Primus

This is a good softbait, I've been using them for about 3 years. It gives the fish a different look than the regular Roboworn Fat Straight Tail worms that I usually use.

Good choices, when you can add some Storm Wiggle Warts & Mann's Baby 1 Minus.

When using pork I sometimes will take a knife and make the slit slightly larger so it can come on & off easier. Obviously if you make the slot too big it won't stay on, so if you try this don't overdo it. Good Luck, stay patient, jigs will pay off with big fish.

Sounds like I'll have to get a couple

I like a 6'9" spinning rod for fishing jerkbaits, I also use it for shad raps and floating rapala's.

I have a friend who wants to get his first baitcast reel and he wants to keep it in the $70-90$ range. I pretty much have Shimano Citica's on up and this would probably be out of his price range. I noticed the BPS Pro Qualifier was on sale for 80$, is this a good one? Thanks

Question for Roadwarrior, what do you like about the Sebile Koolie? I haven't seen this one yet except online. Thanks

Pointer 100 Megabass Trick Darter Ima Flit Jackall Squad Minnow Rapala X Rap Lucky Craft Flash Minnow

Vinny I live in Michigan and I fish a lot of weedy natural lakes with clear water and I can't imagine the fishing is that much different in Minnesota. Other than matted grass there is a crankbait available for almost every situation and don't overlook the fish on the outside weedlines with deep diving cranks. Also, grass unless it's too thick is a major plus, I catch a lot a fish ripping these baits off the weeds. I'm going to suggest some average priced cranks to build your arsenal and later if cranks become a priority bait then you can add custom wood baits and certain japanese baits if your looking to expand your selection. Regarding color these are a few that I like to have in most baits that I use. I would suggest some shad type of patterns even in lakes that don't have shad due to the fact that a lot of the baitfish will have similiar colors and that it just plain works. Firetiger/ Chartreuse Blue work good in stained water but surprisingly produce well at times in clear water lakes. Various craw colors are productive especially in spring or when dredging the bottom. Also, don't overlook tranluscent ghost type of patterns which in my opinion is essential if you fish a lot of clear water. Last but not least Baby Bass & Bluegill patterns will be productive as well. Here are some cranks that I like that can cover various parts of the water column... Lipless- 1/4, 1/2 (the most used size) & 3/4 oz. Strike King Red Eye shads would be a great choice if I could only pick one, Cordell Spots are very inexpensive but are also very productive and would be another good one to get started with. You probably already are aware that they are a sinking bait and are especially deadly in the spring and the fall when the water temp is between 48 - 59 degrees but will certainly work in the summer or even colder water. Mann's Baby 1 minus- Keep your rod up high you can nearly wake these baits or a little lower it will run up to 1 foot deep. Awesome bait when in skinny water or when the grass is close to the surface. Rapala #5 & #7 Shad Raps- this will work better on a spinning rod with light line. Very subtle wood bait that doesn't rattle, can work anytime but I especially like these baits when the water temp is under 60. Norman Fat Boy- every crank fisherman needs a few square bill baits and this is a good one. Square bills are good for deflecting off of wood cover but also work in grass when you want a little more thump in the bait Rapala DT 6 & DT 10- as the name implies the DT 6 runs app 6' deep and the DT10 app 10' deep. Storm Wiggle Warts- These are fantastic cranks, I especially like them in craw colors, an absolute must have for any crankbait fisherman. Strike King Series 1XS- another good shallow crank a little tighter wiggle than the baby 1 minus Strike King Series 5- this has won KVD a lot money, good inepensive bait for that 10-13' range. Bomber Fat Free Shad JR. -good bait for that 10--14' range Bomber Fat Free Fry- small crank bait for the 4'-6' range Bandit 700 series & Norman DD 22- great baits for fishing up to 14-18' range Keep in mind most of these baits run app 5-8$, but if you look for sales you can often pick up some of these models for a lot less at times, when that happens load up.

I've done well at times fishing white blades during the rain in clear weedy lakes as well as stained water.

That's a great choice and it's a fish catching machine, one of my all time favorite soft plastics.

Just wanted to get your opinion on this rod which is 7' MH. I'm thinking of using this with 15 lb. spiderline stealth for throwing Trick Worms, Slim Senko's & Centipedes in shallow grass. Does it have good power for a spinning rod? How is the sensitivity? Thanks

I've had a lot of success with this bait, I own several and it's definetely one of the best trap style baits on the market.

Hear are a few of mine... 3" Senko's or Dingers on a 1/16 oz #6 hook mushroomhead Zoom Centipede with a 1/16 oz nail weight in the tail, glides backwards and is great around docks Yamamoto Slim Senko- I love throwing this around shallow cover with a 2/0 owner offset hook

If I understand their terminology correct the Possessed series baits are the transluscent oil filled baits while the Evidence series are the ones with the painted sides. The first few I picked up were the Natural Dark Blue Back & the Hollow Mullet colors which were part of the Possessed series, these ones didn't rattle. The last few that I've picked up were the ones with painted sides and these have a little bit of a knocking sound, the colors I selected were Bluegill & Baby Bass which I got through ***. I believe these baits would be part of the Evidence series. Maybe Russ can clarify if he happens to read this thread but I believe the Possessed baits would be your silent runners and the Evidence series would be the " knocker" type of bait.

I disagree, even though I use the rattling version most of the time I have seen situations where the silent versions were a lot more effective especially in clear water. In one of KVD 's old books he talked about how he used to modify some of his rattle baits so that they ran silent.

That's my favorite as well.

I have one Strike King Wild Shiner in a Chrome Baby Bass color that 's scratched up because it's caught a lot of fish and Strike King probably doesn't have the most durable finishes, there is something about this particular one that really calls in the bass.

There are people who believe that by having a "magic bait" they will all of a sudden become good fisherman without considering the most important part being location, depth and presentation. That said some baits will give you an edge with the Red Eye Sad being one of the best lipless baits available. I've been fishing this bait for a few years and I didn't need to see KVD winning the classic to tell me what I already knew.

Here are some of my favorites... Lucky Craft Pointer 78, Pointer 100 & Pointer 128 Lucky Craft Flash Minnow Jackall Squad Minnow Ima Flit Megabass Trick Darter Rapala X Rap

I use Trilene 100% or Gamma on spinning reels, usually use the slightly stiffer BPS on casting reels because it's cheaper.

3" Senko or Dinger on a 1/16 oz Mushroomhead jig, great bait for tough conditions.

Here are a few inexpensive baits that I reccomend... Storm Wiggle Warts Mann's Baby 1 Minus Strike King Red Eye Shad

Another one to consider is B & R Outlaw rods which is a very good rod in that price range.

My Crankbait Line-up... 7'6" MH BPS Crankin' Stick w/ 5:1 Curado D, 12 LB. Florocarbon-use this for DD 22'S & similiar baits 7' M BPS Crankin' Stick w/ 6:1 Chronarch B ,12 lb Florocarbon-use this for Baby 1 minus, RC 1.5, Wiggle Warts, DT series up to a DT 10 6'9" Med Action Daiwa Spinning rod with Shimano 3000 Stradic- I spool with 8 lb Floro in the early to mid spring when I throw a lot of jerkbaits. I switch to 6 lb Yozuri Hybrid for the rest of the season and throw light baits like a RC 0.5, Shad Raps and twitching a floating Rapala 7 MH BPS Crankin' Stick with Shimano Chronarch B with 17 lb mono - I'll use this for shallow running hard pulling or heavy baits like a Excalibur Wake Bait, BlackDog Mini Shellcracker or small swimbaits up to 1-1/2 oz. or if I want to fish a deep diver shallow etc. I don't bring this with me every outing, primarily for summertime warm water techniques