Amazing Murray Story 12/27

[Dannicus]

I got on the lake just after the gates opened and had basically circumnavigated it by 10 am. I caught a few of the usual clones and bluegill and decided to head back to the launch ramp to warm up a bit and relieve myself (because I suspect peeing one's waders is ill advised).

As I approached the ramp I noticed three young guys, probably in their early to mid 20s, pull out in a pretty nice boat, and set up in a spot using their active sonar (or forward facing, or whatever you call it). Within seconds they had boated their first few fish. I decided to keep a respectable distance, but head out a little deeper to see if I could pick up a few.

I threw literally everything in my box. Bladed jigs, hover rigs, swim baits, flukes, cranks, Karashi, jerkbaits....everything. Nada... nothing...zip...zilch, not even a sniff. Meanwhile these kids were hooked up constantly, doubles, and triples. Mostly clones with the occasional 3-4 pounder mixed in for variety. There was another guy out there in a blow-molded Bass Buggy who was also obviously a seasoned fisherman, and we were both stymied. I am not exaggerating when I say that over the next hour and a half those 3 young men boated conservatively 70-80 fish.

Now while I don't (and probably never will) have active sonar, I am pretty adept at using down imaging, and I was literally on top of giant schools of hundreds of bass that wanted nothing to do with my baits so I decided to move on and fish the shore little more. After another couple of clones, nature became very insistent, and I fired up the Bixpy and urgently headed for the ramp.

While I was getting out, the guy in the Bass Buggy hit the ramp too. I asked if he had picked up any, and he said he had actually. I guess the kids had given him a lure to use and it worked well. It was a little ice jig. A technique and bait with which I have absolutely zero familiarity. Who knew? Vinny probably knew!

Anyway I made it to the privy and just barely got my waders off in time to avoid disaster.....aaaahhh. And needless to say, I was on the Tackle Warehouse site to order an ice jig before I even pulled out of the parking lot.

All is right with the world.

Happy New Year all and hope to see you out there soon!

[VinnyBass]

That is pretty amazing!!!!
Yes, ice jigs do work.
I have a bunch of ice jigs and used to use them often through the years. There were 2 basic colors that worked almost equally and they were blue and chrome or black and chrome. Again, it’s funny that they just sit in a tackle box and I haven’t used them for so long because I switched over to blade baits, under spins, hover baits, spoons during the winters for the last several years. I guess it’s time to bring them out of storage, just like when I brought out the brush hogs that sat around for years without being used this year.
Thanks for sharing and tight lines always Dan.

[Dannicus]

Up until yesterday Murray appeared slow. I really didn't see anyone killing it! Those kids, either by design or happenstance, really stumbled on THE technique. I was happy for them and it was good to see someone really killing it out there!

Not really knowing anything about ice jigs I just ordered one in straight chrome. Hopefully it'll work.

[VinnyBass]

Up until yesterday Murray appeared slow. I really didn't see anyone killing it! Those kids, either by design or happenstance, really stumbled on THE technique. I was happy for them and it was good to see someone really killing it out there!

Everyone I talk to has said Murray has been slow, except for a few dinks and even you have indicated that.
Have not been fishing much, except for a few trips to the SD river. Will be back to
Murray soon....or maybe early next year....ha ha
When is summer again? ha ha. Tight lines

[blackcloud9]

Rapala Jigging Rap chrome/blue, 5/8 - 7/8 oz was extremely popular with the bass guys for years, many years ago. With live forward-facing sonar (FFS), its nuts. Bass fishing can be easier and faster than summer because they'll be all bunched up together in one spot on the shad schools. They can even pass up the schools of clones and target just giants.

[Dannicus]

Rapala Jigging Rap chrome/blue, 5/8 - 7/8 oz was extremely popular with the bass guys for years, many years ago. With live forward-facing sonar (FFS), its nuts. Bass fishing can be easier and faster than summer because they'll be all bunched up together in one spot on the shad schools. They can even pass up the schools of clones and target just giants.

I've been a bass guy since moving her from Colorado in 84. I gave up my bass boat years ago preferring a float tube -hwy it's what I like lol. Still, I never really explored deeper water and vertical jigging much, but now I'll have to give it a shot.

[Dfishin]

How deep of water were they fishing and when you found a bunch of them.

[Dannicus]

How deep of water were they fishing and when you found a bunch of them.

Fish were suspended at 20-30 feet. Water depth was 50 feet.

[Gotfish?]

Jigging Rap was introduced in 1961. I love it when an old timey nearly forgotten lure kicks butt of new lures.

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/ ... 20shipment.

If only someone made them in bluefin tuna sizes.

[Dannicus]

Evidently some guys got upset that I shared this story and bait. They told @VinnyBass to talk to me about it. Well sorry if I offended anyone, but I thought this site was about sharing catches, baits, techniques that work etc... I mean I always appreciate hearing from you guys regarding what's working for you. I don't think I am ruining a fishery or anything, besides it's not like Murray is a big tourney lake or anything lol.

What do you guys think? Should I stop sharing baits and techniques I find out about that are working?

[Dannicus]

Jigging Rap was introduced in 1961. I love it when an old timey nearly forgotten lure kicks butt of new lures.

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/ ... 20shipment.

If only someone made them in bluefin tuna sizes.

The year I was born....yep twas a very good year lol! Thanks for sharing the article...very cool!

[DarkShadow]

Evidently some guys got upset that I shared this story and bait. They told @VinnyBass to talk to me about it. Well sorry if I offended anyone, but I thought this site was about sharing catches, baits, techniques that work etc... I mean I always appreciate hearing from you guys regarding what's working for you. I don't think I am ruining a fishery or anything, besides it's not like Murray is a big tourney lake or anything lol.

What do you guys think? Should I stop sharing baits and techniques I find out about that are working?

How is an ice jig in the middle of winter a secret?

You really let the cat out of the bag, Dannicus.

[TATomlinson]

Evidentlyt some guys got upset that I shared this story and bait. They told @VinnyBass to talk to me about it. Well sorry if I offended anyone, but I thought this site was about sharing catches, baits, techniques that work etc... I mean I always appreciate hearing from you guys regarding what's working for you. I don't think I am ruining a fishery or anything, besides it's not like Murray is a big tourney lake or anything lol.

What do you guys think? Should I stop sharing baits and techniques I find out about that are working?

You absolutely should keep sharing. I didn’t even know BFS was a thing until you started posting about it. Such a fun and effective technique. I am sure I’m not alone when I say I appreciate you and your great posts.

[VinnyBass]

Evidently some guys got upset that I shared this story and bait. They told @VinnyBass to talk to me about it. Well sorry if I offended anyone, but I thought this site was about sharing catches, baits, techniques that work etc... I mean I always appreciate hearing from you guys regarding what's working for you. I don't think I am ruining a fishery or anything, besides it's not like Murray is a big tourney lake or anything lol.

What do you guys think? Should I stop sharing baits and techniques I find out about that are working?

How is an ice jig in the middle of winter a secret?

You really let the cat out of the bag, Dannicus.

Dang, I guess my 20 or so ice jigs will just stay in my deep water tackle box this winter since Dannicus let the cat out of the bag. They will be useless as no doubt hundreds or more of fishermen will flood the waters daily at Lake Murray and the bass will get so tired of seeing them that they will be useless. Thanks Dannicus!

(Glad you guys didn't know about the June bug colored brush hogs and craw baits I used in the summer, even though every pic I shared had they hanging out the mouths of the bass)

[Dannicus]

Thanks guys, yeah I thought it was kind of a silly thing to get worked up over. I share baits and techniques that I am having success with all the time. I am fortunate to be retired and fish quite a bit. A lot of guys get much more limited opportunities, so if I can share anything that's been working to help guys, and sometimes their kids, get on fish a bit easier, well I can only think that's a good thing you know?

At any rate I have really enjoyed being part of the forum, and even more so have enjoyed meeting a lot of you on the water. Hope to see you next year!!

[JWall]

The preceding comments were far too kind to the offended. F them and the boat they came in on. Like it would even matter. Geez

[PUZZLE]

Secrets out now. Its really easy to catch schooled up bass on livescope! LOL
In serious though, i enjoy reading all the posts here. Keep up the good work.

[Pwy_FireCapt]

I stopped posting here because too many knuckleheads were either pissed that I was letting the cat out of the bag, or flat out calling me a liar.
I started fishing just before SDFISH started. I learned so much from reading posts from the “regulars”. I’m eternally grateful for that. Keep up the sharing as long as you can! You’re appreciated….

Evidently some guys got upset that I shared this story and bait. They told @VinnyBass to talk to me about it. Well sorry if I offended anyone, but I thought this site was about sharing catches, baits, techniques that work etc... I mean I always appreciate hearing from you guys regarding what's working for you. I don't think I am ruining a fishery or anything, besides it's not like Murray is a big tourney lake or anything lol.

What do you guys think? Should I stop sharing baits and techniques I find out about that are working?

[VinnyBass]

I stopped posting here because too many knuckleheads were either pissed that I was letting the cat out of the bag, or flat out calling me a liar.
I started fishing just before SDFISH started. I learned so much from reading posts from the “regulars”. I’m eternally grateful for that. Keep up the sharing as long as you can! You’re appreciated….

Evidently some guys got upset that I shared this story and bait. They told @VinnyBass to talk to me about it. Well sorry if I offended anyone, but I thought this site was about sharing catches, baits, techniques that work etc... I mean I always appreciate hearing from you guys regarding what's working for you. I don't think I am ruining a fishery or anything, besides it's not like Murray is a big tourney lake or anything lol.

What do you guys think? Should I stop sharing baits and techniques I find out about that are working?

Always fun when I would see you at Murray, especially watching you land lots and lots of bass.
Hope all is well and tight lines always!

[Pourboy]

One thing that I’ve always loved about this forum (more the previous iteration, but still now) is the willingness to share information. I’ve learned new techniques, areas to fish, hot spots and general ideas. I think that was kind of why this was formed. True, there are individual special spots that I won’t divulge the location of to keep it special, or if someone specifically asked me not to say something. But I do love sharing the information and skills I learn so that others can learn as well. I have very little ice jig fishing experience but will be happy to learn if I find out it’s something that works.

1. I don’t know, what I don’t know
2. I know that I don’t know
3. I know and grow and it starts to show
4. I simply go because of what I know.

It’s something that I teach but try to live by as well. I love to learn and share. I know that kind of pisses off some people. Sorry, not sorry. Cheers to all and keep the great information coming. I’m always excited to hear how people achieve their success or fail and learn. See you on the water.