A-Jay

The very bottom 2 baits are 07's - which I think has been discontinued. The rest are all 09 5/8 oz baits. I've mentioned this bait a few times here ~ First time was 12 years ago . . . https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/search/?q=rapala sub walk &author=A-Jay&updated_after=any&sortby=newest&search_and_or=and A-Jay

I can agree with most everything noted already in this thread; But mostly, "variety is the spice of life". Mixing it up has always been my modus operandi, especially presenting topwater offerings. The vast majority of my topwater brown bass hunting is done with either a walking bait or a popper. While both may be sort of on opposite ends of the topwater action bait spectrum, there can be various type 'retrieves' or presentations made with both that may get a bite or two. I'll use a walking bait to cover shallow water, routinely keeping it on the go all the way to the boat. But a stop & go retrieve works many times, as does a fast waking retrieve. Where I do nothing more than cast the bait out & reel it back; here' it's all about "the V". When throwing the popper as mentioned above - quite often, it's ALL about 'the Pause'. But just like any bait I throw size & profile play a role in conjunction with 'the action' (or lack there of). So a slow retrieve, waking the bait, has taken fish for me as well. And on the total opposite end of the 'pause' spectrum, is one of The Most effective all be it, pain staking presentations I make with a popper. Started doing it as a result of what at the time was a total 'accidental catch'. A professional over run (backlash) had my popper just sitting there for a while while I picked it out. Smallie crushed it after it had been sitting there several minutes, almost lost the rig over the side(I was in a canoe) and didn't get the fish, but the light bulb went on. So late morning to mid-day, after the morning bites has pretty my faded, I will present a popper in & around the same areas I may have taken a fish or two on a walking bait - so I have a decent Idea there may still be a few around. The painstaking part is there is a Full minute between a single pop. The water splash & 'rings' are long faded away before I even think about moving it again. It's like a battle of wills - who will flinch first - the longer I let it sit, the more the anticipation grows. Seems to work best in super flat water no wind conditions - but having that bait just sit there in their face, making no attempt to flee, seems to really fire up big brown bass and sometimes, they will just slurp it off the top. And other times they will totally hammer it. I'm good either way A-Jay

I've tried two reels that were sub 5 to 1 and they were fine for working the bait but a little too slow to fight (keep up with) a spirited bass once hooked. So Mid- to high 5 something works for me. Either way, I do not have any hands on experience with the reels you've mentioned above so I can't offer anything there. But I can tell you from experience, that the TW Reel Demo program is a great way to "Try before you Buy". https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/demoprogram.html We all have that 'sweet' spot in our own retrieve cadence, the one that feels most comfortable to us. But it's also different for each of us as well. So what I like, you might not and vise versa. Perhaps try a reel or two - a couple of different speeds & brands and find "The One" that's right for you & your style of fishing. Good Luck A-Jay

Nicely Done ~ Great Smile Congrats A-Jay

I use 5.3:1 and 5.8:1 ratio 150 & 200 sized reels for large lipped deep divers. And there is No Way I could deep crank all day with a 7 speed anything reel. I can 'speed up' (to a point) but for me SLOW winding an 8 or 10 XD or a Norman DD22 HD with a fast reel is like torture. I'm with @Team9nine - in the rare instances I need to cover water or speed up a deep presentation like this, I'm long lining it - or getting my troll on. A-Jay

Nice Bass ~ Hope your Dad's on the mend soon. A-Jay

Cold - still full on winter here. It was -12 without the windchill last night. Brought the dogs in the house, first time this winter. Snowing now, we have a foot or so on the ground, more in drift areas. My count down to projected open water is still 57 days away. And while a lot can change in almost two months -- This recent & current weather deal is not making the wait seem any shorter . . . A-Jay

Timing is everything ~ I JUST (and I mean 2 minutes ago) ordered these from Reaction Tackle https://www.reactiontackle.com/collections/shaky-head-jigs/products/reaction-tackle-tungsten-tube-jig-heads-5-pack-for-bass-tube-fishing They are tungsten (small head) and allow for a weedless rigging presentation. Trokar makes a lead head model - but I am Not A Fan of that hook. A-Jay For short hook shank in tubes, I make a small slice in the bait at the end to accommodate the hook. Tube runs right, hooks good and lasts a little longer. btw - I like the Bite Me Tackle Big Dude Goby Head Tube Jigs A-Jay

Snow like a Basstid here ~ A-Jay

I am just here for the comments ? A-Jay

Don't think so. Also, this bait is different in that regardless of how long it sits it will only get 18 to perhaps 24 inch down max. A-Jay

Just going by appearance looks like it might have come from a box of something that's magically delicious. A-Jay

It's a hard plastic bait that is pretty tough. I change the hooks and hardware. Pike will smash these especially early and late season. I often use wire. These are great shallow water search baits. Also, these baits do require a decent degree of user input to get the action out of them. However after the bait is twitched and then stops, it has a very unique and subtle 'roll' before suspending motionless. Brown bass Hate It - in a good way. The posted pic includes older and newer baits. And I can definitely see why one would question my credibility....... A-Jay

You know I can relate my friend. I am seriously addicted to hunting sow stripers from the surf. Chased them up and down the East coast for a long time. Sold the gear when I retired. Doubly sad day. A-Jay

That's a tough one. What if an avid surf caster asked the same thing about bass fishing, where would you start ? At some point some one's going to tell you to use the gear you have. But that's like using surf casting gear at the lake. Perhaps visit one of the reputable tackle shops at the shore and see what they have to say. You'll find that thowing plugs usually requires different gear than soaking bait. Both have their time and place. May boil down to how, where and what your target species is. Either way, most bass tackle is insufficient. Perhaps you could rent a rig ? A-Jay

The Sub-Walk has been one of my shallow water secret weapons for going on 10 years. It's a Killer bait that no one throws. I'll fish it exactly like a suspending jerkbait except I can fish it effectively in less than 3 feet of water; BUT not on top. Often times bass may not want to commit to a topwater bait; but that's when this bait shines. I Highly Recommended it. Don't tell anyone. A-Jay

Either way ~ Good Luck with that. If I've learned anything the past 13 years, it's that Pure Michigan, especially the snow belt area, has unique & unpredictable weather patterns, that change every year. Season's as we know them - don't really exist. There is virtually no 'typical' spring & fall weather; unless we a ready to count a week or ten days it. It's more like the No snow season and the Snow season because we go from winter to summer and from summer to winter. And I have 'cold weather gear' in my rig almost ALL YEAR ROUND ! WTH ! A-Jay

Super Cold here this morning - well below zero. Wind was a little brutal. And wait for it - getting half a foot of snow starting any minute now . . . A-Jay

Here's one type of solution ~ A-Jay

Hello John ~ Thank You for your service and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Well I miss making them at least as much ~ ! I have a little Jersey experience ~ South NJ. Was stationed there for 15 years. Lived in Cape May for most of it - and I loved it. Didn't do much sweet water fishing but did Striper fish my Arse off ! A-Jay

Makes for some tough leader material for me ~ A-Jay

Me too ~ A-Jay

That is FANTASTIC my Friend ~ Know that feels really good. Can't wait to hear what's next for you. I'm an 'average swimmer'. I'm being realistic about my abilities, as I had the distinct privileged of serving side by side with some men & women who, when it comes to being in the water - these folks were like super heroes When you jump out of a helicopter into the cold blackness of the bitter north Atlantic in January 50 or a 100 miles off shore at night for a living, you're at the very top of the bar - by yourself. And here's a little fun fact about recuse swimmers, after the helicopter crew makes a rescue at sea, depending on how many survivors are recovered, if there's no room left for the swimmer, THEY LEAVE HIM OR HER IN THE OCEAN, take the survivors back to get treatment and then go back and recover the swimmer - sometimes that takes a while. Talk about feeling small . . . . . A-Jay

Pretty sure, fully clothed, without a Life Jacket - I'd struggle. A-Jay