Bluebasser86

Small local tackle stores, usually. BPS or Cabela's, no. I've heard advice being given at the big stores that just makes me shake my head and walk away feeling bad for the poor guy that's actually going to go try what they were just told to do. If I have time, sometimes I'll talk to them after the salesman is done to actually give them a fighting chance, but I've done that a time two that I ended up being stuck there for hours listening to life stories or hearing wayyy too much personal information.

I've used baby and full sized brush hogs trimmed down and the both work. They're not something I use regularly, but in a pinch they work well enough.

Gas money

I've had bluegills eat about every bait out there, even more so if you throw green sunfish into the mix. I've had some monster bluegills on spinnerbaits.

I missed where the OP said he was using a spinning reel? If that's the case, any 12lb fluoro is going to jump off a spinning reel, it's just too heavy of line for a bass sized spinning reel. 8lb is the heaviest fluoro I'd put on a spinning reel, anything heavier is asking for trouble.

Man that sucks! Do you have boat insurance? Too late now but in the future if you have boat insurance you might have to call them to tow the boat separately. I have Progressive and had to have my boat towed home the last 60 miles on a flatbed and it didn't cost me a dime.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

I'm guessing it's going to be awhile before they can be found very consistently after all the rain.

The hudd is designed to be fished much slower than the Savage Gear. I have both and both are good but used at different times and situations.

Pline C21 is great cheap line. The Xtra strong is good too for moving baits. Not a fan of their fluorocarbon though.

Not a fan of the regular 6", but the 68 is great. The line thru Savage Gear is a different style of bait though.

Fished a Ned yesterday, caught largemouth, smallmouth, whites, warmouth, bluegill, walleye, catfish, and drum. It catches every fish that swims around here.

Trailer 100% of the time and never a trailer hook.

I have a half dozen of them. They're my favorite line thru bait. I haven't fished the real trout but for 1/3 the price of a Hudd, they're worth trying.

Get the big one. The smaller Shine Glides are probably the best gliding smaller bait I've found, but they're not nearly as good as the big ones.

I've had a lot more time with the S waver because the Shine Glide is a new bait, but I like the size and glide of the Shine Glide better and I feel like there's less of a learning curve with it. I caught very few fish on my S wavers until I modified them. I've had the most success with the Threadfin Shine Glide and Bone S waver. I just got the chartreuse shad Shine Glide though and it really gets a lot of follows if I can just get them to convert into bites.

I prefer the 130 size. I agree that I don't think the color matters so much as the disturbance and profile of the bait does. I'm using the shad color fwiw.

I use a 7' 3" MH/MF LTB Carolina Rig rod with a E7 Curado and 50lb braid.

I have an 8" TT that I bought this past fall. It's a solid bait that swims well and a proven fish catcher. Is it worth the money? That's up for you to decide. I've spent more on baits I liked less.

Spent the day on the water with @kickerfish1 and his dad hoping to put them on some Kansas smallmouth, the fish did not disappoint. Over 100 fish came to the boat, a mix of smallmouth, largemouth, spots, white bass, crappie, walleye, sauger, and drum. The water was still high and muddy from the constant rain, which normally produces tough fishing, but the fish are post spawn and hungry apparently. The white bass and smallmouth were all skinny from their recent spawns, but very active and cooperative, the whites were frustrating at times they were biting so aggressively. Lots of fish were left out just because it's hard to get good video with 3 in the boat. I fished from my kayak for 45 minutes before a big storm came out of nowhere and chased me off Monday morning, but it was a productive 45 minutes, including my first catfish from the kayak.

Another vote for the H2O Mettle. I have 3 and they've all been great reels for the money. Those paired with an H2O Ethos rod and you can get a nice combo for around $100.

Fish what you have confidence in. During a tournament is no time to be trying to learn a new technique. I'm guessing you'll probably have fish either near spawning or spawning in your area. I would probably cover water in spawning pockets with a spinnerbait or squarebill and be ready to follow up on fish swatting at the bait (defensive/protective strikes), with a T rig or Senko.