Underground Letter

Hey, Kevin Scarselli here.

This letter isn’t meant to be seen by anyone except my subscribers...

... this is for your eyes only! Do not pass this around.

You see...

... the underground is a place where we can talk tackle, techniques and so on, without the need to be politically correct...

... If I’ve made a discovery about a certain product or tactic, then I’m going to share it. It doesn’t matter if we talk positively or negatively about something. Because this is all ‘underground’, we can be brutally honest and learn quickly.

... All I want to do is lay out the truth so more anglers can benefit and hopefully catch more fish.

In this ‘Letter from the Underground’, I’m going to reveal my discoveries on a myriad of bass fishing topics.

... No fluff. No filler. No hype.

We also plan to make fun of some stuff. There is a lot in bass fishing to laugh at, so I’m going to poke fun at some things.

Oh yea...

Between me and you, my underground letters are always going to be pretty informal and the subject matter will be all over the place. I hope you don’t mind, cause all I care about is delivering ultra-useful tidbits of fishing wisdom.

So with that being said, here is what’s on my mind, in no particular order. (Simply click the links to see exactly what I’m talking about)...

  • The River2Sea Super Yabbie is one of the most underrated lures on the market.
  • The baitcaster backlash “thumb trick” is absolutely awesome. If you haven’t seen it... you’re welcome: Watch “Thumb Trick” Video
  • Tru-Tungsten’s Mad Maxx Frog is way too light. You can’t cast the thing.
  • I thought that UV-coating spray stuff was all hype until I recently used it when night fishing... CS Coatings UV Blast Lure Spray... could have been a weird fluke... but I caught more fish using it and caught less when I didn’t.
  • I missed a 6 lber on the hookset because my hookpoint lodged itself into the rubber Wacky O-ring somehow. I know it was a 6 lber because I caught her on my next cast. Rubber O-rings, when fishing wacky, will cost you fish!
  • KVD Line and Lure Conditioner works great, but discolors your line horribly. I rarely use it anymore.
  • If you are fishing with a buddy in a boat and you get attacked by a wasp, bee or horsefly, the best remedy to get rid of it is to walk to the other side of the boat where your friend is and transfer the annoying insect to your buddy. Works almost every time. Your friend will hate you though.
  • An underspooled reel is my biggest pet peeve in fishing. Also right-handed people using right-hand retrieve reels... ARGHHH!!!!
  • I don’t care what anyone says, you should never set the hook right away when a bass blows up on your frog. Reel up the slack and set the hook when you feel the fish.
  • Ultra-High dollar fishing rods are some of the most overpriced items in bass fishing.
  • I’ve tried those pocket knocker type lure retrievers maybe 10 times over the years, and never once have they unsnagged my lure. Nor did I get the lure knocker back.
  • Have you tried the Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Super Cooling Towel? It works AMAZINGLY well. Definitely buy one.
  • The new Abu Revo’s are a bit awkward ergonomically. A lot of anglers love the Revo’s, but as for me, I think it’s tough to compare them with similarly priced Shimano’s and Daiwa’s.
  • The Jackall Sasuteki Craw has almost no flapping action. I thought the legs would flap when falling, but they don’t.
  • War Eagle spinnerbaits. Are there really other spinnerbaits out there? :-)
  • Lotta debate on whether scents really work... if I had to guess, I’d say only some work. I’ve seen results with Gulp! Spray and KVD’s Fish Sticks. I’ve tried countless others and never noticed a difference with them. Most brands are useless probably. But the two I just mentioned DO help you catch fish. I routinely use KVD’s Fish Sticks with great success.
  • How has no one won a Bassmaster Classic yet with the Megabass Siglett?
  • Spro’s Bronzeye used to be one of the best frogs on the market. Now with so many new frogs, it is one of the worst. Ish’s Phat Frog is the best I’ve found. Spro’s sink on every cast and have too hard of plastic.
  • I tried those Reel Grip things... I took them off after 2 minutes. That fad seemed to have died out completely.
  • Vicious Ink Braid Dye... love it!
  • A bad case of bass palm is much more satisfying than bass thumb.
  • The Motorguide Weedless Safari Prop is a godsend in thick grass. It virtually never bogs down or gets tangled.
  • My Merc’s stickers are peeling off more and more and I don’t know how to stop it. Every week I die a little more on the inside.
  • Minnesota has the best bass fishing in the nation. Problem is, the weather is only good for like 6-months.
  • Caffeine (ie. Mountain Dew) is the quickest fix for heat headaches/migraines. I also think drinking ice cold liquids in super hot outdoor temps contributes to these heat headaches. I’ve stopped drinking ice cold water and started drinking ‘slightly cool’ water instead and have noticed a big improvement. I think the ice cold liquid shocks your system too much in that heat. Want to prevent yourself from getting heat headaches? You need to eat a lot of calories while you’re out there in the heat.
  • Bass Pros is the best fishing show on TV hands down. Why did they ever cancel Denny Brauer’s Bass Class show? They need to bring that one back.
  • I love Shimano baitcasting reels, but my favorite spinning reels have been Daiwa and Abu’s.
  • I rarely use mono anymore. I almost always use 20-30 lb braid for topwaters on a soft medium-action rod. I do use mono sometimes for spinnerbaits when I need the buoyancy to keep the bait up near the surface on long casts.
  • Yum’s Big Show Craw works great for punching thick mats, but doesn’t have much action.
  • The Gunfish 95 is money.
  • I’m pretty sure black nickel hooks are ALWAYS sharper than painted, shiny or bronze looking ones.
  • I think I’ve tried every brand flipping jig on the market, and am still unsatisfied with most. Some have the perfect head shape, but too weak of brush guard. Others have the perfect hook, but bad head shape, etc. With so many on the market, how is it I can’t find what I’m looking for??? Just ordered some Asakura Winch Flippin’ Jigs to try... they look promising.
  • Strike King Tour Grade’s, Vike’s, or Eco Pro Dean Rojas Tungsten Weights are the best for flipping and punching.
  • I hate even slightly circled hooks (ie. Owner Wacky Hook). The Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap’s are better.
  • Pro’s Soft Bait Glue will save a bass’ life. Put a drop on a bleeding gill to stop the bleeding instantly. I hear Mountain Dew does too... but probably not as well as Pro’s Soft Bait Glue.
  • Why do people use big scissors to cut fishing line? My small pocket knife scissors works great and stays in my pocket.
  • Power Poles are money. So is side imaging. In today’s competitive fishing world, you are at a disadvantage without either.
  • I’ve fallen off my boat twice. Ironically, both times the boat was on the trailer and on land. It hurt.
  • I hate rods with epoxied blanks. Matte black or gray please.
  • The Shimano Citica is the best entry-level baitcasting reel on the market. The new Caenan looks promising for those on a budget, but I haven’t tried it.
  • I was dissapointed with the Kriet Kreature. Its ribbed body makes it hard to keep a proper texas rig without tearing.
  • Lake Fork’s Hyper Freak has surprisingly lots of action. I like it.
  • Flipping Master Terry Scroggins says he doesn’t like pegging his flipping sinkers. It’s hard for me to disagree with such a phenomenal angler, but I’ll disagree with this one. A lot of times the sinker goes through the matted canopy, but the bait stays a top. This happens less when I peg.
  • I don’t like the popping frogs better.
  • Straight shank hooks are always better for flipping type baits. I use the Paycheck Punch Hook.
  • I bought B&P Drop Shot Wraps at Tackle Warehouse. Not only could I not figure out how to use them, but I couldn’t understand why they were so BIG???? Mega waste.
  • The “reel set” (type of hookset) is a bunch of bologna. Watch the top finesse guys in competition... you never see them use it, even though they preach it to amatuers.
  • Columbia Custom Swimbait boxes look really cool, but costs too much. I own too many swimbaits.
  • For those of you who have purchased a ‘defizzing needle’, then you know about that weird satisfaction you feel after using it properly.
  • Shimano’s 50 frame size (ie. the new Chronarch 50E, Curado 50E, etc) is too small for anything but throwing very small or finesse-type baits.
  • I learned how to make my special homemade lure scent made of cornmeal, turpentine, flax seed oil and vick’s vaporub from the latest Uncle Homer Circle column in Bassmaster Magazine.
  • It’s a really cool thing to catch your first snakehead. After that, they are annoying as all get up.
  • I get more strikes with longer legs on my frogs. I know a lot of people say just the opposite.
  • Chatterbaits are awesome. A lot of knock-off’s “hunt” and I don’t like that. I’ve noticed I don’t catch as many fish with a hunting chatterbait. Some anglers prefer hunting bladed jigs... but not me. I do sometimes really like crankbaits that hunt, however.
  • Optimum’s Double Diamond can be a good weedless topwater bait.
  • I’ve never been a fan of jointed jerkbaits or crankbaits.
  • Roboworm still makes the best drop shot baits on the market.
  • Spro’s McStick works good for slower jerkbait presentations, but why are they labeled as “Suspending” when they float like bobbers on fluorocarbon line?
  • Braid as a main line with a 7-8 foot fluorocarbon leader is the best way to fish spinning gear.
  • Rattles in crankbaits can be your worst enemy at times.
  • I think a lot of Lucky Craft’s baits really are worth the $$$.
  • BPS Sinker Stops are the best for pegging weights. I haven’t tried Paycheck Baits Punch Stops, but did buy a pack to try out. New on the market is the 6th Sense Peg X Stoppers...they look good but I haven’t tried them yet.
  • Every angler should own the Falcon FTO 501 Terminal Tackle Organizer. One of the best fishing products ever.
  • Don’t get me wrong, I am a tackle finatic, but I don’t really get things like Stick Jacket or reel covers. Isn’t it annoying to put them on a bunch of rods and reels at the end of a long and tiring day? Who cares about a few scratches? Though, Stick Jackets could be nice if you want to keep your rods from tangling... but try this rod wrapping tip first.
  • Nets should be disallowed in all tournaments. Getting them in the boat is a skill too.
  • I almost never flip. I pitch 99% of the time.
  • Most bass fishermen buy too small of a spinning reel. A larger spool size aids in longer casts, less coils and twists and quicker line pickup. Take a look at VanDam’s or Reese’s spinning reels, they aren’t small either for this very reason.
  • Stealth is wildly overrated. Except maybe during the spawn.
  • Trilene 100% fluoro is horribly coily. I don’t know how people fish with that stuff.
  • Lazer Trokar hooks aren’t ideal for tex-posing. The surgically cut hook point slices the soft plastic you try to bury the hook point into.
  • Pork trailers are dead. It’s been eons since I’ve opened a bottle.
  • Deps Basirisky is awesome for beginners who get the claw when fishing standard frogs all day. Just reel it in.
  • Using lure dyes and dye markers are VERY IMPORTANT. You’d be amazed what pro’s can do with simple lure dye.
  • Quality (high dollar) polarized sunglasses really do make a difference. Costa 580’s are great.
  • I’d love to catch a fish on the Birdee.
  • I bought Optimum’s 3” Twin Teaser, but haven’t figured out how I’m going to use it yet.
  • A wacky rigged Berkley Heavy Weight Sinkworm is a go to lure for me early in the year.
  • The Fishbelly Hawg Shad (3.5”) is an awesome and ultra-realistic bait to put on a scrounger head.
  • As much as I’d love to say I have, I have not found a senko-knockoff that has as good of action as the original from Yamamoto.
  • Paycheck Baits Punch Hook is the only hook to use when flipping (formerly BMF).
  • Paycheck Bait’s Shrink tubing bait keeper is the best thing since sliced bread.
  • Every bass fisherman should own a Buckeye Wake Up Wake Bait.
  • Lure Dye markers like Spike-It markers are really nice.
  • Meguiar’s makes some fantastic boat care products.
  • FLW Magazine is good. Bassin’ Magazine has good columns from KVD, Ike and Alton Jones. Check out Bass Angler Magazine and BassWest Magazine... a lot of anglers still don’t know about these two good ones.
  • I haven’t bought anything at a fishing show in maybe 7-8 years. I don’t even bring extra cash with me now.
  • My favorite time of the year is spawn and post-spawn.
  • I like softer braids rather than heavily coated braids. This is especially true on spinning reels.
  • Reel maintenance is ULTRA important to know.
  • Wave Worm Tiki Gorilla’s paddle feet do nothing. Tried cutting them in half for use as a jig trailer, but didn’t work. The new Kalin’s Scrub is the perfect answer for this!
  • Because of line-thru swimbaits, I rarely throw hollow-bodied paddletail swimbaits unless I have to because of weeds or snags.
  • I’ve fished for big game out in the ocean and hated it. I never want to catch anything bigger than 60 lbs ever again. Too much work. I don’t get why some guys get a thrill out of it.
  • One-Knocker type rattles are better for most lures, except maybe for lipless crankbaits.
  • Red Crawler is a killer color for drop shot and finesse. When it works, it works really well, but when it doesn’t, it really doesn’t (if that makes any sense). Margarita Mutilator is a bit more forgiving of a color I’ve found.
  • My goal this year is to donate a record fish to the local Bass Pro Shop’s fish tank.
  • Snag Proof’s Ish’s Phat Frog is the best frog currently on the market. It doesn’t fill with water. It walks easily. Has great hook-up percentage. And weighs a lot (which is key).
  • Can lure companies finally stop using round tie-on split rings and switch to the better oval ones?
  • It doesn’t matter if your sinkers/weights are painted or unpainted and shiny. The fish don’t care either way.
  • Auto-Hydrostatic inflatable PFD’s (life vests) are so nice, but will it really inflate when I need it to?
  • Is it my imagination or do Zoom Baits go on sale more than any other brand?
  • Ardent Line Butter is very, very greasy.
  • Seaguar makes the best fluoro line overall. Try Tatsu, AbrazX or InvizX.
  • 15 years ago I had ribbon-tail worms out the wazoo... but now I only carry like 3 or 4 bags on the boat.
  • I only use tungsten sinkers and weights now.
  • Wiley X Climate Control gaskets are incredible for high speed boating. No more dry, irritated eyes.
  • Clay Dyer is a hero.
  • Whoever said bass won’t feed at slack tide is sooo wrong.
  • I’m a big fan of centrifugal braking, more so than magnetic. Magnetic braking is much more interesting design-wise though.
  • The 6” senko has better action and catches more fish (usually) than the 5” and 7”. The 4” senko is my least favorite of all the sizes.
  • Strike King’s ElazTech material can be your best friend or worst enemy.
  • I like the Spro Little John MD and DD, but the original Little John shallow crank isn’t one of my favorites.
  • Strike King’s Red Eye Shad really is better. Really.
  • Does anyone else have problems with the tungsten coming right off the line grip keeper on drop shot weights during casts?
  • I like the last couple minutes of the Lindner’s show when they give a quick encouraging word of faith.
  • Lucky Craft Pointers are STILL in a league of their own.
  • I’ve never broken a double-uni knot leader connection when fighting a fish.
  • I only use white, chartreuse or pink baits on beds when I absolutely have to. Beyond that, I have much better success with natural colors.
  • The Osprey Winged Talon is MUCH HARDER to fish than the very similar Inline Tournament Talon. The Winged Talon has to be fished at the PERFECT speed.
  • Does anyone really read Harry ‘n Charlie? I sure hope not.
  • I very often eat 6 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while fishing. That can’t be a good diet.
  • How can you say buzzing toads are better than hollow-body frogs?
  • Kalin’s Scrub is one of my favorite jig trailers.
  • You lose more fish on hard swimbaits than soft swimbaits. Soft line-thru swimbaits like the Osprey Inline Tournament Talon have good landing percentages.
  • With so many technological advancements, I can’t believe trolling motors are still only in the 100 lb. thrust range?
  • Basstrix makes some killer drop shot baits, like the bait fry, fat minnow and flash trix.
  • I like to hand tie my own hair jigs (or have Bryan do it for me since he is better), but if you want to buy good premade synthetic hair jigs, I suggest Spro’s Phat Flies.
  • Bass Pro Shop’s Utility Tackle Box Carriers are the best way to store and carry tackle.
  • I use my Berkley Portable Line Spooling Station that I bought over 10 years ago all the time.
  • Can we have a Bassmaster Classic somewhere other than Alabama or Louisiana please?
  • Helmet Cams are all the rage right now.
  • A lot of people are shocked to hear a bass fisherman was DQ’ed from a tournament for twittering while fishing. I was more shocked to find out there was a bass fisherman out there with a twitter account.
  • Optimum’s Furbit is a good frog. Not as good as Ish’s Phat Frog, but good nonetheless.
  • War Eagle’s Finesse spinnerbaits are killer on rivers or where forage is generally small.
  • Shelby “Swamp Man” Stanga is awesome.
  • I’m convinced that sometimes bass really are “looking up”.
  • I hate pickeral.
  • I’m not superstitious. I caught a bunch of fish one time after telling a guy I wasn’t superstitious, so I’m going to keep saying it.
  • Canyon Plastic’s Giant Tora Tube is my favorite monster tube bait.
  • The coolest fish I’ve ever seen in person was a massive Ocean Sunfish. It jumped clear out of the water 4 or 5 times after an angler on the boat snagged it.
  • The 4” Top Shelf Swimbait is insanely awesome.

...Stay tuned shortly for the next ‘Letter from the Underground’. I’m going to take a much different tact and I think you will be overjoyed with what I’ll be sending out to subscribers.

Remember... you gotta be a subscriber to get this stuff!

I want to hear your thoughts, opinions or even questions about anything bass fishing. Write me at: kevin@bassfishin.com

I’ll be in touch shortly,

Kevin Scarselli
BassFishin.Com