Mike L

Enough Said… Mike

The Scum line of frogs are the softest you can buy, you don’t need to touch the hooks. I’ve been using them for around 10yrs and won’t use anything else. There are other brands that folks on here swear by and have excellent results. It’s not necessarily what you’re using it’s most likely how you’re using it and what equipment you use. To answer your question, Any top water bait that is designed to walk across topped out vegetation may work but I’d bet you would have the same problem. Answer some of the questions by the previous posters and go from there. Mike

Ditto Mike

Dobyns Siera 735C Mag Heavy It has enough tip and power to do everything well Mike

Punch Bug or Sweet Beaver Mike

16# or 20# Shooter Mike

None of what you listed. Moving baits aren’t restricted to just hard or blade baits My #1 is a Magnum Speed Worm followed by a Rage Cut R Mike

Practice is not about catching fish! After you do all your research before you hit the water you have an idea where to start. If you’re right, and you find them STOP fishing. Mark it and move on trying to replicate the same pattern in like areas. Remember, remember, remember…You’re NOT fishing in practice so you don’t need to worry about “over fishing” You’re there to confirm or deny the possibility that your research paid off. That’s It. When I had my boat, I’d always bring the first one up but the next I’ll either shake off or unhook IN the water and leave, no reason to stay. I learned what I wanted to know. Tournaments are won or lost on practice days. Mike

Whew!! Excellent Bubba, you truly have a gift. Mike

Curado 200 E7 Just Because Mike

‘70 was a heck of a year!! Congratulations Mike

I use mono to hang pictures on a wall and even then I’m not too crazy about it. Flouro for everything paired with the right equipment for all combo’s except 2. Mike

Practice days are intended to not only confirm what they know, been told or seen, but to also eliminate water. I get it. My point is that with only a day or two in unfamiliar water, to be effective on opening day the search is on to confirm where the fish are more so than not. As I said, to fish obvious places where all aspects of my experience tell me it has a too low of a possibility to be successful over a 3 day period, it’s best to leave those alone and concentrate my efforts in more advantageous water. In my opinion, it’s best to go hunting in a possible target rich environment and try to confirm or deny it is, than in the obvious places it’s not. Mike

Congratulations! We’re coming up on 51! The women has a lot of patience ? Mike

I use either a Rage bug or Sweet Beaver exclusively Mike

Wow Great Job!! Mike

Best Fathers Day gift!! That you should keep Mike

Didn’t think of it that way, but you’re right of course! Mike

If I use one...12# Mike

It’s a silly question Can’t catch em if they’re not there. I don’t care who you are. I can’t believe the pro’s who answered “bait” really understood the question. But Hey, that’s just me Mike

Ditto! As he said, which I’ve been saying on here for years...braid is a more “technique specific” line. He certainly doesn’t need me to agree with his opinion on braid and using leaders, but I completely do. Mike

Well I don’t anything about a needlefish, never even heard of one let alone in Florida. Prop baits are like any top water except frogs. They’re intended to mimic a wounded, dying and/or fleeing bait, that’s all. Different types gives off different actions. The purpose is all the same. Mike

Frogs Big walking baits (Spook, Sexy Dog) Floating jerk baits Prop baits (Smithwick, Cordell) Small poppers (Pop R) Jitterbug Mike

So far it been a Sexy Dog. I‘be been using a Super Spook for longer than I can remember and never thought of using anything else until I tried it. Mike

I thought OP was only asking about sq bills. I don’t necessarily fish just for numbers but my overall best bait is a Magnum Speed Worm by far. Mike