phisher_d

Yep, thread it on tentacles first... I like fishing them deep for smallies on football jig. Gives a bit of a different profile when everyone's throwing tubes.

Awesome posts Chris, very informative

Wow! Thanks Doug and Glenn This place just gets better and better!

BPS extreme and bionic blade rods.

I like that they float, because it lets you work them slow while still keeping them on top of the water. With a lot of other soft plastic frogs you have to crank super fast to keep it up there. The only thing I didn't like about the pop'n toads is that they're pretty light and harder to cast weightless with bc gear than some of the other frogs.

Have you looked at the pflueger supreme that's coming out next year? http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/products/products.php?p=9

Lew's speed pencil

My favorite stickbait is the lew's speed pencil. This bait is very easy to walk, great for people trying the technique for the first time. My only complaint is that the hooks could be better, but for $2.69 it's a heck of a deal.

I don't think that lure has been released yet... part of their 2007 lineup http://www.tackletour.com/reviewstorm2007preview.html I'll be trying out the goby for sure

Very nice! Is that a blade dancer in the last two pics?

I like the Redeye spinnerbaits. I use the white one a lot in clear water for smallmouths. I agree with avid that painted blades work well on cloudy days. If it's sunny I usually go with a double willow-leaf spinnerbait (silver blades).

The speed pencil is my favorite walk-the-dog bait. Easy to work, great action, nice finishes, long-casting, and it costs $2.69

Having a second rod rigged with a follow-up bait (senko, tube, worm, shaky head...) can really help when you're fishing topwaters. Just cast to where the blow-up was, let it sink, and hold on.

Have you considered using a braided line with a fluoro leader for dropshotting? I use 20 lb powerpro with a 6 or 8 lb silver thread flourocarbon leader. I'm not a drop-shot expert but it works for me... The drop-shot rig is notorious for line twist, but a braided mainline solves the problem. Just a thought... ps. get well soon

Shimano's Crucial series offers split grips. http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=74445&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults edit: I reread your post, I don't know if shimano makes any 6'6" rods with split grips.... :-/

I have a 7' MH extreme rod that I use for all of the techniques you mentioned. It works great and doesn't break the bank.

I use the uni-knot. I find it easier to tie than the palomar knot, especially with big, treble-hook baits. Hasn't broke on me yet. I put the line through the hook eye twice for added strength.

Nope, Canadian flag... but we don't even use two dollar bills anymore.

For smallies in clear water I use 3 1/2 inch BPS tender tubes with inserted jig heads. My most productive retrieve is to drag and crawl the tube along bottom. Use the lightest weight you can get away with, but it's important to stay in contact with the bottom. I use jig heads ranging from 1/16 oz all the way up to 3/4 oz. On windy days when you're fishing deep a drift sock is a big help. My favorite colors for clear water are greens, browns, smoke, and "puke." When the water is murky I go to a black 4" inch BPS flippin tube and I use a rattle with it.

Great article, thanks Randall

All the time when I'm in the boat.

A lot of the time crankbait size is related to diving depth (lipped cranks). IMO diving depth is the most important consideration when choosing a crankbait so I would look at that first. A big crankbait (generally) gives off more vibration than a small one, which might help a bass to locate it in off-colored water or at night. Also you could match the size and profile of your crankbait to whatever the bass are feeding on. In the fall I usually use bigger cranks because a lot of the young-of-the-year baitfish have either grown up somewhat or gotten eaten. If the bass are eating slimmer minnow-profile baitfish (ie: not shad) than slimmer bodied cranks like a rapala tail dancer or a jerkbait might be a good choice.

I can cast way better overhand with the handles up (I cast and reel with the same hand). I get less backlashes, more distance, and better accuracy. I hold the reel vertically for pitching as well. For sidearm casts I don't think it really makes a difference.

Rapala DT 4 Rapala DT 6 http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=44348&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults Rapala has some pretty realistic finishes for the price... 01 & 06 (shad), 05 (perch), and 56 (bluegill). Welcome aboard

yep.