In a natural lake ;where are the hogs at ? At what depth would you fish.?I do not have a fish finder but the depth is easy to find by using a count down lure.

I hear that 10' is good,especially around brush or rock piles. I also understand large rubber worms are best. What do you all think?

Chuck

Sorry ,I was going to share a secret.Better wait till the tournament is over.
Chuck

Tequila Sunrise, plastic worms!

Around the 1st of june, we're fishing post spawn bass. Hitting the same staging areas they used in the pre spawn for about 10 days after the end of the spawn. Then, as the dog days of summer begin to set in, I follow a basic pattern that Mike Iaconelli uses in summer. Deeper, Thicker, Current its called

Deeper-fish deeper because of cooler water tempratures
Thicker-thick weeds offer cooler water and protection from large predatory fish(muskies or monster pike if you live up north)
Current-the moving water offers a higher oxygen content and the fish like this

so basically, come summer, DEEPER, THICKER, CURRENT..say it 10 times fast...

slayer

One of my all time favorite lures for Hawgs in Spring or June is the Scum Frog or the Tiny Toad(a smaller scum frog). Use it on 12-14lb line on spinning rod so you can skip it under trees,docks etc. It's the closest thing to being truly weedless I've ever used.

When you buy it bend the hooks up slightly for better hook ups. Sharpen the hooks is a must. When Bubba blows up on one of these you'll wet your pants. I almost always have one of these on a pole when fishing anywhere there is top water slop,weeds,pads or even around cypress trees.

I fish a lake in Virginia(Lake Chickahominy)almost every year(April/May) where the bass just Luv Mr Scum Frog.

Thanks,
I never heard about the current before. That makes sense.Possibly drifting over drop offs would be very effective. We have alot of old mining pits in Florida. Many of these pits hold islands of brush piles where the water is 10 feet deep at the edges.I bet these are good places where there is a current.You would be getting cover, protection and current.
Chuck

Carolina rig consisting of a 1 oz weight, 30 lb mainline, 3 - 5 feet 15 lb leader, and a 5/0 gamaghatsu with a 12 or 14" plastic snake. Work it on main lake points early in the morning, through noon, and in the evening.

You are right also.I recall a man using that rig last year and catching a 12pounder. Only thing...Carolina rig is hard to set the hook in a jon boat. That rig is good standing up in a Ranger. Too much line to set. Good idea though.
Chuck

Have you considered using a 7 - 8' casting rod, and a no stretch superline? Makes setting the hook as easy as lifting your rod.

Use braid for a mainline, and flouro or a good clear mono for your leader. Looking back at my notes from Bassmaster U(as im not well educated in carolina rigging, nowhere in the Mighty Miss to do it), Frank Scalish says soft hooksets with braid carolina rigs are IMPERATIVE. Reel down to the fish and lightly pull. Should be fine in a jon boat.

slayer