5dollarsplash

Glad to see the 3" Bug. Up north here a lot of times downsizing is necessary and it feels like burning money trimming down a larger bait. These look to be the perfect size.

A plastic crate on its side with a blanket. Sprinkle catnip if it persists in getting in the boat.

Welcome! They start the spawn over there yet? I think these temps for the week should get us there finally!

I'll second the Berkley. It's a good value and well within your price range. Plus they can be found at a lot of retailers.

Looks like a nice Muskie bait. I think it'll be hard on gears so make sure the reel is up to the task. Hope it works for you!

The girlfriend actually caught a frog on a frog last year. It was very territorial and was chasing her bait all over a little lilly covered bay. I'll try to get a photo uploaded later. Frog left our baits alone after he got caught, imagine that.

This. My ultralite set up is the only reel with anything besides power pro. Everything from 15-80#. I wish there were more color options so I could remember what # is on what, but I just jot it in my journal for referance now. If needed I'll put a leader of flouro or a wire leader for the toothy buggers, but usually don't bother.

Makes sense. Here in NW Wisconsin I expect to see similar, way behind schedule for every species this year.

Nice fish. Can't tell from the pictures, but are those parasite marks on the 4th pic?

I bought some shoebox sized clear containers awhile back. They are the perfect for most soft baits to be kept in their original bags. I label mine by type, "craws" "frogs" "senkos" "trick worms", whatever works for your use. I've got an open spot back by my outboard where they stack neatly in the boat.

Lew's. I love my tourney pro. I bought it after owning a couple shimano and a Abu s. it's become a go to reel for me. Smooth and fast usually don't go together so well.

Late getting back to you, but much appreciated

That fits me to a T.

Just caught my first on it last weekend. I've made it a point this year to work on new techniques, and this has been one of the hardest for me to commit on. I'm not one for much dead-sticking, but there is no arguing it produces (18" 3lber on a blustery day). As the fall bite pics up I may move away from it, but if the bite gets slow I will have a rig set up in the boat ready to go.

I've tried the stanley double frog, not much of a fan. Unless the frog your rigging is huge it just leaves too much hook exposed for heavy cover fishing.

Power Pro Green for baitcasters, Red for spinning gear. "She who must be obeyed" uses Suffix 832

I could take 3 3700 boxes out of my bag worth of them, and like above I haven't thrown one in over a month.

Good work. Mine is a constant work in progress. I just keep dreaming of bass boats and living in my jon boat. Jeff nailed it though, the work is incredibly rewarding, and really makes the boat your own.

I keep them in the original bags, organized by type, in tupper ware containers I got from wal mart. They are the shoe box size bins and they work perfect. I have plenty of room to keep both of these boxes back by me and my gas tank in the jonathan boat.

I don't think you'll be able to get away with throwing light/un-weighted plastics with it. I have the same reel, and I just can't see it covering quite all you want it too. For the rest of it I think you'd do great with a mh/f 7'. Personally I prefer the Premier and the Fenwick myself.

White/green senko Chartreuse frog Black/purple/blue jig with junebug trailer

Senko, with a close second being a frog. I've been killing on frogs this summer up here in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin DNR site is pretty good for this although maps can be outdated. For a lot of the little ponds/lakes in my area asking around is the only way to find out. A lot of times around here no fishing-no aerator-no fish. I try to ask local bait shops.

I worry about belly color, light green,yellow, white, black. Those are what I've been using with the light green producing best. I need to use the white a bit more to decide if it's as effective.

What this guys said. Wisconsin bias aside I don't know how you'd rate Newton and Palmer above him. Rodgers Brees Brady E. Manning Vick