Holiday Gift Guide: Day 20 - Missile Baits D Bomb

Missile Baits has taken the fishing world by storm. With a whole line of new products designed by Elite Series pro John Crews, they got my attention early this year and kept it throughout. Ish Monroe showed the world the D Bomb could win a major tournament when he won on Okeechobee.  I used it a bunch in Florida and also in Washington State and despite the regional differences, the bass loved it in both places.

I like the D Bomb because of all the ribs on the body of the bait.  It seems to hold big hooks much better and doesn't get as damaged after a fish or two.  Overall, I've been very impressed with the D Bomb and all of the other baits.

A pack is $3.99 from TackleWarehouse and they have plenty of good colors.

Holiday Gift Guide: Day 9 - Taylor Man's Flipping Jigs

Taylor Man's Custom Lures makes some great looking baits.  I have reviewed quite a few of their products and have yet to find one that I didn't like.  In each of the reviews, the quality and design of the bait really stood out.  They are not flashy products, but just tried and true lures that are made from the best components.  That makes a big difference for me when I choose what to use.  The Flipping jig was a real killer for me this year on Lake Okeechobee.  I relied on the 3/4oz model and caught some monsters with it.

What I like most about all of their products is the wire tied skirt that keeps it in place no matter how thick the cover or how hard the fish bites.  These little things make it much more enjoyable and efficient.  It comes in either a silicone or living rubber skirt and the price varies between $3.99-$4.49 based on the skirt.  I also like the thick 5/0 Gamakatsu hook they use on the bigger jigs.

A Punchin' Contest

The evolution of the punchin' technique continues each year. Eco Pro Tungsten is one company who really gets the fact that this way of fishing requires specialized tackle.  At ICAST they introduced the Honey Badger Punch skirt.  It's unlike most other skirts out there because it has a built in trailer and also has an X-Metal collar so it stays together longer.  The other thing they came out with was the specialized Punch Weights.  Of course, being from Eco Pro, they are made of tungsten.  I saw them at ICAST and immediately liked how thin the design was, it's going to be much better for punching that thick grass.  I was talking to Brandon Palaniuk about them and he was just as excited about them.

So here's your chance to see them for yourself.  Eco Pro allowed me to give away five packs of skirts and five packs of weights!  There will also be another contest on their Facebook page coming soon, so you can enter both if you like.

Here are details of the contest.  Each of these things will get you an entry: comment on this post, like my Facebook page, or tweet this contest to your friends.  That's it.  Contest runs until August 30th at midnight. The winner will be announced on the 31st.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eco Pro Has Done it Again!

Eco Pro Tungsten has done it again.  They have improved on the design of something that works and made it better.  The punch skirt has been catching bass from deep in the grass mats for a few years now and Eco Pro has designed a high-quality skirt with a few extra features.  Their version has more action due to the tail section and also features an X-Metal punch for more durability  If it's anything like it's name, the Honey Badger don't care!  Watch the video below if you don't know what I'm talkin' about.

The Psycho Dad?

Up until now details were pretty sketchy about the new bait from Kinami Baits called the "Psycho Dad".  I had heard about it a few times and still haven't seen a picture of it, but now there is this video to give us a little more info.

What do you think?

NEW VIDEO: Chris Zaldain on Okeechobee

I had the chance to ride with Chris Zaldain on the first day of the Elite Series event last week as a Marshal.  I posted about it briefly that night, but now that the event is over I can show a little more of what he was doing during the event.

This guy is a mat punching machine!  I learned a bunch about it.  

Check out my video from the day.

The Big O was Big and Lewisville was tough!

I was pretty excited about the two events going on today since I know a few people fishing both of them.  The FLW Tour Open was a little more exciting for me since it is the lake I fish the most and due to the fact that I'm headed over there this weekend.  The Bassmaster Central Open on Lewisville was expected to be tough and it was.

Photo: FLWOutdoors.com
Randall Tharp shows everyone why you punch mats.

Looking at the Lewisville results I was surprised at the number of people who zeroed, but even more surprised to see guys like Gary Klein and Rick Clunn coming back empty handed. Now that's tough!

Okeechobee showed up in a big way.  Two bags over 33lbs...wow.  It was funny to see Brandon McMillan and Randall Tharp so close in weight after being 1,2 last year.  Looks like that punchin' pattern was working today.  I think their success has changed the way I will fish this weekend.  I hope to make it over there for the weigh-in Sat and Sunday, so watch for pics and hopefully videos on here and on my YouTube channel.

Z-Man Punch CrawZ

I just got my hands on some of the new Punch CrawZ from Z-Man.  They are a cool new bait designed for flippin and punchin in grass but I think they will be great as a jig trailer as well.  I like the compact size and feel of them in my hands.  Tackle Warehouse now has them in stock and I will have a full review once I can get these into some thick cover and see how they perform.  At first look, they pass my test and will make it into my boat.

Ultimate Flippin' Rig by Powerhouse Lures

The Ultimate Flippin' Rig by Powerhouse Lures is a pretty unique concept for flipping and punching heavy cover.  The punch skirt and big weights have made it possible to fish a "jig" in heavy cover.  This system does it all in one neat little package.  The rigging is also very unique (see video).  I have been using this product for a few months now and am impressed.  There are times when a regular flipin' weight and soft plastic are the ticket, but there are also times when the fish want something a little bulkier.  I have found that in the warmer months, the fish sometimes want a bigger profile.  If you are looking for something new to use next time you are fishing heavy cover, look into this flippin' rig.

Side View

The underside

Went Fishing Today

I had a tournament today on Lake Istokpoga.  I didn't do that well, but I didn't do well either.  I love fishing this lake because it has some monster bass in it.  You have a realistic chance of catching the fish of a lifetime every cast.  The lake has a three fish limit (imposed by Florida Fish and Wildlife) for maintenance as a trophy bass lake.  I ended up catching a limit weighing 6.78 pounds and the winner had just over nine pounds, which is pretty low for this lake.

The day started off slow, we decided to fish shallow first thing and that didn't really pan out as expected.  When I saw shallow, that's two feet deep or less.  Deep on this lake is anything over three feet.  It's basically a shallow bowl filled with lily pads, reeds and various other vegetation and the main attraction hydrilla.  Anywhere you find hydrilla, you are close to bass.

At around 9:00, we went to a "deep" spot and I started throwing a Skinny Dipper, a Death Shimmer Spinnerbait, a Stanley Ribbit, a Fluke, basically everything.  Then it occurred to me, "throw a Speedworm", what was I thinking not using one.  First cast and I had a fish in the boat. I caught a few more and then the wind picked up and it was Death Shimmer time.  I caught a few bass (as well as a few Pickerel) on an all white Death Shimmer 2 with a gold Colorado blade.  It was back and forth with the spinnerbait and Speedworm, culling every hour or so.

A funny thing happened to me today.  As I was culling my fish, one jumped out of the livewell and into the lake, culling float and all.  The fish was gone and never came back to the surface.  I've never had that happen, and was panicking until I realized it was the smallest one and would have gone anyways.  

I spent the last hour or so punching thick hydrilla mats with a 1.5 ounce Eco Pro Tungsten Flipping Weight and a Sweet Beaver.  That has got to be one of the most fun ways to catch a bass.  You never know how big it is when it's wrapped in all that grass.

I can't wait to go back there again and fish for that bass of a lifetime. 

Fishing Grass Mats and Lily Pads

Since moving to Florida, I have become a grass connoisseur; the different types, the life stage, you name it.  I love fishing grass, probably because that's where all the big ones are.   The grass is full of oxygen and life, baitfish swim around and the big bass hide.  I don't go a day on the lake without fishing aquatic vegetation.  Even with my growing experience, I am still constantly learning about new techniques and ways to fish the thick stuff.  For instance, punchin' the grass, or swimming a Speedworm through the pads, or fishing a Snag Proof frog across the mats.  They all work and have their place.  I just found this great article on Earth Sports about fishing the thick stuff.  It's a great read and talks about what many anglers ignore when fishing thick grass.  

My Favorite Punch Setups

I was talking with the guys at Bass 2.0 about my favorite punchin' setup and it was much easier to just post some pics. I have two basic setups that I use for almost all of my punchin' needs.

#1 Is for the really thick stuff.  A Miller Punchin' Weight in the 1.5 ounce size.  It comes in both the Punchin Green and plain brass colors.  I like the Punchin Green, but there is something about that brass weight at times.  The added flash acts like a spinner blade, only it's under a mat of thick grass.  This is definitely going somewhere no spinnerbait has gone before. I like to rig it with a Paycheck Punch Stop.  I don't peg it completely down, instead I peg it a few inches above the weight.  This seems to allow the weight to really do it's thing and get into the grass.  I use a Punch Skirt on almost all of my punchin' and for the hook, I use a 4/0 Punch Hook.  The bait can be interchanged with your favorite bait, I usually use a Sweet Beaver or a Power Team Bully Grass Devil.  This setup has a watermelon with red flake beaver and a Bub's Watermelon Punch Skirt.

#2 Has been my go-to this past year and is classic flippin' and punchin' colors; decked out in all black and blue.  This one has a Punch Stop pegged tight to the weight, 1.5oz Tungsten weight and the Gas Money Colored Punch Skirt with the same hook.  The Beaver has been a killer and I have used a variation of black and blue all year.  My favorites are Black/Blue, Penetration, Hematoma and Hillbilly Special.

Using these two setups with a good heavy rod should cover most of the Punchin' situations you are faced with.  If you are fishing the upcoming Southern Open on Toho, this might be the perfect place for these two setups.

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Cold Fronts Suck

I posted this blog last week on the Bass East Blog, and since most of the U.S. is experiencing a major cold front, I felt like the timing is right for this post to be shared with everyone.  If you haven't checked out BassEast.com or the Bass East Blog go ahead and do it.  It will keep you warm!

Cold Fronts Suck

Living in Florida this time of year, everything depends on one thing: the cold front.  I'm sure you have heard how notorious cold fronts are on bass in Florida.  Before I lived here, I always read about it and thought "yeah right, it can't be that bad".  I was wrong.

My first experience fishing after a cold front was actually a week after I moved here.  I joined a club two days after I drove across the country and was fishing on Lake Istokpoga less than a week after being here.  I fished hard all day and caught two small fish.  Feeling disappointed, I weighed in my fish and to my surprise  ended up taking 2nd place.  It gets that bad. So what should you do after a cold front?  Stay home and watch football? Yeah right. My approach is to fish the heaviest cover I can find.  Grass or anything that will hold these bass close to cover and keep warm.  Even if you don't live in Florida, you can still use the same basic approach; go slow and fish deep into the cover. 

My favorite way to fish during and after a cold front is to punch mats with a heavy weight like a Miller Punchin Weight.  The design is really cool and it's probably something you might not have heard of.  Those guys in California come up with some innovative things that really work.  My favorite size is a 1.5 ounce but it is also made in one and two ounce sizes.  Attached to my braid will be a Sweet Beaver in Black/Blue, a Gas Money colored Punch Skirt and a 4/0 Punch Hook.  To punch this monster weight, use a big rod like the Punch Rod by iRod that was obviously designed for Punchin'.  This is the ultimate set-up for grass fishing when it's cold, or even when it's warm outside.

Since the weather is cold and the fishing is slow, the biggest thing you need besides the right gear, is patience and confidence.  I don't know anywhere that sells these, so my best advice is to fish hard and don't let the conditions get to you no matter what you are faced with.

Flippin' and Punchin' with Fluorocarbon

As I have said many times this year, I am a big believer in fluorocarbon line (espescially Seaguar). I use it on everything from finesse fishing to worms and even topwaters. One thing I haven't really done is used the heavier stuff (20lb+) to flip and punch with. I was reading Rattletrap Rambling's blog the other day and he made a reference to how J.T. Kenney likes to switch from braid to 25lb fluorocarbon "when there's a really bad cold front or when there's a lot of pressure on the fish. He says the sawing noise from braid can be a detriment and fluorocarbon makes hardly any noise and is also less visible." Makes sense to me.

I just got some 20 and 25 lb test Seaguar InvizX and AbrazX and plan to try it out a few times in the next few months before before my big tournaments start. I want to make sure I'm not breaking fish off in the thick stuff before I use it in a tournament. I really doubt the 25lb will break very easily as my 15lb stuff is really strong. I'll let you know how it works. More bites is always better!

New Colors for the Paycheck Baits Punch Skirt

The Paycheck Baits Punch Skirt has changed the way I fish thick cover. I started using it early in the year and have hardly went a day without using it to flip and punch heavy cover. It's the perfect addition to your favorite punchin' bait. I have used a bunch of the colors and seem to keep coming back to "Gas Money" the Black and Blue color. I have been experimenting with a few new colors and even the new round rubber versions lately and now have some brand new colors to try out. Check them out. I'm really looking forward to trying out "The Violator" color. It looks like a great color for Florida. Check em out if you haven't tried them.

The General - Oxblood

Delta Special

The Violator

BFL Regional Lake Seminole - I Posted a Big Double Zero

I can't believe I fished for two days and didn't even weigh a keeper.  If you had fished the tournament, you might understand how it happened, it was tough and I wasn't the only one posting a big double zero.  The BFL Regional on Lake Seminole was probably my biggest event of the year and I just couldn't get it done.  It wasn't for lost chances or poor performance, it was just brutal out there.  Going in to the event, I was prepared for tough fishing.  Last year the event was tough, Seminole is always difficult (in my experience) and to top it off, this event was right after the BASS Southern Open and the Bassmaster Weekend Series Regional.  A tricky lake, pressured fish, and a difficult time of year usually add up to bad fishing.  Even with all of this going against us, I was still optimistic driving up there.

On Day 1, I drew a local who was really on some big fish punchin' grass mats.  I felt really good about my chances going into the day.  It wasn't like I didn't get bites, I just got the wrong kind.  My list of catches was strange and just plain annoying.  I caught a MONSTER mudfish on a drop-shot, a chain pickerel on a Repo Man, another one on a swim jig, another flipping, and another couple mudfish punchin' the mats.  I also caught three small non-keeper bass.  I was catching them, again just the wrong kind.  My partner caught four fish, but they were all bass and had 11 and a half pounds.  Very frustrating, but what can you do.

Day 2, I drew a guy who had two pounds on Day 1, so we were both "swinging for the fences" I guess.  Looking back, all I needed was around 7 pounds total to get a check.  I also had a few chances on Day 2, they just didn't go my way.  Starting off, I had one attack my fluke as I pulled it out of the water.  I had one pull off in the grass (don't know what kind it was).  I also saw a bass swimming along, threw my drop-shot in front of it and he ran over and ate it and spit it in a split second.  Not two minutes later, I hooked one on the drop-shot on the opposite lily pad line and it got off in the pad stalks (didn't see if it was a bass or not).  We  fished hard to the end and still came up empty.

Driving home and even this morning, I have been pretty down about the results, but I'm starting to look at the positives.  I got to fish out of state, hung out with some friends, and met some new people.  Like they always say: "a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work".  That statement is very true.  When I left Alabama a few weeks ago, I didn't want to come back to Florida, but after Seminole I couldn't wait to get back into the Sunshine State.

Ever Wonder What it Looks Like Under a Grass Mat?

I've always wondered what it looks like under all that thick grass, pads, and whatever else makes those mats.  The guys at Miller Punchin' Weight must have thought like me, but they took it to the next level and actually got some scuba divers with a camera to check it out.  The video is pretty cool and really shows how dark it can be down there, but also just how bright it can be in certain areas.  This video will change the way you look at mats of grass forever. 

tacticalbassin.com: Punching at its Finest

Punchin' is a relatively new technique, but it's arguably the hottest way to catch bass in heavy cover. The industry has exploded with technique specific tackle and equipment like the iRod Punch Rod, the Paycheck Punch Skirt and the Miller Punchin' Weight. The creative minds of tackle companies have been working overtime. I just read an article on tacticalbassin.com that showcases the Miller Punchin' Weight. This is the first time I have been on this site, but I will be back. Great content and videos. Check it out!

Lake Istokpoga 2nd Place - Thanks Paycheck Baits

Today I fished the Fort Myers Bass Club tournament on Lake Istokpoga. This lake has always been good to me and I love going back. However, today was really tough and I only managed two fish. They were good quality fish and put me in 2nd Place (The lake limit is 3 fish). Around eight pounds won, and I had six and a half pounds. My biggest fish weighed over four pounds and came on a Paycheck Baits Repo Man topwater in the "Bone" color. This bait is impressive (check my blog this week for the full product review). I also missed another good one that jumped completely out of the water to try to eat it.

The topwater bite died quick and we started flipping and pitching. I was using my old stand-by, a 1 ounce Tungsten weight, Gas Money color Punch Skirt, Punch Stop, 4/0 Punch Hook, and a Sweet Beaver in Penetration color. I caught one decent fish pitching and missed one in the reeds. That was basically the day for me, but as you can see it was all about Paycheck Baits today. Thanks for the check Paycheck!

A New Way To Peg Your Weights

I don't know about everyone else, but I peg my weights almost all of the time.  I like using the bobber stops to keep the weight from sliding up and down the line.  I have tried the toothpicks, peg-its, Tru-Tungsten Smart Pegs, etc, but I like the bobber stops the most.  I don't peg my weight 100% of the time because I think it's good to switch it up sometimes, especially when I am swimming a worm. 

When I'm flipping and pitching, I peg every time.  Paycheck Baits came out with a new product that has the same concept of the bobber stops, but also comes tapered to make them more weedless.  They are called Punch Stops.  It looks like it is also going to keep some of that slime build-up that sometimes collects on the bobber stop.  I haven't used mine yet, but I will have them rigged up next time I get the chance.