Bluebasser86

I've used the reliable old Curado 200B a lot for tossing baits in the size range you're talking about. You can find used 300E Curados for around $150 if you look around a little.

Welcome!

Welcome!

I use a cheap luggage scale off Ebay. Less than $6 shipped and very accurate. Not the most durable, but I've been using them for a few years and only on my second one. I've had Berkley and Rapala scales that were either way off, or very inconsistent. I tried the Accu Cull scales and had high hopes for them. I bought 4 to use for our weeknight tournaments. Weighed the same weight in my kitchen and weights varied from scale to scale and even had the same scales weighing the same item 3 times vary by as much as 3/4 of a pound. Completely unacceptable so they were all sent back. If I was going to buy one from TW for myself, I'd probably get the Brecknell they use on MLF.

It's pretty easy to fish for really cheap. I used to fish with a combo I bought from Wal-Mart and lots of Renegade plastics, jigs, and cranks. Had a pretty good assortment of baits and a couple rod combos, probably 200-300 bucks into all of it. I've got individual baits that cost almost that now. Don't get into swimbaits if a $12 bait is pricey to you. I have swimbaits with almost $12 in hardware on them I also have given up most diving crankbaits, so that's a big chunk of savings there. If you know the websites to looks at, you can get baits for really cheap, as long as you're not real worried about colors or brands.

That sucks, I dumped myself on my yak once but I was trout fishing so lost a minimal amount of fishing gear. The phone and Garmin Virb Elite action camera I lost was where I really took a hit. I've never needed anything other than a spinnerbait anytime I've been there. Looks like it would be a good place for a T rigged beaver or tube too though and I'm sure a weightless Senko would work.

Yes, they were crushing it and getting it good every time I fished it.

It gets smashed, but I have yet to actually hook and land a fish with it.

Horrible fishing on Monday for the first few hours before the wind blew and I got called off the lake. Only one fish even worth catching and it was the wrong kind.

I have a much better hookup ratio with the second rigging option. I suspect it's because they sit lower in the water and are easier for the fish to take fully into their mouth on the strike.

Yes, the #5 is one of my go to cold water baits. I fish it on a spinning rod and 8lb test. A similar bait I've fallen in love with for cold water is the Duo Realis Shad 62DR. Cast much better than a Shad Rap and has great, lifelike color options, and it catches all sizes of fish.

Really glad that Cavitron has a clacker version now. I fish a lot of really dirty water and it's nice to have that little extra to call them up. The Crock-O-Gator head knocker is another great buzzbait. I like the big 3/4oz one that cast great and has a blade about the size of my outboard prop.

I've only missed 1 bite on mine so far, and that was because the fish hit it so hard it knocked it a few feet up in the air. I caught it the next cast back to the same spot. Hookup ratio has been excellent and I didn't even bend the hooks.

Yes you can use all 3 on the same rod. I rarely do, because I tend to have all 3 tied on at the same time.

Keep your eyes open and you can get a used 300 Curado for around $150. The Cardiff is a fine reel too if you don't mind the round reel.

I've never seen any fishing video games where the baits reacted even very close to how they would in real life. A fish tank full of tap water would be a much better way to see how they actually move under water, then you can even adjust water temperatures to see how it effects different baits like suspending jerkbaits. Personally, I prefer to test baits on the water in front of the most important lure critics out there

PB&J most of the time. I'd rather eat beef jerky but I couldn't afford to eat it every time I go fishing.

I've seen pictures of orangish colored largemouth but have only caught one with an orange tint to it's tail. I doubt I have a picture anywhere but it was nothing as noticeable as that fish.

Welcome!

Bullfrog are super aggressive and dumb as a post. I've seen them eat all sorts of baits. I used to use a bright colored grub on a weightless thin wire hook, just thread the grub on the hook. We'd keep them in a mesh bag with a drawstring after we caught them.

I like the 65 pointer and Duo Realis Rozante 63. I fish them on a M/F spinning rod and 8lb mono. I miss very few bites.

I like the War Eagle spoons in white and chrome. I fish mine on 17lb copolymer to help slow the drop a little and get back a few more of those snagged spoons. Spoons are extremely effective on deep fish at times and can be a lot of fun to fish and a good multi-species bait.

Nope, they're like a MLF format that the fish are weighed and released immediately. If someone catches an over they can bring it in, but it's not required. We're not trying to kill a rare bigger fish over a couple dollars.

That's how most of my bigger fish out there have been. That lake gets beat to death by weekend guys who jam cull tabs in the fish and haul them around all day for little jackpot tournaments or just to take pictures at the end of the day. Stresses the fish really bad when the water's in the 80s like it is all summer while they're doing that. Probably kill a bunch of big fish from it too. Didn't used to be like that out there but word gets around and some guys can't help but wreck a lake until they hear about something better.

Make sure to buy a license in each state you visit. I suspect if you come up with exact dates and general areas you plan to be, you'll probably find at least a few members willing to show you around and help put you on fish in their area. You'll be getting very close to the cold weather months in some states you listed, which might produce some difficult fishing and you'll almost certainly encounter some less than ideal weather. If your travels bring you through Kansas, I promise I can put you on some fish