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I tend to go unpegged when casting T-rigs, and pegged when pitch/flipping them. I think an unpegged bait has better action since it's allowed to flutter behind the weight. When I peg, I use rubber bobber stops.

It'll be a rewarding choice. While 1/2 oz. is my go-to jig weight, don't hesitate to mix in some different weights as well. The rate of fall is very important sometimes. I don't often use 3/8 oz. jigs, but 3/4 and 1/4 oz. get plenty of use.

WIth all that good BBQ around you, who cares about pizza?

I was able to find a like-new Dobyns DX745 FH on an online flea market at a very fair price.

I prefer controlling the boat, so it feels a little odd to be in the back of another boat. Both the front and the back of the boat have pros and cons. The front boater often gets the first cast at prime cover, but the back boater usually makes more casts over the course of the day -- especially when it's really windy or weedy -- since he or she doesn't have to control the boat and deal with the troller.

I've had that problem with rods within the same lineup, but never with 2 rods of the exact same model. An example I've seen would be the Shimano Crucial 7' MH/F. As far as I'm concerned, it's about as sensitive as an average $50 rod.

The slack-line sensitivity of fluorocarbon is a huge bonus, in my opinion. That's why I prefer it for fishing bottom-contact baits on baitcasting gear. Braid is still very useful when flipping and frog fishing. It also handles far better than fluoro on spinning tackle.

The Spro is the better of the two by far.

These threads are like beating a dead horse. I would like to see MORE people keeping little fish from my local lakes. They're often way overpopulated with little bass. I would do it myself but I just don't like bass meat.

If there is no visible cover, then look for anything on the bottom to hold fish. I would try bottom contact lures to search for rockpiles or sunken trees and such.

I see you're fishing the same types of lake as I am. Some prefer to fish these types of baits with heavy-gauge weighted hooks fished on heavy rods with heavy braided line, but I've had much better luck using lighter hooks and lighter tackle. I prefer using the same rods I would fish a spinnerbait or buzzbait, using 12# copolymer line (Hybrid or CXX) on a MH/F rod. I fish the lure in much the same way as I would fish a single colorado-blade spinner, just waking it under the surface near weeds beds, docks, and edges. The cover behind you in your avatar pic is perfect for fishing Grass Pigs on lighter tackle. Some times I fish these lures around heavier cover where I would normally fish texas-rigged toads and hollow-bodied frogs, so I'll use my standard frog fishing gear and a heavier-gauge hook with the Grass Pig. I'll list both of the hooks I use: Owner Weighted Twistlock Light 5/0 - 3/32 oz. http://www.***.com/Owner_Weighted_Twistlock_Light_3pk/descpage-OWTL.html Owner Weighted Beast Hook 6/0 - 1/4 oz. http://www.***.com/Owner_Weighted_Beast_Hook_w__Twistlock/descpage-OWBWT.html

I prefer the 3/0 or 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook for fishing Super Flukes. I think you get better action with the 3/0, but a better hook-up ratio with the 4/0.

That looks outstanding. Have you fished with it yet? How do you keep the split ring from flying off? Is it epoxied?

I just made my largest order to date ($140), but half of them were discounted swim jigs. I'll be set for a long time. At these prices, it's a good time to stock up for a couple seasons. The funny thing is, I know for a fact that almost every one of these jigs is going to get snatched by a Northern Pike at some point.

It's a great show, but i don't keep up with the weekly episodes. I just buy them when they are released on DVD, so I'm always about a year behind when it comes to my favorite TV shows. For example, I haven't seen season 5 of Breaking Bad or season 3 of Boardwalk Empire, and I love those shows.

I've had my best luck with Beavers and soft-jerkbaits. A lightweight soft jerkbait such as a Super Fluke has a really nice action on a C-rig.

The bass opener is on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in Minnesota.

I fish mostly 1/2 and 3/4 oz. spinnerbaits and I prefer a heavy-powered, fast-action rod.

This only time I've ever had serious abrasion issues with braid is around the chunk rock of the Mississippi River. I've had those rocks slice braid like it was 4# mono on more than a few occasions. Otherwise, braid has been very durable for me in the local natural lakes filled with mostly weeds. As with all lines, I still retie braid quite often just to be safe.

You're naming off a very wide range of conditions. Lightly stained-to-muddy water ; weeds, trees, and rocks for cover/structure. It's not easy to give advice based on that. Honestly, it would be better to try the basics first, and go from there. The 5 basic color combinations for jigs and other bottom-contact baits are black/blue, brown/orange, junebug, green pumpkin, and watermelon/red flake. If I had to pick 3 it would be black/blue, junebug, and green pumpkin. Stick to the basic colors and try a variety of weights. The rate of fall is just as important as the color, in my opinion.

A 7' medium-power, fast-action rod is the best spinning rod for all-around use with lighter lures (1/2 oz. and under). I would try recommend trying that, and going from there. Try rigging it with 15-20 lb. PowerPro braid this season. You'll have some fun with that.

The thread is titled "Frog Rods", in which the OP refers to a toad-style lure. That's why I addressed both. I refer to these kind of baits as "toads." I typically fish the "toads" around edges or in cover that's a little more sparse. In the heavier cover, I opt for the hollow-bodied "frogs" and a heavier rod. If I were to choose a rod best-suited for both frogs and toads, it would be the heavier of the two. That's what I was getting at. Sorry for the confusion.

Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swimjigs, frogs, and lipless cranks for searching. Jigs, Senkos, and various finesse plastics as a follow-up.

Black spinnerbaits with oversized gold blades, and dark-colored jigs with oversized trailers.