Just exactly what is a "waterdog" and when is the best time to fish a live one or a replica plastic one ?

The larval stage of a Tiger Salamander. They eat bass eggs while the bass are spawning so that is the best time to use one.

Where can you buy them at?

I have no idea.

Last year you could get them at a few bait shops around Lake Fork. Those and Black Salties (black goldfish).

Anyone know if the shops around Fork have the Dogs this year?

I have seen guys at fork use them and apparently catfish like em a lot too. Expensive catfish bait.

I would love to find some water dogs. Hooked in the nose and flipped in a bed = game over.

They are kinda expensive. I want to say last time I found them several years ago they were $2.00 each.

They had tons of them last year at certain Fork marinas. But yes, they are real expensive.

Perhaps some of the guides can chime in? Not that they fish with them, but since they are in all of the Fork bait shops from time to time.

Nose hook them with a worm hook, then texas rig a 4 inch worm on there to add color and make it weedless.

Do they look kinda like a goeby.

river2sea makes a soft plastic waterdog, be a whole lot cheaper!

http://www.river2seausa.com/soft-plastics/413-nest-raider-waterdog.html

We used these hooks http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Eagle_Claw_Weedless_Kahle_Hook_Bronze_4pk/descpage-ECKAHLE.html

We would set up a carolina rig, hook the dog through the nose and chunk her out. Keep the rod tip high and let the dog swim around. You could usually tell when you were about to get bit cause the rod tip would start going ballistic.

IMO, Salty Dogs work better.

Hard to find. Last time I saw them in a baitshop they were $5.00 each

The store at the entrance to Fayette County lake used to sell them but I have no idea if they do anymore.