Primus

Even if you change out the hooks, depending on the brand and number of trebles you are only adding app. 1-2 dollars to the overall cost, so a 4$ bait now runs app 5-6 dollars, still pretty inexpensive. That said, I haven't used the Bass Pro brand but I agree the X-rap is a great bait. I wish Rapala would add some tranluscent colors like Ghost Minnow to round out their selection.

I have heard some positive feedback on the Bass Pro brand but I haven't tried them yet.

I own IMX rods and Mossyback rods, both are excellent choices.

Just got 2 packages of these last week, tried them out tonight in a shallow weedy lake and I was extremely impressed, the bass just crushed them. Similar to the Yum Money Minnow with the slotted belly, however this one had way better swimming action. I've tried Reaction Strike, Strikeking, Basstrix, Berkely and a couple of others, this is the best I've used so far. If you're looking for an excellent paddletail tube check out Proswimbaits.com, they now have at least one loyal customer.

I try to buy what works period. As an example with regard to suspended jerkbaits. I have fished the last few years with a guy that fishes only Husky Jerks & X raps. There are times when he does well with these baits, and I will often throw these as well. However, there are times when I'm outfishing him 10 to 1 when the fish seem to prefer my Megabass Trick Darter, Ima Flit, Jackall Squad Minnow or Pointers. Also Rapala which I think is an outstanding lure company doesn't offer their jerk baits in tranluscent colors like Ghost Minnow, there are times it seems to make a big difference. Same thing with crankbaits & topwaters. Some of the best baits are your typical 5-8$ baits like your Baby 1 minus, Spooks, DD22 etc. Also some of the best baits are your 15$ Lucky Craft Sammy topwaters, RC Cranks. Yellow Magic poppers etc. I'm fortuneate to have all these great baits to use, however if you prefer not to spend money on expensive japanese baits you can still be a productive fisherman with a lot of the standard 5-8$ lures. That said, I've seen times when these japanese baits have that little something extra that at times will give you an edge.

The larger spool will definetley help make floro more manageable, got this tip from KVD and based on my personal expierience he was on the money. The KVD line conditioner also helps. Regarding brand preference I am a recent convert to Trilene 100%. I was not pleased when I tried Vanish a few years back, though a Pure Fishing rep I talked to this spring said they had changed the formula and reccomended it for baitcasters FWIW.

The RC 1.5 is my alltiime favorite but don't overlook the RC 0.5 in the Ghost minnow color which has bailed me out a few times when fishing clear water on sunny days.

I prefer the S.O.B. lures " Mini Me" 3/8 oz tandem (#2 & # 4 magic dust covered blades) in the TJ special color for most shallow water applications, this has been the most productive spinnerbait I've ever used. I also have customized some of my Nichols spinnerbaits, I've done well making single spins out of the 1/4 oz bait with a 3.5 size willow and shortening the arm a little, this has been a great combination for hitting lily pad stems in the spring. The Strikezone lure company Ledgebuster " Nite Bite" has been very good to me when I need a black spinnerbait with a thumpin' blade for night fishing. The 3/16 oz Booyah pond magic is a good one when you need numbers, nice size hook for a little bait.

Senko's are obviuosly one of the most productive baits out there. That said like any bait it has it's time and place. I personally like to use them when the water hits about 60 degrees right through post spawn. Generally speaking it's an option I consider when some of my other baits/techniques aren't producing particularly when the water is calm. I usually prefer to use power baits like cranks, jigs, heavy T-rigs, topwaters etc but I'll use Senko's if that's what it takes to catch fish. Even though I tend to use these baits less than most fisherman in my opinion you are at a disadvantage if this bait is not part of your arsenal.

I've done well using 6" Yamamoto grubs on a blade runner spintrix, I haven't tried it yet with Magic Shad trailer.

I like the Zoom U Tail for the 6" size, 3 favorite colors are Smoke Purple, Green Pumpkin & Junebug smeared with Smelly Jelly. I use the Berkely Powerworm when fishing the 10" size. This summer going to try the Rage Tail Anaconda, both sizes.

If you are going to use Floro you picked the right brand but wrong product, next time try the Trilene 100% floro in 6 or 8 lb test which is a much better line than Vanish. Throw floro on a 3000 or 4000 size reel. As the others mentioned the Yozuri is a very good line as well.

This is a timely post for me, I just got 2 bags of the 10.5" Xcite baits trick worms in today and these things are huge. It's a pretty thick piece of plastic and it looks like most shakey jigheads would not be large enough and have enough gap for this worm. Today I did a little research and it looks like the FinTech Magnum size title shot might work with a 8/0 EWG hook and possibly the 6/0 that Xcite offers. By the way I stuck this worm in a bucket of water and this floats similiar to a Roboworm. Regarding the Megastrike I plan on trying a few of these as well, it looks real good wih the Beaver Bait.

I haven't tried it yet myself but I understand a lot of pros are throwing Senko type baits on a heavy football jig.

I have a couple of the RC wake baits, had a real good day with the 1.5 size last summer. That said my favorite so far in that bait style would be the Excalibur wake bait, in low light conditions , dirty color water or heavy shallow water grass I've had fish crush this bait like they do a buzz bait. Another one I like is the Jackall 56 Cherry Zero footer which is a little more subtle option than the Excalibur. I haven't tried it yet but I've seen positive post on the Ima Roumba. I would put the RC Wake crank behind the Excalibur & Jackall, however that could be subject to change as I put more time in with these baits.

I have to agree with others, fantastic bait for skinny water.

Dockmaster on the blades not turning, it sounds like you have a defective swivel. If you put a new swivel on their you should be good to go.

This afternoon Watermelon Gold Zoom Trick worm.

I have thrown War Eagle & Nichols spinnerbaits, very good baits. That said consider the S.O.B. tandem blade 3/8 oz. Mini Me in the TJ Special color with "Gamblers Dust" on the blades, easily the most productive spinnerbait I've ever thrown. Two weeks ago picked up a 6lb 6 oz. bass which is a very nice bass for an inland Michigan lake. The great thing about Dee at S.O.B. is he will customize them any way you want. My favorite on the tandem is the #4 Willow with a #2 Colorado. Check out soblures.com, good user friendly website.

Maybe I didn't give it a fair chance, I threw it a few times but didn't like the way it looked in the water so it's in the "forgotten" box.

I'll probably be one of the suckers, I mean reviewers. I picked one up yesterday at a local tackle shop along with a Rootbeer color Strike King Flat Shad wood crankbait.

For a subtle retrieve with a nice wake try the Tiki Snake, I've caught a fair number of nice fish on this bait.

I rarely throw one type of bait. I have a few rods rigged based on the type of lake I'm going to, anticipated weather patterns and seasonal considerations. That said I've been using primarily rattle baits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, tubes & jigs this time of year. I live in SW Michigan the majority of the fish are still 3-4 weeks away from spawing in the lakes I fish, as we get closer to the spawn I'll be using a lot more soft plastics such as Senko's , Lizards etc. With regard to spinnerbaits as an example, I've done real well lately with this bait style in shallow weedy water, what I'll often do is come back and fish tha same area with a swimming jig or a Reaction Innovations Little Dipper to give the fish a different look. Every day on the water is different and I try to establish what's the primary depth and cover the fish are using, do they want horizontal, suspending, deadstick or vertical retrieves? I let the fish give me the feedback then I select bait styles that suit the application.

I use Zoom Horney Toads & Stanley Ribbits. In my opinion the Zoom is the more subtle baits of the 2, sometimes they seem to prefer one over the other. It's likely that when you threw them it might not have been the right time to use Frog bait or on those occasions they prefer one more like the Horney Toad. Same with topwater walkin' baits, I throw Sammy's , Spooks & Vixens, each one of these can be the bait of choice on a given day. The Ribbit is a proven bait, however you have to throw what you are confident in.

O.k., I gave in and ordered 3 bags of the Anaconda's. They look promising on a C-rig.