bassgambler

Butch that is awesome how you saved all those paper clippings all this time, plus the photos. Heck as much as I move around and travel I've got stuff all over the country. I wish I would have taken better care of things like that, never know how important they really are until they are gone. By the way those are some great catches. Thanks for posting. And to Don this is one cool topic, great idea. As for how it all started for me, I was raised in Alabama close to the Alabama River, and we had a 16' jon boat, and we used the heck out of it. We mainly fished for catfish by trotline and baskets. My dad looked at fishing as a way to save money and help feed our family. He was the same with hunting, but a true outdoorsman, never took more than we needed. We also fished for bream, which was the funnest thing ever, we would get on the jetties, and wear those big bull bream out, with bream busters and crickets. He always would say bass fishing was a sport and an expensive one "tight wad". As for bass fishing my uncle and cousin got me hooked when I was around 13 they had the boat and all good lures, and man it was fun I will never forget the first bass I caught, fished all day and nothing but watching them reel them in, but on the way back to the landing right before we got there, there was one dock and I asked if they would stop and let me cast over there. Well they did and that silver and blue rattle trap got smoked by a 4lber and it was on from there on out. Sorry for such a long post.

Nice fish and great post.

Thanks for all the tips guys I did try out the 316 minnow this morning with no weight just straight tied and texas rigged of course, and it worked like a charm, no hang ups no fouling, and was able to move the bait ever so slowly right on top of the grass. The fish weren't very active, but still manage to have one come up and hit it but no connect though. Again thanks guys and I will def try the smaller hook on the regular rising son moved to the top.

I haven't tried the minnow but have a few so might do that, but the wire guards sounds like an awesome idea, just want to keep it slow and tick the top of the grass without getting fouled. These fish are happy being buried in this grass and it is super thick. So it takes some work to get them to come out. Had really good luck so far with the bullfrog just creeping it though, just want a backup.

Has anyone tried to fish these baits over grass? I have a lake that the grass is really really bad, and everything is impossible to fish, so was wondering if I could tick these across the top of the grass. Any bait I can get to do this gets smashed. I use the 316 bullfrog and have done well but would like an alternative. The regular set up either it gets fouled or is moving to fast I believe, so I don't get as many strikes as I think I should.

Great video Don and by the way I personally like the music, it does put true meaning and heart behind it. I like all kinds of music you name it I like it, but put catching some toads with it and it makes is sound even better.

Congrats Jfish you have an another awesome bait to go get beat down now, and I'm sure it will.

JT you are showing all of us Texas guys what is up with the BIGBAIT. Glad to see you are doing so well with your fishing. Keep up the good work. That is a true beast would love to see that any day on my line. Way to go.

Never ceases to amaze me at what people will do to make a buck or to bring themselves up to another level. Thanks for the post and for some truth. Sorry for all the trouble you are having with this situation, fishing is supposed to something relaxing and fun, and also exciting at the same time. Not a sport full of lies, deceit, and trying to railroad others.

Either way can't go wrong, but here is my take. 1: wait for the bait to be for sale from someone and pay more for it. 2: wait for the bait to come available again. 3: get on the list for rods which the man is pretty busy so pretty good wait there, but well worth it. 4: wait to get on the list for a rod and wait maybe even longer these rods are catching on pretty fast on their quality and performance and the word about them is spreading like a wild fire throughout the swimbait community. 5: JUST GO AHEAD AND DO IT SPEND THE MONEY AND GET BOTH CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU WHEN YOU ARE GONE, AND IF YOU NEED IT FOR FOOD JUST LIVE OFF OF PB&J FOR A WHILE YOU WILL LIVE. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD DO.

I wish I new I would be all in it and hope it was a teener.

Man that is awesome I know you are super proud, now he is hooked big time, which is great what better to be hooked on than bass fishing especially with swimbaits. Tell him to keep up the good work.

Again sorry to Bassaddict for robbing the post, and I do hope you stick some fish and I am sure you will with the BA, just don't be stubborn, and I mean that in a good way. As for JT and Rookie, you know what I am not to big of a man to admit that I got mad when you told me to go dropshot, but let my anger get carried away, and wrote some disrespectful things, that I shouldn't have. I am not going to sit here and try to justify what I did was right because degrading someone in any way no matter what they have done to you or you think they have done to you is right. So I apologize to Bassaddict and the entire forum for disrupting this post. To all good luck fishing.

PM sent

Dammit!!! Guy comes on here and states that he's going to commit to learning an awesome bait and you give him a load of crap. JT makes a valid argument for the guy and you give him a load of crap. Are you an ass to everyone or just on this site? Bassaddict sorry for the misunderstanding with you meant know disrespect just trying to help. As for jt and rookie both of you couldn't probably catch fish in a barrell with a net. But you come on here giving advice and telling people how to fish. I personally feel that to many people just get on forums and type junk and hear say or what they've heard not tried and proven.

If you know what you are doing with swimbaits you don't have to drop shot or just use the one bait because you want to catch fish on it you will use what the fish want. But you being the pro that you are with swimbaits and sticking so many fish with them maybe everyone else should just be quite and listen to you. By the way how long have you been throwing big baits the way you post on these sites seems you seem to be one of the pioneers in big baiting right up there with Ken,Mickey and all the others.

What is so funny? Why would you limit yourself to only one bait? The whole point of fishing is to catch fish right? If they want a BA then throw a BA if they want a shad then throw the shad or a freestyle trout or a wake jr or whatever bait it takes. I understand wanting to figure a bait out and its capabilities, but me I like catching fish and will use whatever tools I need to do that. But hey that is me it's like Burger King have it your way good luck and by the way the BA and also the waking BA which I have are awesome baits and produce fish. That is what's funny can't believe someone would just limit themselves to one bait that is all.

He is the man and has the pics and video to prove it. Not many people can do that, but there are a whole lot less who have the proof even if they say they have. Nice hell no not nice unbelievable stringer Butch.

Just some more proof that big fish eat little fish, they aren't prejudice.

You can't wrong with talking to Ben about rods, not only is he a great rod maker, he is also an excellent fisherman. So he can really get you what you need and believe me this guy is all about fishing you wouldn't bother him to talk to him, he would probably love it. Not to rub it in but I love all 5 of my LDC rods, the best decision I ever made as far as fishing goes, that and purchasing my first 316 bait.

Right on I'll keep in touch, I am going to be passing through in a few, going to the bay area for a while. When I head back home we'll have to go fishin', maybe when you all are not snowed in out there.