01-07-2005, 05:57 PM
[cool][#0000ff]They used to make them in the 4" size, and I used a lot of the smoke sparkle ones wherever there were shad in the food chain. A great bass jig.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I also use a lot of swim baits. I started using the old "Sassy Shad" on Willard Bay when they came out back in the 70's. I would buy the plain pearl, and color blue backs or red backs on them with permanent markers. They worked great on crappies and walleyes (and cats). Drove the tackle shops nuts when everybody was looking for them in my custom colors, which were not out yet. Now you can get them in every color imaginable. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The vibrating tail on swim baits is the secret to their attraction. I sometimes cheat a bit and snip out just a tiny bit of the plastic connecting the paddle to the body. Gives it even more vibration.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]About the research. Research is part of the fun. As you well know, you can't always buy what you would like to have...like different size hooks on different size heads. And, when it comes to colors, sometimes you have to "cut and paste" or custom dye your plastics to get the "hot" colors.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I assure you, I do not have a separate storage facility full of unused experiments. I usually only do a few of something new, and then give it a good workout. Almost everything I come up with will catch fish, and gets used until I either wear it out or break it off. But, the best stuff becomes a permanent part of my arsenal.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You WILL have to come over sometime. I have walls of plastic boxes. Some have only unpainted jig heads...some painted. Lots of loose plastics. Before I go fishing each time, I put together a box of the stuff I anticipate will work the best...and then take about ten boxes of other stuff I never use. (sound familiar?)[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]After more than a few years of fishing, and keeping logs (both written and mental), I have become pretty good at guessing what it's going to take under the conditions I expect to encounter. Yeah, I am wrong more often than I like to admit (full moon, front moving through, etc.), but I usually take care of business.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The difference between how WE fish, and some of the less experienced anglers, is that we DO alter our tackle and techniques over the course of the year, even on the same water, fishing for the same species. A lot of newbies throw the same thing in the same place year round, and complain most of the year that the fishing is bad.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]One of the things I have forced myself to do, when testing something new, is to limit my tackle to variations of that particular lure. That makes me focus and work to find out how to fish it right, and whether or not it will work at all. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I learned that a long time ago, when I used to chase bass a lot. I had an oldtimer take away everything but one rod and a box of plastic worms, and told me he wouldn't take me back in until I had wormin' down "Pat". After that, I did the same thing to myself on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, etc. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Using that same approach to learn one species at a time, one water at a time and one lure at a time will ultimately make somebody a better all around fisherman.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Anyhow, shoot me a PM and we will work out a get together.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I also use a lot of swim baits. I started using the old "Sassy Shad" on Willard Bay when they came out back in the 70's. I would buy the plain pearl, and color blue backs or red backs on them with permanent markers. They worked great on crappies and walleyes (and cats). Drove the tackle shops nuts when everybody was looking for them in my custom colors, which were not out yet. Now you can get them in every color imaginable. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The vibrating tail on swim baits is the secret to their attraction. I sometimes cheat a bit and snip out just a tiny bit of the plastic connecting the paddle to the body. Gives it even more vibration.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]About the research. Research is part of the fun. As you well know, you can't always buy what you would like to have...like different size hooks on different size heads. And, when it comes to colors, sometimes you have to "cut and paste" or custom dye your plastics to get the "hot" colors.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I assure you, I do not have a separate storage facility full of unused experiments. I usually only do a few of something new, and then give it a good workout. Almost everything I come up with will catch fish, and gets used until I either wear it out or break it off. But, the best stuff becomes a permanent part of my arsenal.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You WILL have to come over sometime. I have walls of plastic boxes. Some have only unpainted jig heads...some painted. Lots of loose plastics. Before I go fishing each time, I put together a box of the stuff I anticipate will work the best...and then take about ten boxes of other stuff I never use. (sound familiar?)[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]After more than a few years of fishing, and keeping logs (both written and mental), I have become pretty good at guessing what it's going to take under the conditions I expect to encounter. Yeah, I am wrong more often than I like to admit (full moon, front moving through, etc.), but I usually take care of business.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The difference between how WE fish, and some of the less experienced anglers, is that we DO alter our tackle and techniques over the course of the year, even on the same water, fishing for the same species. A lot of newbies throw the same thing in the same place year round, and complain most of the year that the fishing is bad.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]One of the things I have forced myself to do, when testing something new, is to limit my tackle to variations of that particular lure. That makes me focus and work to find out how to fish it right, and whether or not it will work at all. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I learned that a long time ago, when I used to chase bass a lot. I had an oldtimer take away everything but one rod and a box of plastic worms, and told me he wouldn't take me back in until I had wormin' down "Pat". After that, I did the same thing to myself on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, etc. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Using that same approach to learn one species at a time, one water at a time and one lure at a time will ultimately make somebody a better all around fisherman.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Anyhow, shoot me a PM and we will work out a get together.[/#0000ff]
[signature]