JR Basser

I get that Wayne, but the guys that most of us are frustrated with time and time again, are the same ones with different excuses every time they're way later than promised. And have 0 business skills, shouldn't be taking all the money up front. Maybe a small deposit at most. But again, first time shame on the maker, any time after that shame on the buyer for not learning their lesson. I've absolutely learned mine, and will do my absolute best to deter anyone I come across in buying baits from these few guys.

When, or more likely "if" you finally do get the bait you prepaid for a year or two ago, you almost have to hope you don't even like the f*cking thing, cause gawd forbid you lose it and need another, or just want a backup. I'm DONE with a lot of the baits out there and their sh*t head makers, been done, and let me tell you, zero stress, and I'm still catching fish as I've always managed to do before trying to get a bait based more on hype than actual quality. The struggle is definitely real

Was there a couple weeks ago, jigs in tules and frogs were the best bite. 0 swimbait fish, and we put our time in with them. Our better bites were north of the narrows, all along state park side to upper lake. Heading back this weekend, I may start on south end this time, see how the deep crank bite is going. Sorry I don't have better swimbait tips rt now, , in the past wind blown banks have produced bites with slammer type baits, and an occasional glide fish, rising sons and ospreys have put fish in the boat too.

HHey Clayton, I don't think it matters what color your hooks were the other day. Right now out there the fish are in all phases of the spawn. Tail nippers are just a normal response, most will nip at a bait or "threat" in their area around their fry, and some will crush it just depending on their level of aggression. If they're not hitting enough to get hooked, there's not too much else you could be doing different. Focus more on conditions like tide shift or lil pick up on breeze to change your odds. Sometimes swimming the bait a lil faster or erratic can elicit that instinctive/reaction strike. In the past few weeks I've had countless GIANTS out where you're fishing, following and sometimes nipping/swiping at the belly and tail. It's frustrating, but it's also just part of the game rt now.

Agreed, , but like others have stated, getting custom baits are just gonna be tough one way or another. I don't mind a preorder list that gives the maker an idea of how many he needs to produce, and that are allocated for, also limiting flippers as much as possible,, I just don't agree with paying all up front and praying to actually get your bait a year or two later... if at all

Loomis IMX 904, I picked one up from a member here and I plan on getting another. Perfect action for medium sized baits in the 2 oz rage, I use it for my tiny klash, dead or alive, and small wake baits.

But isn't it a lot better having the money locked up in your acct,, vs paying out hundreds of bucks only to hope that after a year, more like two, that you'll finally get your bait? Then heaven forbid you end up liking it, good luck getting another... All "lists" suck, and like most others on here, I'm done supporting makers that have shady practices, but what's the alternative, a maker releasing a few only to get sucked up instantly by the flippers or guys who spend ten times more time lurking for a release than they put on the water? Sucks all the way around. I'll never get on a prepaid "list" again, I'd rather pay a little extra and know when I'm getting it,, that's even if I buy another bait from those makers again. Hope you guys get your baits

Wasn't aware Phoney Frogs was taking payment til the baits were shipped... did somebody get charged to be put on a waiting list for their baits?

I need to find room to get my soft baits out of boxes 😉

Was there yesterday, tons of healthy chunky fish gorged to the gills on shad. Most of our bites came on A-rig, few on drop shot and underspin w/kaitech type swim. I dumped a conservatively estimated 8+ on a phoney shad almost within net range... FML. Was the first nice fish I've lost on a big swim, so I guess my time was due. With water temps in the low-mid 60s, they're definitely turning on. We started up north, our best bite was mid-lake, on State park side

Hey Charles,, I recently picked up a 9" suicide in a hitch looking color. So far have only swam test it, but I guarantee its gonna produce. I think it's a well made bait with great action and sink rate is perfect. As far as "throwing your money away", that's how I feel about sitting on a Hinkle wait list going on well over a year now... I'll prob be picking up a 7" hitch ABT soon, and it'll be here overnight from TW

Notorious for 20+ lbers... Listen to them long enough and your arms are guaranteed to grow several inches!

Hey Sam,, I suggest launching up on North end and staying up there. Typically it warms up sooner than the rest of the lake, and tends to turn on sooner. And plus, being in a yak, you'll want the least affected area from the wind. You can launch off 5th st. in Lakeport for free. Then paddle N.East towards Rodman slough. Tons of docks and bays to keep you busy, and occasional tule patches. I fish all types of baits, but if I wanted to stick it out with swims only, I'd throw a 7" Osprey along docks and front edges, especially if there's a lil breeze. Deps 175s, rising sons, and shad shaped glides that resemble crappie are all great too. The swim bite has been slow but could turn on any day with the weather warming up

I caught a fish last year that measured 27 3/4" x 19" @ 12.08# And another that was 28.5" x 19" @ 12.14# I'd say yours is in the teen range ,, awesome catch!

I've been up there a few times over past month, with days of 50-75 fish upto 10lbs. A-rigs, underspins and blades are the best bite. A few lipless and rip fish being caught. As far as glides and larger than kaitech swims, that bite hasn't turned on very much for us or who I've talked to.

I have a couple of them, awesome reels for BIG deep diving cranks like the DD 22. I've never tried it with a swimbait application though, I'd have to switch the line and rod to even play with it. 5:1 is the slowest I've gone in the swimbait world, and has worked best for baits that require a continuous retrieve like Hudd or slammer

I've found a bunch of rod/reel setups while diving over the years,, I've always wondered just how in the heck they end up there.... mystery solved