A thousand years ago, members of my bass club used to put a vinyl skirt on a jig, two swivels and a blade off the hook, used a punched out piece of a coffee can plastic lid to retain the swivels on the hook. We hopped it in very deep water, caught some seriously nice fish on this thing in the winter. I rarely fished it shallower than 25 feet. When hopped the jig the blade propellored down flashing as the jig fell. The thump of the hit was usually very firm.
West Point lake is where I learned to fish the Little George it is a great all around bait . Because it was similar to the marabou spin rite which was a top producer on smallmouth at Dale Hollow I used the Little George which was just as deadly. I fished the teardrop style in chrome. Great video Randy keep them coming.👍
I remember reading fishing reports in the local Atlanta newspaper when I was growing up in the 70’s and if I remember right the Little George was a good producer fished deep during the dog days of summer as well
Thanks for taking us down memory lane with this tutorial about the Little George! I remember buying some of them when I first got started bass fishing!
I once won a sport boats USA tournament with 5 fish, back when they had an 8 fish limit, off of a timbered channel intersection in West Fisher Creek- Dec 5th '93 I think. It was my 1st big league local TX on T Rock. Had 17.43 #!. I really miss those days on that lake. I also found out- when they quit hitting a jigging spoon, you could switch over to a George and make them start biting again. Good vid Randy!
Awesome baits. I have 2 different ones in my box now. Usually switch between LV500, Rattle Trap, Blade baits and yes tails spins and jigging and flutter spoons. All those lures are in the same major category like crankbaits. You got squarebills, deep divers, medium divers, coffin bills, spoon bill etc but all are cranks. The above lures I mentioned are all in the same category. Great video Randy. I shout you and fishing with the moment out on my channel. You guys are underrated but awesome.
I almost dropped my iPad when this popped up. I was going thru some of my old lures yesterday and came across two Little George’s I bought back in the 70’s. Things were different back then - you didn’t have a million lure options. It was mostly Mann, Rapala, Rebel, Cordell and Bagley. As a teen I would throw a pack of Mann’s Jelly Worms - had to be grape (purple) - in my pocket and fish the canals in south Florida. Those were the days! I also have six of the first original Big O production model crank baits, an old Johnson Silver Minnow spoon and two Dalton Special wooden top water prop baits. Those things sure could catch fish. Fishing was so much simpler back then.
I had the trip of a lifetime on Lake Pickwick, 30 yrs ago. Caught 27 at McFarland Park IN THE MARINA, the 1st night, between 12pm & 3am. Went out the next day and landed over 200 fish of 11 different species. We spent an hour & a half on a brick pile catching/playing skipjacks on the small DALTON SPECIAL that we eventually took the hooks off of just to watch them knock it in the air, pull it under, and hang on to ½way back to the boat! It was a blast.
I also remember a trip to Lake Martin as a teen where I wound up selling motoroil Mann's augertail worms to my buddies for a quarter apiece. That was big money for a single worm back then!
That video was awesome bass fishing has really taken over as my favourite type of fishing and I really enjoy your videos of bass fishing I’ve learned quite a bit I usually target trout!!!
I used to fish littler George’s on possum kingdom lake on the deep end around hell’s gate and always get bites. Largemouths and sand bass loads of fun and easy to use. Thanks for the video Randy brought back memories and I am like oh yeah I totally forgot to try that bait now so much other in tackle box
I wore them out this spring during the pre spawn fish a jackall deracoup on a steady retriever with short pauses where it would flutter down. The bass would always hit on the pause as the bait fluttered down
I actually have some Little Georges from early 80’s. All torn up from sand bass and stripers on Lake Tawokoni. I have a box labeled “old school” that has little George’s, hair jigs and crank baits. When bites are tuff I go for that box. I’ve noticed newer bait companies have started making tail spinners and upped the design and hardware.
I have never fished a Little George but I always wondered why it wasn’t talked about because it seemed like it would eliminate the problem I have with my go to winter fishing lure, the in-line spinner. My problem is that only about 99% of the ones made anymore aren’t cheap pieces of junk whose blade doesn’t spin! So we’ll why not fish a Little George right. Well the truth is I don’t get to go as much in the winter because I’m a pecan farmer so I just never got around to it. But I agree with everything in this video even though I haven’t tried it myself. This is designed so that the blade always works, and the overall lure similar to the inline spinner. It’s a straight line of flash that gets finicky fish’s attention. Also, this winter fishing I do is freshwater, so I usually look for Speckled Perch, and catch whatever bream and bass I just catch by accident. But the Little George also looks like it would be killer on the flats for Redfish and Trout.
I fished the little george back in the mid 70’s. In one particular time I was fishing a clear water lake in mid march. I cast as far as I could and reeled back at a moderate rate. I caught 11 bass in two hours. They were smashing it.
Oh yeah, they work like nobody’s business. Still a great multi-species lure for large impoundments. Always buy at least two at a time, because you will invariably hang-up and break off.
I keep a lil george on deck always. it is perfect for the boiling shad frenzies that are out of normal casting reach as well. One of my OG standards that no one believes until they fish with me is a little road runner with a 101 pork rind. I like having the option of an unusual presentation when I'm on a heavy pressure situation. Not sure if I am stubborn, stupid or an outlier but it puts fish on deck. Don't be afraid to find your own ways of skinning the cat.
So true! I outcast everyone, when it comes to schoolers, by using a ¼oz Li'l George on ML spinning gear w/12lb Gliss. I still use a⅛oz Roostertail too. That lure has caught me tens of thousands of bass over the last 50 years.
I have had huge successes with blade baits and small casting spoons, and obviously jigging spoons, but the lil George, I have lost more baits than I have caught fish for some reason. I make some really heavy weighted tail spinners out of wood that I can work a lot slower that are great in the winter, but those solid lead baits… I have seen how good they can be. I saw a 30# bag of smallmouth once, but I have never figured that lure out.
My best friends grandfather turned us on to the little George in the early 90s as little kids we've been catching fish on them every winter since one thing I found funny is I've only ever used the 1/2 oz model
I don’t know why I haven’t though of this before but they need to make a Megabass dark sleeper with a tailspin instead of a paddle tail. That would be awesome. Also you should consider adding another blade to the little George on the very back loop. It would allow for a slower fall and more flash and vibration.
Tom Mann was one of my childhood idols along with Bill Dance. My oldest Do-It mold is a tailspinner. They will catch anything that swims, I even caught some flounder on it this past summer.
@@fishbuscharters The #1205 mold. You can also make no-roll sinkers by using a straight piece of wire in place of the wire form. I also used it to make A-rigs. It is a very versatile mold.
They still make little George and academy sports has a good knock off as well. We are still a month away from winter here, water temps still around 60 (but the winter lures also work in summer fall and spring haha)
I catch tons of fish on a blade bait. I’m a couple years older than you and grew up when Tom Mann was a star. I never did well with the Little George and I don’t know why. Waiting for the jigging Rapala show, it’s my # Ice fishing lure but I’ve never fished it in open water.
¼oz Hammered Chrome Li'l George $5.99 @ Cabela's! The ¼oz actually comes in at closer to ½oz. On spinning gear with 12lb Gliss, it is one of the FARTHEST CASTING lures you can throw at feeding schools and it's working as soon as it hits the water. I've fished them since the 70s and they still produce just as good today. Awesone striper lure, too.
Just curious why you prefer the whip snake over the ronin for jerkbaits? The ronin is supposed to be the “jerkbait” spinning rod. Just wondering what you like specifically about the whipsnake over the ronin?
I get to use my Destroyer Windbuster for the 1st time this Friday! I've got 28 brand new Vision 110s, too. I got 2 off of Ebay last week; $130 for the 2, but you should see them. 1 is a JDM color, 'Deadly Fish'. The other was a 'Special USA run' color called 'Smallmouth Bass'. It's so pretty, I may never even take it out of the box!
I still fish the Rinky Dink. Much better than the Little George because the line ties through the weight directly to the hook so when a fish hooks up, it can throw the hook
Mann I believe invented the little George in the 60’s. He was a game warden for the state of Alabama and the governor was George Wallace hence the name little George.
I had a mold and made my own 3/4 oz Little George's . It was named after George Wallace. Governor. Agree it was good for schoolers. Lost a ton of them.
There is a couple of things. That I could share on the topic. Of the 'tail spinner' fishing bait. From a European angling context. And it's not one of those items. I had ever stumbled across. Except when I noticed one of the very good saltwater shoreline anglers. Make a particular point of highlighting the type of lure. For the purposes of targeting very difficult to catch. Sea-run brown trout. That nose around coastal areas. And hunt all of the time. After shoals of juvenille fish. And saltwater bait fish.
One thing that is always worth re-emphasizing. About the saltwater coast line situation (I listened to some of the chat amongst freshwater bass anglers about the BASS 'red fish' tournament). In which some of the well known bass anglers had competed. In some kind of championship team event. The species that I find interesting. And all of the people who catch red fish (which is a type of saltwater drum). They all know about that species called speckled trout. Which is just a more streamlined, more numerous and lightweight version. Of the same saltwater drum species. And you could actually put the sea-run brown trout. Somewhere in the same vicinity of those speckled trout species. In terms of how to fish for them. Some of the Louisian anglers in saltwater. It is worth noting. Will fish in places. Where the habitat of the large mouth bass. And the speckled trout overlap with each other. Which seems kind of shocking to me. But there you go.
What it does seem to indicate though. Is that large mouth bass as a species. Are a species that are adaptable. To living in situations. Like in saltwater. Where things change almost my the minute. As the tides move. And the fish who occupy those coastal areas know that too. And respond to it. It's something that is maybe worth thinking about. From a point of view of freshwater fishing. For the large mouth species too. There are some species. That are extremely comfortable. In dealing with a situation. That is constantly on the move. Constantly changing in some way. And some of the things that anglers try to do. At least in the competitive situation. In the freshwater lake for bass. Is try to isolate things. Hammer out fixed strategies. And try to run those strategies. Like some kind of a plan. The saltwater anglers do operate according to well thought out plans. As well. Except their strategies tend to be. Of the more 'dynamic' variety. There is always some A, B and C. Aspect to them.
It's not that a situation. In a freshwater reservoir, lake, stream or river. Is going to change. At the same rate of change. As the saltwater situation those. But looking at the saltwater anglers. Could help one move. A little bit away. From a static idea of a plan. Or strategy. And something that has more moving parts to it. When you look at how the saltwater anglers. Organize their plan. There is always some element to it. Of how things are going to unfold. There isn't one main chapter. There are several smaller chapters. That make up the entire story. Whenever Scott Martin for example. Goes out on his boat on the ocean. In Florida. He always ensures he has the experienced saltwater guide. In charge of the boat. And when Scott interviews the guide. To inform them as to what will happen that day. You always notice. The saltwater guide explains things. Not as one self-contained chapter. But lots of smaller un-folding events. That he suspects will happen. And generally speaking. That is like what does happen.
One of the things I noticed. With the European saltwater coastline anglers. Is they've discovered kayak boat access. To the same water. In some recent years. Kayak boat angling in that situation. Is not without it's many dangers. Say for example though. In an area which is shelted. And many larger 'pleasure' boats are parked. Along harbour walls and in marina places. I've been amazed. At how some of those British saltwater anglers (who are really just shoreline anglers, who have developed this new type of water access). Which is not a boat as such. A kayak is a much less mobile and dynamic platform. Than any kind of rowed boat. Or motorized one. I've been astonished. At how they use the kayaks. To catch sea-run brown trout. In places where you'd hardly ever suspect. Those fish would roam into. Into these boat dock areas.
And that's the place in which. You'll find those anglers. Using the tail spinner baits. Small in size and easy to cast longer distances. Out of saltwater spinning rods. From the ocean side. And towards areas where boats are parked. In sheltered harbor areas. I've absolutely no clue. As to what makes the tail spinner lure. Effective for such a situation. What the attraction happens to be. All I know. Is that it overlaps with the places. That saltwater shoreline anglers use. To do what they describe as 'light rock fishing' practice. Which is a kind of a new and very odd sub-section. To the overall shoreline angling sport now. It's very popular in places such as Japan. Where they catch all kinds of small species. Such as 'goby' fish. Using the lightweight 'LRF' tackle methods. And the saltwater angling culture around the world. Has an aspect to it. That is not like any other type of angling.
There is a full story. That I hope will get told someday. About the very unusual history. That is the history of freshwater angling. And species in the United States of America.
It's a story that is very interesting. Luke Dunkin had a guest interview. In the last week. Some of the conversation drifted. In the direction of efforts to introduce freshwater bass. Into the islands of Hawaii. The reality is though. That a lot of odd things happen in America. And the ecosystems there. Are always changing. One of the most recent arrivals. Had been the goby bait fish species. That had invaded the Great Lakes. And went directly into battle. With a native species there. That is called the 'white fish' (a species that is strong enough that it can be caught underneath the ice and commercially harvested). This has a lot to do with anglers too. Who wanted for decades. To have these premium 'game' fish species. To fish for in parts of America. And that led in turn. To some very strange things happening there. Over time.
In the same interview, Luke Dunkin provided a small bit of coverage of the recent Red Fish BASS event. And talked about the gulf coastline angling tradition. For catching Red fish. Recently enough I was told by one of the lure making companies. Just how much the saltwater component of their business was. Red fish and other species mentioned. And when I looked at it. I discovered guides who take their clients to fish for that species. All of the ways up as far as Delaware and Virginia beach. All down that south eastern coastline though. The red fish provides a lot of sport. To a lot of anglers. And they use many of the same baits and techniques. As bass anglers will. You look at someplace such as the Potomac river. A recent feature length documentary made on the Snakehead fish. Which had invaded the Potomac environment. Established the fact straight away. That bass anglers on the Potomac river were worried about it. And that the bass on the Potomac river. In turn had been introduced there as a species. In an earlier time period. It's obvious that centers of population. Create demand for access to fishing. Nearby. And that in turn. Leads to the release of these fish species. That aren't native to the area or the water. For example, how did the 'herring' fish get into those reservoirs. That contained bass fish in Carolina? The herring is after all. A saltwater species.
And another one of the famous western fisheries. Called the Delta fishing area in northern California. The striped bass fish that anglers catch in that river. Had travelled all of the ways across a continent. On railway carriage. From places such as the Potomac river area. And Long Island. To get to California. The striped bass had never been a west coast species at all. The striped bass is in many respects. Very like the saltwater 'stripe-less', or so-called European bass. That lives off of the shoreline of Britain and Ireland. Places like Belgium and the Netherlands. And travels in summer time. All of the ways as far as Norway. To visit it's coastlines in search of food. The demand to catch bass in California had been as great. As to lead people to go to that effort. A species that was native to California though. Was the migratory rainbow trout. And it had it's own train journey too. Which took it. From northern California. All of the ways to Michigan. Of all places. There were people in Michigan. Who wanted to have a 'steelhead' expereince. In Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Or even upper State New York.
Someone with a better grasp on fish and wild life biology. Might some day be able to establish. More of the story. Because it deserves to be told (and a lot of folks are shy about telling it). The drum family of fish. Is something that I was quite interested in. Because it's one that we don't seem to have in Europe. Yet it fits into a lot of the same niches. In the hierarchy of species. That you would expect to be filled. By a certain kind of fish. And as far as I can tell. The speckled trout species and the red fish. Are actually part of the same family. And this freshwater version of the drum species. Is one that is familiar to northern anglers. Who fish for walleye fish. And small mouth bass. No one seems to like the freshwater drum species much. But fly fishing anglers in Ohio do seem to be attracted by it. As it provides them with some sport. On the Great Lakes there. Speckled trout is not the only species of America fish. That is not a trout. At least two of the native species of American trout. Are not trout at all. But part of char family. Which is present in Greenland and the artic cold parts. Of the world. And on the eastern coast rivers. Connected to the Atlantic ocean. At one point the char habitat (or so-called 'brook trout'). Is thought to have extended right down the eastern part of the country. To places such as the Potomac river (before the 'bass' and the 'snakehead' fish got in there).
The only species of trout which does seem native to America. Seems to be the rainbow trout variety. And it in turn. Is part of a whole habitat and ecosystem. Which extends across the Pacific ocean. To mainland China and places like Siberia. Part of Russia. Yet as time went on. The rainbow trout was introduced in various ways. Further and further east. Into the middle of the American continent. And eventually the European brown trout. Was brought inland. Into places far away from the Atlantic ocean too. Which was it's origin point. The central focus of the brown trout. It's habitat. Is actually places such as the Baltic ocean. On the north west coast of Russia. And around all of the Scandinavia countries. Apart from the salmon species (where the Pacific salmon again, is distinct and different from the Atlantic salmon family). There appears to be. Around four rough categories of fish. Into which most of the game fish species fall into. As far as I can tell. Those would be the char family, the bass family, the trout family and the drum fish family (of which both speckled trout and red fish are part of).
Hey Randy, I aint in no gang. I take offense when you say “hey gang, what’s up”. Some of you anglers out there fish like a bunch of gangsters, rolling up 3 boats deep on my spots, doing drive by long-lining on my offshore brush piles. But not this guy, no sir. not ole Dave. You take your drive by’s and drop shots off of my damn brush piles and go hit Randy’s piles.
A thousand years ago, members of my bass club used to put a vinyl skirt on a jig, two swivels and a blade off the hook, used a punched out piece of a coffee can plastic lid to retain the swivels on the hook. We hopped it in very deep water, caught some seriously nice fish on this thing in the winter. I rarely fished it shallower than 25 feet. When hopped the jig the blade propellored down flashing as the jig fell. The thump of the hit was usually very firm.
West Point lake is where I learned to fish the Little George it is a great all around bait . Because it was similar to the marabou spin rite which was a top producer on smallmouth at Dale Hollow I used the Little George which was just as deadly. I fished the teardrop style in chrome. Great video Randy keep them coming.👍
Randy, the other tail spinner in your video was made by Cotton Cordell lures. I have a few somewhere. Thanks for awesome videos.
My largest winter time Bass came on a tail spinner! Lot a fun 😁
Love all the info pouring from your videos I have watched them all
Lytle's Secret Tail Spinner is my favorite.
I'd like to see you taking some of these baits and technique on the water for the viewers. Good stuff. Keep it up!
Love the video of the forgotten little George. I really have gotten away from some of the old lures. NW ARK It's me Michael D
Little George to me is still one of the best baits out there for catching schooling fish
Plenty of Little Georges available at Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops. Right next to the spoons......
Loving these last few videos! Thanks Randy
I fish al lot with Jigspinner, looks even the same...for perch...catches perch, if they want to hunt...cool lure...super film as always randy.
The good ol lil George still catches em after all these years
Back in the 70’s I fished a super George tail spinner. Think I still have a couple around here somewhere lol they had the plastic bodies
The plastic bodied one was called a George'n Shad!
I remember reading fishing reports in the local Atlanta newspaper when I was growing up in the 70’s and if I remember right the Little George was a good producer fished deep during the dog days of summer as well
Don't think I've ever seen one of those before Cool
Thanks for taking us down memory lane with this tutorial about the Little George! I remember buying some of them when I first got started bass fishing!
I once won a sport boats USA tournament with 5 fish, back when they had an 8 fish limit, off of a timbered channel intersection in West Fisher Creek- Dec 5th '93 I think. It was my 1st big league local TX on T Rock. Had 17.43 #!. I really miss those days on that lake. I also found out- when they quit hitting a jigging spoon, you could switch over to a George and make them start biting again. Good vid Randy!
Loved the Little George back in the day. You could cast it a mile and caught both largemouth and white bass.
Stripers and spots love it, too!
Awesome baits. I have 2 different ones in my box now. Usually switch between LV500, Rattle Trap, Blade baits and yes tails spins and jigging and flutter spoons. All those lures are in the same major category like crankbaits. You got squarebills, deep divers, medium divers, coffin bills, spoon bill etc but all are cranks. The above lures I mentioned are all in the same category. Great video Randy. I shout you and fishing with the moment out on my channel. You guys are underrated but awesome.
Still using a tail spinner for vertical piling in winter goat to love some George.
Enjoyed your videos and I think there is one tied on now in my boat great for schools of fish
Good stuff Randy love Tom Mann still use many of his lures and love his jelly worm caught many pigs on that worm
I almost dropped my iPad when this popped up. I was going thru some of my old lures yesterday and came across two Little George’s I bought back in the 70’s. Things were different back then - you didn’t have a million lure options. It was mostly Mann, Rapala, Rebel, Cordell and Bagley. As a teen I would throw a pack of Mann’s Jelly Worms - had to be grape (purple) - in my pocket and fish the canals in south Florida. Those were the days! I also have six of the first original Big O production model crank baits, an old Johnson Silver Minnow spoon and two Dalton Special wooden top water prop baits. Those things sure could catch fish. Fishing was so much simpler back then.
I recently found an old unopened pack of Mann’s Auger Tail worms in motor oil color. I’m going to use them in a couple weeks and excited to use them.
I had the trip of a lifetime on Lake Pickwick, 30 yrs ago. Caught 27 at McFarland Park IN THE MARINA, the 1st night, between 12pm & 3am. Went out the next day and landed over 200 fish of 11 different species. We spent an hour & a half on a brick pile catching/playing skipjacks on the small DALTON SPECIAL that we eventually took the hooks off of just to watch them knock it in the air, pull it under, and hang on to ½way back to the boat! It was a blast.
I also remember a trip to Lake Martin as a teen where I wound up selling motoroil Mann's augertail worms to my buddies for a quarter apiece. That was big money for a single worm back then!
Those were the good ol’ days.
Love tail spinners
This has been a good bait for strip bass in Central Texas. Thanks Randy.
That video was awesome bass fishing has really taken over as my favourite type of fishing and I really enjoy your videos of bass fishing I’ve learned quite a bit I usually target trout!!!
Check out the new 6thsense gyro. Definitely got me back into tailspinning
I used to fish littler George’s on possum kingdom lake on the deep end around hell’s gate and always get bites. Largemouths and sand bass loads of fun and easy to use. Thanks for the video Randy brought back memories and I am like oh yeah I totally forgot to try that bait now so much other in tackle box
A person couldn't go wrong to have some Little George's in their arsenal!🤙
I wore them out this spring during the pre spawn fish a jackall deracoup on a steady retriever with short pauses where it would flutter down. The bass would always hit on the pause as the bait fluttered down
Tailspinner been my go lure to this year. Very effective, good search bait
Tackle warehouse has em! Just sell out quick some times. Best if you buy in off seasons.
I actually have some Little Georges from early 80’s. All torn up from sand bass and stripers on Lake Tawokoni. I have a box labeled “old school” that has little George’s, hair jigs and crank baits. When bites are tuff I go for that box. I’ve noticed newer bait companies have started making tail spinners and upped the design and hardware.
Fished little suzys on Texoma along
With little George in 1970s
I have never fished a Little George but I always wondered why it wasn’t talked about because it seemed like it would eliminate the problem I have with my go to winter fishing lure, the in-line spinner. My problem is that only about 99% of the ones made anymore aren’t cheap pieces of junk whose blade doesn’t spin! So we’ll why not fish a Little George right. Well the truth is I don’t get to go as much in the winter because I’m a pecan farmer so I just never got around to it. But I agree with everything in this video even though I haven’t tried it myself. This is designed so that the blade always works, and the overall lure similar to the inline spinner. It’s a straight line of flash that gets finicky fish’s attention. Also, this winter fishing I do is freshwater, so I usually look for Speckled Perch, and catch whatever bream and bass I just catch by accident. But the Little George also looks like it would be killer on the flats for Redfish and Trout.
I fished the little george back in the mid 70’s. In one particular time I was fishing a clear water lake in mid march. I cast as far as I could and reeled back at a moderate rate. I caught 11 bass in two hours. They were smashing it.
Oh yeah, they work like nobody’s business. Still a great multi-species lure for large impoundments. Always buy at least two at a time, because you will invariably hang-up and break off.
I keep a lil george on deck always. it is perfect for the boiling shad frenzies that are out of normal casting reach as well. One of my OG standards that no one believes until they fish with me is a little road runner with a 101 pork rind. I like having the option of an unusual presentation when I'm on a heavy pressure situation. Not sure if I am stubborn, stupid or an outlier but it puts fish on deck. Don't be afraid to find your own ways of skinning the cat.
So true! I outcast everyone, when it comes to schoolers, by using a ¼oz Li'l George on ML spinning gear w/12lb Gliss. I still use a⅛oz Roostertail too. That lure has caught me tens of thousands of bass over the last 50 years.
I was just looking at these at bass pro and I passed them up telling myself “ what would I do with that thing”….and here we are.
I have had huge successes with blade baits and small casting spoons, and obviously jigging spoons, but the lil George, I have lost more baits than I have caught fish for some reason. I make some really heavy weighted tail spinners out of wood that I can work a lot slower that are great in the winter, but those solid lead baits… I have seen how good they can be. I saw a 30# bag of smallmouth once, but I have never figured that lure out.
My best friends grandfather turned us on to the little George in the early 90s as little kids we've been catching fish on them every winter since one thing I found funny is I've only ever used the 1/2 oz model
I'm partial to the ¼oz hammered chrome. On ML spinning gear, it casts every bit as far the ½, falls slower, and doesn't snag half as much.
I never caught a fish on one. But they cast real far.
Randy your content is awesome. Thank you. What do you think about the old school in-line spinner?
I don’t know why I haven’t though of this before but they need to make a Megabass dark sleeper with a tailspin instead of a paddle tail. That would be awesome. Also you should consider adding another blade to the little George on the very back loop. It would allow for a slower fall and more flash and vibration.
Tom Mann was one of my childhood idols along with Bill Dance. My oldest Do-It mold is a tailspinner. They will catch anything that swims, I even caught some flounder on it this past summer.
Which mold did you get? I see item # 1205 (3/8 to 3/4) or item 3246 (1/2 to 7/8)?
I plan on fishing 15 to 30 ft deep.
@@fishbuscharters The #1205 mold. You can also make no-roll sinkers by using a straight piece of wire in place of the wire form. I also used it to make A-rigs. It is a very versatile mold.
@@63Bare wow. Thanks for the details! I’m ordering a mold today.
Great for jet skiers also
3rd video in 2 days ive seen about tail spins. . They work.
Thanks Randy... How does the little George compare to the underpin .???
They still make little George and academy sports has a good knock off as well. We are still a month away from winter here, water temps still around 60 (but the winter lures also work in summer fall and spring haha)
I catch tons of fish on a blade bait. I’m a couple years older than you and grew up when Tom Mann was a star. I never did well with the Little George and I don’t know why. Waiting for the jigging Rapala show, it’s my # Ice fishing lure but I’ve never fished it in open water.
Can't wait until you bring out Hedden Sonic and Super Sonics
I just scored 5 of them at Ollie’s for $1.50 each!!
¼oz Hammered Chrome Li'l George $5.99 @ Cabela's! The ¼oz actually comes in at closer to ½oz. On spinning gear with 12lb Gliss, it is one of the FARTHEST CASTING lures you can throw at feeding schools and it's working as soon as it hits the water. I've fished them since the 70s and they still produce just as good today. Awesone striper lure, too.
Just curious why you prefer the whip snake over the ronin for jerkbaits? The ronin is supposed to be the “jerkbait” spinning rod. Just wondering what you like specifically about the whipsnake over the ronin?
I get to use my Destroyer Windbuster for the 1st time this Friday! I've got 28 brand new Vision 110s, too. I got 2 off of Ebay last week; $130 for the 2, but you should see them. 1 is a JDM color, 'Deadly Fish'. The other was a 'Special USA run' color called 'Smallmouth Bass'. It's so pretty, I may never even take it out of the box!
I still have the 1/2 oz version of that!
I miss the kangaroo worm by Tom too
I remember that pot bellied little dude! Had a pouch and a round little knob on the tail. We used to put scent, cork, and even Alka Seltzer in them.
@@shadygraves yep it was a great worm I used to put all alka seltzer in some of mine too
@@shadygraves thanks bro
@@shadygraves I might bring it back too , for me to fish with
If memory serves Stacey King had a top 10 at Beaver in a FLW event. Not sure what year. Do you remember that Randy?
My dad just passed away at 87. And he has several of these types of Baits in his old tacklebox. Might just have to break a couple of these out
Dale Hollow is tail spinner CAPITOL!!!
Aliexpress sells affordable after-market tail spin lures
Just caught two treadfin shads with a tailspin lol
Hmmm Maybe the fish grab it on the way down and you are noticing the fish when you pull up?
I still fish the Rinky Dink. Much better than the Little George because the line ties through the weight directly to the hook so when a fish hooks up, it can throw the hook
I have 1 of these left! are they still available?
Does anybody know of any TH-cam channels, books, or other resources for researching historical lure designs?
Super shad by cordell
I only caught white bass on them
Just wondering , has anybody had any experience using a little George on saugeye or walleye ?
Mann’s closed down in October of 2023. I heard a rumor it’s been purchased but nothing to prove it.
Mann I believe invented the little George in the 60’s. He was a game warden for the state of Alabama and the governor was George Wallace hence the name little George.
I live 5 minutes off of West Point Lake
I had a mold and made my own 3/4 oz Little George's . It was named after George Wallace. Governor. Agree it was good for schoolers.
Lost a ton of them.
Duo realis spin
There is a couple of things. That I could share on the topic. Of the 'tail spinner' fishing bait. From a European angling context. And it's not one of those items. I had ever stumbled across. Except when I noticed one of the very good saltwater shoreline anglers. Make a particular point of highlighting the type of lure. For the purposes of targeting very difficult to catch. Sea-run brown trout. That nose around coastal areas. And hunt all of the time. After shoals of juvenille fish. And saltwater bait fish.
One thing that is always worth re-emphasizing. About the saltwater coast line situation (I listened to some of the chat amongst freshwater bass anglers about the BASS 'red fish' tournament). In which some of the well known bass anglers had competed. In some kind of championship team event. The species that I find interesting. And all of the people who catch red fish (which is a type of saltwater drum). They all know about that species called speckled trout. Which is just a more streamlined, more numerous and lightweight version. Of the same saltwater drum species. And you could actually put the sea-run brown trout. Somewhere in the same vicinity of those speckled trout species. In terms of how to fish for them. Some of the Louisian anglers in saltwater. It is worth noting. Will fish in places. Where the habitat of the large mouth bass. And the speckled trout overlap with each other. Which seems kind of shocking to me. But there you go.
What it does seem to indicate though. Is that large mouth bass as a species. Are a species that are adaptable. To living in situations. Like in saltwater. Where things change almost my the minute. As the tides move. And the fish who occupy those coastal areas know that too. And respond to it. It's something that is maybe worth thinking about. From a point of view of freshwater fishing. For the large mouth species too. There are some species. That are extremely comfortable. In dealing with a situation. That is constantly on the move. Constantly changing in some way. And some of the things that anglers try to do. At least in the competitive situation. In the freshwater lake for bass. Is try to isolate things. Hammer out fixed strategies. And try to run those strategies. Like some kind of a plan. The saltwater anglers do operate according to well thought out plans. As well. Except their strategies tend to be. Of the more 'dynamic' variety. There is always some A, B and C. Aspect to them.
It's not that a situation. In a freshwater reservoir, lake, stream or river. Is going to change. At the same rate of change. As the saltwater situation those. But looking at the saltwater anglers. Could help one move. A little bit away. From a static idea of a plan. Or strategy. And something that has more moving parts to it. When you look at how the saltwater anglers. Organize their plan. There is always some element to it. Of how things are going to unfold. There isn't one main chapter. There are several smaller chapters. That make up the entire story. Whenever Scott Martin for example. Goes out on his boat on the ocean. In Florida. He always ensures he has the experienced saltwater guide. In charge of the boat. And when Scott interviews the guide. To inform them as to what will happen that day. You always notice. The saltwater guide explains things. Not as one self-contained chapter. But lots of smaller un-folding events. That he suspects will happen. And generally speaking. That is like what does happen.
One of the things I noticed. With the European saltwater coastline anglers. Is they've discovered kayak boat access. To the same water. In some recent years. Kayak boat angling in that situation. Is not without it's many dangers. Say for example though. In an area which is shelted. And many larger 'pleasure' boats are parked. Along harbour walls and in marina places. I've been amazed. At how some of those British saltwater anglers (who are really just shoreline anglers, who have developed this new type of water access). Which is not a boat as such. A kayak is a much less mobile and dynamic platform. Than any kind of rowed boat. Or motorized one. I've been astonished. At how they use the kayaks. To catch sea-run brown trout. In places where you'd hardly ever suspect. Those fish would roam into. Into these boat dock areas.
And that's the place in which. You'll find those anglers. Using the tail spinner baits. Small in size and easy to cast longer distances. Out of saltwater spinning rods. From the ocean side. And towards areas where boats are parked. In sheltered harbor areas. I've absolutely no clue. As to what makes the tail spinner lure. Effective for such a situation. What the attraction happens to be. All I know. Is that it overlaps with the places. That saltwater shoreline anglers use. To do what they describe as 'light rock fishing' practice. Which is a kind of a new and very odd sub-section. To the overall shoreline angling sport now. It's very popular in places such as Japan. Where they catch all kinds of small species. Such as 'goby' fish. Using the lightweight 'LRF' tackle methods. And the saltwater angling culture around the world. Has an aspect to it. That is not like any other type of angling.
There is a full story. That I hope will get told someday. About the very unusual history. That is the history of freshwater angling. And species in the United States of America.
It's a story that is very interesting. Luke Dunkin had a guest interview. In the last week. Some of the conversation drifted. In the direction of efforts to introduce freshwater bass. Into the islands of Hawaii. The reality is though. That a lot of odd things happen in America. And the ecosystems there. Are always changing. One of the most recent arrivals. Had been the goby bait fish species. That had invaded the Great Lakes. And went directly into battle. With a native species there. That is called the 'white fish' (a species that is strong enough that it can be caught underneath the ice and commercially harvested). This has a lot to do with anglers too. Who wanted for decades. To have these premium 'game' fish species. To fish for in parts of America. And that led in turn. To some very strange things happening there. Over time.
In the same interview, Luke Dunkin provided a small bit of coverage of the recent Red Fish BASS event. And talked about the gulf coastline angling tradition. For catching Red fish. Recently enough I was told by one of the lure making companies. Just how much the saltwater component of their business was. Red fish and other species mentioned. And when I looked at it. I discovered guides who take their clients to fish for that species. All of the ways up as far as Delaware and Virginia beach. All down that south eastern coastline though. The red fish provides a lot of sport. To a lot of anglers. And they use many of the same baits and techniques. As bass anglers will. You look at someplace such as the Potomac river. A recent feature length documentary made on the Snakehead fish. Which had invaded the Potomac environment. Established the fact straight away. That bass anglers on the Potomac river were worried about it. And that the bass on the Potomac river. In turn had been introduced there as a species. In an earlier time period. It's obvious that centers of population. Create demand for access to fishing. Nearby. And that in turn. Leads to the release of these fish species. That aren't native to the area or the water. For example, how did the 'herring' fish get into those reservoirs. That contained bass fish in Carolina? The herring is after all. A saltwater species.
And another one of the famous western fisheries. Called the Delta fishing area in northern California. The striped bass fish that anglers catch in that river. Had travelled all of the ways across a continent. On railway carriage. From places such as the Potomac river area. And Long Island. To get to California. The striped bass had never been a west coast species at all. The striped bass is in many respects. Very like the saltwater 'stripe-less', or so-called European bass. That lives off of the shoreline of Britain and Ireland. Places like Belgium and the Netherlands. And travels in summer time. All of the ways as far as Norway. To visit it's coastlines in search of food. The demand to catch bass in California had been as great. As to lead people to go to that effort. A species that was native to California though. Was the migratory rainbow trout. And it had it's own train journey too. Which took it. From northern California. All of the ways to Michigan. Of all places. There were people in Michigan. Who wanted to have a 'steelhead' expereince. In Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Or even upper State New York.
Someone with a better grasp on fish and wild life biology. Might some day be able to establish. More of the story. Because it deserves to be told (and a lot of folks are shy about telling it). The drum family of fish. Is something that I was quite interested in. Because it's one that we don't seem to have in Europe. Yet it fits into a lot of the same niches. In the hierarchy of species. That you would expect to be filled. By a certain kind of fish. And as far as I can tell. The speckled trout species and the red fish. Are actually part of the same family. And this freshwater version of the drum species. Is one that is familiar to northern anglers. Who fish for walleye fish. And small mouth bass. No one seems to like the freshwater drum species much. But fly fishing anglers in Ohio do seem to be attracted by it. As it provides them with some sport. On the Great Lakes there. Speckled trout is not the only species of America fish. That is not a trout. At least two of the native species of American trout. Are not trout at all. But part of char family. Which is present in Greenland and the artic cold parts. Of the world. And on the eastern coast rivers. Connected to the Atlantic ocean. At one point the char habitat (or so-called 'brook trout'). Is thought to have extended right down the eastern part of the country. To places such as the Potomac river (before the 'bass' and the 'snakehead' fish got in there).
The only species of trout which does seem native to America. Seems to be the rainbow trout variety. And it in turn. Is part of a whole habitat and ecosystem. Which extends across the Pacific ocean. To mainland China and places like Siberia. Part of Russia. Yet as time went on. The rainbow trout was introduced in various ways. Further and further east. Into the middle of the American continent. And eventually the European brown trout. Was brought inland. Into places far away from the Atlantic ocean too. Which was it's origin point. The central focus of the brown trout. It's habitat. Is actually places such as the Baltic ocean. On the north west coast of Russia. And around all of the Scandinavia countries. Apart from the salmon species (where the Pacific salmon again, is distinct and different from the Atlantic salmon family). There appears to be. Around four rough categories of fish. Into which most of the game fish species fall into. As far as I can tell. Those would be the char family, the bass family, the trout family and the drum fish family (of which both speckled trout and red fish are part of).
Hey Randy, I aint in no gang. I take offense when you say “hey gang, what’s up”. Some of you anglers out there fish like a bunch of gangsters, rolling up 3 boats deep on my spots, doing drive by long-lining on my offshore brush piles. But not this guy, no sir. not ole Dave. You take your drive by’s and drop shots off of my damn brush piles and go hit Randy’s piles.