Guys I am going to Crowley next week and I want to try the 3" hammers for the trout.I know how to rig the trap hook,But what size leadhead are you using and are you flatlining or using leadcore.Also any colors that might be killer would help as well
Thanks Brian

I was sent some colors to try out by one of the pro staffers from Big Hammer, actually Pete Wolf the owner. I've got them in a box in the boat. I'll dig them out tomorrow and post the patterns he sent me. I used them only briefly on opening weekend with no resluts. However, I don't think I gave them much of a shot. I guess Larry Herron (Calico Hunter) had pretty good results with them in late February at Cachuma.

http://www.allcoastsportfishing.com/cgi-bin/dc/f/index.cgi?az=read_count&om=2312&forum=freshwater

That's what got me interested. Have not had a chance to fish Crowley much yet, got a leak in the bow I'm attending to. Should be on the water in a week or so. Usually that Bubble Gum Needlfish produces pretty well. Last season they were also doing well with the Husky Jerk Ghost Minnow.

Here are the numbers and colors that I Pete sent me:

HPS 3023, 3033, 3046, and 3002
Bleeding Mackerel, Firetiger, Larry Heron Special, and Wookie Wacker

1/4 oz 1/0 and 3/8 oz 2/0 leadheads

Crowley trout, especially the Rainbows and Cutthroats go for some goofy colors, so maybe the Firetiger will get 'em. I might also take a few of the Pearl and Glowbug, too. Some of our biggest Cutthroats at Pyramid (North of Reno) and Wlaker Lake (Near Hawthorne NV) have come on Pearl Flatfish. Good luck!

edit: Just got an email reply from Pete. He said: "I don't remember what colors I sent you but my friend Bryan did pretty good on them at Crowley on opening weekend. He said that our Senorita and Wookie Wacker colors were the hot ones."

Thanks for the info. I have a few of the colors but will get a few more over at the Longfin.I will post how I do even if I dont get any on the Hammers.Thanks Again Brian

I used the 3" in senorita color at Crowley last week for a little while. Since they were hitting the Mira shad in orange. I did get a hit on it but missed it even though I had a mosquito bleeding hook traprigged. Also I used the red 1/2 ozs leadhead and the 3/4 to get down deeper flatlined. We were doing well on other lures that's why I didn't stay with it long.

Well I just spent the last hour putting stinger hooks
in my Hammers I did about 6,I think that will do.Cant
wait to get out there on the water!!!!! I would prefer
to bait fish cause that is what I do best.This past week
I think I bought about $100.00 bucks worth of trolling lures.
Man those Mira Shads ain't cheap either. Also bought some rip
baits that looked good as well. Thanks for all the feed back
and I will post sometime next Sunday when I get back.
Brian

Just got back from Crowley Lake.Fishing was kind of slow I thought, we did catch a few fish but most were on the smallish side.Tried trolling the big Hammers for Nada.Caught most all our fish on Nitecrawlers.Did catch a few on the troll using neddle fish and Mira shads.Weather was great with the lows in the 30's and high's in the 80's.. Thanks Brian

Since Opening Day, the boat was stuck on the trailer due to a leak which just got fixed by the welders on Friday. I got her all back together and went up yesterday afternoon for a few hours and caught and released my first Rainbow of the season. Got it up in McGee Bay trolling an 8 cm Rapala in the Ghost minnow pattern on leadcore. I'm Back!;-)