frogflogger

For me I use matte in dingy water/dark days - reflective in clear water / sunny days - lots of exceptions - but for jerk baits and crank baits I generally follow this pattern. Soft plastics are another thing altogether in that I use natural colors in clear water but then lots of guys out there throwing bright pink plastics in clear water and catching - there you go.

Fogs - oh frogs - braided line of course - my favorite frog rod is the daiwa light and tough frog rod - but I doubt they are still made - you want a powerful rod that loads up - I don't like fast tip actions for a frog rod - parabolic works best for me - you don't have to spend a bunch of money to get an adequate rig. But it needs to be a brute with some give in the tip to let them eat it.

It's fishing - if a $400 swimbait would give you a better chance at a dd northern strain - many would be forking out the dough - and they do.

Plenty of good ideas here but don't forget big topwaters - they are overlooked for big northern lmb - I forget what pro said it years ago - the jig with a trailer and the zara spook are the best big bass baits known - of course this was before the development of Hud's and other swimbaits.

Several years ago fishing on the ides of March I already had a 7 1/2 on a jig and pork when I found a laydown (which were rare) and threw a shallow running Hawaiian wiggler across the limbs and cranked it through the top - a bass much much bigger than my 71/2 sucked it under right in front of me. It dove back into the tree top peeling 17# trilene off my 5000 which had the drag tightened down. I never saw it again except in my daydreams - near 50 yrs. later it is still "the big one that got away.

We've been fishing since before recorded history - it is in some of our genetic history - some of us have to fish - that is why there are so many fishermen - it's a very old need. Those that study fishing and spend time on the water - usually do better than those who trust to luck.

black or white

Caught a 3lber first cast when in Florida this spring haven't thrown it up here yet.

wish we had them 60yrs ago

It's between the ears

Before depth sounders we trolled from shallow to deep (ala Buck Perry) great way to figure things out.

Either way is fine with me as long as I'm fishing - and I never worry about giving spots or techniques away - I've fished for years, some of them in tournaments and some of them as a guide always shared techniques and locations and have never seen that to have any effect on my success or lack thereof.

55 degree water means smallmouth bass near shore where I come from

fishing specifically for big fish (really big fish) gives me many opportunities to get skunked.

Congrats-now YOU are hooked

Fishing with what line you can afford and cast comfortably with and spend more time on the water = a better fishing experience.

One way to get more sensitivity - which for me is the holy grail in jig fishing - is to replace your tip with a recoil guide tip top.

grub/ned rig

huddleston deluxe - 68 or 6" or 12" ned rig

Every bass fisherman should get at least one day on the big O. Weed bed bigger than most lakes.

small hooks, tighten up is usually all the hook set I use - been doing it for many years no problems - I don't like to use stiff rods with small hooks.

When water is below 52 a 1/16oz hair jig is my go to - fished float n fly style - for me it catches bigger average than any other winter bait. No trailer

In Florida this Feb. it was the pop shadz - 100 bass up to over 7lbs. They were warming up to whopper plopper and spook when I headed home to the hills and brown fish.

It looks like your gear worked - keep it up -

There are unlimited flats out of holiday park ask any one around the ramp where the cuts are to get into them.