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Wave Fishing Tiki Stick Super Soft Pro

December 20, 2011 by ·

Tiki Stick In Package

We’ve talked quite a bit about using stick baits when old man winter comes knocking and today we’re going to take a new offering from an established company out for a few spins around our local waters. The Wave Worm Tiki Stick Super Soft Pro was recently introduced and is now becoming available at retailers and e-tailers. It is the same size as the original Tiki Stick but uses a new formulation for the plastic as well as the introduction as their proprietary “Molopo scent”. [Read more…]

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Hags Tornado F 6.5

November 6, 2011 by ·

Hag's Tornado F6.5

There are times during the year when the use of larger than normal worms will produce more strikes and bigger fish for you. Although fall is typically the season for faster moving baits, that doesn’t mean that on those slow days, you can’t catch them on worms. If you’ve never tried a larger version of these soft plastic bass catchers, now might be a great time to have your first experience with them. The one that I have grown very fond of lately is the Hag’s Tornado in the F6.5 inch version.

Like its smaller sibling, the F6.5 has the same scent, ribs, floating tail and rattle chamber, but in a larger profile. Why would you want to go with this? Because often bass will pass up a smaller offering in favor of a larger one knowing they have to fatten up for the winter. Given they would need to expend the same amount of energy to eat either one, bass, especially bigger bass, may tend to eat the larger bait. Yeah, the old saying, “big baits catch big bass” can be right on.

One of the things that you’ll need to consider when throwing the Hag’s F6.5 is your choice of rigging options as well as the size of the terminal tackle involved. For me, I don’t throw this worm on anything less than a 5/0 hook with my first choice being the Dirty Jigs Stand Up Finesse Head in 3/16. This shakey head brings out the very best in the F6.5 Tornado.

Rigged with this head, the worm will stand almost vertically off the bottom of the lake and every tiny twitch will make the tail come alive. For that matter, just current will have the worm quivering. This subtle action is what I’ve grown so fond of in the Tornado.

I like to fish this bait on either spinning or casting gear with no more than 10 pound test. In our experience with this worm, we got most of our strikes after allowing the Tornado to come to rest on the bottom and then crawling it up and down opposing sides of points. Using short pulls of the rod tip and then just shaking the lure in place for several seconds before moving it a little more was the most effective.

Big Baits, Big Fish!

You can rig it senko style, wacky style or just Texas rigged on an offset worm hook with a standard worm weight too. We’ve caught fish using all of these methods. But if I had to narrow it down to using only one, it would definitely be on a shakey head. Usually when you get a strike on the F6.5, the take is more toward the subtle side. I like to reel down and pause an extra half beat before setting the hook. This allows the fish to get the whole worm in its mouth prior to getting stuck.

You can use a standard worm rattle with the Tornado F6.5 and because of it’s larger size, the rattle will not affect its tail action as much as it does on the smaller version. The color patterns are the same for the 6.5 as they are for the F5 and as we discussed in our earlier review, there are colors that will fit almost any color of water you may be fishing.

We talk a lot about fishing with baits that you have confidence in and this is one of those for us. If you don’t care for fishing worms on shakey heads, maybe you just haven’t found the right one to match your style. The Hag’s Tornado F6.5 may be the one you’ve been looking for.

Hag's Tornado F 6.5
Overall Ratingwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
Yeah it's big, and big bass love it!

See ya’ on the water …

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Netbait BK Swimbait 5 Inch

October 30, 2011 by ·

Bigger Bait, Bigger Bass!

We’re going to take a look at the larger version of a bait that we have reviewed before, the Netbait BK Swimbait in the 5 inch size. We use mostly the 4 inch and it has accounted for a lot of fish this year.

However, this time of year presents a wonderful opportunity to fish the bigger bait because the fish are not only getting more aggressive in preparation for the winter but they will eat larger baits in their haste to take advantage of an easy meal. These are precisely the conditions that allow a bait like this to shine.

I’ll never forget a year ago when “The Kid” and I went fishing on a brutally cold day in November on Lake Lanier. Our guide for the day was arguably the best guide on the lake and because of the conditions, his strategy evolved into using live blue back herring and fishing for Kentucky, or Spotted Bass, as they’re known.

I bring this up because the size of the bait got bigger and bigger as the day wore on. The last area we stopped to fish, he put on herring that were at least 6 inches in length. We ended up getting a double with both fish exceeding 5 pounds.

Here again, the old adage, ”big baits catch big fish”, proved to be the true. I know that there are a lot of folks who just haven’t ever tried throwing a bait like this. It simply is out of their comfort zone. But sometimes you have to be willing to throw caution to the wind to give yourself an opportunity at a new experience.

The 5 inch Netbait has all the same endearing features as its little brother. A good solid head, belly slit that makes rigging easy and of course the same over-sized paddle tail. The action is just as good with the 5 inch and the colors are the same.

I like to throw this bait using the Owner Power Lock Plus swimbait hook in the 6/0, 1/4 ounce size. I prefer the larger hook as I believe it makes for a better hook-set. I’m here to tell you that usually when you get a strike on this bait, the fish aren’t playing with you. They hit the BK  hard with every intention of eating it.

I like to fish this bait, this time of year, by casting it out, letting it sink below the level of the shad and then begin retrieving it at a medium to medium fast pace. I know that a 5 inch bait is often larger than the shad that are being chased but, there are time when I want to have some differentiation in my bait so that the fish can pick it out of the crowd.

If that isn’t working or there are no shad in the area you’re fishing, another way to use the BK is to slow roll it along the bottom adding yo-yo style hops now and again while making sure that after the hop, you once again make some bottom contact. I can’t even begin to count the number of fish that I’ve caught this way, using this lure. Due to its action, the Netbait displaces a lot of water and seems to get the attention of bass.

Just like its little brother, the 5 inch BK comes through structure like a champ. The semi-solid head deflects well off of stumps, lay-downs, stick-ups or just about any other underwater impediment. You will get strikes as the bait is bumping into and deflecting off of these kinds of cover.

Another cool thing about the Netbait product is that the 5 inch is the same price as the 4 inch. We talked about the fact that you can catch several fish on one of these baits. The first one that I used, the final tally for that bait was 22 bass before it was unusable. These swimbaits are truly an exceptional value at about $5 a pack.

Netbait BK 5 Inch Swimbait
Overall Ratingwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
Great value, and even better results

See ya’ on the water …

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Tightlines UV Beaver Creature Bait

October 23, 2011 by ·

Since the introduction of the Sweet Beaver from Reaction Innovations, the “creature bait” has accounted for countless fish caught by the pros and the weekend warrior alike. The fact is that this style of bait catches bass. We’ve fished some Tightlines products but have not reviewed the UV-Beaver until now.

Like so many of the offerings out there in this category, the basic design is similar. A ribbed body with two small appendages at the top of the body with two larger claw like digits on top. Out of the package, they are connected and can be fished this way or separated to allow them to move independently and give the bait more action. Some use softer plastics while others use a firmer, more durable version.

The Tightlines UV-Beaver is definitely on the firm side of the spectrum. This translates to  less tearing and more fish per bait but conversely, less action from the flapping parts. Like all UV baits, the Beaver has been developed using ultraviolet colors that, the company claims, bass respond to 3- to 7-times better than traditional colors. This may account for the limited palette available for these baits. However, the basics are covered including Black/Blue, Blood and Green Red Flake.

We fished this lure on both a jig-head and a standard Texas rig to see what would be the most effective when using this bait. On a jig-head, by itself or as a trailer, proved to be the most effective. Furthermore, because there is less action from the claws on the UV-Beaver, a more subtle retrieve produced the most strikes.

Use Finesse, And Make A Few Adjustments

While there are baits in this genre that are most effective when the angler uses sharp pops and jerks of the rod-tip, this one is more of a finesse style bait. We found that using about half the energy that one would use with something that has more action from its moving parts was the sweet spot for the Tightlines.

Allowing the bait to utilize its body properly by lifting it off the bottom gently so that it glides back to rest, was the key to getting strikes on the UV. This is accomplished by using lighter weights like 1/16 to 1/8. We also found that the most effective use of this bait was in stained versus clear water or low-light conditions.

The other tweak you might consider is using a scent with this bait. We definitely got more strikes when we used our Fish Sticks Lure Enhancer in crawdad on the Beaver. While I can’t quantify the actual effect of the UV technology, there does seem to be something to it. It could be that the fish can spot this bait better than others in murkier conditions.

All of this being said, the Tightlines UV-Beaver has earned a place on the second string. It really does shine given the conditions that we mentioned above.

Tightlines UV Beaver
Overall Ratingwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
When the conditions are just right, this is a good bait

See ya’ on the water …

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Hag’s Tornado F5

October 12, 2011 by ·

Every once in a while, a bait that we have been using for some time will slip through the cracks without getting reviewed. The Hag’s

Tornado In The Package

Tornado is one such bait. We have been using this worm for the past couple of seasons with very good results on a number of rigging options but haven’t gotten around to doing the write-up—that is until today.

We all have our favorite worms that we tend to use day in day out as well as season in season out. Often, we are reluctant to make a change and when someone finally convinces us to try something a little bit different, what do we instinctively do?

We take a half-dozen casts with it, not really learning how to use the product, and pronounce it a loser. With that, we go right back to what we were throwing, exercising the patience of Job, and may eek out an acceptable day if we’re fortunate just because we’ve caught some fish with it in the past.

Such was the case when I first got the Hag’s Tornado. The fact of the matter was that I simply didn’t know how to fish it nor was I willing to take the time to learn. However, that changed one day when I had a well-planned, very long day on the lake. All my usual prep went into this outing except for one little thing. I forgot to check my supply of worms. Yes, within an hour I had exhausted my almost non-existent supply of my favorite worm and while digging through the tackle box searching for an acceptable alternative, I ran across the Tornado in the F5 version.

Rigging The Hag’s Tornado

I started throwing it on the same rig that I was using at the time which was a simple Texas rig with a 1/8 ounce weight. I have to be honest in that I was never a big fan of baits with all the ribs on them. This worm has some serious ribbing! But I didn’t have a choice so I kept using it and started hooking up. Watching the bait in shallow water was an eye-opener in terms of how well the tail floats up off the bottom, as well as how little effort it takes to make that tail quiver.

After a little more experimentation, I gave it a go using a Picasso Shaky Head with a screw type keeper. This seemed to be a marriage made in heaven! This set-up allowed the Tornado to really take advantage of its built in action more than any other rigging option. Every little jerk, rip or pull of the rod tip resulted in some lively action from the Hag’s worm as well as when the jig bumped into anything on the floor of the lake.

Hag’s Tornado Colors And Rattle Chamber

The two colors that I now depend on the most are Tilapia and Storm Chaser with a little Purple Haze thrown in for good measure. I use the F5 more than any of the other size but will use the F4 for drop shotting. These have been the most productive for me due to the fact that I usually fish fairly clear water. However, the Tornado comes in lots of colors including some that I wouldn’t hesitate to try given I were fishing stained to muddy water.

Speaking of the aforementioned conditions, the Tornado has another little feature that is ideal for helping the fish to find it. There is a built in rattle chamber that allows you to insert a worm rattle into the spine of the bait, about an inch from the end of the tail, without tearing the worm. I have taken advantage of this but it does affect the way the worm stands up as opposed to using it plain.

The other two ways that I like to use the Tornado are weightless, just like a senko style bait, and on a wacky head with some weight added to the head of the lure. With these three options, you have several effective presentations that can be made using the Hag’s Tornado.

If you haven’t given any other worm a real chance in a season or more, this is definitely one to put on your short list to give a try.

Hag's Tornado F5
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Versatile and effective addition to your tackle box

See ya’ on the water …

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Power Team Lures Bully Grass Devil

October 7, 2011 by ·

We’ve discussed fall fishing and the baits that we like to use for that time of year. However, there are still a lot of places that are more in

Bully Grass Devil in package

the late summer phase for the moment. For these conditions, there are some baits that will help you put more fish in the boat including the subject of todays review, the Power Team Lures  Bully Grass Devil.

There are situations where you will want to be able to punch through or in the midst of stick-ups, matted grass, lily pads or other dense vegetation. To this end, manufacturers produce what are called, “punch baits”. Typically, these are designed to be smoother, with less appendages sticking out, than a swimming bait.

Enter the Bully Grass Devil. This lure is 4.5 inches in length, has a set of claws and a set of extra appendages. Both are designed to be shielded by the body of the bait so that they slide easily through grass but still provide enough action to get noticed by bass who are under all this slop, waiting for an easy meal. This makes an effective tool that mimics a crawfish but doesn’t get hung up as it’s descending through the muck. The strikes usually come on the initial fall or after only a couple of pops of the rod.

Fishing punch baits is not like using the average craw imitation on a jig in open water or with only sparse cover. You want a punch bait to penetrate the cover easily to elicit a reaction strike. For this technique, you’ll want a pretty heavy sinker, 3/4 ounce or heavier depending on the conditions, and I prefer to peg the sinker. I don’t want my weight to have any distance from the bait itself. I usually fish this rig with braid because I am not making a stealthy presentation. On the contrary, I want those fish who are buried in the slop to know that something is coming so they will look for it. I also want a quick drop so that they aren’t analyzing the bait. The idea is that they see it and react quickly to it before it has a chance to get away.

The Power Team Lures Bully Grass Devil accomplishes all of this in an attractive and effective package. I like to use a heavy flippin hook with these baits as there is a groove molded into the plastic that is ideal for tex-posing a hook without having to worry to much about it slipping out. It also provides less plastic for the hook to go through on the set which increases your hook-up percentage.

There are several good colors offered with many of them using two colors. One of my favorites is the Delta Destroyer that is kind of dark brown on one side and a deep red on the other. This matches our local mud-bugs to a T. When you’re shopping for a lure like this, matching the hatch is an important ingredient to your success. Remember, you’re goal is to make the presentation such that your bait doesn’t arouse any suspicion from the fish.

A lot of folks don’t have access to a boat but don’t let that stop you from adding this technique to your arsenal. You can use this from shore simply by casting into holes in cover and allowing the bait to drop to the bottom. From there, just pop it quickly off the bottom and hold on!

On the MVF rating scale, the Power Team Lure Bully Grass Devil earns a 3.75.

See ya’ on the water …

The bully grass devil has a very creative design

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Big Bite Baits Jerk Minnow

August 16, 2011 by ·

Jerk Minnow In Package

Let’s take a look at another soft jerk bait from Big Bite Baits named the Jerk Minnow. This company has really come on strong the last couple of seasons with their soft plastics.

The Jerk Minnow was intriguing to us due to the fact that they have several unique color patterns as well as offering this bait in two sizes, both a 4 inch and 5 inch. [Read more…]

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Strike King Caffeine Shad

August 11, 2011 by ·

Here at MVF, we really like to keep our reviews in line with the season, whatever that may be. With that in mind and the fact that it is now the first part of August, let’s take a look at the Strike King Perfect Plastic Caffeine Shad.

This is a 5” inch, soft plastic jerk bait that, like all the Perfect Plastic line, is loaded with salt as well as having the coffee scent. During the spring and summer months, soft plastic jerk baits are at their best and can be fished a number of ways. First, let’s look at the most traditional rigging for the Caffeine Shad.  [Read more…]

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Basstrix Fat Minnow

July 5, 2011 by ·

Today we’re going to look at the Basstrix Fat Minnow. This lure is 4 inches in length with a hollow body and split tail design. Some folks may not recall, but Basstrix was responsible for the whole hollow-body, paddle-tail swimbait craze. In fact, I still know a few folks who simply will not try any other bait in this class.

I remember when they were first introduced and it seems as though they were virtually impossible to get. Outlets would sell out seemingly the same day they got them in. Man was that frustrating! [Read more…]

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Reaction Innovations Little Dipper Swimbait

June 27, 2011 by ·

The Little Dipper Package

Let’s look at another offering in the swimbait category. When the situation calls for something on the smallish side, what are you going to use? We decided to give the Reaction Innovations Little Dipper a go. We fished the Little Dipper as a swimbait with a weighted hook on Lake Lanier so let’s take a look at the action that you can expect from this pint-sized lure. [Read more…]

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