Bluebasser86

I have a telescoping one and not only do I almost never lose a bait, but I get dozens of baits others have lost out of the trees and weeds.

The vintage craw and translucent rusty colored craw are my 2 favorites. Not sure what color the craws in Erie are though.

This was the first time I'd ever seen the bait fished, biggest bass I've ever seen from the lake by my house.

Most of their colors look good. It's a hard thumping bait that I usually prefer craw colors in and they have some good ones. They have a red and a brown craw, a translucent rusty colored craw and a PB&J craw that all look good.

I fish the 130 on my frog rod with braid. I upgraded to 4x hooks though.

I use the rod company that makes the rod that I feel best suits what I intend to do with that rod.

That sizzlefry was a killer for me last year, including my second largest wiper ever and new lake PB largemouth for one of my favorite smallmouth lakes. As for the Slender Pointers, you can probably find a few here. http://stores.ebay.com/ilovehardbait/

Bassresource is 100% against any form of law breaking. Suggesting doing so will not be allowed or tolerated. It's just a fish, nothing worth getting arrested over.

I have a few Curado IHGs, a few Curado E7s, a Pinnacle Optima LTE, an Okuma Cerros 273, and a Pfluegar Supreme XT on my flipping/pitching rods, all of the do the job just fine.

I don't downsize for smallmouth. I have really good success with pearl and bone colored jerkbaits for smallmouth around here. I've very fond of the STX in French Pearl, LC Slender Pointer 97MR in gunmetal shad, and a custom painted jerkbait from a member on the board in a color called sizzlefry. I also have a 110+1 blank from the same member in a pink/white/chartreuse that I caught one of my biggest smallmouth of the year last year with. My largest of the year was on a STX in pro blue. This is the sizzlefry The pink/white/chartreuse

Golden Eagles are known to throw goats off of cliffs and let the fall do the dirty work. Looks like that one just picked a goat that wasn't on a steep enough cliff. The one straight on camera angle was a little odd though unless they just got super lucky and it flew straight over the camera like that.

Days 5 and 17 are going to get me, I can feel it.

I have both that mold and the worm nose mold without the collar but have never tried pouring anything other than lead.

I'm hoping there's some left by the time I get a chance to go. They're overpriced, but not like they will be once all the stores run out.

For bladed jigs I use a 6' 6" MH/XF with a 6.4:1 reel and 15lb Big Game mono. I use them because they work for me better than anything else I tried. I don't hardly ever fish swim jigs.

I have a decades old Lew's Speed Stick that I use for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in my kayak. It's a little awkward at first but I adjust quickly.

Considering BPS was just talking about buying Cabela's, I don't think they're worried about the money they're not making selling Lew's reels.

Or you can just click on this link. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/108594-jerkbait-help-advice/?page=1

15lb Big Game. Cheap, very strong, and abrasion resistant. Never had any reason to use anything else.

Nope, never heard of them. Looks like a good bait though, too bad they went out of business. I found a site awhile back that had bulk tubs of Uncle Josh but now I can't find it anywhere. I guess I'll have to fish the ones I have and then just wish after that.

Hopefully they won't still be flooded by spring. Unless the rain and snow continues on through March, you shouldn't have to worry about it.

Pork trailers float and the thin legs move a lot at rest along with the fact that they have strong scent and flavor to help make the bass eat and hold on. Those reasons are a major part of why they're so popular during cold water, but guys who only fish them during the winter months are making a mistake IMO. Bigger fish seem to prefer the pork trailers in my experience. Very sad news.

Welcome!

Braid is going to be your best option for thin diameter and sensitivity. It could be your best for "toughness", depending on what you're looking for. If you're wanting abrasion resistance in rock or wood, it's probably not the best option. If you're wanting just high break strength, then it will be your best option.

Savage Gear line thru and Shine Glides are good hard and soft baits. The R2S S Waver is a good one. 68 or 8 inch Hudds for soft baits. The OP asked for opinions on what swimbaits he should start with, not why they are or aren't fairly priced, worth the cost, whatever. Feel free to make a suggestion for a certain bait or please move along instead of derailing the OP's thread.