Tinkering

4386 Views 26 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Jared, Nov 23, 2009

oldschool

Discussion Starter · Feb 15, 2007

When bass are active and biting we are all good fisherman, our lure selection and presentation is working. During a wide open bite nearly everything works and almost everyone on the water is a good fisherman. The problem is bass are only very active a low percentage of the time and after the activity there is longer period of time when the bite has shut off.
Bass are unlike most game fish and react to a wide verity of lures, they are a tenacious, curious fish. Because of the basses nature they can be enticed into striking lures when not feeding. It's the off period or neutral rhythm of the bass that we spend the majority of our time on the water trying to catch them.
Using a lure "out of the box" or the way the manufacturer suggest may not work, because the bass has been exposed to this lure several times over and is conditioned to ignore it, when not feeding actively. Bass fisherman tend to try everything in the tackle box box during this period, looking for something that the bass will respond to.
Tournament bass fisherman often are looking for a lure that gives them an edge over thier competitors and during this off period experiment with new presentations and "tinker" with lures to get strikes, when the standard lures are ignored. Tinkering is a big part of bass fishing and is one reason that this sport is so much fun. Bass will react to someting they have never been exposed to before because of the nature, we just need to find the right button to push. Tinkering gives the top pro's an edge and also gives them confidence they have or know something no one else has. So go ahead and add that pearl paint to the swim bait fins, dots to the crank bait, Carolina rig a floating Rapala or whatever else comes to mind. Tinkering is what bass fishing is all about.
Tom

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Dug

· #2 · Feb 15, 2007

Thanks, that is an excellent thought provoking post.

Dug

hi steel basser

· #3 · Feb 17, 2007

I am by no means a luremaker, but one of my favorite tricks is to turn a spinnerbait skirt around so the short strands are outside. When you do this, it makes the strands pull out unevenly, and gives the lure a much more fish-like profile. It's one of the best modifications I know out of the box.

TampaCountryBoy

· #4 · Feb 17, 2007

Tom, Brings up a very good point. Tinkering may be a great post that would be beneficial to all.

I like it Hi Steel, I will give that a try. I have taken scissors to a skirt to cause it to flare a bit more. I guess we were after the same affect. Neat trick

[size=10pt][size=10pt][size=10pt]What do ya think Bassholes, are you willing to list your favorite tinkering stuff / modifications?

For me it has been super glue and plastic baits. You can makeup many various profiles to drag behind a CR. This can include mix and match of colors. What I am playing with now is what I call the bullflappingfrog. I am trying to blend and balance out two flapping shads glued together to throw as a topwater bait over submerged grass. Not sure if I can get it to work, but it is fun to piddle with it. Oh year if some one makes it work and banks a bunch of money at least make me a pro-staffer

microtek60

· #5 · Feb 17, 2007

thats a good tip hi steel but if you really want your spinnerbaits to flare use living rubber.

oldschool

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 17, 2007

Spinnerbaits are one of the lures that are tinkered with the most. They have blades and skirts to play with.
I like Barlows Tackle to find the stuff I need and Jan's Lure craft is one of several places around. Barlows for example has Skirt Umbrellas and a tool to install them. The umbrella flares flares all skirt materials and works well on jigs. Another important factor with silicone, rubber or vinyl skirts is how the spinnerbait is stored can affect how the skirt performs. Most spinnerbait storage boxes organizes the lure by hanging it from the line tie V bend and this allows the skirts to take a set hanging down over the head and hook. You should store skirted lures by the hook bend, allowing the skirt to take a set hanging toward the line tie. Lay hair jigs flat. When casting the spinner bait the skirt folds back toward the line it is more aerodynamic, then going through the water tend the skirt tends to flare out, giving you more skirt life and movement. Simple things that can give you an edge.
Tom

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CHADWLY

· #7 · Feb 17, 2007

2

oldschool said:
Another important factor with silicone, rubber or vinyl skirts is how the spinnerbait is stored can affect how the skirt performs. Most spinnerbait storage boxes organizes the lure by hanging it from the line tie V bend and this allows the skirts to take a set hanging down over the head and hook. You should store skirted lures by the hook bend, allowing the skirt to take a set hanging toward the line tie. When casting the spinner bait the skirt folds back toward the line it is more aerodynamic, then going through the water tend the skirt tends to flare out, giving you more skirt life and movement. Simple things that can give you an edge.
Tom

View this product, that's exactly what this system is designed to do, take care of your spinnerbaits! Easy access, fast installatoin, and no bulky spinnerbait boxes. This system is designed to carry more than spinnerbaits.

Is anyone interested in this product? Please check out www.cookstackle.com (product information) for more info. As a new pro-staffer, I'd like to get an idea if I need to get a few extra for the Bassholes. Should be available in the upcoming weeks (or sooner) for around 20 bucks, free shipping! Paypal, check, or moneyorder will be accepted.
If you or your local tackle dealer is interested in stocking this product, shoot me an email with your/their number .................. [email protected].
Thanks for your time and replys .............................Chad!

Took these pics off the website!!!

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oldschool

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 17, 2007

Great innovation, I'm interested!
Tom

imonembad

· #9 · Feb 17, 2007

I have a home made one of these type storage systems they are the bomb for utilizing wasted space!

CHADWLY

· #10 · Feb 18, 2007

thanks guys....for the reply! anyone else?? :victory:

TampaCountryBoy

· #11 · Feb 18, 2007

I have the worm rack but I can't get around to installing it. I like the design and the function and will probably buy additional units.

CHADWLY

· #12 · Feb 19, 2007

I'll get a few extra for the site. I'll post it when they come in.

Oldfart9999

· #13 · Feb 20, 2007

Have you tried glitter on your blades? I match the glitter to the blade color ie; gold with gold, silver with silver, white with white. It breaks up the flash & makes it look like a lot of little flashes, like scales do.
Rodney

oldschool

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 17, 2009

Thought I would revive this old thread.
Instead of just opening your tackle box, try opening your mind to new ideas the next time out on the water. Experiment with a new lure or an idea you may have thought of. The next time you are pre fishing keep experimenting until you know you have tried everything and found the primary pattern or lure the bass want.
The very best time to tinker with lures is when the bass are biting.
Tom

CaptainMo

· #15 · Nov 18, 2009

Thanks for reviving this Tom. I'm always interested in hearing what "tinkering" works for people.

Rodney (OldFart) mentioned adding glitter to your blades. That absolutely works...
Another thing that works is the self stick reflector tape. Carry some in the boat and add them to your blades when and if needed.

FIRE

· #16 · Nov 19, 2009

Tinkering,has been done by fisherman every since we began fishing.We have change colors on baits to get what we are looking for.Sometimes it works and sometimes it don't,but we never give up and keep on doing to see what will happen.

cassandra09

· #17 · Nov 19, 2009

Glitter on the blades. Do you use glitter nail polish or what?

oldschool

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 19, 2009

Take a look at Barlows Tackle catalog on line pdf file. Lots of goodies to think about.
http://barlowstackle.com/
Tom

Oldfart9999

· #19 · Nov 20, 2009

Cassandra, I bought some glitter, 3 colors, at a hobby shop. Just spray the blades with a clear laqcar, & while it is still wet, sprinkel the glitter on. It is really easy & doesn't take much time.
Rodney

Backlash

· #20 · Nov 23, 2009

to slow the fall and not really affect the action of your senko or same type bait try sewing a few yarn legs on it to do this put yarn in normal sewing needle and push it through the bait and yarn is available in every spectrum of the rainbow to include the rainbow...you can make these legs as long or short as you want and another plus on this is the yarn tends to hold scent a REAL LONG time

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