J Francho

Just come to the darkside, and switch to CXX, lol.

Tom, I'm curious if you think anything of the role weather stability (or lack of) plays in this. Sometimes I think these rhythms are upset by temutuous weather patterns. Ever been to western NY, LOL.

Good guys finish last, but what's left at the end is usually quality.

I was thinking the same thing. Next time out, it will be another magic bait in a magic color.

It depends on the trailer, the fall rate I want, and profile... Here's a few examples: Just gotta figure out what they like....

If you need more than 6" to properly load the rod, you using the wrong rod.

Spinnerbaits, marabou or hair jigs, buzzbaits.

I use a locking pin. No issues with a clip.

Count me in with Raul, a jitterbug makes smile when I fish it. My favorite topwater though is a specific Sammy 115 in my box. It only has one eye, and most of MS Am. Shad pattern is worn off.

These were all caught in the same month....fishing stinks in late fall, lol..

Hooks in the lower jaw USUALLY mean they are crashing the blades - especially if your bait looks fine, and you catch a few fish in the lower jaw.. It's also a leading cause of missed bites. This is a good argument for trailer hook. A color change, or some other aspect of the presentation may be in order.

In this order.... Smallmouth Largemouth Northern Pike Brown Trout Steelhead Anything else is a bonus.

I find that bending the wire at the weight, so the hook is closer to the blades starightens out most baits that won't run straight - assuming that everything lese is staright on the vertical axis.

6'3" MLXF.

I get mine straight from Smooth Drags. Just call them, and talk to Dawn.

Those old carb Mercs hate cold mornings. 300 series Rangers are GREAT boats. For that kind of money, check every function on the boat, get a comp. test and bill of health from a mechanic. Take it for a test drive.

Pretty funny....Dwight, you're a class act, keep it up.

Most of the baits I use have been overwehlmingly endorsed by the members here. When it comes to gear, a joe's opinion trumps a pro's sales pitch every day. That's not to say the pro's aren't shilling decent equipment...Most of the gear and tackle out there works fine, but it's the perspective from tons of everyday anglers with no agenda other than to share their success and failures, that I value the most.

I have a 7'9" swimbait rod with spiral wrapped guides. Works great.

Yes, sometimes, always. Lol. I grab mine more often in clear water, but that's not a huge factor.

Some Poe's Cedars, Bagley's, and some Fat Raps. There's some wooden Heddons, MudBugs, and Wood Choppers, but they rarely get used. I keep them as a conversation piece.

For plastics and jigs, I run out of the old, so I'm usually throwing new. I have some cranks that are 20+ years old, some are brand new. It just depends in what the right tool for the job is.

White, yellow, or one of each is my favorite spinnerbait to throw for smallmouth.

If the panfish are so bold to be murdering your plastics, I'd say you might be barking up the wrong tree. When I see comfortable sunnies I'm thinking refuge for small fish, not hunting grounds for lunkers. It doesn't mean it's a bad spot, just that big bass may not be active in that area right then.

The rule is not enforced at the BFL up here. My buddy fished it in his 20 XD Comp Bullet. There's no plaque on that boat. It's a dumb rule that was probably put in place with good intentions and safety in mind, back when bass boats were mostly under 20'.