Primus

This is an excellent bait IMO, there are times when fishing grass flats late spring when the weeds are up higher that bait will really shine. I've caught some very nice sized fish on this one over the years.

Of all the ones I've tried so far I would go with 10" powerworms, I am interested in trying the Anaconda's this summer.

I absolutely love Floro! I've use the BPS or P line for my casting rods because of price and they are tough lines that haven't let me down. I''ve done well with the Gamma brand on a spinning rod, very pricey though. Last year because of the reccomendations of many on the board I tried the new Trilene Floro, so far I've been very pleased and because it's more readily available and a little more economical than the Gamma it looks like I'll be making the switch. I know that I've become a better soft plastics/ Jig fisherman since I've been using Floro, especially in deep clear water.

I like the Roboworm 6" Fat Straight tail along with the Zoom Shakey tail for a different look. I will also throw a Reaction Innovations Flirt from time time.

I've been very pleased with my BPS Crankin Sticks, look for an occasional sale when they are down to $50 if you can wait. If you wanted a good all around model you will do well with the 7' M action.

I haven't tried the E series, but they looked to small for my hands. It's nice that they made them a little lighter but I never thought the old ones were too heavy, I was very satisfied with the D series and the old green super free models. Tackle Warehouse just brought in a bunch old B series Chronarch which I've never used and they are selling them for $ 186.88, I'm thing about trying a couple. I'm curiuos if anyone has used these reels and what your opinion is.

If I had to only have one it would be the Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver.

Question on the Magic Shad & Skinny Dipper, how do you like to rig them? If possible please state preffered hook brand, size & weight. Thanks.

Shakes, I think what makes the Excalibur real effective is that it leaves a nice wake and it's loud. This bait really annoys them.

Now that there are dozens of companies that make these types which ones have you tried and please mention the ones you don't like as well. I admit to having limited expierience with these but I was most impressed with the original Basstrix with the Reaction Strike being the worst that I've used so far.

There are times when I've paused 30-60 seconds when the water is in the 40's, and the other extreme would be a 3/2 cadence with a half second pause in warm clear water when I'm trying to get the fish to react. The majority of the time a 3-5 second pause gets the job done. The key is to expieriment and to remember what you did on the all important first bite.

I did real well on a couple of occasions last year, another one you might look at and my favorite so far is the Excalibur Wake Crank I've had some vicious strikes on that bait.

I agree with Natural's comments about needing both in your tackle box, there will be times when one is preffered over the other. Lucky Craft also offers some tranluscent colors like Ghost Minnow & Ghost Sunfish that ofter attract more bites in certain situations (think very clear water on a sunny day) that Rapala doesn't currently offer. I would also reccomend the Ima Flit, I've also heard good things about the Spro Mcstick.

If your fishing budget will allow you to consider $15 for a crank try the Jackall Muscle Deep 15 Plus. This bait has a smaller profile which I think helps get me a few more bites and it's easier to retrieve than other baits in it's category. The most important attribute is with it's weight shifting feature this bait cast like a rocket, the longer cast will help you keep the bait in the strike zone longer. I have fished the DD22, Excalibur & the DT 16, these are also very good baits but if I had to pick one I prefer the Jackall.

Another vote for the Yamamoto Spidergrub on an EWG Gama football head, I did real well last fall with this combo.

They never produced for me when I auditioned them one summer a few years back, would much rather throw a Wiggle Wart. They got taken out of the rotation, I think I sold them if I remember correctly.

Yellow Magic popper and Reaction Innovation Vixen.

I've used the Gulp leeches & Gulp Fry on a dropshot rig, they are a good option for this application.

I'm righthanded, use a left handed reel for jigs & soft plastics. I use a righthanded reel for cranks & spinnerbaits.

Another shallow crank you'll want to add is the Mann's Baby 1 minus, as the name implies it runs 1 foot or less depending on line diameter and where you hold your rod tip. If your fishing budget allows consider the BPS RC cranks, get the 0.5 Ghost color non rattling version for calm days on clear water and the 1.5 in the copper green shad (non rattling) which is my all time favorite shallow water crank.

Great tip, I've always used split rings. Looks like I'm going to have to try that. Thanks for sharing.

I'm guessing that if the tournament is at the end of April and if it's typical natural lake in this part of the country that has shallow grass flats with clear water or if it has emerging lily pads you will likely have some fish in thses areas. If the wind is blowin' I would consider a S.O.B. Mini Me 3/8 oz size (the TJ special color combo works everywhere for me) with a #4 willow & #2 colorado tandem blades with their gamblers dust on the blades, this has been the most productive spinnerbait I have ever used for spring fishing. As an alternative consider an outkast tackle swim jig in a 1/4 or 3/8 oz size with a Yamamoto single tail grub as the trailer. The fish will also be chomping on a jerkbait this time of year, a couple of excellent choices would be a Pointer 100 in Charteuse shad if it's overcast or if the skies are clear a Pointer 78 in the Ghost Minnow or Ghost Sunfish colors along with a Rapala X rap in the Olive Green if the fish want a faster more aggresive jerkbait. That said you might be late enough in the spring when the fish will be hitting baits like senko's , Yamamoto spider grubs, lizards, Zoom Super Flukes etc., so be prepared to throw the soft plastics if they aren't hitting the horizontal baits. Good luck, I hope you do well.

Chartruese Shad or Sexy Shad Ghost Minnow Ghost Bluegill or Rapala Bluegill Firetiger Brown or Green Craw

Good news Banor, ice is off now! I drove by Beadle & Goguac yesterday, I hope to get out Sunday if it all works out. My apologies to our southern friends who get to fish year round but most around here have a serious case of cabin fever , now it's time for us to take it out on the fish!

Banor I'm sure you are anxiuosly waiting for the ice to away like myself. I appreciate your observations on these rods, I personally prefer a 6'6" rod for topwater sounds like I'll have to get one for that application.