Fished friday, 2/21. I caught and released 10 BSPs with five at 6-7 inches and the other 5 at 10-13 inches (they were fatties). I caught them all on the new Big Hammer 1 3/4 inch perch grubs in moto/red and clear/red flake on a carolina rig. I used some of the Pro-Cure Sand Shrimp bait sauce--it's orange colored and seemed to work well as I was hit hard after first applying it. Water is still pretty cold, was tolerable in shorts and sandals once sun was higher.

I tried a new hooking method. Instead of threading the grub on a #6 baitholder hook, I nose-hooked it on a #4 Hayabusa Octopus hook (like an Owner or Gamakatsu SSW style). It's the way guys nose hook dropshot baits for freshwater bass, but I still fished the carolina rig. I hooked it 2 ribs back (about a 1/4 inch) from the front. I found it to have a little more action since the grub can swing back and forth on the hook. I got bit at least as good as with the old hooking method. Now the big benefit: NO LEADER TWIST! I'm not sure why, but I didn't get a single twisted, curled or kinked leader today. I think the offset bend that baitholder hooks come with may cause the grub to twist on the retrieve. Not so with nose hooking on a short shank like the octopus-style. Also, the grub can't be pulled down or slip down over the bend and barb anymore like with the baitholder.

Big Hammer Swimbaits-Hammerhead Jigheads
www.swimbait.com
Pro-Cure Scents
www.pro-cure.com