Primus

X2, very durable baits and willing to do custom colors.

I have heard that as well, that said it still blows my mind that they would fish a 3/8 oz hardbait with 4lb test.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Here you go, available at Tackle Warehouse .... http://www.***.com/Xcite_Baits_MaXimus_Worm/descpage-XBM.html The Raptor Tail Jr. is another solid bait from Xcite.

The Mightee worm is a copy of the Xcite Maximus which is a superior bait, the Maximus actually floats and will catch more fish. I'm not saying the Mightee worm won't catch fish, but I've tried both and feel the Maximus is better.

I thought it was interesting that he suggested to fish it on 4-5 lb floro and said 6lb was too heavy. 6 lb is as light as I have ever thrown !

I also live in Michigan for what it's worth. If you are looking at the 6" Spro BBZ and looking to start with one I would get the slow sink which if you keep your rod tip up high can be fished as a topwater. I usually like a slow steady retrieve over submerged grass with an occasional pause and twitch. The Perch color works well for me. I only bought 1 6" floating BBZ and it behaved as a super slow sink if you will, the one I bought didn't truly float. I'm not sure if it was a manufacturing mishap or it was meant to be that way. I have purchased a couple of the 8" floating models and these did float, go figure. If you want to burn the bait or fish it deeper consider the fast sinker. The 6" BBZ is an excellent starter swimbait that won't brake the bank and is easy to cast with a light swimbait stick or even a heavy crankbait rod, throw it with confidence it's a proven productive bait.

I agree with your take on the value of a good hardbait,

I agree the 6" Spro is a much better bait.

I usually throw it with a 3/8 or 1/2 oz tungsten sinker. Any color that you throw with other soft plastic baits will work with the Power Worm, Watermelon Candy is one of my favorites.

Interesting concept, that said I have not been overly impressed with the performance of Koppers crankbaits with the one exception being the liplesss Craw Trap.

It is the Excalibur and it's been a terrific bait for me, worth hunting down and no I won't sell mine. When it's on this bait gets crushed.

Overall, most situations my pick will be the Red Eye Shad. However, I have tried many different lipless baits over the years and found many that have excelled... Rapala Rippin' Rap- by far my favorite a yo-yo jigging type of retrieve. 1 oz Excalibur knocker - great for slow rolling in deeper water, I like to use this in the summer into early fall. Very loud bait, sometimes the knocker sound performs much better than the regular BB type of rattles. Spro Aruka Shad, swims with a nose down attitude. I like to use to use this when a slower retrieve in that 6-10' zone but it certainly can be effective at other times. Sebile Flatt Shad ( Oil filled version ) & Silent Damiki Tremor- Great for clear water pressured fish. The Sebile has more thump than most baits in this class. Excalibur Rattling baits & Yozuri Rattling Vibe- good all around performers Intrigued by oversize lipless baits, here is one that I'm already having success with. http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/products.php/keys/lucky+craft/page/1/id/2897/name/LuckyCraftLVRD30 Can't wait to see what it can do in the fall. Falls about the same speed as most 1/2 oz traps. Don't be afraid to throw something different. This is one of the rare times where I downsized the hooks as it seems that this bait is marketed to big game like Muskies etc.

Absolutely, I catch fish on these baits in Michigan it can't be much different. I've caught bass as small as 2-1/2 lbs on an 8" Hudd but the fish are usually at least 3 lbs plus based on my experience with the potential for the fish of a lifetime.

Cool idea, I might have to try that.

Speed is kidding of course, he is one of the best swimbait throwers on the eastern half of the country. Regarding the Hudd baits I prefer the regular 8" bait over the regular 6". If you choose to go that route you will need a big boy rod to throw it such as a Dobyn's 867 or Low Down Custom rod with a large reel such as a Shimano 301 Curado spooled with 20-25 lb line. Look up Butch Brown rigging if you are using the ROF 5 (sinks 5' over a 10 second span ). Some will use heavy mono or braid line instead of the wire material if you don't want to get crimps and all that right away. The ROF 12 ( sinks app 12' every 10 seconds ) is great for fishing faster or deeper, it does come with a jig hook. Some fish it as is but many cut the jig hook off and do their own version of the Butch Brown style rigging method to lower the odds of the fish throwing the bait. For the smaller size I prefer the 68 model which is the 6" Hudd profile with the tail from the 8" bait to move more water. Regarding rods you can probably start with a flipping stick if need be but a Dobyn's 795 will work well for baits in this size range. Both 68 models have the jig hook. Other soft swimbaits that I like would include the Real Prey Alewife ( very durable ), 7" Rago BVD , 6" River to Sea, Matt lures tournament series and 316 Rising Sons are also highly regarded. Don't be afraid to add nail weights to some of these if necessary to get the action you want.

Very tough, first outing that I used it.

This lure http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/products.php/keys/lucky+craft/page/1/id/2897/name/LuckyCraftLVRD30 Hopefully the link works which is a Lucky Craft LVR D 30 model 2.1 oz 4" lipless crank marketed for Muskies and other big game. I replaced the Musky size trebles and installed bass sized hooks. With the recent introduction of the 10XD and the Lucky Craft SKT magnum and already having some prior success with the 1 oz Excalibur knocker I purchased a few magnum size trap style baits over the winter including some from Sebile that were marketed to saltwater anglers. These baits appeal to me as alternative to the lipped deepdiving cranks as a bait that I can slow roll in deep water. The first time I used the D30 I was on the lake just giving it a few cast to see what it looked like in the water not thinking it would amount to much as it had been a slow outing up to that point and I thought that they weren't hitting cranks. The first cast a 4 lber just smoked it and after landing it I proceeded to land another half dozen chunky 2-4lbers over the next 10 minutes and they choked on it. Though they stopped hitting it and I switched to the Strike King Swimming Caffiene Shad to finish my outing I was absolutely stoked about my new find. Speaking of which I 've also been won over by the Swimming Caffiene Shad as well. The surprising thing about the D30 is that it actually sinks fairly slow for a lipless bait and that it has a unique sound that likely plays a part in it's appeal. I'm very excited to see what this bait this bait can do this fall.

Roman Made Negotiator swimbait, my first and last bite came from a toothy critter and a 90$ bait is gone. I also casted off a Matt lures Hard Perch a few years back and if I can remember that one ran 60$. What made it extra difficult is that I loved that bait. Fortunately I've picked up a few more.

Well said.

S.O.B. Mini Me is a great spinnerbait. http://www.soblures.com/mini-me-spinnerbaits.shtml I like the TJ special color.

I'm not claiming to be an expert on this bait nor do I have a lot time in at this point. That said I've thrown it twice, the first time on a M cranking rod with 12 lb floro and the second time with a spinning with 6lb Yozuri Hybrid. The bait looked much better in the water on the light line combo. My first fish was with the shad rap scatter bait and it was a nice Crappie. I do agree with the observation that a slow retrieve is best.

Dobyns 867 is an awesome rod to sling the Hudd, throws the bait far and with ease, not a broomstick either. I have this paired with a Curado 301 spooled with 25 lb Floro.

Not to be disagreeable but it is my understanding that the Hudd is considered to be a Wedgetail. A couple of boot tail swimbaits that I like would be the 3:16 Rising Son and Rago 7" BVD, both are line through baits which tend to make it more difficult for the fish to throw the bait. Both get a lot of bites for big baits, I will sometimes add a couple of nail weights to help these baits swim faster or deeper. That said I appreciate your info WRB regarding the evolution of these baits.

Very good bait, Watermelon Candy has done well for me.