My new Bass Behavior Bundle is active. You can join here or find out more by following this link: www.steverogersoutdoors.com/bass-behavior-bundle-info Thank you! Have a blessed day!
I can confirm that using a stick bait as a jig trailer in various ways can be amazing! Putting half a worm on a small bitsy bug jig has been a secret weapon of mine for spring fishing for years! Great video, Steve!
I have no doubt that I will use it way more than I have in the past. There is no denying that do-nothing stick bait is one of the best lures ever developed. Why couldn't I have thought of that? Lol.
That pincer statement is true. 60 years ago my uncles used live crawdads for bass. They used 2-3 in. green ones and told me to always take off the pincers because it would make it easier for bass to eat. Wow brings back good memories 😊
According to Drew Reese, one of the designers that worked with ZMan on the TRD, the TRD was designed partly due to Ned Kehde's success with the cut down ZinkerZ and after he read the same Berkley study you just referred to. It's designed to mimic an appendageless crawfish as well as other small forage rooting around the bottom I guess...
This is something I have not tried yet Steve. I do know that sometimes when a claw get bitten off my trailer and I keep fishing with it, I seem to get more bites. Thanks for the underwater footage of those trailers. Your videos are Awesome!!
Yes Sir I will. Keep the underwater footage coming, I don't think there's a better way for us to learn than watching them in their environment or watching how our baits move & what how our actions with rod & reel actually affect our baits. I play with baits in clean water or shallows all the time. So I know what I'm actually doing when I'm fishing them.
Absolutely love how you have the jig hooked up on the finger guard on the rod. What a killer idea. I jave several rods im going to do that to. Thanks Steve keep em coming brother
I have 4 smaller lakes including the newer one I just mapped with a decent amount of big bass in them including the one I caught my current PB an 11.4 & saw a guy catch a 13 pounder. That guy was on bank fishing for bluegill & somehow pulled in a 13 on small cheap tackle!? I'm focused on these 4 lakes this year. Really try to learn every square inch of each one & how to specifically target these large bass. I believe their eating shinners in one because I've caught them on big swimbaits & caught shinners on my crappie pole. I'm not sure about the others. Hopefully I can figure them out. The challenge is half the fun
Great job showing the underwater movement of the baits. Is it possible to show in a split screen view the rod action at the same time we are watching the underwater action.
I am actually working on that video - hope to have it out soon. Been waiting for the ice to come off my bay so I can get cameras set properly. But it will be coming!
I'll definitely be trying the stick baits on jig heads! I have a rod deticated just for jigs this year because I need to build confidence with them! I've been exploring a small lake new to me fairly close. Its not that small but perfect for kayaks & smaller boats. I used my Garmin & quick draw contours to map it out. Took 3 trips to completely map it. This last trip I spooked out bunch huge bass I saw on my electronics. I'm guessing in 7+ pounders. Couple were probably bigger than that. I need to sneak up on that are this week, try big swimbaits & jigs with trd on it. I love mapping these smaller lakes that don't have any contours. They always surprise me how they actually lay out. I've mapped a ton of them sense I moved down here to SC from OH
I love using the TRD for smallmouth and I’m definitely going to combine it with a bitsy bug now. Can’t wait to try it out. The smallmouth should be biting in a couple weeks here in Colorado.
New subscriber here. Just wanna add that Missile baits Ned Bomb works great for this method as well. I think because of the flat end of the Missile baits version, it gives the impression of a crawfish missing a claw. Has worked in Lake Mead/Colorado River successfully for Smallmouth and Channel Cats in backs of coves
I’ve been using a lunker city helgie as a trailer on finesse jigs for smallmouth for years. I’ve noticed several other lure makers have gotten into hellgramite imitations now too. Would love to see a video on them.
I’ve always wondered if the reason beaver style baits work well is they look like a craw fleeing with the claws folded in and seem more vulnerable than a craw in defensive position
I’ve used this for three years now. This is a great combo and the smaller trd skips a mile. Try skipping with spinning gear as well. Easy to get way under docks.
@@SteveRogersOutdoors "The final bait looked almost like a large shrimp," said Proctnov. The research was incorporated into the Berkley Flippin Tube. "We wanted to market a craw with no appendages, but our market research said no one would buy it," Proctnov added.
After watching this video I went to bps and got a pack of finesse trd in green pumpkin/ orange and some bitsy flip and arkie jigs with skirts to match. I used to catch alot of smallmouth in my river using what I called a "Cleveland Browns Clouser minnow" when I fly fished. I tied a clouser once in brown and orange and even tho minnow shaped I believe it represented a crayfish and I caught alot of fish with it. I bet this will slay them also!! I like how it stands up!
Good luck! I have been super happy with it for sure. Fly fishing is something I have always really enjoyed. I need to do more of it. Thank you for watching.
Steve, I think I first saw Matt Stephan promote the Finesse TRD on the back of a jig but, the Big TRD intrigues me. I caught a few bass with the finesse TRD presentation almost immediately. I love using the Big TRD pared down a little on a Power Finesse jig head from ZMan but, haven't tried it on a jig head yet. Hmm. One thing I'd be leery about is throwing either setup in my box when I'm done fishing. I'm not sure that Elaztech is going to play very nice with the rubber in the skirt! Had forgotten about the Finesse TRD on a jig but I'm gonna rig one for the next trip out!
I definitely would keep it in its own bag for sure. Matt has been a big proponent of that setup for quite some time. It's a good one! I agree, I really like that Big TRD size.
@@SteveRogersOutdoors BTW. that Strike King Baby Z Too looks great in the water on the drop shot! Haven't caught one on it yet but, there is no way they are gonna ignore that once the weather warms!
You can make the elaztec 5” stick worm float by soaking them in water , I just throw them in a bucket w some water in it for a couple days , all the salt melts away and then you have a bait that will stand up , it works great
I love jig fishing tried big worms and jigs even wacky rig on a Jig deep shallow but as soo as I saw TRD and friends I put them on jigs😊 game it wen its working
Another good combo little 1/4oz Swimbait jig head. Boss baby boy. I skirt my own. Dark green pumpkin blue With a ned size Srike kings single rage tail Ned size worm. Just work it super slow along the bottom. Even walleye eat it. Upper Mississippi River.
i caught a 42" northern dragging a white 1/2oz with a 5" black garlic scented wacky in about 20ft of water back on xmas day. i didnt get to weigh it because I was freaking out and bleeding already but it was a minimum of 18lbs
That little one just screams "I'm food!". I am going to cut off the "claws" on my baits and see how it goes. I do remember when I fished a shoreline access only reservoir for smallies. We'd gather up a few crayfish and rig them on slip floats so they would be about a foot off the bottom right where the riprap met the lake bottom. If it took more that 10-20 seconds to a minute to get a bite... We'd move the bait. It was that fast. A limit was easy most times. But, the crayfish were always as we caught them.. Pinchers and all. The bass inhaled them.
I've found countless whole crawfish in the stomachs of bass in my 60+ years of bass fishing... so , regardless of the study , bass do eat whole crawfish and sometimes big ones ..
They definitely do. I remember pulling one out of the mouth of a spotted bass on Table Rock years ago that was so big, the antennae hung out so far that I literally thought that bass had swallowed a snake and I was seeing the tail of it. Was shocked when I opened the mouth of that fish and saw a huge craw staring back at me.
Great video Steve once again - love you underwater tips/explanations. TylersReelFishing did a series of Bass approaching live prey species including crayfish and showed the same data... interesting to watch the bass approach his live crawfish underwater in his video from 5 yrs ago ua-cam.com/video/VC6YHhwr0lQ/v-deo.html Totally supports your videos setup, and will be using it here in Texas very soon
My new Bass Behavior Bundle is active. You can join here or find out more by following this link: www.steverogersoutdoors.com/bass-behavior-bundle-info
Thank you! Have a blessed day!
I can confirm that using a stick bait as a jig trailer in various ways can be amazing! Putting half a worm on a small bitsy bug jig has been a secret weapon of mine for spring fishing for years! Great video, Steve!
I have no doubt that I will use it way more than I have in the past. There is no denying that do-nothing stick bait is one of the best lures ever developed. Why couldn't I have thought of that? Lol.
@@SteveRogersOutdoors😅
That pincer statement is true. 60 years ago my uncles used live crawdads for bass. They used 2-3 in. green ones and told me to always take off the pincers because it would make it easier for bass to eat.
Wow brings back good memories 😊
According to Drew Reese, one of the designers that worked with ZMan on the TRD, the TRD was designed partly due to Ned Kehde's success with the cut down ZinkerZ and after he read the same Berkley study you just referred to. It's designed to mimic an appendageless crawfish as well as other small forage rooting around the bottom I guess...
This is something I have not tried yet Steve. I do know that sometimes when a claw get bitten off my trailer and I keep fishing with it, I seem to get more bites. Thanks for the underwater footage of those trailers. Your videos are Awesome!!
Yes Sir I will. Keep the underwater footage coming, I don't think there's a better way for us to learn than watching them in their environment or watching how our baits move & what how our actions with rod & reel actually affect our baits. I play with baits in clean water or shallows all the time. So I know what I'm actually doing when I'm fishing them.
I will do my best to keep them coming.
Steve, I really enjoy your site! I think you have one of the very best fishing sites on UA-cam!
Thanks so much!
The underwater footage of those presentations really is invaluable... I will be using this on the bitsy bug as well like lowbrow
That will be a great combination for sure!
Great videos. Love the analytical approach along with science.
Thank you!
I pull and rub the zman baits to get some of the salt out before pulling on the hook. It also changes the color in a subtle way.
Excellent tip. Thank you!
It works. I did it a few years ago.
Absolutely love how you have the jig hooked up on the finger guard on the rod. What a killer idea. I jave several rods im going to do that to. Thanks Steve keep em coming brother
Nice one Steve . That 4in TRD looks pretty good in the junk 👍
I have 4 smaller lakes including the newer one I just mapped with a decent amount of big bass in them including the one I caught my current PB an 11.4 & saw a guy catch a 13 pounder. That guy was on bank fishing for bluegill & somehow pulled in a 13 on small cheap tackle!? I'm focused on these 4 lakes this year. Really try to learn every square inch of each one & how to specifically target these large bass. I believe their eating shinners in one because I've caught them on big swimbaits & caught shinners on my crappie pole. I'm not sure about the others. Hopefully I can figure them out. The challenge is half the fun
I'll keep watching!
Great job showing the underwater movement of the baits. Is it possible to show in a split screen view the rod action at the same time we are watching the underwater action.
I am actually working on that video - hope to have it out soon. Been waiting for the ice to come off my bay so I can get cameras set properly. But it will be coming!
I'll definitely be trying the stick baits on jig heads! I have a rod deticated just for jigs this year because I need to build confidence with them! I've been exploring a small lake new to me fairly close. Its not that small but perfect for kayaks & smaller boats. I used my Garmin & quick draw contours to map it out. Took 3 trips to completely map it. This last trip I spooked out bunch huge bass I saw on my electronics. I'm guessing in 7+ pounders. Couple were probably bigger than that. I need to sneak up on that are this week, try big swimbaits & jigs with trd on it. I love mapping these smaller lakes that don't have any contours. They always surprise me how they actually lay out. I've mapped a ton of them sense I moved down here to SC from OH
That is excellent! It is super fun to fish those little smaller waters. Let me know how it goes for you!
I have done this and it definitely works!!
It has definitely become a confidence setup for me!
We’re the jigs used in this video live rubber or silicone, very interesting video thanks Steve
There were both. The finesse TRD was on a silicone skirted jig and the two others were in a living rubber jig.
I love using the TRD for smallmouth and I’m definitely going to combine it with a bitsy bug now. Can’t wait to try it out. The smallmouth should be biting in a couple weeks here in Colorado.
Colorado is my favorite state. We spend a lot of time out there, not fishing so much as other outdoor activities. Love catching those smallmouth!
New subscriber here. Just wanna add that Missile baits Ned Bomb works great for this method as well. I think because of the flat end of the Missile baits version, it gives the impression of a crawfish missing a claw. Has worked in Lake Mead/Colorado River successfully for Smallmouth and Channel Cats in backs of coves
I’ve been using a lunker city helgie as a trailer on finesse jigs for smallmouth for years. I’ve noticed several other lure makers have gotten into hellgramite imitations now too. Would love to see a video on them.
They make good vibrating jug trailers too.
What if I put a Nikko hellgrammite on my jig I normally put my Texas crawl on and maybe not even trim the skirt on it??
I think that it would work very well. Let me know how it does for you.
I have been doing good with a 1/16oz moondog spin jig with half a 3in yum dinger
Very nice!
I’ve always wondered if the reason beaver style baits work well is they look like a craw fleeing with the claws folded in and seem more vulnerable than a craw in defensive position
It sure could be. That is a great bait!
I’ve used this for three years now. This is a great combo and the smaller trd skips a mile. Try skipping with spinning gear as well. Easy to get way under docks.
I will! Thank you.
I also so use 10,000 fishing yoda worm as a jig trailer with good results
I haven’t seen that one. I will have to look it up. Thanks!
I love jigs, so if I can try something new I'm all for it
Good luck!
Great video im gonna have to try that
Good luck!
Great video!! Can't wait to get out and give this a try!!! Seems like a good way!! 🤠Stay Safe & God Bless!!!!
Let me know how it goes for you!
Interesting observation 🤔👊
I read this article years ago but could never find it again. Finally!!!😅
I think at the top of the image you can see it was a 2019 article. Time flies!
Originally I think I thought it was an article from Berkeley
@@pdfahie Sure could have been. Would make sense.
@@SteveRogersOutdoors "The final bait looked almost like a large shrimp," said Proctnov. The research was incorporated into the Berkley Flippin Tube. "We wanted to market a craw with no appendages, but our market research said no one would buy it," Proctnov added.
I like using the original shad shape worm on finesse jigs for smallmouth. I've had a lot of success with it
That is excellent. Thank you for sharing that!
After watching this video I went to bps and got a pack of finesse trd in green pumpkin/ orange and some bitsy flip and arkie jigs with skirts to match. I used to catch alot of smallmouth in my river using what I called a "Cleveland Browns Clouser minnow" when I fly fished. I tied a clouser once in brown and orange and even tho minnow shaped I believe it represented a crayfish and I caught alot of fish with it. I bet this will slay them also!! I like how it stands up!
Good luck! I have been super happy with it for sure. Fly fishing is something I have always really enjoyed. I need to do more of it. Thank you for watching.
Awesome can’t wait to try it thanks 👍
Good luck! Let me know how it goes for you.
@@SteveRogersOutdoors I sure will thanks
How do you keep the moss off that jig? The moss I have to fish in wads up on everything that gets close to it.
Moss is a huge challenge. If I have an area with lots of moss I often switch to something like a Tokyo or Jika rig.
Steve, I think I first saw Matt Stephan promote the Finesse TRD on the back of a jig but, the Big TRD intrigues me. I caught a few bass with the finesse TRD presentation almost immediately. I love using the Big TRD pared down a little on a Power Finesse jig head from ZMan but, haven't tried it on a jig head yet. Hmm. One thing I'd be leery about is throwing either setup in my box when I'm done fishing. I'm not sure that Elaztech is going to play very nice with the rubber in the skirt! Had forgotten about the Finesse TRD on a jig but I'm gonna rig one for the next trip out!
I definitely would keep it in its own bag for sure. Matt has been a big proponent of that setup for quite some time. It's a good one! I agree, I really like that Big TRD size.
@@SteveRogersOutdoors I'm thinking I'm going to need to take the TRD off of the jig after every use. Thanks!
@@SteveRogersOutdoors BTW. that Strike King Baby Z Too looks great in the water on the drop shot! Haven't caught one on it yet but, there is no way they are gonna ignore that once the weather warms!
@@robertbrost7777 it is an incredible bait. You’ll love it.
You can make the elaztec 5” stick worm float by soaking them in water , I just throw them in a bucket w some water in it for a couple days , all the salt melts away and then you have a bait that will stand up , it works great
Excellent! Thank you
Hey, Steve, great to see ya. Man, it is doing nothing but raining here. Hope u are well and be safe. Great video
I have heard that there has just been lots of rain through the south. Hopefully no dangerous storms though! Have a blessed week.
@@SteveRogersOutdoors river looks like a chocolate milk shake 😂
@@shannonkirby9295 Yikes. That wouldn't be much fun at all.
I love jig fishing tried big worms and jigs even wacky rig on a Jig deep shallow but as soo as I saw TRD and friends I put them on jigs😊 game it wen its working
Love it!
Great video!
Thank you!
Another good combo little 1/4oz Swimbait jig head. Boss baby boy. I skirt my own. Dark green pumpkin blue With a ned size Srike kings single rage tail Ned size worm. Just work it super slow along the bottom. Even walleye eat it. Upper Mississippi River.
Just love the upper Mississippi. My favorite.
Have u ever fished a rage craw weightless? I been thinking about this and who better to ask. Thanks, Steve
Steve, how does the Z-Man TRD trailers react with the rubber of the jig skirt? I know ElaZtech products don’t always play well with other rubbers.
That is an excellent question. I would definitely unthread the plastic when done fishing with it just in case.
i caught a 42" northern dragging a white 1/2oz with a 5" black garlic scented wacky in about 20ft of water back on xmas day. i didnt get to weigh it because I was freaking out and bleeding already but it was a minimum of 18lbs
Wow! That is a beast.
That little one just screams "I'm food!".
I am going to cut off the "claws" on my baits and see how it goes.
I do remember when I fished a shoreline access only reservoir for smallies. We'd gather up a few crayfish and rig them on slip floats so they would be about a foot off the bottom right where the riprap met the lake bottom. If it took more that 10-20 seconds to a minute to get a bite... We'd move the bait. It was that fast. A limit was easy most times. But, the crayfish were always as we caught them.. Pinchers and all. The bass inhaled them.
Picasso little spotty with a Zman Hula stick has been money for several years. It’s been hard to get people to believe me!
That would be a very nice setup!
Water is clear how is it in dirty with mossy bottom?
The Elaztech stands up well. The 4” stands clear of the muck really well. At the end of the video you can see it standing up in moss.
Lmao I’ve always done this bc I’m too cheap to buy actual trailers. Plus a great way to repurpose soft plastics. Baby brush hogs work great as well!
You are on to something!
I've found countless whole crawfish in the stomachs of bass in my 60+ years of bass fishing... so , regardless of the study , bass do eat whole crawfish and sometimes big ones ..
They definitely do. I remember pulling one out of the mouth of a spotted bass on Table Rock years ago that was so big, the antennae hung out so far that I literally thought that bass had swallowed a snake and I was seeing the tail of it. Was shocked when I opened the mouth of that fish and saw a huge craw staring back at me.
@@SteveRogersOutdoors lol
Why stop there !
What about a Giant trd on a 1/2 oz
Football jig. You could use 1/2 of a Giant or 3” , 4” , 5” cut length up to the full 6”
Absolutely! I think the possibilities are endless here.
@@SteveRogersOutdoors I would like to add , some are rigging this wacky as well
Great Content as all your videos
Great video Steve once again - love you underwater tips/explanations. TylersReelFishing did a series of Bass approaching live prey species including crayfish and showed the same data... interesting to watch the bass approach his live crawfish underwater in his video from 5 yrs ago ua-cam.com/video/VC6YHhwr0lQ/v-deo.html Totally supports your videos setup, and will be using it here in Texas very soon
Thanks for sharing the link! Good luck out there.
Whenever I see TRD my brain reads it as turd. So when you say big TRD, I just hear big turd. We’re going to official the big turd today.
Lol.