For all you dog folks, here's Boone at 8 months:
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He's the most leggy, skinny Lab I've ever seen – took a little to get used to visually. He's crazy fast and athletic, can see 100+ yards no problem, and is super smart and ultra friendly. But he's more willful than his big sis – she trained herself in about 3 weeks, he's still going. Having trouble with the "stay" command (he knows what it is) when anything is in the air. Any tips, pls lmk.
So far he looks like he's gonna be the same size as Lucky, which is what we want – about 50 lbs. In case you're interested, both our dogs came from Whistling Wings in Union Grove, AL. In our experience Jeremy is good people and knows what he's doing.
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If your email program cuts off the bottom of the email click "View this email in your browser" up top to see the whole thing. Sorry bout that – email programs keep changing stuff.
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Do you land 90% of the fish that bite?
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Gonna be getting into this more this spring, but it's a REAL good question whether you're fishing lakes where you get a lot of bites or like the lakes around me, where every bite is as rare as a brontosaurus. 😩
Guess what the key might be? The rod. Here's Justin Lucas talkin' a little about it from an MLF post:
> "If you're only landing 70% or 80% of the fish that bite, then something is probably wrong. In my opinion, you should land 90% of the bites you get.
> "Everyone knows what feels comfortable to them and what they like.... The question you have to ask yourself is: do I lose a lot of fish? If you're losing...fish and your technique is still good, then you really need to take a hard look at the equipment you're using."
2c from the peanut gallery: If you have gotten "used to" losing fish in certain situations (like certain cover) or have become satisfied with a 75% landing percentage, then take a look at your rods.
Also, if you're unable or unwilling to change your hookset (like me – I like to jack 'em!), then make sure the rod you're using doesn't just get the hook in the fish, it also get 'em into the boat. THere's a lot of good rods now, but only SOME rods are designed to do that last part well. More Justin:
> "...there's a lot of cheap rods flooding the market that are not the same power and action we grew up using and understanding. About 12 years ago we really started to see more rods being built that advertised they were lighter and cheaper. Well, to make them lighter and cheaper, they took a lot of the power out of the rod, so a H-action rod isn't really H action.
> "I'm not worried about the weight of the rod, I'm worried about the backbone and power a rod can provide."
Gonna ask him about the dancing thing after the hookset deal:
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😁 Just to gitcha thinkin'. More coming soon.
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Top 10 TOURNAMENT baits of all time:
#5 – SPRO Bronzeye Frog
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Why
The SPRO Bronzeye 65 is the OG and has been the most popular frog on the tournament circuit. It single-handedly brought topwater frog fishing to the masses in a ready-to-fish package – no secret home mods required.
It also might be the most emulated frog by other bait companies. Of course they're a little different, but the SPRO Bronzeye established the category and proved that frogs catch 'em.
History
Dean Rojas was obsessed with the idea of building a perfect frog bait back around 2000. Many years of design trial and error led to a 2007 ICAST "Best of Show Soft Bait" category win, and the stage was set – to learn about froggin'.
On Tour
Here's a quick look at some pivotal tour-level moments in frog fishing with Dean and the SPRO frog – some quotes are from a great history of this frog on Wired2Fish:
- 2007 Bassmaster Legends Major, Dardenelle, AR – "Frogging had given Rojas the lead going into the final day, and while he appreciated the overwhelming interest in what was still a fairly edgy technique, too many trolling motors took a toll on his shallow-water prospects and he settled for 4th."
- 2009 Bassmaster Elite, Oneida, NY – "Rojas scored his first win with a frog, earning his bites by throwing the Bronzeye around grass, docks and any deep, dark place that looked promising."
- 2010 Bassmaster Elite, Smith Mountain Lake, VA: Rojas finished 3rd, mostly skipping a Bronzeye under overhanging trees. "I was skipping it 10-15' back, hitting the bank, getting a couple of twitches on it, and they would just murder it."
- 2019 Bass Pro Tour Stage Five, Smith Lake, AL: Capitalizing on a shad spawn, Rojas worked his Bronzeye along the outside edge of a grass line and collected several key fish that propelled him to victory.
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As you know, MANY folks have fished and continue to fish, win and finish high with the SPRO Bronzeye – or one of many similar frogs.
Runner up topwater: Heddon Spook
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A real close 2nd here is the Spook, of course the OG of walk-the-dog style topwaters. It's still a regularly-used bait across the country for fun-fishermen and also helping guys to numerous high finishes on largemouth and smallmouth waters.
It was originally named the "Zaragossa" by the Heddon Co as a wooden lure fished in FL in the 1920s, then the plastic version came out in 1939 – and was called a "Spook" for the fish flesh colored transparent appearance of the plastic, which was new back then.
Probably the guy most associated with this bait classic is the late great Charlie Campbell. Charlie said a guide named Wilber Hicks intro'd him to the bait: "Wilber could walk the Zaragossa sideways 6-10' on a long cast and make it dance all the way around a cedar tree." When's the last time you saw that done with a Spook??
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(Btw here's how Charlie fished his spook: #3 snap to 14-17 lb mono, 5.0:1 reel, 5.5' ML graphite pistol grip rod. Not to self: Try a M or ML rod!)
Way too many examples of tour-level wins and high finishes by guys who used a Spook as one of several baits, but one recent one is Lee Livesay's 2021 Bassmaster Elite win on Fork, TX.
Honorable mentions
1. Zoom Horny Toad – Intro'd in 2005 and it took off. The popularity of Zoom baits has helped keep this particular bait at top of many angler's lists. The widely-used Stanley Ribbit was intro'd soon after.
2. River2Sea Whopper Plopper – This Larry Dahlberg-inspired muskie-type bait was intro'd around 2008 but didn't gain traction til fishermen started checking into rehab because they couldn't stop fishing it. 🤣 Lol kidding, but when Chris Lane nearly won the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series event on Toledo Bend with one, word got out fast.
3. Lucky Craft Gunfish and Sammy – Add Japanese refinements to a walking bait and you get this pair of topwaters that have proven to be effective all across the country.
4. Rebel Pop-R – Believe it or not this bait was discontinued in 1978 due to poor sales...which is why guys like Rick Clunn, Bobby Murray, Tommy Martin and of course Zell "Pop-R" Rowland found and hoarded 'em. Zell's 1986 B.A.S.S. Super Invitational win with the Pop-R in Chattanooga blew the doors wide open on this "secret bait" and the old school bait still remains popular and relevant on tour to this day. Rebel says the new-ish P71 Pop-R is a basically identical replica of the OG P70.
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Here's you another forward-facing sonar bait
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That's the Basstrix Sonar Trix and Sonar Trix head. Not sure how long it's been out but here's what Basstrix says about 'em:
> The Sonar Trix was designed in conjunction with the Sonar Trix Head to be the ultimate anatomically-correct bait fish imitation. Its tall, slender and keeled profile was specifically designed to show up on forward facing sonar units.
> Methods of retrieve include hovering or deadsticking vertically over deep fish.
> When cast out on a tight line pendulum, the Sonar Trix will slowly glide left to right enticing lethargic fish into biting. When snapped with the rod tip, the Sonar Trix will dart erratically side to side similar to a jerkbait.
> The Sonar Trix by itself makes an excellent drop shot, free-rig and hover stroll bait.
Once again – you DO NOT need FFS to catch 'em with it!
Not on TW yet but they are on the Basstrix site. Caution: If you start looking at all the Basstrix bait colors on the site, you might experience a loss of time, a loss of money and less flippin' the next time you go out! 😁
Wonderin' how many new baits will have the word "sonar" in 'em...
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Were they not baked long enough?? 😆 Kiddin', here's Elite rookie Cole "Thou" Sands with the words:
> Might have found a new favorite muddy-water plug! Went out today to test out the new Yo-Zuri 3DR-X Flat Crank and the mud muffins were choking it.
Here's one:
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There you have it. Wonder if Cole has been to the Lee bros' School of Bassin' Slang?
Hey Z, how 'bout rolling out some new names for fence panda slaunches!
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Couple things:
1. Have you noticed any change in WHERE the bass spawn in your local lake over the years?
I realize this is a tough question to answer because SOME bass will always spawn in the same ol' areas, but are as many? Are some fish or more fish spawning in different areas than they have traditionally?
Just an off-the-cuff "survey" partly because I'm just curious and partly cuz I'm wondering how many fish management decisions are still made based on older assumptions or older data – nothing bass-related, just a post on saltwater fishing regs got me thinking.
2. Got a good, reliable, reasonably-priced charger for lithiums?
Finally broke down and going with lithiums for my troller – a few reasons:
- The lakes I fish around here are 9.9-hp or lower so I'm on the troller all day and my lone battery is not holding up.
- I think lithiums are far enough along now that hopefully they're mostly reliable.
- I need to see for myself if they're all that.
Got some X2 lithiums – can you recommend an onboard charger? And maybe how you charge 'em? I have no experience with these things....
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1. Skeet Reese and James Elam get KastKing.
Skeet's just reels, James is rods and reels. Release ^ says Skeet likes the Deadbolt Reel (no drag!) and James sometimes uses the BFS-size Kestrel Elite Magnesium Reel.
2. Greg Hackney got Gamakatsu. 👀
3. Scott Martin's show now on the Pursuit Channel.
4. Skylar Hamilton got Do-It Molds.
5. Elitist Jonathan Kelley gets Martins Custom Baits.
6. MLF/Opens angler James Niggemeyer gets GSM.
Yamamoto, Bill Lewis, Buckeye, etc.
7. MLFer Jacob Wall likes the Nishine swimbait head?
Does a good job in that MLF vid about fishing a small swimbait with current around rocks that extend off the bank this time of year. Believe that head is the Nishine Smelthead but not positive....
8. How Zona spools up his reels (IG vid).
Line off the top of the spool for baitcasters, line off the bottom for spin setups. Gonna try that spin deal Z!
9. Maybe check the new Big Bass Podcast.
Haven't listened yet, but I know Kenny "I am not an alien...that I know of" Duke and Terry "I can't tell you what I do for a living so don't ask me again" Battisti know more about bass history than any 1,000 bass-heads you can find. 😁
At thebigbasspodcast DOT com (can't link it). Also find 'em on Facebook, Instagram and Twit all @theigbasspodcast.
Also interested because I've been pushing a bit "behind the scenes" for bass records to be kept by a group other than the IGFA....
10. VA: Lower Rappahannock bass population is down but...
> [Shocking] results for the river from Port Royal to Fredericksburg are "fantastic...better than I've ever seen it."
11. How 'bout Jason Christie's minnow on the back of a finesse jig?
The YUM FF Sonar Minnow of course – lookin shweet!
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12. Is the "blaze" red Clickin' Frittside a must?
Yep but for me this one is a must must –"firetail green craw":
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TW is outta stock on that color for a couple weeks so....
13. This probly works right now for all the basses?
Rapala posted: "A 'hot pink' X-Rap is tough to beat when chasing smallies!"
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I have one. I still have not tied it on BUT a) the Lindner clan has proven for decades that it works and b) anyone dropshot a pink-ish worm?? So it's gotta work! I need to ask Hank Cherry about it....
14. New Rapala "ice jig."
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Bass peeps call 'em "ice jigs" but ice/wally-eye fishermen and Rapala call 'em Jigging Raps. The newest version is the Rapala Jigging Shadow Rap. Wondered why they're using the Shadow Rap jerkbait name so I looked into it:
> Following in the footsteps of the original Rapala Jigging Rap, the much-lighter Jigging Shadow Rap features a slower darting action.
Come to find out a LOT more peeps are using these deals in cold water for green fish than I realized....
15. These Yamamoto Ned Senkos look pretty tasty!
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3" Ned Senkos and that head is a 1/8-oz Owner Block Head Offset Jighead. Warning: Posted by @indy.fishing who takes some pretty 😍 bait photos – maybe too pretty if you know what I mean!
16. Is your bassin' tub "lighter, faster, stronger"?
That's what Randy Hopper says the Vexus VX boats are in this lil vid – don't doubt Hopper man! Looks like someone in that vid ordered the BassBlaster-colored boat before I did: 😁
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17. Dude invented a fishing weight made outta ice??
Not real clear but maybe? Maybe something else that dissolves?
> "I invented the Arizona Ice Fishing. My weight would create inertia when casting. Then melt in the water, leaving only the bait."
18. Brunswick is revealing its new electrical systems.
Reminder that Brunswick owns Merc, Lowrance, MotorGuide and much more:
> During [the Consumer Electronics Show] Brunswick will launch the first commercial model in Mercury Marine's Avator 48v electric outboard series, as well as highlighting Navico Group's newly launched Fathom e-power system – a lithium-ion power management system that replaces the role of combustion engine generators in supplying power for onboard systems in marine and RV applications.
> Additionally, Brunswick will unveil its newest boat brand designed to accommodate Mercury's Avator electric propulsion.
19. Anyone run a WiFi booster on their boat?
Not sure if anyone would or what it costs but some of the salty guys have it....
https://shakespeare-marine.com/products/entertainment-connectivity/
20. AL Fishing Show coming to Gadsden Mar 10-12.
21. VA: Joe Butler new VP of sales for YakAttack.
Those yak attacks are no joke man:
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😁
22. TX: Lady Bird lowered 1' to clean zebras off the dam.
23. WY and MT pile on SD over zebra mussels.
> "If SD was able to do more at Pactola, we might not have to be doing as much here."
C'mon man....
24. TVA board got 6 new directors.
6 outta 9 new ones, all nominated by Joe Biden – not sure if that's normal with new Presidents or what. Fishing is mentioned about only 1 of the new folks, Wade White who is in the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
25. New Nike Dunk Low has a fishhook swoosh!
Gonna predict sneaker collector Mike Iaconelli already has 'em on order:
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Paragraph of the Day
...will move the reservoir's vault toilet, located 1,000' from the boat ramp, closer to the boat ramp to make it easier for boaters to access. Officials said the current distance resulted in a growing number of visitors not using the restroom facilities.
"Not using...?" 😳 From a post about UT planning a bunch of ramp-related work.
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Intentionally snag your Carolina rig?
Little tidbit talkin' 'bout Cali MLFer Stephen Patek fishing the 2017 Lake Travis, TX FLW:
> Patek actually likes getting hung with a C-rig, which is part of why he almost always throws a 1-oz weight. He believes that popping the weight out of a snag on the bottom adds some extra action that can be essential.
> For Patek, the Carolina rig fits the bill when the bass are deep, in anywhere from 15' to 40'.... His hot spot on Travis was a bare hump surrounded by really thick bushes and trees. It topped out in about 18' of water and was hard and rocky on top. After finding it, Patek says the depth told him to pick up a Carolina rig. It wasn't any special seasonal or lake consideration that led him to make the call.
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"When that stuff happens and I'm running the 16-inch, I can see that stuff, the stuff you could never see before."
- Elitist Cody Huff talkin' 'bout LiveScopin' with a 16" screen. Full quote:
> "If you've used LiveScope before, you know when the fish are going straight away from you or straight at you, you can barely see them. When that stuff happens and I'm running the 16-inch, I can see that stuff, the stuff you could never see before. People say I'm crazy for running one that big, but I'm a big fan, it makes a difference."
I asked Cody if he would run a 27" screen if they ever made one and he said yes. Okay I made that up...😁
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SIMMS captioned this post, "When your electronics are worth more than your boat..." – about 19-yr-old Alex Sanville grinding/fishing with love and determination to get to the Elites. Stout! Love it!
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Props to my wife! They exist – organic Doritos! For sure taste more natural than actual Doritos but...not as addictive-tasty as the real deal...but I ate 'em in 1 day:
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best (sometimes worst) and funniest stuff in bassin', hand-picked by me – Jay Kumar. I started BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a bunch more in bassin'. The Blaster is the #2 daily read on any given day in the wide world o' bass so thanks for readin'!
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