Chapmaniac

A lot of good information posted in this thread. I fish in muddy water regularly here in Illinois, visibility can range from just a couple inches to maybe a foot or foot and a half at best. What I have found to work the best in the dirtier water are the noisier swimbaits. Loud clacking joints of a bullshad or something that creates a lot of vibration like the boot tail of a rising son with some chartreuse to make it show up better pay off really well in dirty water. I have also found that the fish hold a lot tighter to the cover in the dirtier water too so accurate casts are key in making a good presentation.

I think it really depends on the lake and the wind direction. I fish a lake that if there is a 10 mph wind from the south the lake is almost unfishable but other lakes I can fish with 20-30 mph winds. It depends on how the lake is set up for each wind direction. Look at your lakes to see where the wind will be. If the wind is blowing right up or down the lake then its will be rougher than a cross-wind.

When we get a good topwater bite back home my buddies and I call it "Shark Week" They will jump out of the water for it, just ferocious!!! Congrats on the great fish and great start to the new year!

Add me in on this please!!!

I added one of each ss to my cart just to try it and they were added to my cart. Would it not let you check out with them in the cart?

Congrats on that midwestern STUD!!!! What part of MO are you from? I go to college not far from the Illinois/Missouri border(Just on the Illinois side of STL). It's nice to see I'm not the only one out here!

Just a heads up that Mickey put out some custom fs shads painted by baitwerks on the 3:16 site. Don't miss out!!!

Just a brute of a fish!!! Congrats!

1. Break my pb of 6-4 with a swimbait fish 2. Win a tournament on a swimbait. 3. Prove that swimbaits will work here in Illinois!!

I know when Velvick used the Ragos win on Clear Lake in 2010 with the Elite series he used the "HOT SAUCE" gel and said it was a key factor. Not heard much else about scents so it will be interesting to hear what others have to say on the subject!!!

How long does the bait measure without the tail?

Merry Christmas everybody!! Hope your stockings are filled with swimbaits and santa brings you that new LDC that you have been wanting Safe travels for all and have a happy new year filled with fat girls and PB's!!!

I agree with what chuckin said. It is hard to compare the two baits. You said you are new to the swimbait scene so I would go with the Shellcracker. It was actually my first swimbait and I have caught many fish on it and it gave me the confidence I needed to start throwing the bigger baits. The triple trout is a great bait but I think the G2 would be a better starter bait and you can work your way up to the triple trout! Good Luck and let us know what you choose!!

It just amazes me how much these bass bite off more than they can chew, literally.

Nice chunky fish there! Congrats!!

I have been looking for a hitch painted deps! Did you paint this yourself?

I am looking at the Lexa, Calcutta, and the Revo Beast and I can't decide which one I want so why not ask the best right?! I have narrowed it down to these three from reading the other threads and haven't heard a lot about the beast yet but I have never met a revo i didn't love. I am going to be throwing anything from deps 175 to 8"hudds to Shellcrackers. Money is not an issue and if you could recommend a size as well that would be great! Thanks Everybody!

That smile says it all! Congrats on the dandy!!

I swear some of my best outings when I look back at pictures I am wearing rain gear!! It is very relaxing to me. Congrats on the fish and kudos for saving that kitty fish!!

Did you ever get that Hitch color? I am debating to have mine painted in that pattern and would love to see how it turned out.

I was fishing a wednesday night tournament on my local lake around a bridge when I saw this old car make its way down the road and pull underneath the bridge. I see a dark-skinned man hop out and head over to the passenger side where a young white girl, probably in her twenties, swings the door open. He hands her a little baggie filled with what I would assume to be some sort of drugs and she starts paying with some "special services". I knew this bank was holding some fish so i just continued to fish on the opposite side. Not much longer she heads to the trunk and leans over and he starts going to town. These people have no clue we were there. At this point we are probably 40 yards away from them and I tell my buddy "I'm going to let them know we are here". I honk the horn on my boat and that man didn't even miss a stroke

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has done something similar!! I am pursuing a career in biology for this reason. My research station is working on a telemetry study and some of the results we have right now are incredible. I had caught a 5 pounder from a dock and caught a fish that was 5-5 later in the year. I personally clipped a very small portion of this fish's tail so I could see if I caught the same fish. My buddy who also fishes the lake sent me a picture of a 6 pounder and I saw the healed mark on the tail and immediately called him. He had caught her off of the same dock over a year later. I haven't her recently but I look for her on that dock every time I fish that lake