just imagine u were about 2 go fishing on a somewhat large pond in south carolina,from shore with just waders on,the water is very muddy, like coffee,it been faily warm latley,68 degrees today,but a small cold front just came through the other day it was 25-40 degrees. what 5 lures would u use and how would u attack these fish? the pond is loaded with cover,stumps,,wood and grass all around it,its fairly deep in one part about 15-17 feet deep in one part, and i have caught alot of small bass and some nice on,but only one bigger one at 8.5 plds all the rest were under 4,what would u use and how? anyone? pro or rookie?

Hmmmmm. I'm thinkin this one over and I'm figurin what I would bring along if I got invited to go fishing on this pond in SC. I live in SoCal and most of the time the water around here is pretty clear.. but from the stuff I have here is what I would bring.

1. Dark colored Fat Boy Ika (flylined on 3/0 EWG hooks)
2. Dark colored five inch Senkos (probably flylined and t-rigged if there is a lot of) grass
3. Bright pink/bubblegum Zoom trick worms
4. Dark colored Roboworms purple, Aaron's Magic, Tequila Sunrise (for dropshots)
5. Dark colored Keitech swimmers.

And for all of the above I would try to find some sort of way to make a little noise like inserting little rattles or using beads and glass on the dropshot weights.

what do u mean flylined and t-rigged? and how would u fish the bubblegum trick worm? and how would u fish the drop shot rig?
and is a trick worm,the same as a floating worm?

What time of year? What type of forage is available to the bass?

not really sure,i have use my minnow trap 2-3 times and have only caught what i think are bluegill,and nothing else, i have seen a couple of lizards around the banks and thats about all, i do know there is large mouth bass,crappie,blue gill,sunfish and catfish in the pond. and time of year is now in dec, the tempature down her go from as hot as 65-70 to 35-40 just yesterday it was 34 degrees and today 50 and tom it suppose 2 be 70, oh yeah we have had alot of rain latley also

any rocks or structure?

is the bottom just mud or sand?

alot of wood and stumps,almost all over the shallow end and alot of tall grass along the banks that is in the water somewhat about a foot or 2-in some places more. but in the deeper section there is one log and the bottom is somewhat hard but mostly mud, no rocks or sand

I would concentrate on the wood. it will retain heat along with being an entire eco system there. I would throw a a topwater bait near the cover and banks, I catch fish on topwater all year long. Followed by a modified wake bait. Next would be the Fat Ika...next would be a dropshot rig. Then if all else fails, black jig.

thanks robo but whats a modified wakebait?

and on e dum ?. i have fished with tubes my whole life, what the differce between a fatboy ika and traditional tube, like from yum or storm?

Modified by adding a plastic worm as a tail, making it look like a rat or mouse.

Fat Ika is a solid body...like a big fat senko.

Also I would add a River2Sea Bottom walker or a hudd crawled along the bottom and around structure.

cool info brother,thank and i got get sum of them fat ika's, cause i love senko and love fishing tubes.

Ya if you love senkos, you will love the fat ikas...i rig mine on 4lb test with a #2 Drop Shot hook..putting the hook just under the skirt and rigged through the body...let it sink and hop it off the bottom...it's and awesome bait.

man brother 4 pound test,thats brave,i coulnt do that light of line,i am in search of my first 10 pounder, i have already hit the 8.5 mark,but it would be a little risky with 4 pound line and a 10 pound fish, but thanks 4 the info, i order 4 packs of them today

My first choice would be a jig and pig in and around the timber. I'd also try a lipless crankbait in a craw pattern around the timber and grass. If I get no love with either of those, I'll go with a 5" Senko or a Fat Ika. Both flylined, meaning using no additional weight. When all else fails, I'll go with a 6"-7" Roboworm on a dropshot with a short tag end. When I say short, I mean anywhere from 2" to 5".

Also, if you are going after the biggest fish in the pond, I'd target every isolated piece of timber that I could find. Especially if there is deeper water nearby. I use the term "deeper water" loosely because depth is relative to the body of water you are fishing. If the area you are fishing is a 10ft. flat, then there is a drop of 1-2ft. onto another flat. Then that 1-2ft. drop is deeper water. Any piece of cover on or around that deeper water is definitely worth fishing.

If your going for the big one..go with the swimbait like i mentioned and try to attack the structure so the bass can ambush the bait

Brendan?

yeah brendon,what would u use brother? yeah i dont know why but they dont like a jig and pork or craw or any type of worm execpt a senko[they love them]the other day i fished every piece of wood and grass with 3 diferent jigs and 5 diff colored worms nothing4inch - 2 7 inch nothing but a blugill type tap,went back thru wit a 4 inch senko red and red shad color, and i killed them about,12,all small 1 and 2 plders, but my records show thats not bad 4 a pond,so i figured tried a five inch same color,because i am a big fish hunter, nothing, not a touch,these fish are weird but i cant wait 2 try those fat ikas and swimbait that robo said,oh yeah they wont touch any topwater or spinnerbaits or rattle traps,i guese probaly cause its winter

oh yeah guys i am going 4 the biggest bass in there but from what it looks like,that 8.5 plder in my pics might just be her? i might have 2 wait 4 the spawning season 2 find out?

Without knowing much about the lake, aside from the amount of cover you mentioned, here's what I would bring for my "Top 3":

1) Jig N Pig (Black/Chart), 1/2 oz. with Rattle
2) 3/8 Oz. spinnerbait, (White/Chart skirt), Tandem Colorado blades and I'd die the big blade Chartreuse.
3) Square Billed Crankbait (Chart/White) model would depend on depth.

If I could not put something together crashing the cover with the spinnerbait and/or crankbait, I would switch to the jig and really try and pick apart the best sections of each piece of cover. To be completely honest, I would probably start with the jig and never put it down, but that's just the way I fish lakes with heavy cover. It's really hard to be a jig!

BC

do u u mean a black jig with a chart trailor, or black and chart jig and a dark colored trailor

Sorry, should have been a little more detailed. I like the skirt Black with Chart (Not chart tips, but some of the strands) and then I'll use a Black/Chart trailer.

Wutz up bassboy . I have fished alot of lakes and big ponds in South Carolina . Let me know what lake you are fishing and i might can help you out more . I have found that most of out lakes have gizzard shad , Bluegill , crawfish , threadfin shad , catfish . But get you a boyaah spinnerbait white with 3 to 4 willow leaf blades on them . And slow roll them and bump swim the bottom . #2 use a cawfish with light bullet head , toss it out far and hold on ! #3 Use a 7.5. to a 10 inch culprit worm with ribbon tail ( tequila sunrise works real good around here ) . #4 A rattle trap in a shad pattern has been on fire working the bottom as well . #5 Will be your choice of your go to lure for your area . Hope this helps you out . Good luck the fish have been biteing great and hittein like a ton of bricks lately .

How far is it from NY to SC again??? I'm going crazy with this in-between weather here in NY. The lakes just won't seem to completely freeze or thaw... I wish we would just get one or the other... you can't do much when they are in-between.

Not to far brendan . Come on down and dont forget that bass boat of yours . All the bass seem to be busting out their seems right now . later on

OK, see you in a few hours (like 12 1/2)... that's how far it is from my front door to the SC boarder.

come on brendan, me and mbbass can show u the whole state of south carolina,he can show u the east side,and i will show u the mid west side,the fishing has been great out on this side also,i am on pace 2 catch 50 over 3 pounds this month and last month i caught 31,it would be like that comerical,price of gas 200 dollars,food and drinks 120,wear and tear on truck 100 dollars, a full week of winter time largemouth action banaza, priceless.........lol

Hey bassboy do you do much smallmouth bass fishing ? I have got to get in on that action . But i am haveing to much fun with the LMB . I have to get my wife to help me get the picture of 1 of 14 bass i gaught yesterday this one was a hair over 7 lbs .

Hey brendan have you tried the king shad swim bait yet from strike king ? If you have what kind of line would you use and what pound test . this lure seems to be about 5 to 6 inches . Thanx

I have used the king shad... Anything from 12 lb up... Depends on what's around you for cover. A lot of people just use 17 or 20lb test regardless. If you are using Fluoro, I owould not go below 14lb test.

Thanx for the info brendan . I was going to get me a swim bait rod . And if i use the high dollar swim baits i am goin to use braid . What braid would you recomend . The brand and lb weight i want to be able to toss it like i can and not have bulky line , with no feel . I have never used braid and i see so many different kinds . I plan to get me a abu garcia 5600 round baitcaster and a 7' rod . And i plan to put pictures on from photo bucket can you paste them up for me when you get a chance . Thanx

Braid and trebble hooks do not place nicely together... but as far as braid is concerned... "there can be only 1"

Daiwa's Samurai Brand is out of this world. We are finishing up a review on this stuff to be released in early spring, but I can share a little info now.

It feels like silk, and it holds up as better any other braid I have tried. I was a big fan of the Suffix Performance Braid, until I tried the Daiwa Samurai... we've been betting the crap out of it in salt water since the summer and it still looks brand new. I don't want to give away too much, but we can't find anything wrong with it... that's not common. Take a look at the specs, the 80 lb braid is 17 lb test diameter. My Favorite is the 55 lb with 10 lb diameter for a baitcaster:



You just have to feel this line to believe it. Oh and it cast a mile and you can tie knots with it like using a warm mono that's been baking in the sun for hours! Trust me on this one, you will love it...

Just remember if you go to braid do not use it with Softbait Swimbaits.

My opinion and that of alot of the top sticks that throw swimbaits, stick with mono not braid.

I should have said braid, trebbles hooks and softplastic swimbaits do not play nice together.

Hey robo,

What about lures like the bass trix and other single hooked swimbaits? A lot of guys I know use braid with the single hook lures... I'm not talking about the Hudd and those type...

BC

Thanx for the info . I know i ask alot of questions and everyone here is super nice on answering them all . It has cut my cost down and my wife thanx you guyz aswell . I have got to do some fishing with you someday in my lifetime .

You can drive up here this spring if you like fishing for big smallies!

I have been having better success using 14 lb xt with the bass Trix and the magic shad. I tried using the braid (Suffix and Samurai) and did not have as good results. I did try all different diameters. I am a fan of braid but just not in this circumstance. They seem to swim better with the mono. The stretch in the line may have something to do with it to. With the braid it seems to have more short strikes, you have the tendency to pull the bait out of the fish’s mouth. I really fished the swim baits a lot last year. Just my experience.

Out of curiousity Nunz, what type of rod were you using with the braid? (Make, model, power, action)

I have been throwing it on the

G. LOOMIS Swimbait Rod SWBR904C
Type: Casting
Pieces: 1 Length: 7'6" Handle: No. 183 Line Weight: 12-25 Lure Weight: 1/2-3
Action: Moderate-Fast Power: Medium
Item No.: 11644-01 Color: COPPER METALLIC


The reel I use is the Pflueger President.
Ratio 6.4:1
28 inch line retrieve
Weight 8.4 oz.
line capacity is 14 LB/130 YDS

This setup is what I used the braid on and now am using mono

Hey, I have the same rod! lol Except mine has to be sent back to G-Loomis because the cork handle is not seated properly... someone else got the good one off the rack... Gee, I wonder who that could be???

That's the only one you use now?

BC

what does the moon phase meen and how doe it effect fishing? and what does the solunar table tell u?

Fish are more active and feed more during these phases. You can fish all month long and you will find that about a week before and a week after is the best fishing . The only thing is that most people fish when they have time so thats why i think alot of people get skunked . The times inbetween i just fish in the morning or afternoon . And during the winter i fish in the warmest part of the day . I am sure brendan and mr. craine and the pros can better explain it .

Jason,

Great quesion, we could probably make this a seperate topic, so that's what I will do. When it's finished, I will come back to this post and put a link to the new topic.

BC

Here's the post I mentioned above:

Link to new post on Solar-Lunar Tables

So i guess when your useing a lure with trebles and you get a bite you keep reeling and not set the hook like you would when you have a lure with a sigle hook ???

So if you have been throwing a swimbait alot this past year how did it do Nunz ?? Have you tried the hard swimbaits ?? What did you prefer over the 2 ??

I prefer the soft swimbaits. I do throw both though. I even have Lucky Craft hard/soft swimbaits. Thats why I like the new loomis swimbait rod. It is so important to let the rod load up and not set the hook. When I first started throwing the baits I missed 90% of the fish. It is almost like drop shotting. Let that rod load up before taking action.
The soft swimbaits like the Bass Trix are hollow inside. This makes them look so realistic when you are swimming them. I do recommend getting a good glue. They are easily mended with the glue. Without the glue you can go through well over a half dozen swimbaits in one trip. They are not cheap so being able to reuse them is very beneficial.
I have been using the falcon #5 and #6 weighted hook. The weight is molded on the shank of the hook. There are many little tricks I am learning throwing the swimbaits. I still love my jig fishing best of all but am becoming pretty proficient at throwing the swimbaits. I tried over a dozen different style hooks and still falcon has worked the best. The important thing is when rigging a bait like the Bass Trix is to pre punch the nose of the bait so when you rig the hook the eye of the hook comes from under the bait then to the tip of the nose of the bait. With the molded weight on the hook it makes it impossible to thread the hook through the bait (like when Texas rigging). I will be sticking to three main swimbait brands this upcoming season. Bass Trix, Magic Shad and the Hudleson.