I'm just about at this point:
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😁 That's a REAL nice color YUM Dinger for these parts. Hope you're ketchin' 'em where you are!
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BOOM! John Murray just improved the dropshot! 🤯
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...or maybe created the A-Dropshot Rig? The Cal-Ten Rig?? Whatever you call it, it makes a dropshot more "fishable" all over the country too. Mad mad genius man, wow:
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I was like, "John is this deal bullshad or what man?" He just sent me this back:
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5 Qs with Gary Klein about the new Berkley PowerBait Jigs.
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Gary Klein knows more about jigs than 99.99% of folks reading this – maybe 100%. He's been making his own jigs since the '70s and fishing/refining 'em in the gauntlet of pro tourneys. Some of his innovations are taken for granted now and used all over the place. He even has his own language for talking about jigs, jigheads and other jig stuff. It's called "Jigese" or maybe "Jiglish." (Okay I made those words up but it needs a term!)
PSA: When you decide to have a conversation with Gary about jigs, put your life on hold for at least 90 minutes...and that's even with tryin' to interrupt him...lol Gary! Just messin' because who wouldn't wanna learn all that stuff! Anyhow, here's 5 Qs – with 10 answers 😁 – about the new PowerBait Jigs he helped design. Enjoy!
1. How long have you been fishing jigs?
> "I have personally been hand-tying jigs since I was a teenager, and my involvement in tying came from being a trout fisherman at a young age. I used to tie my own trout flies. It wasn't til I experienced my first bass fishing competition in 1973 on Oroville...I was introduced to hand-tying jigs by Dee Thomas." [Dee is the godfather of flippin'.]
2. Why did you feel the need to make your own jigs?
> "I think it's the personal touch. It's me being able to create something – I caught that fish on something I built myself.
> "It also allowed me to mix colors for current conditions, and allowed me to make the type of skirt that I want to fish. ...what the average angler sees is a basic skirt...made with 2 tabs, 44 individual ends of silicone. There's a few variations but they're all put together the same way. A lot of times I don't like the skirt tied traditionally. So it allowed me to create my own skirts – longer, shorter, thinner, bulkier, layered or not-layered. That's the reason I always carry a [fly tying] vice with me."
3. Everyone makes a jig. What's different about these PowerBait Jigs? Why should bass-heads try 'em?
> "It's a whole combination of things. The head designs and the hook are so important. ...our Heavy Cover Jig with the line tie coming out of the nose of the bait allows anglers to use the weight of the [jig] to go punch.
> "...my Flippin' Jig is on an oval head with a late-forward eye on the hook.... It's an original head I designed – the term is a 'cobra head.' All of my lure [experiments] in the '70s and '80s would show that the oval shape with an eye-forward hook would always roll the hook point up, so 99% of the time the hook point would be in the upper jaw of the fish, right where you want it to be. That [head] shape is the best I know, and that's why we have it on the flip jig and also the Finesse Jig.
> "...that lead goes into the fish's mouth and it has to come out. I want that hook in the best place to give me the highest percentage of hookups.
> "A lot of times the hook point won't make contact with [or penetrate much] the inside of fish's mouth because fish's mouth is closed. When it opens its mouth [the jig is] coming out til the line-tie comes out, and it goes back to its original shape and can penetrate. So a lot of times the hook doesn't go into the fish's mouth all the way til he's halfway back to the boat.
> "So...that's why the shape of the jighead is so important, along with the line you're using and the action of the rod....
Why is the football head not a football?
> "I would love to have a different name. That is an original [Klein] design. I didn't think it could be manufactured.
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> "If you take a look at a football-head jig, it has a 90-degree line tie, it has lead below the eye of the hook, and most of the weight is below the hook, not forward of the hook...but that jig has 2 applications where it's phenomenal.
> "It's built for a vertical fall. In the West – Powell, Mead, Mojave – it's very common for us to be jig fishing in 20-60' of water, and when you fish vertical with a football head, it falls straight. You can slide a football head up against a crack [in a wall] and it falls straight, like a dropshot.
> "The other thing that head is designed for is to be pulled on the bottom. ...lead beneath [the eye] actually creates a pivot point below the hook. ...keep reeling it, letting it rub against the bottom...creating noise, little bit of a dirt trail. Every time that football head sticks on something and you're turning the handle, it pivots the end of the trailer up so it looks like a little crawdad flaring up.
> "What I wanted to do is create something that would actually be better...because 1 fallacy is you have so much weight right underneath the eye you have to really pull into it [to set the hook]. ...lead on the back side of the teeth...opens up the mouth and it comes out, and the point's not in fish's mouth [sometimes].
> "So if you look at the top of [his football] jig looking down, you'll see I took a regular football head and pulled the sides of it back. So the lead weight distribution is further out...narrowed the depth of the lead from the eye to the bottom of the jig.
> "When you reel that bait, there's a lot of bottom presence...still pivots on the bottom...still falls straight....
> "The other thing with all of the jigs, I had the opportunity to put [Berkley] Fusion19 hooks.... That Fusion19 hook is bad to the bone. The points are very durable and very sharp. ...points on our hooks are short, not a long point so much."
4. What do you think about the PowerBait skirt? Does it help?
> "Without a doubt yes. That was the reason why [they delayed launching the] jig line for another year. I was all in because I see what PowerBait does to the senses of the fish. I mean dude, they come to it. Especially when you're fishing a subtle bite, or when the fish gets the jig they hang onto it.
> "PowerBait is so well-documented, so well-proven, it's phenomenal. It allowed us to separate a basic jig everyone has [because] we have a PowerBait skirt and no other jig has it."
5. What's your favorite one?
> "You're asking me to pick a tool, and I have no idea what condition I'm going to have to pick that tool in. My original head – the oval-shaped head with round-end needle point hook – is phenomenal. It's been my go-to jig style for years.
> "But a unique jighead is the Skippin' Jig. It's a very versatile jig. 5/0 hook in it, only comes in 3/8 and 1/2, but...flared shoulders of [the head] gives it a broader surface to start the skip.
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> "We have some real good guys on the circuit that can slide a jig out of sight. I need help. I understood that the first contact of the jig with the water starts the skip. This skips like a flat rock – a 12-yr-old can slide a jig with it. But it can also be used as regular jig. It's a great flipping jig...good hook in it so it's a very versatile head design."
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"...there was 1 bass that remained wary of us. I’m convinced it was the electronics and perhaps the trolling motor...."
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> "...there was 1 bass that remained wary of us. We tracked him for a couple hundred yards, and he always stayed 30 to 40 feet ahead of us. He would turn and move away but always stayed the same distance. I’m convinced it was the electronics and perhaps the trolling motor he sensed.
> "My point is the fish may adjust to us. They always have."
So if the fish adjust to Rick Clunn, just think how that adjustment would affect us regular fishermen!
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How to be successful in fishing (or anything).
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Start somewhere, anywhere, and work your tail off. Sayin' this for the usually-younger impatient/want it now crowd. Same goes for tourneys: a $100K boat'll only get you so far, and you might not want that to start off. You need to git you some FEEL. Get you some bass FEELin's.
Everyone in bassin' you've ever heard of started like Lonnie Stanley did. Except of course:
- Jacob Wheeler – Dropped out of a spaceship. Or maybe he's an escaped fugitive spaceman like:
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Also a rumor Wheels is one of those Terminators but you didn't hear that from me....
- Greg Hackney – You've heard of "born on the bayou," well here to tell you Hack was born IN the bayou, which may or may not be why he just commissioned this art project:
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Don't ask if he knows 'em. Very emotional....
Could peel the curtain back on a few others – KVD, Dudley, Strader, Swindle (for real – know any other humans remotely that funny??), Kennedy, Cox and, of course, Clunn – but will hold off...🤐 That's right...they've been here the whole time:
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🤣 No idea how that shed pic evolved into this, sorry....
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Good to hear man!
Not sure the deets or why it's during prime fish time (11:30-12:20 CST) but still: Brent Chapman, Josh Bertrand, Todd Faircloth will be on it!
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Called the PowerBait Crash Craw, 3.5" and 4.25, 12 colors, free AR mojo. Looks like they're at the TW in Oct.
Andy Morgan, MDJ, Dustin Connell, JVD, Zack Birge, Brian Latimer.
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Tim doesn't like EATIN' veggies but luckily his Tour Pro does it for him...😂
Genius or nutz?
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That's a compliment btw. Anyhow, you MIGHT think it's On Em Robertson, but check this c-lection from Bryan's Insta:
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Outstandin'!
From a cool rundown of some of Taku's Japanese (Nories) baits. Wonder if this means Hank Cherry should be called Hank Tokyo?? 😂 😂
10. Ike's new show premiers Monday.
Called "My World with Mike Iaconelli" – makes me wonder, if it's not Ike's world whose world is it?? Anyhow, launches Monday, Aug 30 at 9 EST on CBS Sports Network. Sounds like fishing and other challenges with pro athletes. I haven't seen it, but ain't doubtin' Ike...except when it comes to choosing a carpenter (lol Brian).
Must be good too cuz it ain't cheap! Fishin' Jamey is @ jcproangler on the Insta, but bada** Jamey is @1minuteout...hence the name of the whiskey. Jamey's also helping Lew's promote the American Hero gear. 🇺🇸
I think this is the ramp??
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Not at TW yet tho....
Looks like a different-kinda jerkbait with a small plastic willow blade that looks like a small minnow:
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> @bo.stephens says, "This is a Rip Shad made by Bomber and no longer in production. This bait is awesome for schooling fish! If you can find some...buy 'em!"
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Should be done in 2023 – the bass-rich get bass-richer mang!
> ...the reservoir has boat ramps for public access to each cell, to each 5,000-acre cell.
...and is what happens when you give Randy Hopper and the fellas a lotta time to think up stuff:
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> Our exclusive Dri-Max Rapid Water Evacuation System uses a combination of raised compartment lips, deep transport channels and strategically-placed drains to quickly funnel water away from storage compartments and into the bilge. It's just one of the many advantages engineered into a Vexus VX....
18. FL: Tampa Bass Pro Shops helped teen find a new boat.
He just beat cancer, had a fund-raiser, Bass Pro Shops got on board. Love it. Can't link it, at ospreyobserver com.
Name of Jordan Wand, worked at Under Amour, Outdoor Research and other places. But...can he tie an FG knot. 😁 I still can't get it right every time! (Or even half the time....)
Here's one of 'em:
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😁 Just messin' but that is a for-real TX "Highway" Patrol boat! 😱
> DEC will apply an aquatic herbicide (copper) to the site during [this week] to prevent hydrilla from reaching the Niagara River....
The NY DNR said:
> Hydrilla negatively impacts recreation, tourism and aquatic ecosystems....
Uh...no?
Because of invasive species. Also maybe wader/boot cleaning. Guess what agency handled this stuff? Guess who funds those agencies?
Good luck with that deal:
> The burlap is meant to block out sunlight, killing the plants. They are then suctioned out of the lake.
Invasive plant that looks like small lily pads – and they named it the "frog bit"?? Every time I see that I literally can't help seein' a frog walking over 'em.
Okay not bassin' but:
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Right now missin' my dawg and my fave shotgun....
Headlines of the Day
😳
> According to the Chisago County Sheriff's Office...a bass fisherman fishing on the Chisago and Lindstrom lakes [MN] saw something unusual on his depth finder in approximately 10' of water near the public docks.
> The sheriff's office dispatched deputies...where they eventually removed a GMC pickup truck from the lake. A deceased man was located inside the truck. The sheriff's office said the body is connected to a missing persons case out of Fridley.
🙏 Bless him and his family.
Believe it's a bad Google translate but dang!
Lines of the Day
Dude talkin' 'bout a catch, measure, release smallie fly-fish tourney in ME. I mean, I'm sure no one would ever think about cheating in a fishing tournament???
Never heard of it but have heard of the thermocline...?
PSA
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On BassBlaster.rocks right now...
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Honestly a new one on me – this is Green Bay guide Lonney Goman. Guess he ketches those "walters" but does use at least one troller:
> Maintenance goes a long ways when were guiding every day on Green Bay and can't afford a breakdown! After today's trip we changed the oil in the Mercury Verado 400 and lower gear case oil. We also like to use [Sea Foam] Deep Creep lubricant and steel wool to clean and lubricate our Minn Kota trolling motor shaft for easy deployment!"
Says he does the TM shaft every 3 weeks or so, to get rid of hard water buildup and dirt. 🤔 Deep Creep should be available at most auto parts stores AND is on Tackle Warehouse.
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"If you can fish without self-doubt, roll the dice."
- Gary Klein talkin' 'bout competin' at the highest level of bassin'. Just a great quote and a YUGE challenge to the everyday dudes like me. Do I fish without self-doubt? Heck, do I even EAT without self-doubt?? 🤣
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Believe Cali swimbait maker Toxic Baits IS really making this old school Elmer Fudd hat! Outstandin' if so:
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Doesn't really say why but I'm guessin' it's a serious fall off one of those things??
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best and funniest (sometimes worst) stuff in bassin', 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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