Mjmfc1013

Nice one

I actually threw it a bunch and caught a 3 and a 5 on it Saturday. Lost one a little bigger. I couldn't get bit on anything til I tied it on. It dives about 5' and I think that was the ticket.

I can't be the only sucker that bought one of these.....

Nice one!! I want one of those gills

Looks like a nice smallie to me. Good fish man. Congrats

I just got a Catch em Caro big Joe and was wondering if anybody here has had some success with them. I wanted a big shad profile bait I could bang off stumps and things. This thing looks capable of that.

Yeah the shop in NRH on Rufe Snow is trying to get with the needs in our area. He will be getting more stuff in shortly. No one wants to jump out there it seems around here. Also as was said earlier the MINI SLAMMER IS a Hot Bait around here as well. I have that and the Nez love them both. In Cowtown Yeah, I whisper in Ricks ear every chance I get. I think he and Patti will have some stuff on the shelf there before you know it. They are very interested in taking care of "their" guys as they call us.

Pretty fish!! I'm hoping to get my rats in before I leave this weekend so I can get in on some of that action. Congrats to you

This thread is as cool as anything I've ever read. Congrats on mission accomplished!!

Nice trip guys. I fish from a kayak these days too. Sold my boat almost 3 yrs ago and haven't looked back. It's a much more stealthy and peaceful way to pursue trophies. Good job to y'all !

Congrats on a beautiful fish. What did you get him on if you don't mind my asking.

Man, thanks for all the help. I think I got it covered now. Several different rats are on the way to my house

I'm having a hard time finding where to purchase a trap rat

Thanks. I'm gonna see what I can come up with. My life would be a lot easier if I had a tackle shop I could drive to that carried this stuff.

I've read most of that thread y'all referenced. My original post wasn't clear. What I really need to know is should I get a billed bait or one without a bill. I was more referring to the different styles I've seen and if one catches better than the other. I do appreciate the help

I get to do most of my fishing during winter because I'm an ac guy and that's when I work the least. And I spend a lot of time on Fork. Back when the lake was full of grass it was a lot easier to catch em. I've never thrown big baits there in winter as I'm just now getting into them. I like to fish water less than 12' or so in winter near creek channels. Even as shallow as a couple ft. It's hard to beat a 1/2 or 3/8 oz jig. The key is to pitch it next to the bigger trees when the water is cold. I can't wait to swim a big ol Hudd or glide bait around those same trees this winter. It's easy to follow the creek channels now with the lake so low. If you find one with grass, even better. I plan to hit the lake with these three set ups once we get a cold front: punker, glider, big soft bait, jig, and a magnum fluke. That's all I'm gonna have with me all winter long. I'm determined to learn how to catch em on big swim baits. The other rigs are just skunk busters.

I just about have a bait of every type in my arsenal now, but I have yet to get a rat. I know nothing about these baits as in do they work because of the wake and disturbance or because bass like to eat rats? I'd appreciate some suggestions on which one to start with and which ones may not perform as well. Thanks

Thanks for the replies. I was wondering....

I'm curious if any of y'all have had success with his various hard baits. I own a couple glide gills and haven't caught anything on them yet. When I asked about those particular baits on here I was told to sell them and get a MCL gill. ( I got one) what about his other baits? I'm interested in the big topwater and wake baits.

Is the 8" version 1 any good? That's about the size I'm most interested in throwing. I couldn't find any info or feedback on those and how good they swim or don't swim. Thanks

I've fished Bob Sandlin a bunch over the years, just not recently. At one time it was one of my favorite lakes to stay for a few days and I always caught some good fish. That was before it got real low and the grass went away.

I cut my bass fishing teeth on Fork and have fished there regularly since 1986. I have a place at Palestine so I fish there and Athens a lot too. Believe it or not, Mill Creek has been best for me. My swimbait PB of 8-15 came from there. I went to Ivie for the first time a couple weeks ago and got a 5 on a Slammer. That lake looks very promising and I'll revisit a few times in prime time. Sounds like I need to drag a hudd around Fork some at night. I'll try that this weekend. My dad lives there and it'll give me an excuse to visit him. I've had some success on a Thirtyacre Dirty shad and bullshad at Fork during day and night. Just no bigguns yet. Thanks for the responses and tips. I'm all in on the big swimbait thing so I welcome any advice you guys are willing to part with.

I'm new to the swimbait game. Been throwing them for a few months with some limited success. I'm wondering if there's any Texans on here throwing the big baits and how it's working out. I generally fish Fork and other East Tx lakes. I've mainly been building up my arsenal and learning how to use the various baits in preparation for this Fall and Winter. That's when I get to do most of my fishing and when the big girls play shallow.