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I like way too many and never fish them enough. I usually prefer smaller ones in the 1.0 size, but one crankbait that I really have liked right out of the box are the XCalibur XCS100's. I have had my best days with the Xcalibur's when I want a wide wobble and I like the Shallow shad rap in the cold instead of a squarebill or a Rapala DT Flat just don't fish them too hard, the bills break on certain ones, but the DT-3 is a good lure. Subwarts, Speed traps, KVD, Norman..All companies make good cranks these days, key is the hooks, Some cheaper cranks work well like store brands but the hooks are often junk. BPS for example.

They make good Christmas Ornaments? I never liked that lure the day I saw Bill Dance using it on TV with his Dancin Eel. I feel like the way it is designed is a good way to miss fish? I would rather just use the Whopper Plopper but I am sure if a Big Bass grabs it and really wants it it will catch fish. The above post has it right, changing it to have more hooks would probably make it much better, I know the Rebel Frog is tough to hook fish on and both are Pradco Lures, but that double hook is just not enough to land enough strikes from my limited experiences. The concept is good, a floating buzz bait you can pause is legit, landing fish and not getting snagged is the issue I think. I get bad feelings about lures and I notice the same 6 have been at Dicks for the past 2 years. If it were half Price, Give it a shot. Bill Dance was catching fish on every cast so it must be so.

I make most of my own using silicone from Skirts Plus but I am starting to think the Gambler "starflash" Skirts which have the color of silicone and the feel and action of living rubber. I also like to use some of the thinner silicone for finesse jigs for some smaller options or punch skirts I add to swimbaits and skirts to jigs Does the material make a difference? I have been hearing about the Starflash Gambler skirts the last few years since Gambler is huge in the South, never really felt it mattered for Punching, but when cold, I kind of like how it moves, is unique and when fishing slow I think it can matter....I think color probably matters most, but Living rubber when letting your bait soak gives me confidence and the Starflash material has nice color compared to the old school rubber which had dull colors yet still is favored by some guys. When you make your own they get expensive with shipping, Siebert has prices with the terminal tackle you need for a similar price & you can make hubs out of anything. Just look at a Boss Hub and get creative. quick Hint...The rubber "Grommets on many punch skirts are also found in Tatoo Guns, get 100 on Ebay for a few bucks. Metal hubs are only $37 for 100 on Barlows I believe or .50 on Skirts plus...If you want the tungsten bead hubs, or brass etc..Hagens has those, or ALi express has tons of beads in tungsten you can tie to. Hope that helps. Punch skirts over the counter are way to expensive. They cost less than a buck and some sites sell 5 for $2 if you look, the rubber hub is fine actually.

I have seen them on one of the tackle making sites, Netcraft or lurecraft. They have the football swing jigs and also the heads that you can add your own rings or hooks. I would check some of the main tackle making shops, Pretty sure they have them in packs of 10. Hope that helps. I think that is what you may be looking for. They are just like the Mustad Fast Tac as mentioned above.

I would try a Grub 3-4" on a darter head with a weight to match the depth. I also like to use a 4" Sluggo on a darter head when it is cold, or a Road runner 1/16-1/4 with the Maribou typically used for Crappie. maybe add a rattle or maybe use a Tube or simply a bead in between a soft bait. Rattle traps can work all year long as well. Finesse tactics can work but fish are often suspended or right near cover really tight and may need multiple angles. You can catch them on a Jig all year long, same with a worm but it can be tough to get them to strike. It takes patience but sometimes you get lucky and can find a group of fish grouped together, if you catch one, odds are you are in a good spot and can maybe fish it with a shad rap or another moving bait. I like to fish the Rage Menace on a split shot rig all year round as well. Colors I would try contrasting dark colors or firetails with chart. I usually stick with black/Blue in stained water, black red, or black/chart, red shad, or go solid black. Winter can be tough and some days nothing works, just how it goes.

I have some really nice looking ones in one of my boxes at home I never take fishing. I am sure they work as I have done well with almost every Academy Lure/Reel I have purchased. I just don't fish many hard swimbaits at the moment, but they do look every bit as good as lures priced higher. I think the Hooks are VMC, not too strong if I remember, but I think they only weigh 3/8? They are smaller, I actually caught some big Stripers on the other Swimbait they make that looks like the BBZ shad. I put heavier guage hooks if using line that is over 12-15lb test mono. I would think 1x strong hooks are ok if fishing it on less than 15lb test. Just my take. Hope that helps. I am sure those little bluegill lures will work if you put in the time, especially during the spawn, and right after when the Bluegills start spawning. The action looked good when I tested them out. Academy has great prices, great service, glad they came to Florida. For $3, hard to beat many of their lures. Same with their reels.

I wish you could take my Bass Pro Gift Card. I can find more in your store than I can in BPS right now, Thanks for the sale. I will take a look, I can always use stuff from your shop. Thanks.

Rapala has certain lures that have been in production for decades because they flat out catch fish and they have a few designs that have not been replicated imo. The Rapala lures that I feel are Mandatory, and stand out from the other brands are the following. Original Balsa Rapala Minnow-Floating & Husky Jerk is the suspending version but not balsa. The BX series looks nicer, casts further, but I have not done as well with the BX swimmers, Wakes as I have with the standard Minnow and Flat Rap Minnow. Gold/Black & Silver/Black. Shad rap #7 is a lure that everyone should have, they work all year round, flat sided balsa crank that is not expensive & will always catch something. The Shallow Shad Rap is a great lure when the "Wake Bait" bite is on, people do not fish this lure enough but you can fish it as a topwater or wake, or squarebill and it catches fish when the bite is tough. I only have the shad color which is all I need. I add some chart instead of buying a sexy shad version but either way. The DT series is good, however I feel you can find better crankbaits from other companies but it is all preference, I do use the DT-6 and the DT-10 at times. Only other lure that stands out for me would be the Skitter Pop, makes a bluegill sound better than any popper, add some dressing to the rear treble, fish it on lighter line, but it is a fantastic lure. Skitter Walk Vs. XRAP Walk only means the Xrap has better colors, different hooks, comes with dressed treble but if on sale they are a good walking bait, just not much different imo than all the others. The X-Rap Suspending Jerkbait is a good shallow jerkbait that cuts aggressive & can work really well. You don't need much. Check out this site. BEST PRICES FOR RAPALA & Other top brands. Their bulk soft plastics are all BPS Brand. $4 Rapala's, .99 Bags of Culprits....They always have stuff coming in super cheap from every company at one time or another. http://www.fishingtackleoutlet.net/ I should not be giving out my favorite site...but I just ordered $150 of culprit Incredicraws, Lucky Craft lures, & reel.

As a Jet's Fan I will take Rex Ryan back any day. If the Jet's front Office didn't Knee cap him, we could of built a much better team. He lost all power, had a terrible GM drafting picks he didn't want, made him coach 2 years 30 million under cap with Gino. Rex took the Jet's two 2 AFC Championships with a Rookie QB Mark Sanchez who is nothing more than a borderline 2nd to 3rd string QB, picked up some of the Ravens who all love playing for him, so I look at the Jet's and Bills and I say. The Bills have not won or been in the playoffs since the game vs. Titans if I remember correctly. Nobody has had success, but I would take Rex back any day. He just needs to get better with time management & Penalties, The Bills will fall into the same old pattern if you dump Rex. You don't take the Jet's 2 Championship games if you can't coach. Winning Franchises stick with Coaches, Maybe if the Browns would have not fired Belicheck after going 9-7 in his 3rd year, they could be the best franchise in the NFL. Steelers, Giants...Few examples of teams that stick with coaches, systems and do not over react to a .500 season when the team has young talent with clear holes that can be fixed. I hope the Bill's get rid of him because that makes them an easier game for the Jet's, but Rex will get hired by the Rams if he wants. New stadium, they need a coach like him, LA, Jeff Fisher just got stuck without a QB. No QB, you don't win unless you have a once in a decade Defense. Every team that is good each year, has one thing in common. Good QB. Can't blame it all on Rex. GM, Ownership, Scouts, Coordinators all matter just as much. Just my take as a life long suffering Jet's Fan. As a Jet's Fan who took us to 2 AFC Championships in a row with Mark Sanchez and a GM who knee capped him with players he didn't want, $30 Million under the cap so he would lose, Rex is not the issue. Teams that win consistently have a system, Steelers, Giants have bad seasons but don't overcompensate. Browns fired Belichek after going 9-7 in 3 years. Bet they regret that now. Teams need a QB to be good. Or a once in a decade Defense & running game. Rex has issues with Clock Management, too many penalties, but the Bills have much bigger problems than a coach. Maybe they can sign Jeff Fisher who is a good coach, Rex will be hired again because he sells tickets & has shown he can win. I would take him back in a heartbeat for the Jet's. Nobody can win with Gino Smith or Fitzpatrick. Rams will hire rex to fill the new stadium in LA if Rex is ok with Goeff as a QB. Bills can't keep doing the 3 and done with coaches. Should have never unloaded Polian imo. Just my take. NFL is different now, most teams are all really close in talent, Bills could be fixed if they knew how to draft.

Did you add that Tungsten weight above the hook? I have never seen the Grigsby version but That has to weigh more than a 1/2 ounce right? I have the strike King swing Jigs that are made up to 3/8 but Now I see why you use them in grass. Love that idea. Going to get on that ASAP. I usually only swim that jig but adding a weight is such a good idea. Or maybe they come that way. Grigsby knows grass.

Muddy water is warmer usually especially if you find some sunshine hitting it. Dark or bright colors, maybe a texas rig or shaky rig with a rattle or shallow running crank or probably a rattle trap. If it is really cold, the mud will be hard so you can fish it like sand. I only use gold in stained to muddy water & hammered blade. One thumping Colorodo with a contrasting trailer. Black skirt, gold blade, White/Red trailer.

Price & packaging, and Marketing statement.

DOA and Bass Assassin jig heads since they are always on sale at a local shop..I also buy the regular ball head jigs from BPS & use a darter head most of the time and buy the Kalin's version with wire guard and without. Darter heads work better for me same with bullet shaped heads. Ball heads are not good around weeds. but I use them at times. Hook size vs. guage compared to bait size matters most imo. I like having an eye on some jigs and the saltwater jig heads have good colors & hooks that will never bend. The best Jighead I have found is the Trokar Boxer Jig which were on clearance at Dicks. best $4 for 3 jigheads I have ever spent. Hooks are not thick but super strong, good for the lighter rigs or heavy.

Check out Lunker City, they have a bait that you can tear down, but I would think that is an old Exude or mister twister Hellgie as they used to have a bunch of designs over the years. That tail reminds me of the old culprit Woolly buggers.

1 Oz. and over, I use silver, 1/4 and lighter I use lead or brass so Silver & gold, I buy all silver Tungsten and heat them to turn them black as I sometimes like to have black weights but not sure it matters even when pegged. I do buy GP, Red, Blk, Watermelon lead weights in 3/4 and less since I fish them slower and in areas with clear water at times. At the end of the day, not sure it matters, but you can color weights easy. Sometimes silver weights are the only ones left when a sale happens so I just paint them, it comes off fast but I guess the best answer is..... Fish what you think will work best, If you don't think silver will work with a green pumpkin bait, then it probably won't work as well if you use it. For drop shot weights, Mogo Weights, I buy lead & never think about them. I believe the flash of silver when falling fast is a plus, i also think Brass with a bead when fishing an un-pegged soft bait can add a few strikes. I just wish brass was a bit smaller. Stanley makes a weight that comes colored that is flat, forget the name, but they are good for any bottom or style of fishing & not expensive. wedge? colors like Wat/Red if you want to have a pretty match. for the Ned rig sometimes I use red or chart heads like you would do for crappie/Walleye fishing to create contrast in stained water. Normally I try to make a match that has 2 colors that go together in a color that is made in a laminate or flake, but Red for the ned rig can work well. so can chart.

Good question. I have never tried the GYB Flappin Hog creature bait & down here in the South I notice that many guys fish the Hog more than any other bait. I think I own just about every Hard bait, But that certainly does not mean I have ever used them. I really want to get into the bigger lures this year, big swimbaits, Topwaters, plastics etc... Didn't catch any fish over 7.5lbs this year & I think it was because of my Light line addiction I am having a hard time kicking. I plan on getting one of those MS Slammer's that Bluebasser is always posting with good size Bass on it, My buddy always throws that big Spro Frog and he seems to catch just as many bass as on normal sized frogs, but usually gets some bigger fish. I always assumed it was too big and hook up percentage would be poor, but I may have been wrong.

I used to have a Flash minnow that was awesome and I now use a Rapala Max Rap which is similar in depth it runs & action but I think they are hard to find as they stopped making them. I think it was hard for Rapala to get $18 for a Jerkbait. I think I had the 115, I have been looking for a similar Lucky craft but even on their worldwide webiste I can't seem to figure out which one is similar. Hard to find even on Ebay. The Max Rap only dives maybe 2-3' but you can run it shallow & it suspends & has similar action. Just a thought.

Thanks. Going to buy one from TW with a gift card I just received for X-Mas. I will get the golden shiner color for sure. Good stuff as always. Thanks.

I am kind of not the type to prepare like most people, I will admit that often I regret not preparing for the unexpected, nothing like having to use a garbage bag as a rain coat but it will work out if needed. November Striped Bass Fishing on Eastern Long Island is Cold...Especially fishing both tides in one day. I guess I Just do well with layers of Socks, I have used the heavy socks for hunting, once had battery powered socks as a kid and I honestly hate sweaty feet but I know that quality clothes matter. I have done my share of Ice Fishing & Winter Fishing but I do invest in good boots, Rain Gear, just never felt anything was wrong with my White Nike Socks. But yes, In Florida cold is never an issue but good clothes to prevent sun burns & let you breathe are expensive but worth it. Not sure what is worse, really hot or Kind of cold. I am sure you are 100% correct. I think Wool makes me itch, to be honest, I am not sure what many of my socks are made of but I do have some thicker ones for outdoors I wear if I think about it. you are 100% right, Quality matters, Cold feet is not fun, especially wet feet cold or warm in a boot.

I would check the offshore fishing threads for grouper rigs, King Fish, saltwater stuff. I have seen custom made rigs that were maid from different types of Kevlar, Teflon, mixed with braids....Never really made any rigs like that but Saltwater shops carry tons of different types of rigs, has to be away to pick the right snap with crimps & I bet a thread would know what to do. I think the wire my Brother uses is a 7 strand coated wire, pure fishing makes it, It holds big Stripers in rocks & does not appear to be thicker than 65lb braid from what I remember. Hope that helps..I would look up King Fish rigs but they use thicker wire, but may get some images on Google if you search and click images, that is what I do for almost anything when I need a Picture to make something. Good Luck. Worst Case, Keep looking on Ebay this time of year for a lot of 30 old jerkbaits on auction and win it for really cheap so losing lures doesn't hurt, but losing fish probably hurts more. I would also look at live bait rigs for bottom fishing. For Muskie and Pike you would need at least a 40lb snap min right? Tsunami makes really strong swivels and snaps that are better than the Spro stuff & much cheaper. I have 80lb snaps and swivels the size of a 30lb Mustad for example. Saltwater grade, Still not cheap but tiny. I would check them out, Tsunami is not a cheap company as many think. If you like many lures & tackle you fish now, you will be happy with Tsunami products.

Walmart has Bomber Long A's in both standard and Salt series for $1 right now. Just picked up a ton to sell on ebay. Right now you can buy 5 for $20 free shipping and I use them for salt and fresh, work as good as any, I like the Shadow rap but the bomber will produce just as good. Bomber now has about 60 colors out, same as shadow raps with oranges, Purples etc...I would go that route and not use heavy wire but Berkley makes a black coated wire that looks and feels like braid. Guys use that for saltwater all the time and do fine.

I just by Socks at Walmart and put on a few pairs...Seems to work just fine unless I get wet, but if fishing is good I can fish wet socks in the cold.(Just try to go barefoot to air them out or you get a nasty trench foot). Was just up North Striper Fishing & took a wave over the Bow, didn't bring any rain gear because I forgot to pack it, it was cold, wet, but once the tide picked up and fishing was good, I was not cold, but once it slowed down, I was super cold & I didn't get any mercy so now I plan on packing extra socks. Just pack extra White Socks. They are socks, layers are what works, plus you can spend more money on lures, buying socks is no fun. Dry Fruit of the Looms are good for me & cheap, 3 layers you are golden. Buy some of those hand warmers to put in your shoes if needed. oh yeah, Waterproof boots are important....I used to work the ski Lift up in Cortland for extra money in college, and you learn that lesson quickly. I would just keep lots of spares in the booth as you get that 30 min rotation then hour outside, 3 Pairs work, Sealed boots if in snow or good pair of Timberland boots keep me good.

I fish mostly Floaters, Slow FLoaters, and really shallow suspenders but I pretty much use the following and I fish them all year, and in places most guys use Frogs or flukes as long as I can find a crease in the weeds, wind blowing the emerging weeds on the surface over, or I will literally pitch them into pockets, but I also steer them around weeds, and I fish Jerkbaits ALOT since they can be a Topwater, Crankbait, Swimbait, Suspending Jerkbait, even slow sinking models work well at times. 1- Every Angler needs to have a few Original Rapala Balsa Minnows (If you read articles many pro's will state they will outfish live shiners on some days, that is rare but true, They are the Senko of hardbaits imo but you need lighter line for best results with balsa.. -F-9 is a good size to have, F-11 is my favorite, but the F-7 is good to have, I would get a Flat Rap as well for a slower float,colder water, basically the balsa version of the shadow rap...9=9mm. Colors usually only need Silver/Blk-Gold/Blk, Clown or firetiger for stained water. I usually just put chart or pink stripe on sides if stained, you can get it off later by sanding. Bomber Long A 15 Floater- Best Floater for any water color, casting gear, go heavy, most strikes come on pause but waking the long A can be deadly, tournaments are often won by someone Waking a Long A but Fish have to be active feeding on bigger threadfin shad etc. I always paint the back red or pink nail polish to steer it and see if fish swirl or take it under on long casts. I love the Smithwick Rattling Rogue for stained water in clown or gold/black, not the cheap looking ones, the ones that look like the Mcstick For suspenders- I fish the husky Jerk, Xrap-Pointer-Rogue-timmy Horton Pro Long A suspender, Countdown rapala sinking version. Line and action and how you work it matter more than brand imo. Suspenders are much different but floaters work in Florida all year round, or you can get them to slowly float or suspend anyway with adjustments. In Winter lures that sink slowly can work well, so can a slow retrieve, you don't have to always jerk a jerkbait, I learned that a few years ago, fishiing it with a pull, pause or slow roll can work well... I would invest in some minnow baits for sure. Make sure you have good hooks, and if possible add some tail dressing for more strikes on the pause. Hope that helps. There are so many good lures available now that there is really not a wrong answer but I think the fact KVD throws Rogues in the cold over his own Jerkbait even though one time it was a 1960's version says Smithwick is pretty good. This. Boom. job done

Is the MS Slammer & Spro Rat really that good? I feel like you are always posting pics of Big Bass on the Slammer & I think others on that Jackall Micky? or Spro Rat...I noticed the Rat was on sale & I have tons of wake baits, but what makes the Slammer better than the others or is the Spro good? I use alot of wakes obviously in Florida, Slammer should be good right? Probably good for Stripers up North as well I would assume. Just curious as to how you fish these baits. I notice all reviews are good for these lures I mentioned but the slammer I may buy since I doubt fish in FLorida see it much. Thanks

These two poppers are 2 of my favorites..Heddon Spit N Image has some big fish on it, the Rebel is my other go to. The Heddon is such a good lure that rarely gets fished anymore. The bigger saltwater version is good for heavy line since it comes with tx3 rotating trebles that are 3x strong for heavy braid over grass. Casts well also.