Conference wahoo::fishing

    You mentioned my two favorites, the Rapala and the Jitterbug.
    
    90% of my top water drawer is Rapalas and Jitterbugs, with a few
    spooks, tiny torpedos and hulapoppers thrown in here and there.
    
    I use the Rapala during the day and the Jitterbug at night.
    
    donmac 
    
    

Since we're talking about one of my favorite types of fishing, my favorite
and most productive top-water plug has been the Heddon Crazy Crawler.  I
can't say that there is any one color that has been most productive as I
really believe it's the lure's unique noise that attracts big bass.

Although I've used Jitterbugs, I really believe that the sound the Crazy 
Crawler makes and it's action will attract more and bigger bass.  I've fished
the C-C while partners have fished the jitterbug and the C-C always seems to
out-produce the j-bug.  Also, the wings of the C-C can be tuned to produce 
various pitches of "plop-plops" depending on the speed of retrieval.

I guess my second favorite would have to be the jitterbug although I rarely
use it.  Both of these plugs can cover large areas of water but usually
produce the best when using a stop-n-go retrieve.

-HSJ- (who hates to think about winterizing the boat this weekend...but
       that's the wife's FINAL WORD!)

    
    
    
              Zara Spook by far my favorite top water bait.You won't 
              catch ALOT of fish,but,the ones you do catch will be
              BIG.This is also probably the hardest Top Water bait
              to learn to use (Walk the Dog).Big Bass,pickeral seem
              to kill them no matter what size,Pike and Muskie are
              interested as well.Perch,Black and one with a white bottom
              are my favorites.
    
    
                                          The Keg

    
    
    	I had alot of fun...ie success....with buzz baits....
    
    	Smaller size...possibly 1/4 oz.  The colors that I used
    	were red/brown and also black.
    
    	Also threw jitterbugs and crazy crawler....I agree with HSJ
    	that you just can't beat the racket that a crazy crawler makes.
    
    	Gitzit'
    
    
    

     I like the "Crawler" too, although my personal favorite is the
    ole "Hawaiian Wiggler # 2 1/2 Sputterfuss" buzz bait. Kinda limited,
    but it's produced some great thrills.
     Truthfully, I caught more Bass this year on a chartreuse Orvis
    "Sneaky Pete" fly rod bug than on all the other surface lures I've
    fished in my life. BTW, if Hagerty says the Rapala isn't his favorite,
    I don't do Skoal Long Cut, and don't believe in Larry Bird...
    
    --The Skoal Bandit

    	All of the others mentioned are great for largemouth and some
    are good for smallmouth as well. The Rebel Pop-R in silver/black
    would be my first choice if I were in smallmouth waters though. I
    believe the size to get is either 1 1/2" or 2". Bass-pro has them
    in the 2" size but I think there is one size smaller (Maybe the
    Wee Pop-R or something like that).
    
    	RAYJ

    thanx, for the info my orders almost in the mail, just awaiting
    the $$$ to be deposited.
    
    				thanx, again Ronni

    
    
    	Ron,
    
    	Don't forget the very deadly Moss Boss in the frog pattern.
    It is BAD!!
    
    ::Larry::

    re;.8 i might have ordered something like that also, ordered so
    much i have to wait till i get my order before i send out another.
    
    		thanx again., time to re-line the tilt????

    Trust me, find the Bomber Long A in gold with a black back and red
    eyes. Get the 5" version and look out. Cast out and let the water
    rings settle, sometimes it won't take that long. If it isn't hit
    by then start twitching and setting.
    
    Regards, John.
    
    
    BTW, I almost forgot to tell you the three rules to using this lure...
    
    	1. NEVER, and I repeat NEVER, take your eyes off the Bomber.
    	2. Don't cast this baby out and lay your rod down, it's a good
    	   way to lose good equipment.
    	3. Be VERY, VERY careful if you go to lip the bass. These hooks
    	   come out of the box SHARP!!!
    
    Good Luck

    RE;10 I'll have to look that one up, but i'm not sending out another
          order until next month, the UPS trucks have been showing up
    	  at my home, like every other week lately, so i better cool
    	  it before my wife starts locking up all my books,         
    
    BTW that long bomber, is that one of the wooden lures thats out?
    if so i might of recalled see it.
    
    			Ronni	( Ice's in shiners down )
          

    
    nope, the bomber is plastic, looks sorta like one the minnow type
    rebels, but larger than average and it has rattles inside...
    
    it works... mr. easter proved it to me on winni...
    
    donmac

Speaking of top water lures...

Heddon has just introduced a new topwater bait made of wood called the 
"Minnow Mate."  It's 4.5" long and has a long, slender body.  It's also has 
a plastic lip (ala Rapala) but is angled for very shallow running like 
Mann's Minus 1 plugs.  Price: about $4.00.

For those that like to twitch Rapalas and Rebels in shallow water or like to 
rip topwater lures over weedbeds, this looks like just the trick!  I've 
already started stocking up for the spring!

Another neat little gadget I picked up put out by Doug Hannon Systems is the 
"Weed Ring."  It's a plastic strip with adhesive backing designed to be 
installed on electric motors to cover the gap between the prop and prop 
shaft.  It prevents weeds, moss and fishing line from getting in between the 
prop and motor housing yet does not interfere with the prop.  This has been 
a constant problem for me with my Minn Kota while trying to fish deep in the 
pads.


-HSJ- (just call me "Gadget Man")

    I have not had much luck with Topwater Buzzbaits.  I have one single
    blade yellow skirt.  I tried fast and slow without a hit.  What is the
    technique and terrain type for these lures?  In other words do you use
    these only in marshy, weedy, lily pad areas?  Are these good over clear
    water deep drop offs; will bass rise up from the deep for these?  
    
    When fishing them over lily pads do you use jerk and stop methods or a
    slow pull over the weed beds?
    
    They make such a racket I would think they scare off Bass.  It must be
    my lack of finess?
    
    Bassassin

Each year I usually key in on one type of bait that I do not use alot and 
make myself use it in order to learn how, when and where to fish it 
and most importantly to develop confidence in the bait. This year I'm going 
to key in on the buzzbait. 

In the past, about the only time I have used buzzbaits was while out 
in the canoe fishing small weedy shallow water, catching alot of small 
pickeral and bass.

This year I plan on using it often.  I'm looking forward to trying it thru the
reeds and other grass type vegetation - as well as stumps and all sorts of
other hard structure.

I'm obviously no expert when it comes to buzzbaits but since no one else has 
attempted to answer these questions, why not... 8^)

>>    I have not had much luck with Topwater Buzzbaits.  I have one single
>>    blade yellow skirt.  I tried fast and slow without a hit.  What is the
>>    technique and terrain type for these lures?  In other words do you use
>>    these only in marshy, weedy, lily pad areas?  Are these good over clear
>>    water deep drop offs; will bass rise up from the deep for these?  

I'd try fishing them close to weeds or structure, with retrieves from just
slow enough to keep the blades proping the surface to burning them as fast
as you can.  I'd imagine a perky smallmouth may be tempted to rise up quite
a few feet for one under the right conditions. 

>>    When fishing them over lily pads do you use jerk and stop methods or a
>>    slow pull over the weed beds?

I'd imagine a steady retrieve would be best.  Stopping would make the bait
start to sink.

>>    They make such a racket I would think they scare off Bass.  It must be
>>    my lack of finess?

I'm sure they'd scare off a spooky fish under certain conditions, but under
other conditions when the fish are really aggressive they probably sound like
the dinner bell to the fish.

I doubt it's your lack of fineese, buzzbaits don't appear to be a finesse bait
to me - just turn and churn.  You just have to use them in the right place at
the right time - or so it would apppear to me...

donmac - who will be a buzzbait expert this time next year

    .15�to key in on the buzzbait. 
    
    Wots one of them?
    
    Interested, Reading UK

     I've had good luck buzzi' through spiky weed growth, but the best
    luck ove grass or weed mats that come to within an inch or 2 of
    the surface - especially if there is some water underneath them.
    on a hot summer day, an area like the latter can be DYNAMITE! If
    you still get hung up, pitch a "Rat" in there.
    
    --The Skoal Bandit

    	A buzzbait is like a Mepps spinner with a V shaped wire instead of a
    straight wire coming out from the hook area.  The spinner portion of
    the bait is located at the opposite end of the V wire from the hook. 
    The spinner portion of the bait is a FLAT blade through the center of
    which the V wire runs.  The outside ends of the blades are then bent in
    opposite directions to make the flat portion of the blade spin like a
    boat propeller.  What happens with the bait is, as you retrieve it, the
    big flat portions of the blade cause the bait to ride up in the water
    to the surface.  At this point, as the blade turns, the flat blades hit
    the water and gurgle, pop, etc.  If you run the bait REAL FAST, it
    sounds like a buzzing sound, hence the name (or one derivation for the
    name, the other being that you BUZZ it across the top of the water like
    a speedboat).  More to follow when I am able to get into my MAIL file
    and jog my memory as to the person I sent the catalogs with pictures to
    over on your side of the pond.  A picture, in this case, IS worth 1000
    words.

    	For all of you that know him, I sent a couple of catalogues over
    to Tony Frazer earlier.  Perhaps, if he shows for your fishing derby,
    he could bring them along and let you have a peek at what kind of CRAZY
    lures and stuff we use over here on this side of the big pond.
    	(Being an EX trout fisherman myself, I STILL think a lot of the
    Bass lures are made to catch the fisherman and NOT the fish.  :-)  :-)

    Wayne
    
    Do you use Bucktail Streamer Buzz baits and spinners for Pike and Muskie?
    If so I assume you rip these babies full speed?
    
    Bassassin	
    

    re. -.1
    	NOPE, I don't use Bucktails for Pike.  REASON: TOO MANY HOOKS and
    they don't seem to balance as well if you clip a couple of hooks off or
    modify with single hook.  I might miss a fish or 2 by using single hook
    lures, BUT, I can get the fish off the hook easier with all my fingers
    intact, too.  I am an advocate of single hooks for toothy critters. 
    After you try to get a treble hook out of a Pike's mouth when he has
    all 3 hooks buried in both top and bottom and he is clamping his mouth
    shut, you will see why you want the least amount of hooks possible.  It
    might be a little easier now that I have a GOOD jaw spreader, but, I
    will most probably stick with single hook baits.  (P.S. Buy youself a
    GOOD pair of 6 inch longnose pliers.)  Also, most of the single hook
    type baits have 2/0 (or there-bouts) hooks.  Tend to let you set the
    hook even if they do the old MOUTH OPEN spit the bait trick as they
    first hit and feel something odd.  (Not the usual method of hitting for
    a Pike, but, it happens especially when they are in a negative mood.) 
    If I want a larger looking bait for a slightly negative fish, I hook a
    3" rubber frog on the front hook of a spinner bait and hook a trailer
    hook Texas style in the rear of the frog.  Still, I only have 2 hooks
    to get out of him at maximum and very seldom hook top and bottom of his
    mouth at the same time.  (Also, when you do hook with all hooks of the
    treble in both sides of the mouth, the fight is SHORT due to choking
    the fish since he can't breathe real well with his mouth stuck shut.)
    	Secondly, most of the bucktail spinners and buzzers are the in-line
    type of bait.  In the HEAVY moss and weedbeds, this type of spinner
    tends to clog up quicker and do a lot more line twisting, leading to
    casting problems.  PLUS, there is always the possibility of a HAWG bass
    on the regular type spinnerbait as opposed to just fishing the Pike. 
    So, if it is a GOOD double purpose bait for any fish above 8", I tend
    to toss it more than something that would discourage a small fish. 
    (Who knows what will happen while you are reeling in that little 8"
    bass past a 30# Northern's nose.  :-)  )  Then, if you have that 2/0
    hook sticking out of the corner of an 8" basses mouth, the chance of
    hooking a pike if he hits the bass is greater than with a little treble
    hook.

    Anyone have any luck with the Rat or the Meadow Mouse?  I got the mouse
    as a birthday gift and want to know technique. 
    
    I would assume you cast them and let them sit in heavy weed or on lily
    pads until they stop moving then slow retrieve?  Or do you use fast
    retrive, or walk the dog or erractic patterns.  Suggestions please.
    
    Are these best fished in heavy weed near shorelines or tree stumps etc. 
    are these best at night or early morn like the spook or all day long.
    
    I also take it that these are primarily for largemouth, pike and
    muskie?
    
    the Bassassin
    

    I don't think the Meadow Mouse is for fishing in pads or weeds, since
    it has treble hooks hanging down and a little bill for action in
    the water, all of which would hang up in the vegetation. I would fish
    it in a way that made it look like a little mousie swimming in the
    water (presumably that's the idea). The Rat has an upswept double hook
    with each point right alongside the body for weedlessness, and is
    explicitly designed for dragging on top of the weeds.
    
    I've yet to get a bite on my Meadow Mouse (hey, I got mine for my
    birthday, too!) but a friend of mine says a friend of his got his wall
    mount using one!
    
    The Rat (I just bought one) looks good,but it is awful light. I think
    I'll do what they suggest and stuff a few plastic worm pieces inside it
    to give it a little mass.
    
    Let me know if you have any luck with either one of them..!
    
    Ed

    
    
       I have caught bass and northern on a meadow mouse.  I had two of
    them, a grey and a brown, but lost the grey one to a nice northern
    last year and haven't replaced it yet.  As for the "Rat", I just
    bought a couple but haven't used them yet.  I did use something very
    similar last spring and caught a few fishing it on top of the real 
    thick stuff.  But it was rendered totally worthless after a
    northern took it just after it came off the edge of the pads.  The 
    soft material doesn't hold up very well to those teeth.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Bear
    
     

    Bear
    
    Come on guy have a heart and share your technique with me for the
    mouse.  I plan on going for norhter and bass and tried a few practice
    casts into the water yesterday.  I found the head burys and the bum
    rises.  Do you use a walk the dog technique in open water or is it best
    to run them along the shore lines or around stumps etc etc

    
    
    RE. -1
    
       The northern I caught on the mouse were caught along the edges of
    either emergent weeds or weeds that hadn't yet reached the surface.
    These were all caught in early spring when they will eat just about 
    anything so I can't say it was due to outstanding technique.  
    
       For the emergent weeds I would cast the lure either parallel to the
    weedline if it was real thick, or into pockets if the mouse could be
    swam through some of it.  Either way I would go real slow with a few 
    stops and twitches varying  all the way back in.  A few times I would
    rip it a short distance and then let it sit.  
    
       When fishing over the top of weeds the retreive was about the same.
    One thing I did was keep the rod tip up to keep the nose up.  Some of 
    the bigger fish came when a hook would get caught on a weed, when I
    pulled it free the mouse would "glurp" forward, SLAM!!!  Wouldn't want
    an easy meal to get away.  
    
       This is nothing new, but I hope it helps some.  Good luck!!!!!
    
    Bear

    	I agree with Bear, fish the thing along grass lines or parallel
    shore with the meadow mouse.  Fish it where MICE would NORMALLY go.
    
    	As for stuffing the body of the grass rat with plastic worms, watch
    what you are doing here as the extra weight in the body tends to make
    the lure sink.  If you want to work it STRICTLY on the surface, you
    might want to even silicone caulk seal the front of the lure. 
    Otherwise, they tend to fill with water and sink.
    
    	For the Northerns in HEAVY cover, I like a solid body Frog about 3
    inches long with swimming legs.  Hook this on a 4/0 weedless hook
    (Texas rigging makes it TOO HARD to set the hook.)  This tends to be
    somewhat nose heavy.  So, I am going to put some flyline strike
    indicators at the front of the hook to make the nose lighter and
    possibly give more surface disturbance if the fish are agressive.  When
    fishing this, I tend to use a pause and twitch retrieve.  If fishing
    over emergent vegetation, use a STEADY hopping technique except at
    holes in the surface.  The steady action tends to give the fish a
    better idea of WHERE to blow up on the bait.  (I finally found the Mr.
    Twister still makes the frogs in the charteuse/yellow color I wnated. 
    So, I ordered 2 dozen.  The solid body tends to stand up pretty well to
    Northerns attacks.)                               

    Yeah Wayne, I've had lots of fun using the yellow Hawg Frog on
    pickerel. I found a place where there are lots of the kind of weeds
    that pickerel like, and all I have to do is swim that little frog
    through the openings in the weeds and before long, BAM! Lots of fun to
    actually see the strike, and if it's a small pick, I can usually shake
    him loose without setting the hook.
    
    They really seem to like those yellow frogs!
    
    Ed
    

    I just bought one of the slap sticks.  Has anyone used them?  I take it
    you use a jerky straight technique?  This one also looks like more of
    an open water lure because of the three sets of trebles.
                                                                
    Brian

    Well in my constant search for finding ways of spending my hard earned
    cash I went out and bought the Strike Kings new Grass Frog.  Bill Dance
    had them on his show and caught a whole bunch of hawgs.  He fished them
    in weeds and in open water and the net result was bass heaven.
    
    Arming myself in waders and grass frogs I stalked out to the local bass
    pond.  I could feel those bass lining up taking numbers to hit this
    frog next.  I kept up the talk telling them, ok boys only the 5-8
    pounders first, you small fingerlings get to the end of the cue.
    
    The sun was up and it had been over 60 for two days.  I walked in and
    kept seeing one spawn sight after another.  I cast out one long beauty
    of a cast and as the frog hit the pads I could see many jumps going for
    the bare line and the spots where the water slashed up from the frog. 
    I patiently waited for the ripples to die down.  Then a slow hop rest
    hop hop rest pattern back.  Well after one hour and wading several
    miles  in the slop this frog hit the bottom of my vest where it will
    stay.  (of course until the next time I get shut out in which I try
    every lure in the box).  Anyway while the grass frog looks impressive
    it will stay that way in the bottom of the box for some time.
    
    Sign me when will I ever lean
    
    Brian
                   

I'm not sure, but I'd venture to guess that it is the wrong time of year to 
fish the frog (or rat).  Spawning fish (actively) will probably not go after
a top-water lure as they are either guarding the nests (males) or resting from
the spawn (females).  I bet it works better in the summer towards dusk.  There
will be more natural frogs out then too.  I wouldn't fish a Zara Spook during
the spawn.

Again, I may be wrong..

Tim

     I've said this before, but if they're on the beds try a plastic
    lizard. You will not believe how they whack these things !
    
    -- El Bandito

    
    
     Remember,
    
     Bill Dance fishes in places that pratically no-one else can get to--
    either private or no roads... So, don't be fooled by his lure selection
    when trying to apply it to more local waters
    
     "Bassmaster"
    

    re -.1
    
    Yeah, and he spends as much time fishing each week as most of us do at
    work. I'd love to know how many hours (days) it took to get the footage 
    of the big bass hitting that frog.
    
    I imagine that Dance's frog is no better or worse than most of the
    other frog lures out there.
    
    Ed

    Ed
    
    In all fairness this frogs design is kinda neat.  The legs are real
    long rubber and curl inward so that as you draw the frog across the
    water they really move and wiggle alot in the water, much more than the
    ones that really look like frogs.  Also there is a sortof leaf spring
    mounted in the body that the hook rests on that makes this very very
    weedless yet as a bass hits it the body collapses and the hook is up
    for an easy set.  You guys are right, with spawn happening they aren't
    hitting surface at all.  I'll try again in 2-3 weeks.  Will let you
    know the results then.
    
    Brian

    The design is reminiscent of the Mr Twister Hawg Frog, though with the
    Hawg Frog you make it weedless by rigging it with a lg worm hook and
    embedding the point in the frog's.. er, backside. The legs wiggle
    enticingly. I know the yellow version is a great favorite of the ever
    popular pickerel. I've never tried a frog lure this early in the year.
    
    Ed