I seem to do well with plastic tubes, but I know people that swear by marabou and/or bucktail. What has been the most productive for you guys?
I'll be going to the gorge here pretty quick, and any advice would be great. Thanks!
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After all the years they've been used, and all the fish they've caught, the old venerable tube jig is still tops for macks here, day in and day out. I can't understand it, but the dummies just keep eating them. I guess that's a testament to the lure.
Having said that, I've caught tons of fish on marabous as well, though I don't drop them much these days. Bucktail for macks I've never had much luck with, though I never really gave them a fair try for an entire season. Jigs tied like large streamers on a lead head will work as well, and zonker-style rabbit jigs used to catch 'em, though not so much these days as in the 1990's. As has been stated over and over, the lure is not all that important. How you present it to the fish is everything. They'll eat ANY 3-10 inch soft plastic bait you put on 'em--any of 'em--if you figure out how they want it at that particular time.
If I could only fish one jig for a whole season, it would be a 4-inch tube without hesitation. Color? I'd have to flip a coin between light and dark. (I use a dark green and a white.)
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Thanks for your reply. Nothing like getting info from the expert. [
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No problem. If the wind is blowing like it has been since 11 this morning, you might want to add dynamite to that list!!!
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Who knows? The last guy that cancelled, last year, gave up a day that ended up to be awesome. A couple guys from this board caught a 31 and a 35 on a double, and a bunch of 20-somethings. It doesn't happen often, and I only take reservations 365 days in advance, when something opens up, but your name's on the list.
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Craig: I give everyone the option to re-book their same days each year. To date, everyone who has fished with me this year has stated they want their days next year. Until someone leaves and doesn't want their days in 2007, I'm booked full for the days you see. I have the most loyal customers on earth, and they just keep coming back for more!
If you're coming mainly to learn, and still want a shot at a big fish, How about anything after August 15???
The overall problem with reservations is that everybody wants "the best day" of the year, (like I know when that's gonna be.) Yes, prime big-fish-time for me is May-July, but that doesn't mean you can't get a big one in other months. It's just that the other months aren't the "very best" days, aren't as reliable every day, and most people are afraid to book a day that's not in the center of prime time. So, those days never open up, while late August, September, and October NEVER fill up. You just have to work harder for a big fish then, and I don't catch them every day like I do now.
If you want it easy (that's by Gorge Standards because they're NEVER easy!), you'll just have to wait. May-July is a lock for getting bites from big fish if the wind doesn't blow. After that, some days you get 'em, and most days you don't. We can sure catch a ton of 2-8 pounders from July through October! (can't keep 'em off!)
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Another option is to go late season. IFG and I fish the first week of December last year. It was mighty cold but the fish were pretty willing to cooperate. Jim loves to fish in the cold! LOL![/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Also, as Jim stated, a trip during non prime times, still gives you a good opportunity to learn Jim's methods and just because it's not prime time, don't think Jim won't do his best to get you on fish. He's one of the hardest working guides I've seen. If conditions are favorable, he'll fish till you drop. [/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I've got another trip with him in August. I have no doubt Jim will do his best to hook us up. I just hope I can get the hook set when opportunity presents itself.[/size][/black][/font]
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IF ITS BIG FISH YA WANT YOUR ONLY HOPE IS NOV DEC. BUT IF YA WANT TO LERN BOOK IN AUG LIKE HAS BEEN STATED. IM ONE OF THE GUYS WHO GOT DONS CANCEL DATE AND IT ROCKED. AS JIM STATED. WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP OUR DATES MOST HIS CLIENTS DO BOOK YR AFTER YR. AFTER MY FIRST TRIP I WAS HOOKED GOOD. IM SURE YOU WILL BE TO JUST LIKE THE REST. JUST GO FOR IT.
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IM ONE OF THE GUYS WHO GOT DONS CANCEL DATE AND IT ROCKED. [/reply]
Am I never going to hear the end of that?? [
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I DONT KNOW DON. YOU MAY BUT IT WILL BE ON JIMS PAGE FOR A LONG LONG TIME. SO YOU WILL NEVER SEE THE END OF IT.LOL. YOU DO KNOW CHUCK AND I ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CHOISE YOU DID MAKE. THATS THE TRUTH!
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Yeah, I know you guys are grateful. But it wasn't really a "choice" for me. I had a good client who had an emergency. And you gotta take care of bizness first!
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IT STILL WAS A CHOISE TO TAKE CARE OF BUIS. BUT I GET WHAT YR SAYING. I SOLD MYSELF OUT OF TRIP FOR ALL MIGHTY BUCK BEFORE AS WELL. AND ALSO REGRETTED IT.
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When you work for yourself and have kids to feed and house, it's not really a choice. So as much as I like catching big fish, I like taking care of my family more!
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DANG WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. I KNOW EXACTLEY WHAT YOU MEAN. SOME TIMES ITS TOUGH TO CREATE A WIN WIN WITH FISHING AND WORK.
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Anyway, have fun on your trip. I'll be up a few days earlier on the 13th and 14th. Love chasin' those macks!
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