of my hardbaits but seems like there is a difference when you bump up to that bigger wire hook. Have had enough fish grab one hard and just disappear that it might be worth a swap.

Besides Richy's info, what got me was the video he referenced on BBZtv. It is textbook for Table Rock.

Got my TW order in before all of you decided to...

[Quillback]

I....must....resist....the.......urge.....to.....purchase.....

[*T*]

Have a 4" Floater & a 4" Slow-sinker and have also missed way too many fish in the spring. Don't know if it was how they were taking the bait in post spawn last year or what?? That's a big hook hanging off of the belly. If they are grabbing the tail, no hook-up. Wondering down-sizing hook one size might help? More subtle wake action on the Floater than the Fin but definitely very alive looking. Smaller version looks vg also and maybe better hook-ups?