You're Big Time Bass Lure

[Guest]

OK...FIRST AND LAST WARNING...

NO PERSONAL ATTACKS FROM ANYONE...

GOT IT??

Ok, on to my personal big bass choices-
1)Buzzbaits...any time, anywhere.

2)MossBoss...when its too thick for the Buzz.

Can't wait for open water!!

[EBass]

Hmm, the jig n pig sounds like the most popular big time bass lure. I need to use it more I guess. I'm not really a jig kinda guy so I am really limiting my options, but I'm pretty much a shallow water fisher. Any ways, I need to stock up for 04 with some jig n pigs and try new techniques. I guess I feel more confident in horizontal presentations rather then vertical. But I ice fish and thats vert the whole time. I'm a walking contradiction you see.

Do you guys perfer actual pork or plastics for the "PIG" part of the equation?

Thanks, keep this thread going and Tom is watching gentlemen!

EBass

[ChrisR71]

Hey ebass,

2 years ago I was like you and did not use many jigs. One day I gave them an honest try and caught a 3.5 pound bass. It was really a learning experience for me. Since then, I have caught my biggest bass on jigs. I think one reason people don't try jigs is that they don't catch them right away so they don't have much confience in them. That was the case for me until I started catching them. Normally, in my fishing, I don't catch numbers with the jig but the average size is significantly better. It is a rush to cross the eyes of a big bass in the weeds.

As far as trailers, I like Zoom super chunk and super chunk jrs. There are a lot of good trailers out there. I think I am still using some from an old bag of trailers I got from a sports show a few years back. Experiment with them and find one you like.

There are a lot of good jigs out there. I mostly use Strike Zone stinger jigs for 3/8 oz. and piccaso spider jigs for 1/2 and 3/4 oz. Sometimes I use Strike King 1/2 oz. jigs. I am not sponsored by anyone so I can try as many as I want to. I probably have 75-80 bass jigs. I'm a little nuts I guess.

I love this forum. I love talking about anything to do with bass fishing.

You guys are great. Let's keep up the good conversation and be nice to each other.

Chris

[Daze Off]

I would have to add my vote to jig/pig for big bass but couldn't leave out a 3/8 oz spinnerbait with junebug skirt or red shad culprit worm rigged texas style.

As for jig trailers, I prefer Zoom Swimmin' Chunks over any others including Uncle Josh.

Has anyone tried Mann's Stone Jigs? Results?

Daze Off

[EBass]

Thanks for the info Chris! I do have some of those spider jigs that I toss out for smallies and once in a blue moon I'll get em on a crayfish pattern. I put on a single curly tail grub for thy trailer. I'll pick up some different types of trailers soon. I still have a gift card for Galyans to use. Woo! Is it spring yet??

[tadpole]

In regards to the snag proof baits, is one better than the other? I have never fished theses top waters before. What size line/pole & reel combs?

Excellent topic for the cabin fever bass junky!

Thanks
Tad

[EBass]

Ah yes top water, is one better than the other. At times sure.

I like heavy line (30lb or more) and a med/heavy fast action rod (7' or more)with a powerful reel. I'm not naming brands as I have some nice stuff and crappy stuff to.

Gotta run keep talking bass!

[Guest]

I agree EBass,
I use 7 foot heavy myself with up to 80lb superbraid...gotta have the big stuff to get the big boys out of the slop and into the boat in a hurry.....more power..er er er!

[RandyFish]

CoachDog (or anyone else),

tell me more about using the jib, salty chunk trailer.

Does that slow the fall?

Anyone else slow the slow jig drop technique? If so, how?

I swear my new baitcaster that I will learn to catch bass on jig this summer ... even if I have to hook a M-80 on the end of it to get fish up.

I just cannot catch bass on jigs..drives me nuts because I know guys who fish nothing but and catch tons. Particularly when the fish move deep to foil edges in mid-summer.

Someone take me to school on jigs.

[Guest]

I would second the 30lb Minimum. Power Pro just came out with a 40lb, which I think will be perfect. The lower diameter cuts weeds better, but the more likely you will break the line on a cast. I like to throw my frogs a country mile and had 20lb and even the 30lb line cut itself a few times.

I used to believe that a Medium Heavy 7ft Crankbait type rod was the best. I thought that type of rods exaggerated softer tip would help not pull the bait away; the same type of rod that works buzzbaits and spinnerbaits.

However my hooking percentage has gone way up since I switched to the 7'3" Croix Avid Pitchen Stick. I can keep the pressure on and get a bass out of anything with that rod not to mention throw a mile if I want.

I think another huge key is getting the hookset down. Always keep the Rod tip high at 1 or 2 o'clock during the retrieve. The high position of the rod tip helps to force you to "drop the rod" as a fish strikes. You will miss a lot of fish if you react and set too quick with the strike or do not get enough power on the hook set. On the other hand sometimes the fish will spit the frog fast, so waiting is not a good idea. When the fish bites you want to drop the rod tip fast to 3or4 O'clock while simaltaneously turning the handle of the reel one turn. Then you immediatly come up with all your might.

The key is having the motion and the timing as second nature then to be paying attention anticipating a strike. I actually pretend like I get a bite and will periodically practice the hookset while I'm fishing. The frog, no matter how far out, should go zooming by you at 50MPH. My hookset sometimes with yank a smaller fish and send them flying. The big hookset is necessary to bury that thick hook and get big bass up and moving towards you out of the slop.

Ask Fishtales if I know what I am saying. I outfished him one night last year in the slop like 18 to 0 and he was getting lots of blow ups. Finally he just gave up and took pictures. My five best fish were probably over 20lbs and I got more than 10 that were over 3lbs. The next day I worked with Fishtales and he caught a couple of Toads too.

[This message has been edited by Basspastor (edited 02-06-2004).]

[LOWinEYEin]

I've tried the Jig n' Pig, Not much success. My preferred would be any weedless topwater!! Think I'll pick up some of those trailers, What Color do yall Prefer for the trailer and Jig??

Great topic EBass

[Guest]

On the Snagproof question I didn't get into baits. I am a big believer in the Tournament Frog and the Pro Tournament Frog in the larger size. They are heavy and cast a long ways if you need to do that. I also like to put scent in the body and a couple of rattles. The bigger size can handle that without sinking. I also believe more size is a benefit for alerting fish to the lure in thicker cover and for bigger fish.

[Goldenboy]

After thumbing through and tallying fish from last season's journal entires my two top producers of bass over 4 lbs were the Picasso Spider jig with Zoom swimmin chunk trailer and Rapala DT10 crankbaits. Although usually in years with a little more water throughout southern MN and the Miss. River, I think ScumFrogs do well for me...

[BigMike]

I am just wondering what some of your guys favorite cranks are. Above we've mentioned the Rapala DT-10's...any others that have found their way into the arsenal? Feel free to add info about color, structure you fish them with, etc...???

Being that I'm a shorefisherman I'm limited on just how much of the crank bite I can go after, but I'm just interested to see what everyone with a boat, and access to more waters, prefer for when I finally have my own ride

[Coach Dog]

BigMike,
My favorite cranks:
1) Shad rap and tail dancer in various colors for medium depth fishing, as well a a wally-diver here and there.
2) I like the DT cranks for deep water, but haven't fished them a heck of a lot yet. I also use the deep-down rattlin' fat raps.
3) Large Husky Jerks firetiger for shallow to medium depth (If you haven't noticed yet, I'm a Rapala fan)
4) Mann's 1-minus for shallow water, white color

As far as colors are concerned, I just stick w/ the basic rules: natural for clear water and bright colors for stained or dirty water. Firetiger and parrot are my favorites (or anything w/ chartreuse). If you are on clear lakes that don't get much pressure, these colors are dynamite!!

Coach Dog

------------------
GIT-R-Done!

[Guest]

BigMike- Throwing cranks from shore is probably not a high percentage tactic for bass. I would say most LG. Bass in MN are related to weeds in one way or another; weeds, cranks, and shallow water tend not to go toether very well.

The best Cranks from shore would have to be
RattleTraps
And Super Shallow runners like the Manns Baby Minus One or Bandit Footloose.

As far as Cranks go, I love to fish em. Here are the one's I use
Rattle Traps all brands
Super Shallow runners any brand
Bomber Model A's
Bomber Fat A's
Bomber Flat A's
Bomber Fat Free Shad
Fat Rap's
Deep Diving Fat Rap's
Risto Raps
Shad Raps
Storm Lightning Shad
Storm Wiggle & Deep Warts
Lee Sisson Tennessee Tuffy (Formerly BPS Wood Flat Shad)
Manns 15+
Poe's 400

I think to be a good crankbait angler you need a variety of thin and fat baits both wood and plastic.

[SCUMFROG]

MY BIGEST BASS CAME ON A SCUMFROG 6.25 POUNDS ON A DNR SCALE. SHE WAS IN 2 FEET OF WATER ON THE INSIDE WEED EDGE. BUT I'VE ALSO CAUGHT SOME 4 TO 5 POUNDERS ON WORMS. I BELIVE YOU NEED TO TRY DIFFERENT LURES UNTIL YOU FIND WHAT THEY WANT. I'VE USED A JIG AND PIG AND DIDN'T GET ANY THING ON THEM, MAYBE I'M NOT USING THEM RIGHT. BUT I LOVE TO SEE THEM COME OUT OF THE WATER TO HIT A TOPWATER.

[Mutty]

I see talk of crankbaits and had to chime in. Storm Wiggle Warts and Mag Warts are bass killers.

[LOWinEYEin]

Does everyone go to BPS to get their Bass stuff??? The gander by my house does'nt have very much, more clothes than anything. But Fleetfarm has alot more..

[EBass]

I go to Gander and Galyans. If one doesn't have it the other will. I like Fleet Farm to.

[ajmurf]

Anything top water baby, ssshhhmak. You gotta love it.

[Daze Off]

I place one big order at BPS each spring and then one visit to Cabela's for stuff that is either (a) cheaper or ( not available at BPS. For the week in - week out stuff I go to Sportsman's Warehouse in Coon Rapids - GREAT store and more reasonable than all others on many things - even cheaper than BPS on some stuff. They have as good a selection as anyplace else with the exception of those new Gander stores which are awesome. I love Fleet Farm for my cheapo spinnerbaits that I customize.

This year my focus is going to be on fishing deep (15' - 30') since I'm not very good at it. Every year I pick a weakness to work on and a couple of new baits to focus on and develop confidence in - sometimes it works....<g>

Daze Off

[Daze Off]

I place one big order at BPS each spring and then one visit to Cabela's for stuff that is either (a) cheaper or ( not available at BPS. For the week in - week out stuff I go to Sportsman's Warehouse in Coon Rapids - GREAT store and more reasonable than all others on many things - even cheaper than BPS on some stuff. They have as good a selection as anyplace else with the exception of those new Gander stores which are awesome. I love Fleet Farm for my cheapo spinnerbaits that I customize.

This year my focus is going to be on fishing deep (15' - 30') since I'm not very good at it. Every year I pick a weakness to work on and a couple of new baits to focus on and develop confidence in - sometimes it works....<g>

Daze Off

[Daze Off]

I place one big order at BPS each spring and then one visit to Cabela's for stuff that is either (a) cheaper or ( not available at BPS. For the week in - week out stuff I go to Sportsman's Warehouse in Coon Rapids - GREAT store and more reasonable than all others on many things - even cheaper than BPS on some stuff. They have as good a selection as anyplace else with the exception of those new Gander stores which are awesome. I love Fleet Farm for my cheapo spinnerbaits that I customize.

This year my focus is going to be on fishing deep (15' - 30') since I'm not very good at it. Every year I pick a weakness to work on and a couple of new baits to focus on and develop confidence in - sometimes it works....<g>

Daze Off

[FlipR70]

The jig & pig is my big bass bait. I've found that the bass I catch are generally bigger than with any other lure.

Like ChrisR71, I just got into jig & pig fishing about a year & a half ago. If you're just getting started jig fishing. Just think of fishing it like a T-rig. Instead of a tap tap tap, you'll get a single thump. SET THE HOOK HARD, especially if you're in the slop. I usually throw a 3/4 oz Picasso jig with a jumbo trailer on a 7 1/2 ft St. Croix flippin' stick with 30lb Power Pro. I'll likely move up to 40lb Power Pro this year.

Also, for topwater, I love using the jawbreaker. It casts like a bullet and I've caught LOTS of bass in the 3-5lb range on it. Make sure to use a HEAVY rod if you fish this lure in the slop or else you won't be able to get them out.

FlipR70