Fishhead Spin Or Horse Head, It Is Done Here More Than You Thnk

[Bill Babler]

Going to go back a few years to the last elite of he year I believe it was a September event that was won here on the Rock by Todd Faircloth.

Don't believe they called it a Fishhead Spin at that time, but Aaron Martens durn near won the deal fishing it on the bridge piers at KC.

Someone probably Dave can call the name of the bait, but it just looked like a big Road Runner, with a willow blade and a fluke hung off the back. I immediately tried it as Aaron showed how he was fishing it and talked about it and everything. Really nice presentation.

Personally I never did well with it as I could not keep it running correctly it wanted to spin something crazy like, and there is so many ways to catch them I put it on the back burner.

There was also a big blowup out there with either Martins-Elias or Swindel, cannot remember who other than Martins was involved, but he was on those fish with that presentation, and someone tried to horn in on his deal, and it really hit the fan. Don't think it went to the bank, but pretty close with enough 4 letter words raining down you would have thought you were in Sturgus.

That really is a very popular presentation here, but modified a bit and a lot of the locals fish it a bunch, mostly to suspended fish in pole timber. I know Beck will at times fish it along with Buster, but Pete probably does it more than everyone else combined. Bob Tindle when he was guiding and now even sport fishing uses it a huge percentage of the time.

Most popular deal however is to use the Super Fluke or the Jr. on a Schronger head. and wind it thru the pole timber. Buster just told me it is a very good technique for fishng Bull Shoals early and to go right down the bank with it. More action than swimming a grub and you can keep it off the bottom better. Especially if we have moss problems as we do sometimes early.

[Champ188]

Bet that Scrounger head deal would work with a Keitech-style swimbait. Same with the horsehead.

The bridge pilings deal at KC was Swindle and Zell Rowland. Swindle was dropshotting the second piling from the south side when Zell pulled up on the one just north of him. Swindle, being younger and much more volatile than now, jumped down behind the console, cranked the motor and plowed over there without even pulling up his trolling motor and tore into Zell (verbally). Not sure if Zell eventually left or not but it was pretty comical because Zell never even raised his voice. Just kept fishing while Swindle was practically turning backflips in his boat and reading Zell the riot act.

[5bites]

Not a swindle fan.

I thinks it's funny, as always, how many people on facebook groups are looking for these heads now like they just came out.

I've got a few. It's one of those things I pick up and think I should spend so e time with it but never do. Now would be a bad time to start.

[dtrs5kprs]

The "Sworming Hornet" was one of the first ones to move the wires around a bit, and run a bigger willow blade. Believe that was the A-Mart bait.

The gray road runner is a pretty well known deal around the lake, but can be a bear to find. Bought some last summer at Jug N Plug, and a few from SM Lures at Mark's shop. Seems like Kelly Power used it heavily to win a CPA back maybe 10-12 years ago. Same idea, and not much different than a grub. We used it some last summer around fish that were chasing, but not really schooling.

[Guest]

I've had good success with a scrounger & Lil dipper combo, dragging it around mainlake gravel during the shad spawn.

I never had much luck with the sworming hornet, although its a niche bait but a very good niche bait apparently.

[dtrs5kprs]

The underspins are a lot more subtle than the Scrounger heads. Have caught more fish on the Scrounger than the bigger underspins. The road runner is more subtle than either. It just be-bops along not doing much of anything.

[abkeenan]

I for one think G-Man is HILARIOUS. Maybe when he was a little younger he could have been a jerk but I think he is a good guy.

[Bill Babler]

That big Road Runner is Buster's number 1 bait for chasing/schooling fish.

Knew there was a blow-up but forgot the participants. Don't believe the GMan would throw that big of a fit now, but never know. He was a bit out of control on the snot deal, but most usually I like him.

He is a very good deer hunter and shoots a bow extremely well. Saw him make a 50yr. plus shot this last season that was right thru the wheel house.

I think the guy works really hard and has the same trouble I do some times of mouth and foot problems.

On another deal I really liked the Rigid Lighting on the boats trucks and trailers. Looked at their website, and decided the lighting I had was just fine. Really, really expensive. Of course it is a toy and you don't for sure have to have it, but boy is that stuff pricy.

I find myself looking at lots of gear sites today, so even if the production sucked with a capital S. it got me lookin.

[Champ188]

I'm with both of you guys on Swindle having grown up a lot. He lost a brother to cancer quite a few years back, so when this cancer-stricken firefighter/bass fan from up north wanted to come down to the Classic a few years back, Swindle jumped in with both feet and served as his unofficial host for the week. Really showed him a big time. If I recall correctly, the guy was gone within a year.

I've thought a lot higher of Swindle ever since and as far as his mouth-running goes, McClelland has spent quite a bit of time around him and told me it's not fake in any sense of the word. He's going nonstop from the minute his feet hit the floor in the morning til his head hits the pillow at night.

[Bill Babler]

Don't know how he keeps his trap shut in a deer stand long enough to kill one, but he sure seems to be in the right spot a lot. He hunts hard regardless of the weather. I have seen him out there on days like today with -wind chills and blowing snow.

Really have no idea of his financial background, but the guys seems like his nose is to the grindstone about like Mike said from eye open to eye shut.

He has only won 2 tournaments but, has been in the classic 15 times. That tells you he is pretty durn consistent. You get the ole boy close to one and he will snatch it. 1.6 mil in winnings from BASS butsince 2006 his endorsements have grown from 550 grand to over 1 million per year, making him one of the highest paid fishermen on the tour.

He kind of reminds me of a high school buddy. He could start telling jokes right now and continue till tomorrow, I don't think he has ever forgotten one.