I got into those bulldawg things pretty good last year.And saw Big Fish Williams tame a couple fish on bucktail type lures.I am going to give spinners another chance next season.Phantoms didnt get it done for me this year(weird).
I still like Jakes and Slashers for trolling.I dont think my Loke's did much
last season.
Well the super shad raps worked very well putting a fish in the net. Slasher worked well to. also a few on the Cranx's. Only had 1 Nils master and not a fish on it but it was an odd color so I'm going to get it repainted and try it this year. As for the gotcha lure's I sold and traded them off. this year I'm going to try some of thows cowbell things.
LeMay OUt
Lures for 2008
1- Dock-A-Matics
2- Magdawgs
3- Weagle
4- Pacemaker/topraider etc.
5- Docker spinnerbait
As for 2007 I set out to try bulldawgs a lot and am glad I did. They are my go-to-bait in a lot of situations. I also started fishing the big bucktails and caught some fish on them; I will be fishing them a lot more this year. The one lure I am really glad I tried was the weagle type topwater bait. I wasn't seeing many fish one day so I decided to throw it on a spot that I knew held fish. Only a couple casts on the spot and a nice one came up and nailed it. Didnt get the fish in the boat, but it sure gave me confidence in the bait. Wanted to try trolling in 2007 but never seemed to get to it since we were doing pretty well casting. Don't know if we'll get to it this year either. One thing I would like to try is vertical jigging; finally got a new fish finder so maybe that I will be able to do that this year.
Some old, some new, for me. What the heck. Bought (unsceen) online the new (last year) Blue Fox Musky Buzz and Double Musky Buzz. Don't. They're way too light. Good luck in 2008!
DD/DDD
Bikini glide bait
Inhaler
Rumbler
jig w/Salt Shaker Plastics
Rad Dog / Grinder (and Fred's clones)
Hawg Wobbler (magnum)
Weagle
10" Believer
Troll Devle (casted)
Super Shad Rap (cast and troll)
Like Kid… I didn't do squat with Phantoms this year.
Weagles really got the job done under the right conditions.
I went bucktail crazy for a while this year… and they really produced nicely. Those Double 10's are NICE!!! Not very nice on the wrist and forearms but I can't argue with the results.
I also really liked the Little Claws. I didn't boat many on them but had my chances.
Next year I want to find lures I have confidence with 10 feet or deeper! I'm going to try to force myself to fish the entire water column rather than just the top 5 feet.
Good thing I've got a new secret weapon!!! I'll let you know what it is this time next year. 😀
Scott
The Dragon Claw proved to be a riot to cast [smilie=applause.gif] [smilie=applause.gif] [smilie=applause.gif] . I had a big fish on Murray try to maul one while I was reeling it in. I casted it back out with the trolling rod and the fish went ape on it. The new 10 inch Slasher did very well in testing and has been cleared for production in the straight model with either round or squared lips. The jointed model needs a third hook in my opinion and I am looking into how to make that happen. They ran great with the single belly hook but its a long way between hooks on that lure. I did great on my refinished Weagles. Testing on my Claws revealed the need for heavier hooks if easier depth control was needed. But they are pretty wild with the lighter hooks. I caught many fish both Bass and Muskies on them this year. We are now in full production of everything we make getting ready for Chicago. We have a new Mini Shad and Minnow bait in both floating and suspending models . We are reusing the old Rippin Shad name for the 4 inch deep diving shad and calling the other one the Rippin Minnow. Both were tested by Myself and Indiana Guide Vince Wierick. The floating models are finished and will debut in Chicago. The suspending models will be ready as soon as I figure out how much weight to put in them. This lure is our first small deep Diver and so far they look real good in the water. I had a fish up on one with no paint on it. Claws will be in production by March in both twitch and crank versions. There is also a certain deep running claw that Will and I are still working on. A deep suspending twithbait is needed in our lineup. This will happen in 08. Mike Lazarus boated 38,39 and 40 lb fish on Deepthreats in 07 . I have some of the pictures and will be meeting with him in Chicago to discuss how we are going to use them. Michelle caught her third Musky over 50 inches and 30 pounds on a Nils that I repainted. All in all most everything we went after worked out good.
Lots of you guys sent us emails about the Little claws. Thank you for the input and reports on this lure. It has been a good producing twitch bait since it was invented in 2001. Slasher pics from Charlie and his boys earned them some free lures that they will be getting at the banquet this year. Got to love it when guys catch 50 inchers on our baits. Looking forward to 2008 and a little more time on the water. Mike and Michelle
Out of the seven baits that I thought I would rely on last year, I saw plenty of fish on the Llungen in-line bucktail and the Jackpot. After seeing the damage that the rotator cuff-destroying Double Cowgirl could do (on fish), I resurrected a few oldies with big fluted blades and they did bring up a decent number of fish. Didn't give the jerk baits much water time as the bucktails and cranks were doing OK by my standards through early November.
Had two particularly memorable moments this year, one on the Llungen at Campau on a calm day when I got the "wall of water" wake coming at me right behind the burned shallow bucktail (turned out to be a 40-incher instead of a real pig…how can a fish that size move 5" of water vertically?) Other moment was a detonation-type strike on a Jackpot at Austin without a hook-up, then left the bait sit for a few seconds, then took one more stroke on it, then a second ker-bloom! with water spraying all over. I was laughing and swearing at the same time.
Will be hard NOT to put these in the first string lineup in 2008
1. Ivabiggun Musky Rocket 8" – Bullseye ( 2 mid to high 30#'ers on this bait this fall)
2. Good old 9" suick custom paint (moves fish every time)
3. Real Fish Sucker (small one – killer bait)
4. homemade black double bladed bucktail (#7 wide willow blades)
5. homemade black single bladed spinnerbait (#7 willow and rattles – it buzzes underwater)
6. squirrley burt -holoperch
7. baby shallow raider – shim shad (many, many fish on this bait over the years)
8. believer 8" jointed bass no rattles (believe it or not)
9. Wiley head shaker -WB perch ( two 45" fish on this one this year)
I love new baits. I know its not always true but I'd like to believe that bait choice and presentation can mean everything.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss— 07/08
I cant wait to try the new FishAll's
Big bucktails- double 10's
weagles / manta 10"
Nils master in frog (Thanks one more time Mike & Michelle!!!)
bulldawg's
And last but not least, when I get the Kid in the boat what ever he is throwing!
[smilie=biggrin.gif]
Here's a thousand words worth:
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Several of them (Swimmin' Joe, two of the Suicks, and the Bull Dawg) haven't gotten wet, yet.
In 2007 I had planned on giving a fair shake to eels, wtd shallow raiders, salty cranks and rumblers. Did cut down on squirrley burt time, which opened up the box a bit, however all but the sea dogs rode the pine thanks to unexpected mid-season additions. Dunwright's life-like pikes were a smashing success, along with some modified squirrley g-ma's and mepps maribous. The saltwater cranks continue to move up the roster after a breakthrough 2006. Suzy q's and a real ugly weagle that I sharpied up deserve an honorable mention too.
Other than those listed above, the usuals proved why they get the default nod, and probably will prove to get the lion's share of wet time in 2008.
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