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-   -   Finnesse Soft Craws (http://www.fishingbanter.com/showthread.php?t=2128)

Bob La Londe May 2nd, 2004 04:58 PM

Finnesse Soft Craws
 
Ok, here we go again. I went through this when trying to master my stick
worm technique, now I am having the same learning curve with soft craws.

Yesterday morning I hit on my pattern first thing in the morning. I
starting bouncing softcraws from the edge of the bank out to deeper water.
My location was dead on as I boated a 2+ on my first or second cast. I
managed to miss several fish, and then my next one broke off on me. A
little later I had one dance and I forgot to pull it over so it threw the
hook. My son had one throw the hook as well. On the plus side he was
Robert on the spot with the net.

With stick worms I went to a 7' medium/heavy action spinning rod with 15lb
flourocarbon, and all my problems went away, except I think I haven't gotten
as many hits on the 15lb line.

For the soft craws I was working them on a 1/4oz slider worm jig and it
worked ok. I got plenty of hits. We were fishing them on 6'6" medium
action spinning tackle in 1 to 8 feet of water using 12lb P-Line
Flouroclear. It worked ok, but I messed a lot of hits.

Finally I schooled myself to crank down and go for a heavy hookset. In
order to eliminate break off's I backed off the drag. After that I got one
more hit and I boated the little 13 1/4" LM for my second keeper of the day.
That was the last hit on my morning pattern.

I did get one more hit later in the day working a back channel with a craw
on a heavy pitching rod for a 3.1 lber and our large fish of the day.

We weighed in only 3 fish for 6.88 lbs, but on retrospect we found fish and
should have weighed in 10 to 12 lbs. We lost three fish that we should not
have lost.

I'm not sure about the one that broke off. I suppose I could have retied
the line after my previous fish, but I'm not sure. I hate to go to heavier
line since I feel I don't get as many hits with it, and its more difficult
to work lighter baits on heavier line when bottom bouncing.

A heavier bait might help with using heavier line, but the heavier baits
tend to plow into any mud or sediment ont he bottom.

Our hooks were very sharp, but since I was mostly bouncing them off the
rocks they could have dulled some. I was rigging weedless which should have
protected the points, but I did hang up a few times as well.

As to the rods. I felt that they fished very well, but I missed a lot fo
fish. I felt the hits so I figure they were sensitive enough. On the other
hand I missed a lot of hits. I think I would like a faster action, but stay
with a medium power rod. Any suggestions? Most manufacturers don't give
enough description of the action and power of their rods.

The other thing I thought might work s to go to a standup jig design, but
fish them with an open hook instead of weedless. That would probably help
with hook ups. Maybe a light mono weed guard like on the WW Hooks I have
started using for stick worms.


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alwaysfishking May 2nd, 2004 06:09 PM

Finnesse Soft Craws
 
what kind of craws were you using Bob?
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
s.com...
Ok, here we go again. I went through this when trying to master my stick
worm technique, now I am having the same learning curve with soft craws.

Yesterday morning I hit on my pattern first thing in the morning. I
starting bouncing softcraws from the edge of the bank out to deeper water.
My location was dead on as I boated a 2+ on my first or second cast. I
managed to miss several fish, and then my next one broke off on me. A
little later I had one dance and I forgot to pull it over so it threw the
hook. My son had one throw the hook as well. On the plus side he was
Robert on the spot with the net.

With stick worms I went to a 7' medium/heavy action spinning rod with 15lb
flourocarbon, and all my problems went away, except I think I haven't

gotten
as many hits on the 15lb line.

For the soft craws I was working them on a 1/4oz slider worm jig and it
worked ok. I got plenty of hits. We were fishing them on 6'6" medium
action spinning tackle in 1 to 8 feet of water using 12lb P-Line
Flouroclear. It worked ok, but I messed a lot of hits.

Finally I schooled myself to crank down and go for a heavy hookset. In
order to eliminate break off's I backed off the drag. After that I got

one
more hit and I boated the little 13 1/4" LM for my second keeper of the

day.
That was the last hit on my morning pattern.

I did get one more hit later in the day working a back channel with a craw
on a heavy pitching rod for a 3.1 lber and our large fish of the day.

We weighed in only 3 fish for 6.88 lbs, but on retrospect we found fish

and
should have weighed in 10 to 12 lbs. We lost three fish that we should

not
have lost.

I'm not sure about the one that broke off. I suppose I could have retied
the line after my previous fish, but I'm not sure. I hate to go to

heavier
line since I feel I don't get as many hits with it, and its more difficult
to work lighter baits on heavier line when bottom bouncing.

A heavier bait might help with using heavier line, but the heavier baits
tend to plow into any mud or sediment ont he bottom.

Our hooks were very sharp, but since I was mostly bouncing them off the
rocks they could have dulled some. I was rigging weedless which should

have
protected the points, but I did hang up a few times as well.

As to the rods. I felt that they fished very well, but I missed a lot fo
fish. I felt the hits so I figure they were sensitive enough. On the

other
hand I missed a lot of hits. I think I would like a faster action, but

stay
with a medium power rod. Any suggestions? Most manufacturers don't give
enough description of the action and power of their rods.

The other thing I thought might work s to go to a standup jig design, but
fish them with an open hook instead of weedless. That would probably help
with hook ups. Maybe a light mono weed guard like on the WW Hooks I have
started using for stick worms.


--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com





Brad Coovert May 2nd, 2004 06:14 PM

Finnesse Soft Craws
 
Did you try rigging the hooks on the jigheads Texposed with the hook point
tucked back under the plastic? That will allow for a weedless presentation yet
allow you to get a good hookset with that spinning gear.

A good rocker head with a wireguard would have probably worked as well.


Brad Coovert
2003 Angler of the Year, Greenfield Bassmasters
http://www.greenfieldbassmasters.com


Bob La Londe May 3rd, 2004 01:17 AM

Finnesse Soft Craws
 
I had the hooks rigged skin hooked. All the way through the plastic, and
then the point tucked into the skin of the craw.

--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com
"Brad Coovert" wrote in message
...
Did you try rigging the hooks on the jigheads Texposed with the hook point
tucked back under the plastic? That will allow for a weedless

presentation yet
allow you to get a good hookset with that spinning gear.

A good rocker head with a wireguard would have probably worked as well.


Brad Coovert
2003 Angler of the Year, Greenfield Bassmasters
http://www.greenfieldbassmasters.com




Bob La Londe May 3rd, 2004 01:18 AM

Finnesse Soft Craws
 
Mostly Larews, some Bass Pro, and some Swee****er.

--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com
"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
...
what kind of craws were you using Bob?
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
s.com...
Ok, here we go again. I went through this when trying to master my

stick
worm technique, now I am having the same learning curve with soft craws.

Yesterday morning I hit on my pattern first thing in the morning. I
starting bouncing softcraws from the edge of the bank out to deeper

water.
My location was dead on as I boated a 2+ on my first or second cast. I
managed to miss several fish, and then my next one broke off on me. A
little later I had one dance and I forgot to pull it over so it threw

the
hook. My son had one throw the hook as well. On the plus side he was
Robert on the spot with the net.

With stick worms I went to a 7' medium/heavy action spinning rod with

15lb
flourocarbon, and all my problems went away, except I think I haven't

gotten
as many hits on the 15lb line.

For the soft craws I was working them on a 1/4oz slider worm jig and it
worked ok. I got plenty of hits. We were fishing them on 6'6" medium
action spinning tackle in 1 to 8 feet of water using 12lb P-Line
Flouroclear. It worked ok, but I messed a lot of hits.

Finally I schooled myself to crank down and go for a heavy hookset. In
order to eliminate break off's I backed off the drag. After that I got

one
more hit and I boated the little 13 1/4" LM for my second keeper of the

day.
That was the last hit on my morning pattern.

I did get one more hit later in the day working a back channel with a

craw
on a heavy pitching rod for a 3.1 lber and our large fish of the day.

We weighed in only 3 fish for 6.88 lbs, but on retrospect we found fish

and
should have weighed in 10 to 12 lbs. We lost three fish that we should

not
have lost.

I'm not sure about the one that broke off. I suppose I could have

retied
the line after my previous fish, but I'm not sure. I hate to go to

heavier
line since I feel I don't get as many hits with it, and its more

difficult
to work lighter baits on heavier line when bottom bouncing.

A heavier bait might help with using heavier line, but the heavier baits
tend to plow into any mud or sediment ont he bottom.

Our hooks were very sharp, but since I was mostly bouncing them off the
rocks they could have dulled some. I was rigging weedless which should

have
protected the points, but I did hang up a few times as well.

As to the rods. I felt that they fished very well, but I missed a lot

fo
fish. I felt the hits so I figure they were sensitive enough. On the

other
hand I missed a lot of hits. I think I would like a faster action, but

stay
with a medium power rod. Any suggestions? Most manufacturers don't

give
enough description of the action and power of their rods.

The other thing I thought might work s to go to a standup jig design,

but
fish them with an open hook instead of weedless. That would probably

help
with hook ups. Maybe a light mono weed guard like on the WW Hooks I

have
started using for stick worms.


--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com







Brad Coovert May 3rd, 2004 01:55 AM

Finnesse Soft Craws
 
I had the hooks rigged skin hooked. All the way through the plastic, and
then the point tucked into the skin of the craw.


Man, you shoulda been able to get a good hookset and not lose that many fish.

Probably need to beef up the spinning rod a bit to a medium heavy from your
medium.


Brad Coovert
2003 Angler of the Year, Greenfield Bassmasters
http://www.greenfieldbassmasters.com


Bob La Londe May 3rd, 2004 02:05 AM

Finnesse Soft Craws
 
I'm thinking a wider gap hook would help too. I really like the slider
jigs, but I think a 3/0 or larger gap would hook up better. I have some jig
molds, I may try to modify some and make my own. Maybe use a standup jig
head instead of the slider head.

--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com
"Brad Coovert" wrote in message
...
I had the hooks rigged skin hooked. All the way through the plastic, and
then the point tucked into the skin of the craw.


Man, you shoulda been able to get a good hookset and not lose that many

fish.

Probably need to beef up the spinning rod a bit to a medium heavy from

your
medium.


Brad Coovert
2003 Angler of the Year, Greenfield Bassmasters
http://www.greenfieldbassmasters.com




alwaysfishking May 3rd, 2004 02:31 AM

Finnesse Soft Craws
 
send me your address, i might have something you would be interested in
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
Mostly Larews, some Bass Pro, and some Swee****er.

--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com
"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
...
what kind of craws were you using Bob?
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
s.com...
Ok, here we go again. I went through this when trying to master my

stick
worm technique, now I am having the same learning curve with soft

craws.

Yesterday morning I hit on my pattern first thing in the morning. I
starting bouncing softcraws from the edge of the bank out to deeper

water.
My location was dead on as I boated a 2+ on my first or second cast.

I
managed to miss several fish, and then my next one broke off on me. A
little later I had one dance and I forgot to pull it over so it threw

the
hook. My son had one throw the hook as well. On the plus side he was
Robert on the spot with the net.

With stick worms I went to a 7' medium/heavy action spinning rod with

15lb
flourocarbon, and all my problems went away, except I think I haven't

gotten
as many hits on the 15lb line.

For the soft craws I was working them on a 1/4oz slider worm jig and

it
worked ok. I got plenty of hits. We were fishing them on 6'6" medium
action spinning tackle in 1 to 8 feet of water using 12lb P-Line
Flouroclear. It worked ok, but I messed a lot of hits.

Finally I schooled myself to crank down and go for a heavy hookset.

In
order to eliminate break off's I backed off the drag. After that I

got
one
more hit and I boated the little 13 1/4" LM for my second keeper of

the
day.
That was the last hit on my morning pattern.

I did get one more hit later in the day working a back channel with a

craw
on a heavy pitching rod for a 3.1 lber and our large fish of the day.

We weighed in only 3 fish for 6.88 lbs, but on retrospect we found

fish
and
should have weighed in 10 to 12 lbs. We lost three fish that we

should
not
have lost.

I'm not sure about the one that broke off. I suppose I could have

retied
the line after my previous fish, but I'm not sure. I hate to go to

heavier
line since I feel I don't get as many hits with it, and its more

difficult
to work lighter baits on heavier line when bottom bouncing.

A heavier bait might help with using heavier line, but the heavier

baits
tend to plow into any mud or sediment ont he bottom.

Our hooks were very sharp, but since I was mostly bouncing them off

the
rocks they could have dulled some. I was rigging weedless which

should
have
protected the points, but I did hang up a few times as well.

As to the rods. I felt that they fished very well, but I missed a lot

fo
fish. I felt the hits so I figure they were sensitive enough. On the

other
hand I missed a lot of hits. I think I would like a faster action,

but
stay
with a medium power rod. Any suggestions? Most manufacturers don't

give
enough description of the action and power of their rods.

The other thing I thought might work s to go to a standup jig design,

but
fish them with an open hook instead of weedless. That would probably

help
with hook ups. Maybe a light mono weed guard like on the WW Hooks I

have
started using for stick worms.


--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com









Bob La Londe May 3rd, 2004 03:38 AM

Finnesse Soft Craws
 
Bob La Londe
849 S Ave C
Yuma, Az 85364

--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com
"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
...
send me your address, i might have something you would be interested in
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
Mostly Larews, some Bass Pro, and some Swee****er.

--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com
"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
...
what kind of craws were you using Bob?
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
s.com...
Ok, here we go again. I went through this when trying to master my

stick
worm technique, now I am having the same learning curve with soft

craws.

Yesterday morning I hit on my pattern first thing in the morning.

I
starting bouncing softcraws from the edge of the bank out to deeper

water.
My location was dead on as I boated a 2+ on my first or second cast.

I
managed to miss several fish, and then my next one broke off on me.

A
little later I had one dance and I forgot to pull it over so it

threw
the
hook. My son had one throw the hook as well. On the plus side he

was
Robert on the spot with the net.

With stick worms I went to a 7' medium/heavy action spinning rod

with
15lb
flourocarbon, and all my problems went away, except I think I

haven't
gotten
as many hits on the 15lb line.

For the soft craws I was working them on a 1/4oz slider worm jig and

it
worked ok. I got plenty of hits. We were fishing them on 6'6"

medium
action spinning tackle in 1 to 8 feet of water using 12lb P-Line
Flouroclear. It worked ok, but I messed a lot of hits.

Finally I schooled myself to crank down and go for a heavy hookset.

In
order to eliminate break off's I backed off the drag. After that I

got
one
more hit and I boated the little 13 1/4" LM for my second keeper of

the
day.
That was the last hit on my morning pattern.

I did get one more hit later in the day working a back channel with

a
craw
on a heavy pitching rod for a 3.1 lber and our large fish of the

day.

We weighed in only 3 fish for 6.88 lbs, but on retrospect we found

fish
and
should have weighed in 10 to 12 lbs. We lost three fish that we

should
not
have lost.

I'm not sure about the one that broke off. I suppose I could have

retied
the line after my previous fish, but I'm not sure. I hate to go to
heavier
line since I feel I don't get as many hits with it, and its more

difficult
to work lighter baits on heavier line when bottom bouncing.

A heavier bait might help with using heavier line, but the heavier

baits
tend to plow into any mud or sediment ont he bottom.

Our hooks were very sharp, but since I was mostly bouncing them off

the
rocks they could have dulled some. I was rigging weedless which

should
have
protected the points, but I did hang up a few times as well.

As to the rods. I felt that they fished very well, but I missed a

lot
fo
fish. I felt the hits so I figure they were sensitive enough. On

the
other
hand I missed a lot of hits. I think I would like a faster action,

but
stay
with a medium power rod. Any suggestions? Most manufacturers don't

give
enough description of the action and power of their rods.

The other thing I thought might work s to go to a standup jig

design,
but
fish them with an open hook instead of weedless. That would

probably
help
with hook ups. Maybe a light mono weed guard like on the WW Hooks I

have
started using for stick worms.


--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com











go-bassn May 3rd, 2004 04:36 PM

Finnesse Soft Craws
 
I think Brad's hit the nail on the head Bob, go to the MH spinning rod. I
see guys using too light rods all the time, mostly with the same results. A
six pounder in cover will make mintsmeat out of that medium rod. The wide
gap hooks couldn't hurt either.

I know you're a fan of Mesa baits, Gilbert makes the best softcraws I've
ever fished with...

Warren


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I'm thinking a wider gap hook would help too. I really like the slider
jigs, but I think a 3/0 or larger gap would hook up better. I have some

jig
molds, I may try to modify some and make my own. Maybe use a standup jig
head instead of the slider head.

--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com
"Brad Coovert" wrote in message
...
I had the hooks rigged skin hooked. All the way through the plastic,

and
then the point tucked into the skin of the craw.


Man, you shoulda been able to get a good hookset and not lose that many

fish.

Probably need to beef up the spinning rod a bit to a medium heavy from

your
medium.


Brad Coovert
2003 Angler of the Year, Greenfield Bassmasters
http://www.greenfieldbassmasters.com







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