Catching Bass on the ToadRunner Jr.

Posted on July 25, 2023 by admin

The ToadRunner Jr. by Booyah Baits is a plopping-style walking bait that provides another sound and commotion that can bring the bass running. It is super simple to fish and has adjustments that make it more versatile than one might think.

See a Few ToadRunner Jr. Catches

ToadRunner Jr. Bass Catches

Get Your ToadRunner Jr. Here

As you can see in the video the ToadRunner Jr. was even working for bass in the the thick duckweed. The key is to bend back the adjustable tail so that it doesn’t hang up as much.

This also lessens the hard thump of the plop a bit but allows me to fish this bait where I could never fish anything close to the Whopper Plopper or other plopping baits.

Use the ToadRunner Jr. Without Getting Worn Out

The cool thing about these plopping frogs is that they can be fished on a straight retrieve and the plopping tail does the work.

I fish frogs a lot and this is huge for me because working a frog in the traditional way can really take a toll on my wrist and elbow after hours of walking and popping a frog. I will still walk and pop a frog, but I will also reach for a plopping frog more often just for ease of use (it is effective too).

Tip for Fishing This Frog

I am fairly new to the plopping frog, but I noticed that I could still pause and pop this bait and get it to walk a bit. If you watch my video the second bass I caught swirled on it and missed and I was able to pause and twitch it to get it to come back and give me another shot.

This is a cool feature that will allow for more fish to be caught. As I said above, you can also bend that tail to get the plop that you want, or to get it through heavy cover easier.

A look at the ToadRunner Jr. by Booyah Baits.

If you look closely there is a little metal wire in the tail that allows you to bend that paddle back away from the bait to catch less water or in towards the bait to make a bigger plop.

My final thoughts

I was impressed with the ToadRunner Jr. It has an older brother that I haven’t fished with yet, but I will be getting some soon. If I were you, I would go grab a ToadRunner Jr. or two and give them a go while it is still prime frogging season.

To your fishing success,

Jonathan Burke
LiveBassFishing.com

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Frog Bass Fishing & Doubling Your Catches

Posted on June 28, 2023 by admin

Frog bass fishing is super exciting but you are going to miss some fish. Here’s a simple way to double your catches when bass miss your frog.

Frog Bass Fishing and Doubing Your Catches

Frog Bass Fishing & Missing Fish

If you have fished a frog bass fishing then chances are you have missed some fish. Sometimes they just miss it and sometimes we miss the hookset. Either way, it can be super exciting and frustrating at the same time.

Frogs I Use For Bass Frog Fishing

Jackall Kaera

Terminator Walking Frog Jr.

Spro Popping Frog

How to Recover the Frog Bass that Miss

The cool thing is that kind of like a big swimbait, fish will show themselves and you can find out where they are at.

This is where a backup lure comes into play. The secret to doubling your bass catches is to have a backup. When the bass miss the frog, come back in with a Senko, Yamatanuki, or pitch in a Texas rig craw or a Tokyo rig.

Some of the Setups For Follow Up Bass

Get Your VMC Tokyo Rig Here

Get Your Bandito Bugs Here

Get Your Fate Black 7’4″ Heavy Rod Here

Get Your Daiwa Tatula SV TW103 Reel Here

Get The St. Croix Victory Rod I Use Here

Get The Daiwa Tatula Baitcaster I Use Here

Get Your YoZuri Fluorocarbon Line Here

A lot of times these active bass that miss will engulf a soft plastic that is pitched back into its area. That is how you catch way more fish when frog bass fishing.

If you look at the video above, sometimes the bass miss the frog multiple times. I was able to throw a Texas rig craw back in and get the bass that I missed twice.

I did the same thing following up after a bass missed the frog again. This isn’t the first time that I’ve done this either. The follow-up tactic has delivered bass over and over again.

You can see this in my Yamatanuki video on this blog as well.

Yamatanuki follow-up bait for missed frog bass

The Yamatanuki is a new bait that bass haven’t really seen yet and it can be a great follow-up bait when bass miss the frog.

Frog Bass Fishing is an amazing way to catch big bass

This is a bass that I caught on the frog fishing through the duckweed and pausing over the holes.

Final Thoughts

Frog fishing is one of the most exciting ways I know of to catch bass. Keep a backup to double your missed opportunities when fish blow up and miss.

Grab a good heavy action rod like the ones that I suggested above, some frogs, and a backup rig and get to work.

To your fishing success,

Jonathan Burke
LiveBassFishing.com

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Yamatanuki Fishing for Bass – Pitching the Yamatanuki in Duckweed and Catching Bass

Posted on June 21, 2023 by admin

The Yamamoto Yamatanuki is a new bait on the bass fishing scene and I have been fishing with it to try to see some out-of-the-box ways to catch bass on this funny-looking bait.

Bass caught on the new Yamamoto Yamatanuki

Fishing the Yamatanuki for Bass Pitching and Punching

As I said, I have been playing with new ways to fish this bait. It skips like crazy and I have found that it comes through brush piles like crazy, but I have started pitching it in the duckweed and have been happy with the results.

Unlike the Senko, the Yamatanuki is heavy and compact enough to punch through duckweed and light cover without using a weight. Using the Senko weightless it would sit on top of the duckweed that I have been fishing.

This is special because it provides a new presentation. This means that finicky and pressured bass may have to check it out.

It is something that is new and has a fall that the bass haven’t seen before. Bass don’t have hands, so they have to use their mouth to grab things, and when they do it’s game on!

Bass caught pitching the Yamatanuki

Yamatanuki Hook-Up Ratio

I wasn’t sure how the hook-up ratio was going to be with this fat piece of plastic, but the results have been impressive. The fish seem to take it deep and that bit old 5/0 EWG gets them deep in the mouth.

I can’t really think of a fish I’ve missed yet. I even caught a channel catfish the other day using the Yamatanuki.

How I Rig the Yamatanuki

I rig the Yamatanuki weightless on a 5/0 EWG hook. I actually started with a screw-lock hook, but feel like I get a lot more fish out of the bait with the standard 5/0 EWG from Gamakatsu.

Originally I was worried about the plastic balling up on the standard EWG, but I haven’t experienced that. On the other hand, the plastic the Yamamoto uses is super soft and that screw-lock kept ripping out and I wasn’t catching as many fish on one bait.

Get Your 5/0 EWG Hooks Here

Get Your Yamatanuki Baits Here

The Gear I Used to Fish the Yamatanuki for Bass

I have been fishing the Yamatanuki on heavy gear. It is heavy enough that it can be fished on stout gear.

I have been fishing it on a 7’4″ heavy action rod and 20-pound test fluorocarbon line. It is heavy enough to pitch easily on this heavy gear and it gives me a greater chance of getting the bass out of the junk.

I have been using a Daiwa Tatula 103 SV TW baitcasting reel. This reel is lightweight and super smooth. It pitches this bait super well. It also has no issue wenching the bass out of the cover.

Get Your Fate Black 7’4″ Heavy Rod Here

Get Your Daiwa Tatula SV TW103 Reel Here

Get Your YoZuri Fluorocarbon Line Here

If I was skipping this bait under docks I would probably drop to a 7′ medium-heavy rod for more control and a softer tip for skipping. You could get away with the exact same reel.

Final Thoughts on the Yamatanuki

This bait has a lot more applications and they will continue to adapt. I have pitched outside reed edges, skipped it, and drug it through brush piles with success.

Grab some Yamatanukis and give them a try. Mess around and think outside the box and see what you can come up with. That is what makes bass fishing so fun. Trial and error is part of the game.

To your fishing success,

Jonathan Burke
LiveBassFishing.com

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Seeing Coatis and Catching Smallmouth Bass

Posted on June 14, 2023 by admin

Last Thursday I took the family out to a rural area of Arizona for some creek fishing for smallmouth bass and got a special treat of watching a pack of Coatis or Coatimundi.

Seeing Coatimundi While Catching Smallmouth Bass

Check Out These Books To Choose Your Arizona Wilderness Adventure

A Rare Experience with Coati or Coatimundi

This was a rare experience for me as I haven’t seen very many coatimundis in the wild in my lifetime. These critters go by both coati and coatimundi if you are wondering why I use them interchangeably.

These strange creatures are part of the raccoon family and kinda look like a raccoon was crossed with a monkey of some sort.

I remember the first time I saw one in the wild I called it an Arizona monkey. They have long noses and long tails. Pretty amazing animals.

These guys weren’t scared of me at all and I watched them fool around for about 15-20 minutes before they disappeared back into the woods.

Add in Catching Smallmouth Bass

This trip became even more rare as I came across these crazy coatis while I was wading in the creek and catching smallmouth bass.

Another Video Fishing for Smallmouth Bass and Sunfish a Week Before

In fact, in the video above I show a clip of catching a smallmouth bass and seeing a couple of coati come down and drink right in front of me.

See Another River Fishing Trip Here

I was really wishing that I had something more than a GoPro when I was filming these guys and actually stopped recording when I thought I was at first, so I apologize for that.

Creek fishing for smallmouth bass in Arizona

The Beauty of the Arizona Outdoors

I love the Arizona outdoors. As more people move to Arizona and more and more people are getting out these sightings are more rare, but they can still happen and make for a perfect day of fishing and connecting with the wildlife.

I remember a few years ago when my brother-in-law and I were fishing this same stretch of river and came across a sow bear and her cub sitting in the middle of the stream. She was flipping over rocks and eating whatever was underneath and the cub was having a great time just splashing around in the water.

We watched for a while, enjoying this rare experience, and then gave them a wide birth and resumed fishing for smallmouth.

That’s the cool thing about these fishing adventures is that you never know what to expect. I never would have expected coatimundi, but there they were.

Get out and catch some fish. You never know what you might see.

To your fishing success,

Jonathan Burke
LiveBassFishing.com

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The Joys of Creek Fishing for Smallmouth Bass

Posted on June 7, 2023 by admin

There’s something undeniably magical about the tranquility of creek fishing for smallmouth bass. As you wade through crystal-clear waters, surrounded by lush greenery and the symphony of nature, you enter a peaceful world where time seems to stand still.

In this article, we will explore the exhilarating joys of creek fishing for smallmouth bass.

Creek fishing for smallmouth bass

The Thrill of Pursuit – Creek Fishing for Smallmouth Bass

Creek fishing for smallmouth bass offers an adrenaline-pumping adventure for avid anglers. As you navigate the meandering currents and study the hidden pockets of these waterways, you become a detective in search of your elusive quarry.

The smallmouth bass, known for its fierce fighting spirit, lurks beneath submerged logs, in rocky crevices, and near overhanging vegetation. Every cast holds the promise of a heart-pounding strike, keeping you on the edge of your seat with anticipation.

Natural Beauty and Serenity – Creek Fishing

Creek fishing presents an opportunity to immerse yourself in the raw beauty of nature. These picturesque settings, with their glistening waters, moss-covered rocks, and towering trees, transport you to a world far removed from the chaos of daily life.

As you stand waist-deep in the clear, babbling creek, you become one with the environment, breathing in the fresh air and relishing the tranquility that only nature can provide. It’s a chance to escape the noise and distractions, reconnect with your primal instincts, and appreciate the simple wonders of the wilderness.

Technical Skill and Strategy – Small Water Smallmouth Bass

Creek fishing for smallmouth bass requires more than just luck; it demands technical skill and strategic thinking. Casting accuracy becomes paramount, as you aim to land your lure in the tightest spots, enticing these cunning predators.

The ability to read the water, understand its flow, and predict where the bass may be hiding becomes an art form. Adjusting your bait presentation and selecting the right tackle to mimic the natural prey are essential components of the creek angler’s toolkit. It’s a continual learning process that keeps you engaged and constantly striving to improve your craft.

More Rock Bass than Smallmouth on this Trip

As you see from the video above, sometimes it is a mixed bag and the smallmouth are elusive. Sometimes you don’t catch any big ones at all, but when you do…

The Fight of a Lifetime

Smallmouth bass are renowned for their vigorous fights. Hooking into one of these feisty fish in a narrow creek amplifies the battle to an entirely new level. The strong current, tight quarters, and rocky terrain all work in the bass’s favor, testing both your skills and tackle.

As you feel the powerful pull on your line, the adrenaline surges through your veins, making every twist, turn, and jump a breathtaking spectacle. Landing a smallmouth bass in these conditions is exciting and will keep you coming back for more.

Wrapping up Creek Fishing for Smallmouth Bass

Creek fishing for smallmouth bass offers a unique blend of adventure, natural beauty, technical skill, and exhilarating battles. It allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life, reconnect with nature, and indulge in the thrill of the chase.

So grab your rod, lace up your wading boots, and embark on an unforgettable wilderness adventure. The creek and its smallmouth bass await you.

Learn more about the gear I used here

To your creek fishing success,

LiveBassFishing.com

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