Lake James tournament practice. This lake is full of bass 

I used those alot they really work good. They aren't very weedless but land the fish

Thanks for watching

I don't know alot about James. I have only fished it once in the fall and only caught 1 dink. I'm sure a small swimbait around shad would work

Yep just have to deal with getting snagged alot. I would rather land the fish and get snagged more

Thanks that lake is fun I just can't catch big fish there

They bite when it's sunny there for some reason

Good luck Saturday!! Pulling for ya man!!

I need to try that hover rig. I could see it killing for smallmouth. I feel like I need livescope for that but probably not

@@landonmoore76 not at all actually. Trust me it kills for Smallmouth. I used either a The hover rig, the i-motion baits, the okashira with a gulp minnow all kill. I targeted brush near or on Rocky Banks. I used a size 1 bare jig hook with a 3-inch gulp minnow and with the 3/0 hook a 4in gulp minnow. I used maybe a third of a nail weight in the head. I have some core tackle hover hooks on the way.

I got to try it then

@@landonmoore76 best thing is to throw it on 100% fluorocarbon. Or just use a long fluorocarbon leader. James is so clear they will see you from a mile away. A majority of My Success was in the Camp Lake James area along the river Channel. Throw it, let it hit the water, have the rod tip up and reel at medium pace. You'll find the bait is anywhere between 2 to 3 feet below the surface. Usually they'll be underneath it and decide to commit and strike.

Thanks Lake James is fun I just can't catch a big fish there. I think all these cold fronts are making the fish finicky

Idk how you guys catch big fish on that lake seems impossible

Thanks it was fun catching smallmouth. I'm glad I found out what hooks to use in practice

I'll elaborate a little more. Have some slack in your line and let them swim off a bit and then have your drag very tight so they basically set themselves.

Also believe it or not, those hooks are too big for that application. You need to go with basically a mosquito weedless gamagatsu

I've been using a wacky for years and the 1/0 neko hooks I've always worked great for me at Norman. I tried to use weedless hooks here since fish are in laydowns. I guess I set the hook wrong or fight the fish weird but losing 6 in row I'm done with those

@@landonmoore76 Can't blame you. I'd try texas rigging with the skinny trig hooks. I don't miss any on that setup and they still fall great. And since the hook isn't exposed it aint bad.

Also you can work them kinda like a fluke too

My neko hooks always land fish it's just a pain getting snagged all the time

Yes its I've caught more smallmouth this month than I have the last 15 years it's fun

Exactly I learned my lesson. It's just a pain getting hung up in the kayak. It takes longer to get unsnagged than in a boat.

@NC Bassin Downside your hook but no we guard.

Size

I learned on James if you are not getting bites in an area, just go to a different spot. Topwater is good in May and a good way to cover water. The wacky rig kills on sunny days in the shade. If it's windy, throw a small swimbait on points

They don't work for me lol

​@@landonmoore76 Owner weedless finesse sniper 2/0. No more problems.

I guess I'm not used to those hooks. I'll just keep getting snagged but land fish