tholmes

In order of preference: 1. Purple. specifically Tequila sunrise. 2. Black. My best producer in dingy water or at night. 3. Junebug. It sometimes works when the other two aren't getting bit. Others that I use occasionally are red w/ blue glitter (I don't know the official name), green pumpkin and motor oil. Tom

Barlow's also has some small (2-1/2", IIRC) skirts that could work. Maybe a little trimming required? Tom

Great work, Marc! Those are beautiful! Tom

Clear, cloudy, deep or shallow, spring, summer, fall, winter, clear water, murky water... Lipless cranks are very versatile baits. They will produce in a variety of conditions as they can be fished shallow or deep, fast or slow, steady retrieve of pause 'n' jerk, even vertically jigged. They're one of my most productive baits. Tom

Yes, you can. Tom

I don't think the problem is cheap tackle. If you go after bass with panfish tackle, you're gonna bend some hooks t's just part of ultra-light fishing. Tom

I'd never do it because 1. It's dishonest, and 2. Like SirSnookalot said, there's just no reason to. Most reputable stores will refund or exchange a rod if you're not satisfied, so why lie? Tom

Another bank fisherman here. I usually carry 2 rods, with a backup rig in my truck, a dozen or so crankbaits, a few dozen worms (along with weights and hooks), a few jigs and a couple of spinnerbaits. I carry all of the tackle in a small Plano double-sided box. Gerber multi-tool on my belt and a small digital camera in my pocket and I'm ready to go. Tom

I'm an unrepentant tackle addict. More specifically, a crankbait addict. All those pretty shapes and colors..... Gotta go...BPS needs more of my money. At least that's what this little monkey keeps telling me. Tom

My personal nemesis is the Zara Spook. I've got a handful of them and I used to throw them on a regular basis, but NEVER caught a single bass on one. I catch bass on other topwater baits, but not even a dink on the Spook. They've all been relegated to the big box of lures that I'll get rid of someday. Tom

That LA shad is beautiful! It's one of my most productive Bandit colors, and your version looks even better! Tom

^^ This. In black, smoke, or green pumpkin. Tom

^^ This. And NOT into the wind Tom

Wow! You already know this, but I'll say it anyhow. You've got a GREAT wife! I'm not sure I could pick just one! The short list, in order of preference: Lake Erie for Smallmouth. Lake Fork for Largemouth. Somewhere up north for big pike and walleye. Tom

No need to follow a Senko with anything. They'll catch all the fish, all the time. Don't they? Tom

This one might work for you: Rod case The smaller size holds 4 combos, so you've got room for expansion. Tom

I love the first and third crankbaits in the right-hand column! I KNOW that I would catch bass with those! Tom

They all look great, but the Black Shad is easily my favorite. Just a killer pattern! Great work! Tom

I've had a pretty good start with crankbaits, but the bite seems to have slowed a bit, with jigs and soft plastics doing a little better recently. This is the only pic that I have. 5 lbs. 8 oz. on a Bandit 100 series in Tennesse Shad. I also caught a 4 lb. smallmouth on a crankbait, but I didn't have my camera with me Tom

Not so easy if you don't have a boat. But it does work. Tom

Yes, I'm referring to my Abu round reels. I have a 4600C, a 5500C3 a 5600CL Rocket and a ProMax 3600. The ProMax is the only one with disengaging level wind. Using lures 1/4 oz. and up (I never cast anything lighter with my baitcasters), I don't really notice any difference in casting distance, even when mounting the reels on the same rod. Thanks for the input, at least now I understand the theory behind the whole thing. Tom

Something I've always been curious about. Are there any real advantages to disengaging level wind mechanisms? I have reels that have both kinds, and I really can't see that one has any advantage over the other as far as casting distance. Is there something I'm missing? Thanks! Tom

For baitcasters, a pole barn nail and the bench vise on my workbench do just fine. Stick the nail through the hole in the spool,clamp the nail in the vise, make sure the line is coming off of the top of the spool, add a little tension to the line by running it through your fingers (or a piece of cloth moistened with line conditioner, if you're so inclined) and crank away. For spinning reels, no tools are needed. Lay the spool of new line on the floor and make sure the line goes on the reel the same way it's wound on the spool. If you're not sure, wind a few turns onto the reel, and check to see if the line is twisted. If it is, turn the spool of line over and try again. Tom

Congrats on what is surely a day to remember! Way to go! Tom

All of the above Jig heads, t-rigged, c-rigged, all of these will work. Try 'em all and see what the fish will fall for. Tom