Big M area 2/13

[Smalliebigs]

Cool Meanmouth!!

I caught one once around Indian creek @Baxter and have been intrigued to catch another ever since

[Quillback]

15 hours ago, David Goddard said:

That is an awesome looking meanmouth! I love catching them. I use 15 lb power pro super slick 8 to a 6-15 lb flourocarbon leader probably 75% of the time whether I'm using casting or spinning gear. On casting gear I just beef up the lb test. To avoid the chance of line shyness I usually make my leader 10-15 ft long. I had the pleasure of talking one on one with Brandon Palaniuk at quite length about this at the Collinsville Let's Go Fishing show in 2017 and this is what he does. This is a meanmouth I caught in the osage river that looked like the perfect 50-50 mix.

That's an interesting one, I have caught some on Table Rock that are that green in color but don't have a lateral line at all, they look like green smallmouth and maybe that is what they are.  

[m&m]

Quill and Bo, thanks for the tip about braid on a Ned Rig. I was thinking about doing it this year. You’ve given me ideas on color and size. I do not use a leader on anything except a C-rig. I figure if the A-rig wires don’t scare a fish from biting, braid certainly won’t either. One less knot I have to worry about. My boat is at Ulrich for a spring checkup so it gives me time to organize my tackle, service my reels and change line. I totally agree about the stable weather too. Bring it on!

Mike

 

[Champ188]

A-rig is a fast-moving reaction lure. Ned is a slow-moving "feeding" lure. Mike, you fish on the lower end of the lake mostly in very clear water. Line size does matter in the number of bites you get, especially with slow-moving lures. 

[Guest]

8 hours ago, Champ188 said:

A-rig is a fast-moving reaction lure. Ned is a slow-moving "feeding" lure. Mike, you fish on the lower end of the lake mostly in very clear water. Line size does matter in the number of bites you get, especially with slow-moving lures. 

well, that is true to some extent.  actually the a-rig is reeled very slowly in many instances and is not burning along.  next, there are many videos out where a camera has been attached to the rig, and it is eye opening at how long a bass will follow along eyeing the baits.  literally looking them all over, and finally committing to trying one of them.  i do not believe that could be classified as a reaction bite per say.  those bass were eyeing all the wires and hooks, and swivels for a very long time.  all that hardware did not scare them off, nor did the 80 lb. braid tied to it.

i totally agree with you line diameter being smaller will help with smaller baits because they will have much better action and will also have a faster fall rate with the tiny line.  the the diameter of a 15 lb. braid (4 lb.) diameter can get you an easy foot or two depth on any crankbait, plus you can instantly tell when the wobble changes when they put their mouth on the bait.

i go down to a 20 lb. braid very often when fishing a jig with a lot of wind.  that small line really cuts down on wind bag on the line.

too bad the cold hit again, the catching just got crazy again, and bam there it went with the weather.

bo