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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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.


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at
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com

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

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

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"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

Mostly Larews, some Bass Pro, and some Swee****er.

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"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

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at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com

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

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.

--
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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

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.

--
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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.


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Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com

Bob La Londe
849 S Ave C
Yuma, Az 85364

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"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.

--
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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

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