Primus

I set all my Shimano's at 2.

If you are on a budget try the River to Sea V joint 95 Wake Minnow in the Chartreuse Shad color. This bait runs app. 8$ , weighs 3/4 oz. so you don't need special rod/reel combo, doesn't roll on a fast retrieve and most important catches fish. The one thing that you need to know is that despite it's name it is not a true wake bait, runs a little subsurface, it fishes like a longer jointed baby 1 minus.

I use BPS floro with my baitcasters, it's a little on the stiff side but manageable enough for this application and it's reasonably priced for florocarbon.You can get 800 yards of the 14 & 17 lb. test for $69.99. I now use Trilene 100% for my spinning reels, extremely impressed with this line.

Yamamoto hula grub on a 1/4 oz jighead, swim it, hop it or drag it you will get bit. Those who want to get started fishing a jig should consider starting with this one, the fish rarely let it go.

Sign me up as a big fan of the Jackall Muscle Deep, have app 10 more coming in this week to gear up for summer, I also like the Rapale DT series and the Norman DD 22. This year I'm expierimenting with florocarbon on my Deep Divers. Good post by 5 Bass limit on what to look for.

Yesterday fished a weedy natural lake, water temp was app 54 degrees, water clearity clear. Caught app 25 bass, no lunkers only 6 keepers. As mentioned in another post used the Koppers Live Target Craw Trap in the Red Black, caught app 12 of the 25 including a couple between 3-4 lbs. The remaing fish came on a 1/4 oz Kietech jig/ Green Pumpkin with matching 2-3/4 " Yum Craw Papi trailer and also an Ima Flit jerkbait in the Chartreuse Shad color. The Ima Flit is another bait that I'm getting more impressed with as my Husky Jerks and the Pointers that I tried failed to get bit.

They offer both a lipped & lipless version, I picked mine up at a local tackle dealer but you can see both types at the Tackle Warehouse website.

Had an excellent day with the Koppers Live Target Crawfish trap in the Red Black color when my other trap style baits wouldn't get bit, first time I've used this bait. I bought one a couple weeks ago because it looked cool, it's now earned a spot in my lipless crank aresenal.

My 3 favorite series from Rapala would be the DT series, Shad Raps & X rap. Since Storm is part of that group it wouldn't hurt to pick-up a few Wiggle Warts.

I talked to someone last week who as already used them, he thought they had a better action than the Sebile. I guess I will have to get one and find out for myself.

I say both are great baits to have in your topwater arsenal, there are times when is better than the other.

I prefer the 128, produces the biggest fish. That said I can catch more numbers with the smaller sizes.

It's another good color, nothing more nothing less in my opinion.

Watermelonseed, Watermelon Red, Green Pumpkin Purple and Smoke Purple are some of my most productive colors. Baits with small purple flakes have been real good to me the last couple of years.

It's always cool to modify a bait to your specs, I do this a lot with spinnerbaits. Regarding lipless cranks the Sebile Flat Shad is a silent lipless crank with mineral oil, I was impressed with that bait last season. I also have picked some Daiwa lipless cranks in a silent version through Ichiban Tackle, haven't tried them yet.

I generally would be reluctant to use more than 8# floro on a spinning reel. As already mentioned troll the line behind the boat, apply KVD line conditioner as you reel in. Kevin Van Dam himself and other pros that I've talked to reccomend using a reel with a large spool such as a 3000 or 4000 size, the line comes off in bigger coils which result in longer more hassle free cast. I would also use a tiny Salmon style swivel on a drop shot rig as this rig will tend to spin on your cast. The other advantage is I will have 3-4 leaders pretied so if I break off I'll be back in business right away. Most importantly, catch a few fish that's the best way to loosen up your line

I like to skip a nail weighted Zoom Centipede in either Watermelon Red or Smoke Purple. If you rig it right it falls backwards. I also like to use a tube with a weighted EWG hook.

I haven't tried them yet as the conditions in my area aren't ideal yet for these type of baits. I talked to a local pro who was not sponsored by Strike King and he was very enthusiastic about this bait, said it had a wilder action than the Senko. I look forward to seeing it in action for myself.

Yozuri Rattlin' Vibe, StrikeKing Red Eye Shad & Jackall. Honorable mention would include Sebile Flatt Shad & old Excalibur/ Cordell Spot. I have a few that I plan on working out this year including the Yozuri Drum, Excalibur One Knocker and the Daiwa TD Vibration (Silent model).

I feel a snap swivel is overkill on the hardware dept however I do use a snap and I have never lost a fish due to using one.

If I could only have 2 it would be a Yellow Magic Popper along with a Reaction Innovation Vixen.

Various soft plastics have accounted for the highest numbers, with the jig being my most consistent producer of big fish.

Good job Dave, I too am a gig fan of this bait. I plan on getting 1 or 2 more this weekend as a local tackle store has them on sale for the spring open house.

I think some of their baits are high performers and are worth the $15, I also think some of their products are average. I would reccomend the RC 0.5 & 1.5 cranks, Pointer, Staysee & Flash minnow jerkbaits, Sammy & Gunfish topwater baits.

I've done well using a spinnerbait in the rain, if they wont chase or react to a spinnerbait I'll usually throw a Black/Blue jig.