Howdy all. How's the fishin?

[t-billy]

 I haven't been around for awhile. Thought I'd drop in and say Hi. I don't make many baits or hang out online much from April through November. I make em in the winter and use 'em up all summer. 
 It's been an odd year here in the Buckeye state.  80's in march, cold again in april,drought all summer. It definitely threw the fish off their normal routine. I struggled to stay on any consistant pattern all year after the spawn. As did a lot of other guys I talked to. My two most productive baits this year by far were a 6" wacky worm and the 4" Carrot on a dropshot.  Those two baits/techniques saved many a day this year. The water's down in the low 50s now and they're still outproducing everything else. The wacky worm is GREAT really late in the year. The season won't end for me until the water hits about 38. Then it's time to watch football and make baits.
 I'm going to list my 7" and 10" ribbon tail worm molds in the classified section if anyone's interested. They're very nice worms but, I don't use them much. The molds are like new. I'd like to either sell 'em or trade 'em for some 6" or 7" carrot molds.
 Anyway, enough of my rambling. How'd you all do fishing this year?

[412BaitCo]

Caught my biggest large mouth to date this summer on a sample 5" wutzit Jason happened to send me! That and a ton of fish in general mostly large mouth and small mouth. I'd have to say the overall numbers producer for me was the 4.75" ribbon tail!

[BareKnuckleJigs]

I did fairly well.  Caught 3 FINE Largemouth, from 21" to about 22.25" (all 3 were released)...many smaller Largemouth.  The heat of the summer hindered a bit, I believe.

What little Inland Saltwater fishing I did was fantastic.  GOD Willing, the Saltwater Species will get spanked at least 1 more time before the end of the year...

[t-billy]

 Congrats on the bigguns guys. I didn't get one over 4lbs for the first time in 5 years. Though the years not over just yet. There'll be a small window when the water hits the low 40's when some big fish will come shallow and move into the last remnants of water willow. Shaking a wacky worm though the remaining willows is one of my favorite late season techniques. I started making my own weedless wacky hooks last year. I use 1/0 and 2/0 Matzuo sickle hooks and tie wire weedguards on them using 40lb leader wire. It's easy to do with a vice and a bobbin.. Just bend a piece of wire into a v and wrap it on with thread behind the eye of the hook. Seal your thread with a drop of superglue. Trim the wire to the length you want and your done. I can shake a wacky worm though some pretty thick brush and weeds with these hooks. That shimmying slow sinking worm out produces a jig for me in cold water. Give it a try. It works well for me and I've never seen anyone else doing it. One more tip. Once you clear the cover, burn the worm part way back to the boat then stop it and let it sink for several seconds. I caught several fish this year like that.