what is the best bait to use when suns overhead? Around dawn or dusk? night?

Jdub

ok when the sun is right over head the fish will do one of two things..if they are in a shallow lake or river(clear lake or the delta) they can be found either deep on breaks or deep eed beds, or shallow tucked away in over hanging cover..if you are on a deep lake(folsom,shasta,oroville) then your best bet is to go deep with worms,jigs,or a carolina rigged lizard to get the fish..or on days when there is a ripple on the wtaer a big super spook...at dusk the fish SHOULD become a bit more active and begin roaming the shallower parts of the body of water, I would still be tossing jigs, but alternating a spinnerbait slow rolled and a spook..look for shallows with deep water access nearby..at night..I like to throw spooks(duh!) buzz baits, and jigs in darker blacks,a nd purples..and a pruple blade with a big colorado blade..i honestly dont think a all black blade makes a huge difference..if a fish gets heres that big blade making noise it will wither ignore it or get pissed and try to kill it..hope some of this helps..ryan

broken lines

When would be the best time to use crankbaits?

Thanks,

Jdub

If the cover is open and rocky enough to make deep diving cranks a good bet, I like to throw them anytime that there is sun hitting the water. Shallow cranks can be brought through open water near cover and are also good during daylight hours, even if the light is barely hitting that part of the water. Of course, one of my best nights for numbers of bass was throwing a Mann's 1- painted black in a lake with lots of flooded brush along the edges, working it as slow as it would still kick, on a rising 1/4 moon like what we have right now.
Tight lines,
Wade

Would u ever use crankbaits over the tops of weeds?

Jdub

The Mann's 1- and Storm's Sub-Wort both dive to a max of 1' or so they say. Either of these can be worked over submerged weeds. If you work them slow they will stay right on the surface and can be good for getting a slowish reaction strike when the bass aren't eating buzzers.
Tight lines,
Wade

Wat about flippin and pitching? Ive seen so many people doing this method, and so many people talking about it. In a tube, where do u place urself? (for example flipping tules) how close in? Where do u want the bait to go? Wat techniques do u use?(how do u move it? How long do u stay in one spot?) THats a lot of questions but this is my main concern.:)

Thanks,

Jdub

I'll try and help with this, i do it from time to time :)

As far as distance from the cover, it really depends on your ability to get the bait in the exact spot and as little splash as possible. I would say I usually do this from a distance of about 20-25ft, because that's what I am comfortable with. As far as the where to put the bait, I try and get it as far back in the cover as possible unless the fish are not in the stuff, but there is almost always fish deep in cover. Boat position is what ever you are comfortable with. One thing you want to keep in mind is with boat position having an angle on the fish to get the maximum torque while setting the hook and getting the fish out of the cover as quick as possible without letting them get there head turned. I try and think every fish is a 10lb'r so when a big fish does hit you, your going to have enough power to get her out.

Techniques:
I mainly fish texas rigged style stuff (zippers, reaper,etc.)and pretty much fish them all the same. The fish will tell you how long to keep it in the hole, but I usually fish it pretty fast. If the fish are roaming you can let them come to the bait and pump it many times in the hole, but that's just not my style.

You can pick up more tips by checking out the video I did at www.westernbass.tv titled "kickboat, floating the delta"


hope this helps

yea that really does help a lot. Thanks for all the info. I was wondering about the flipping because i live in santa rosa, and pretty much the best thing to do is flip cover. But would u get in closer if u were flippin tules? also, how much weight would u need?

Thanks,

Jdub

Lake,
I'm in the same boat w/ jdub, in that I know next to nothing about flipping. What would you suggest to use with the Delta Money Woodreapers in the way of hook, weight, line etc. When your flipping how big or small of a hole are you expecting to flip through. I've been practicing flipping to a gallon milk jug cut in 1/2. Is that to big or small of a practice target? 20-25' seems quite a ways to flip from a Kickboat, I can do it comfortably standing but can only manage 15-18' sitting in my kick with any accuracy and not splashing the 1" of water out of the jug.
Tight lines,
Wade