Free stuff seems to change the music a bit eh?

No just trying to be polite.

Believe me, the cost of lures has no bearing on what I do.

Again use the KISS Method - Keep It Simple Stuipid - the less you use the better - and given that USE THE BEST!

Get ya one in the mail when my order arrives. Glad your slab bite is rolling

Hey Buckhunter,looks like your getting lots of help. A slab is a chunk of lead,painted and found in various shapes,sizes,colors. The slab is used in schools of white bass, hybrids, and stripers. Can catch many other species as well. The bait will mimic a dying or injured shad on the fall. The different shapes out there will allow for different actions in the water. What I found to be helpful with these baits is to match the hatch thru the fishing seasons. I have used and caught fish on slabs all 12 months to include March and April. With a slab and any lure there are times that one type will outperform another. I suggest that you get you some different ones ranging in sizes 3/4oz on up to 2oz. They have there time and place. Early part of the year a smaller bait may be useful say a 3/4oz to a 1oz. As the water temps warm up and the fish become more active I will just upsize the slab baits. I usually wont go any larger then 3oz. The larger baits in sizes say 1.5oz to 2oz are good at staying down below you if your on a drift if it is a bit windy. I like to drift humps flats and ledges,anywhere holding the bait and those schooling fish. After a shad hatch in the warmer months it can be fun to throw small baits say 3/8oz sized slabs and the sandies will just kill those small baits. Keep the bait high upin the water colum when the fish are on top, and you can let larger baits go down below as well, for larger fish,pick up some hybrids and some blue cats doing this...I know I am offering up more then you asked. Here are a few more tips http://tntslabs.com/tricks.htm Buckhunter, I will be straight up with you, I think you should purchase slabs from lots of places as they are not all created equal. Some cost more then others. Lot of that is due to where the baits come from, some in the USA others in many retail outlets oveseas. They all work, they all catch fish. Just comes down to what your confident in when you use them. I used to make the TNT line of baits and I recently sold my business, in my eyes they were some of the best slabs out there. That business was built on making quality baits one bait at a time. Didnt dazzle folks with how fast they hit there mailbox, dazzled folks with a quality bait. I think you should try them all out though as on some days one brand will outperform another. As the gentlemen mentioned on his post about how free stuff changes the music. As you watch this forum everyone knows what songs are being played. I just suggest try them all and form your own opinion. Sorry I think I beat this one to death.I just wanted to add in some other thoughts on the bait, Team MadMac nailed the response from start to finish. Those that know me know I am always willing to give my $.02 Good fishing to you.

Meow!

I like slabs, various ones.

I change until my wife and I have more success on one than the other.

But Bomber makes a nice slab too.
I've ordered from Moe's and TNT.
All three are quality lures.

The trick is getting on top of the fish using your electronics.
IMHO, that's the really tough part.

When the fish are on the surface pounding shad, about any shiny flashy lure will work.

The trick is getting close enough to get a lure in their midst.
Heavy being the key, but action usually suffers.

I prefer a squid spoon or a Clark's spoon.
Both are light weight but have great action.

With slabs, you can cast a mile. I haven't used them yet on a surface school, but I imagine I will never use a squid/Clark spoon again.... the slab is just much heavier.

Good luck.

!!

I gotta ask though....... What does a 22 inch crappie weigh?

NoLonger, Thats the kind of post that I can learn something from. Thanks! Ill be doing my homework on all the lures and baits you guys use here in Texas. Im just itching to hit the water. Ill be checking out Lake Palestine on Wednesday hopefully mark some fish and try awhile, but mainley just to learn the lake.

Dave, I have no idea. Never weighed a crappie before just measured them lol. All the crappie I have caught came out the rivers out there.

Dave, I have no idea. Never weighed a crappie before just measured them lol. All the crappie I have caught came out the rivers out there.

Dang Cali. .. they grow fish big there!

Welcome aboard!

Let us know how you do. I'm new to boat ownership and always enjoy reading posts on techniques and success.


Here's a good article on fishing for whites/sand bass.

White bass article.

There are some big fish out there but its like everywhere else you gotta put the time in to get em.

Correct!!!




Find the fish on your electronics get on top of them and importantly stay on top of them... the key is FINDING them.. then use a slab to catch them.. if they are on the bottom (70% of the time hit the bottom and jog up) fish it off the bottom.. if they are suspended.. fish in right in front of their face. There are times of the year IMO that color is not a big deal.. just get in them. I personally only use chart. (mark parker specials) and sometimes a silver one (same bait as marks just with a hint of silver holo.. but same lure) I have personally never noticed more than a 5% difference in color.. the key is finding them.

Ive been watching this post today, wondering if i should put my .02 in or not.Maybe i shouldnt, but here goes........

This pretty much turns into a Chevy/Dodge/Ford commercial evertime it is asked, Everyone has their on "opinion" of what is the best tackle maker for the season.The guys that i have in my signature i have built a good relationship with over the years. Are they the "best" hell i dont know, No one can answer that honestly. When you fish as much as i do, you will find that when the fish are "feeding" it doesnt matter what you are using, you will catch fish. Feeding fish dont give a Rats A$$ what brand name is on the lure, as mentioned earlier, you could throw a chevy/dodge/ford emblem out there with a hook on it in the feeding fish and catch till your arms got tired. Now, when it "slows" down a bit, it takes a little enticement to get a bite, still the fish dont care what brand name is on the bait. Pretty much a guarentee that they are not gonna swim up and check to see who made it before they decide to "hit" it or not. If you find something that works for you, then use it and tell everyone and push the product if you so choose. The main thing is, have confidence in what you are using no matter who made it.

Main thing im getting tired of on here is that a "new" guy asks a question trying to learn and it causes a controversy between members about whats best and what is not, This is a TFF family it is about helping the new guys and getting them goin. Just like the posts thats asking for "best Guide", hell anyday of the week the top guide on any lake can get whooped by someone just out to fish, ITS CALLED FISHING!! NOT CATCHING.

And again, Folks just remember The TFF is like a second family, lets help the new guys out as much as we can without getting into a Pissing contest every time they log on and ask a question trying to learn.

If I had to use one lure, It would be a TNT slab with Charteuse somewhere on it.

Recent cold water slab bite...TNT strikes again