Big M area report

[Quillback]

Got out at 0730 and fished until almost 4 PM. Fishing started slow in the morning, but picked up in the afternoon. Caught fish on a 3XD, Predator Baits Wart knockoff painted Missouri Craw by Tim Hughes, the Ned, and a Rage Tail Menace Grub fished on a wobble head. Fish were all up shallow in the murky water from about point 23 up to Panther creek. Didn't catch one in deeper than 10 FOW. Caught 20, with 6-7 keepers. Water temps were 51-53.

Missed a lot of fish on the Menace Grub, all I can think is that the grub, not being very flexible, is preventing the grub from collapsing on the EWG hook during the hook set. I'm going to have to try either a naked Nutech jig head or a worm hook on the wobble head with that Menace grub. I missed probably 15 fish today that bit the grub. I even stopped setting the hook for a bit on a couple of them, felt the bite, put a little pressure on them, I could feel them holding it, then I would pop it and out it would come. Time to make some adjustments. Missed another half dozen Ned bites. I am glad I am not fishing for money.

[jackman724]

Fish are looking so healthy. Awesome to see! Heading down from STL Wednesday night just in time for temps in 20s and 30s again...hope some of the fishing holds up. Can't wait to get on that beautiful body of water!

[huntest]

Nice day Jeff......similar locations as we hit the other day?

[rps]

I do not think the take is aggressive. I had three fish pull off a crankbit bite today. I think they are playing with their food and we are not connecting.

[dtrs5kprs]

That Menace grub is a stiff little dude. I went to beavers, bugs, craws on the swing head. Have some tweaked for use with Elaztech this spring. The Palmetto BugZ from Zman should work, and the Turbo Crawz definitely works. Used it some last year on the swing head and as a jig trailer. Basically a Speed Craw. Needs a shrink tube keeper added though.

Best hook I found on the Menace was an Owner Rig'N Hook, 4/0. Shorter, but more bite.

[abkeenan]

This is why I am a big fan of Missile Bait's D-Bomb. Plastic is very soft and supple and works better than anything I've used on a wobble head thus far. Durability would be the only draw back but I will gladly pay an extra couple of bucks to land extra fish I would otherwise swing on and miss.

[fishingaddiction]

That Menace grub is a stiff little dude. I went to beavers, bugs, craws on the swing head. Have some tweaked for use with Elaztech this spring. The Palmetto BugZ from Zman should work, and the Turbo Crawz definitely works. Used it some last year on the swing head and as a jig trailer. Basically a Speed Craw. Needs a shrink tube keeper added though.

Best hook I found on the Menace was an Owner Rig'N Hook, 4/0. Shorter, but more bite.

That Rig-N-Hook looks good. The extra bite and shorter shank may be the deal for better penetration. I caught quite a few fish last spring using the menace grub on the swing head and didn't miss any, but the bite at this time must be very light, to where they aren't really eating it good.

Good report and figuring them out Jeff. Today was a fine day to be on the water. Looks like it will be cold again when I get to go.

[5bites]

The rig-n hook is my go to hook. I use it on everything from Texas rigged paca craws and swim baits to my home made wobble heads.

Speaking of wobble head and paca craw, that's a good combo.

Did I read that right that you caught no fish shallower than 10'? If so how did you get that ko to run that deep?

[Quillback]

The rig-n hook is my go to hook. I use it on everything from Texas rigged paca craws and swim baits to my home made wobble heads.

Speaking of wobble head and paca craw, that's a good combo.

Did I read that right that you caught no fish shallower than 10'? If so how did you get that ko to run that deep?

Sorry, that one got by the editor, meant to say no DEEPER than 10 feet.

[Quillback]

Nice day Jeff......similar locations as we hit the other day?

Yep, flatter areas with some rock.