primetime

Bitter's baits here in Central Florida has a fantastic soft bait line up, tons of colors that are unique, designed for many Florida Specific lakes, but at the end of the day, a good color is a good color. They do $50 free shipping, and you get 2 bags of baits for $5. All top quality soft baits & $50 can load you up for a year. Producto is another company that makes some nice baits at really good prices in bulk since they are an OEM and pour in house. If you just go to the section on this site for lure companies, you can often find good deals if you call niche companies or companies like Culprit, Bass Assassin etc. They sometimes will have jig heads and terminal tackle at really good prices....I also like to buy stuff from the Barlows, Lure craft, Skirts Unlimited, component companies. Hagens fish is also good for terminal tackle like treble hooks, and grubs etc. Bitter's baits here in Central Florida has a fantastic soft bait line up, tons of colors that are unique, designed for many Florida Specific lakes, but at the end of the day, a good color is a good color. They do $50 free shipping, and you get 2 bags of baits for $5. All top quality soft baits & $50 can load you up for a year. Producto is another company that makes some nice baits at really good prices in bulk since they are an OEM and pour in house. If you just go to the section on this site for lure companies, you can often find good deals if you call niche companies or companies like Culprit, Bass Assassin etc. They sometimes will have jig heads and terminal tackle at really good prices....I also like to buy stuff from the Barlows, Lure craft, Skirts Unlimited, component companies. Hagens fish is also good for terminal tackle like treble hooks, and grubs etc. Also, Keep in mind, without Sponser's to any website like this, it would not exist. Kind of like Commercials on TV.....Everyone has bills to pay and a job to do. Nothing wrong with Capitalism. Nothiing wrong buying from whichever company you like, big or small but it is always good to have local connections and visit local tackle shops since Online Retailer's like Amazon are really killing them. It is hard to get good info if planning a trip to a big lake without stopping by the local bait shop, sometimes just listening to other's talk can lead you in the right direction, so if you need a pack of hooks etc. It may be worth paying a few bucks more every so often.

Thunder Pop

You can find awesome deals on the bubble walker or popper on Ebay right now as I think R2SEA has changed the line up. I have several of the walkers and poppers and I like them, I find that they are very similar to the BPS Popper that is 3.99 both have the holes in the face, same shape, and truthfully I can't tell them apart except R2Sea uses better trebles, sig in eye, and then, I don't see anything not even color in some cases. I would go with the 80 size walker as it is a sweet bait. They have really nice colors and details but if looking for a bait similar to the Megabass Popper, Take a look at the Strike Pro Thunder Pop. $6.99, same shape, features, tons of colors, long casting, same guy on Ebay sells them both, and Strike Pro has a bunch of Poppers/Walkers since they are an OEM that has over 2000 lure patents today. I have been impressed with the Thunder Pop, Most people assume it is a Megabass when they see them. If Looking for a Popper that is very high quality, and just awesome for getting strikes, the 64mm Popper from Duo is really good(new/Improved version of the Heddon Popper, can't think of the name).They make a walking bait that is also really good. I think they make one that is 85mm, I have not used that size but I am sure it is good and color is A+++. DUO makes a really nice lure, and they did a write up in Tackle Retailer that showed how each lure is designed, tested, and they truly put a ton of research behind their lures. I am not a brand name person, but DUO is priced Very reasonable for what you get. Either way, R2Sea makes some great lures at a great price, but I would look into the stirke pro if you want a walker/Popper and the BPS Popper, it has the same mouth as the popular Slim Dog walker which also has holes in the face. I just don't like the stock hooks on BPS lures, although or the smaller topwater lures, if using light line with your drag set properly, they will do the job. I usually just buy the VMC Inline hooks which are a good value, and they make a #3 and #5 which is nice since you can add a bigger hook on a short shank etc... just my take, but buy whatever you think will work best. All about confidence since the angler gives these lures the action, any walking lure will work, as long as you have a one knocker and a silent, standard loud rattle you have all angles covered for most part. the Trend seems to be loud One Knocker's for Walking baits lately, and I seem to prefer them as well. The Duo 110 Pencil Popper has become one of my top lures overall, and I try to force feed Topwater lures to Bass as much as possible. I like the walking style Pencil Poppers that Cotton Cordell made popular for Surf casting and I guess Lucky Craft was the first with the Gunfish (Another killer topwater lure) You can buy the new 117mm for $8. Kind of crazy since a Gunfish has always been a $15-$20 lure for most part. Megabass lures are great, but I would rather have 2 Strike Pro lures, and 2 R2Sea in 2 sizes, 2 colors personally. Just my take. Hope that helps with some ideas. You Tube has tank demo's that show most lures in the water. Sebile makes a Popper called the "Splasher" that is money as it comes with Owner hooks and great on spinning rods, or heavy braid etc. The bubble walker and Megabass lure actually look identical to about 6 different brands. I would go with the Bubble Walker over Popper if you are not a fan of the Rebel, only difference is the colors and imo the Rebel is as good as any standard popper just depends on size etc. Pradco has now changed up all the colors on all their lures with G-Finish, Flash colors, and the new lures on the Pradco site look like all the other high end lures. Strike Pro has several versions, all very similar to R2Sea versions, Owner, and a few others. Good components as well. Frog color looks great if in stock.

I would use a Frog that has a bright top so you can see it clearly on long casts, especially if the frog sits low in the water and is in heavy weeds. I would simply put a few Spots of Bright Red Nail Polish on the top or use a Red Marker, it will wipe off even if permanent in many cases, but the best way to set the hook on a frog is to make sure it is under water. I use the Spro Colored from that has a white body with Bright Pink top as my main frog when I want white, and if I want to use a black frog, I always color the top with 4 Red Dots. Never has caused less strikes at all. I do it to most of my topwater lures as well, All my floating Rip Baits have a line of red on top except for lighter ones I don't cast on windy days or on light line. I have never noticed it causing less strikes even on expensive "Pretty baits", but my favorite lures lack 50% of their color anyway.

Thanks for the suggestions, I am already a huge Rapala guy and love the F-7 to F-18 Orignal floater, and I plan on buying 2 of the new Slow floating Shadow Shad Raps as I love the colors, and they seem to be a more durable and heavier version that the Flat Rap which is light and tough to cast, but does float up slowly. I also like the price. The Ima Flit is no doubt on my list as well. I did not know they make a floater, I will check out the website as I have heard the IMA Flit has a great reputation and I like the pricing on the IMA baits as well. It seems they have lowered pricing which is great, $10 is fair for a top quality lure and I am sure the hooks will be good to go as is. I can't find one positive review on the Damiki Slim Jack, for some reason I wanted to try that lure but I think it is discontinued for a reason. I have enough Eye candy in my collection that never get's used. Almost all Rapala lures seem to work out well for me with the exception of the Scatter rap.

Always Super glue the weights on cheaper frogs. The Jawbone frogs are decent, I think that is what is in the Basses mouth in the picture I have on my profile, they have 2 generations, some really fall apart, some are decent, but other than the weight and nose being un sealed, they are great for $2 when on sale 5/10 at dicks mix and match with Yum and Havoc. Don't by the Rat. It is the same as the .50 Chinese Ebay rats, hooks are Junk, It is just junk and if it gets smashed by a large Bass, you will be mad when it rips the bait apart and you lose the fish. I use these frogs when I am fishing areas where I am losing baits in trees and can't go in to get them, so they surve a purpose, loc tite gel will fix any frog and I glue all weights in. But if you are using them in standard spots, spend your money on a Booyah frog which is often $4 and is pound for pound maybe the best frog. It will catch fish and hold up well, plus they have 2 sizes, poppin, all good. Strike King is a good frog for the money, Scum Frogs especially Trophy are way under priced with Owner Hooks and brass weights, colors, different designs, texture, they make a killer line up. Ebay has the Scum Frog rats 3/10 free shipping. I would suggest trying a rat, they work really good, and the older Scum frog or Snagproof (I forget) is every bit as good as the LT. Better hook ups. Less Junk in the trunk to get in the way.... Make sure when sealing frogs that they are not completely sealed or they wont collapse, nose and weight will usually be good as air comes out of legs, or just poke a hole in back with a hook for a drain. That is important.

Pegged and un pegged. or double stoppers, to save money and for ease, just use silicone from an old skirt as a peg(stole that from a BR video) and I usually peg both sides of the weight and this way I can turn a Texas rig that is pegged into a C-rig or just give it a few inches etc. The speed at which a bait falls is a factor, I like tungsten for sure for any weight over a 1/4 ounce simply due to size. Just like the smaller profile but I will use 1 oz plus in shallow water if my 3/8 creature/craw will not bust through and I don't like to lob baits due to the loud noise. I prefer a sliding weight, usually I always go with lightest possible to feel bottom, and usually I use 3/16 for most applications not in Nasty Cover. Weightless is also a great option, also a good thing to remember is if fishing a toad like say a Rage Toad or Horny Toad, and you want longer casts and more noise, create more action, adding weight will do that, but then you have to fish it faster, but don't be afraid to let Frogs fall, sometimes fish smash a toad like any other bait as it falls, I usually start with 1/8 but 1/16, 3/16, 1/4 is what you will use most for standard fishing, and then 5/16 is the magic weight, not sure why but I use it more than any other weight, it seems to work better than 3/8 or 1/2 but then again, maybe I am imagining things, but if you think it helps, then it does. I know that when I watch Grigsby pitch shallow cover, he is always using 5/16 as well. I have my own "scientific reasoning" but I would not want to expose my logic for all to see.

Good info right there. Helpful. Thx.

I am looking to add a few new lures to my collection, and I am looking for some options for a shallow diving, Slow Rising, or any jerkbait that can be fished in 0-3' of water. The more shallow the better. I have been looking at the new Rapala Shadow Shad Slow Floater which is an option, and also been checking out the Damiki Slim Jack 110, but I am not sure that if either is worth the money, I am sure the Rapala is good but I kind of want a few different lures then what other's will be throwing. I have a box full of Rapala's, Bombers, Rebel, Bagley, Yo-Zuri, Xcalibur Ghost Minnows, BPS floaters, Sebile,Rogues, but I am not familiar with all the Japanese lures or if I am missing a sleeper from Cabela's etc. I know I can use suspend dots and strips, but I am looking for something similar to a floating Flash Minnow or Megabass Slow Riser which I love, but I lost my $25 purchase the first time I used it when my line broke after it became frayed from hanging on the side of an aluminum boat....Talk about getting upset, and it never floated back up, I had it hung up a few feet down and just can't afford lures that expensive. I know some suspenders actually float, or you can change hooks etc. but does anyone have a bait under $15, or under $10 that you fish over weeds that can be worked in 1-2'? Any suggestions appreciated. I am not a brand guy, If Matzuo makes a good minnow bait, then I am down for trying it, I have done well with the Lews Speed Minnow or XPS minnow now for a few years and once you change the hooks it is a good lure. How about that Academy Floater? The Megabass shaped one they call a floater suspends at least the 5 that I have suspend. Not sure why they call them floaters, but the other one is interesting. Jackall, Duo, Evergreen, Norman, Cabela's, LC, SK, I know I am missing out on some good lures and I need to buy some new shiny stuff. I have $33 to spend to get free shipping right now on TW, but would order from any company to get a good slow floater since that seems to be the way to go right now for me. Thanks. Sorry if I rambled, I just type out loud.

Sounds like this body of water is GOLD. Eels, Shiners. That is plenty. Eels would be my primary focus since that is what Bass will prefer if they are lucky enough to find one they can catch. Eels represent almost everything lures are based after, long, Thin, slimy, and provide a ton of nutrients, easy to swallow, and a 9-12" Eel is something a Big Bass will chase, since Eels rarely leave areas where they can be prey. Eels in ponds/lakes can live in areas where Bass do not want to be from PH, O2, Shallow, Heat etc. Eels are often buried in mud or slime and if a bass spots one, that is a tough bait to catch, but present an injured Eel, or Disoriented one, and Big Bass will respond. Eels are a favorite for Striped Bass and I used to wonder if Saltwater Stripers on Long Island in 80 feet of water ever see Eels, but that was almost always a sure thing. I have also used Eels in Freshwater with success in NY and here in Florida, and I usually like to drag a Gulp Eel (It works better for me than any Savage gear etc.) but a Sluggo is another good option, and you can punch a Senko or Long Straight Worm on lighter weights which is easier (at least for me, 1.5 oz is not easy to learn) but a 6" Senko, or 5" Gambler Fat Ace will slide through most cover with only 3/8-1/2, maybe a 1/4. Or Fish the Sluggo like a fluke, same with a senko, but you should always drag a soft bait on bottom while fishing a new lake in a rod holder to locate spots while you are concentrating on cover. I usually drop a 10" Power Worm in a rod holder every time I fish, sometimes I will use a Creature or a Fluke, and if you want a bait to float, pick up some cheap walleye slip floats and color them any color you want and then peg them to the worm and it becomes a floater. Or just stick one in a tube and drag that on a C-rig/Mojo Rig, I like a Mono Leader in clear color, something abrasion resistant, in 12-17lb test when dragging bottom, and if weeds, 2-3' leader but you can usually just eyeball a leader that is good enough 14-20" about my standard, 1/2 oz bullet weight, brass and glass for stained water or hard bottoms, but I usually just use a cheap bead and lightest weight I can to keep the bait on bottom, drag not too tight or loose, but make sure it is Secure. In that pond. Drag one bait only. A GULP EEL, the big ones, 9" I think they are, they work great especially at night but you can fish them like any other worm. I like the black color but prefer the brown one with silver sides, they sell a pint for about $10 online, and that is money well spent, I have used the savage Eels etc. They are always on clearance here in florida, I like their creative colors, but at the end of the day, Berkley Gulp is the next best thing to live bait if imitating an Eel. I like this pond. I hope I find one like this on my next Google earth outing. Good luck. I would be confident that you have Huge Bass in that lake, Shiners and Eels, that can make fishing tough, too much forage can make artificial lures harder, that is when I focus on Soft baits and stealth. Find the springs in summer and you will catch fish, if you are not catching, before changing lures, try a few retreives super fast, sometimes that works in summer. Not sure why, but sometimes burning a bait in mid summer will generate strikes when you are getting shut out. Good Luck. I love finding new places to fish, figuring out new water is what makes fishing so d**n addicting. I still have not figured it out, but one slam dunk tip is to look up in the trees for any Big Birds that feed on bait, I call them Loons, but if a pond has birds that feed, then you can be certain they will sit on a tree that is over a spot where bait washes up. Turtles also mean wood usually, and when all else fails, break out your 6lb test, put on a tiny split shot, and a tiny bait like a 2" grub.

Lipless crankbaits cover water and help you figure out depth especially if off colored,but always throw a Topwater of your choice or Frogs because if topwater is working, why do anything else? In Summer fish are often supsended at the thermocline if you have depth changes that are steep, a quick way to get the depth of where they are holding if they won't come up is to drop a bait in the water and when you lose sight of the bait, that is usually the depth you may want to crank first. Try Silver, Chart, Gold, Red... I would try working flukes and soft baits in the weeds, try a deep diving crank or c-Rig...Find where the water enters, and then focus on weed edges since that usually means the bottom changes composition and or depth. Areas where 2 different types of weeds connect, or any change in cover, and look at the shore around the pond for slopes etc... Key is also figuring out what the main forage is in the pond. If rocks,then craws and crawfish colors may work, if lots of bluegill,catch a few and try to match that color with any bait you choose. Some times ponds that are full of fish and seem easy are not easy at all. Usually it takes a few trips to figure them out and then it rains, and you go back and get shut out and have to start all over. This time of year, I like early and late with topwater prop baits like a Torpedo, Rapala X rap Prop. Bagleys makes a minnow bait with a prop that is becoming a favorite lure, Bass always seem to be willing to feed upwards, especially when fishing cover, but if not, start picthing a jig or creature and you will catch bigger fish. Find 1 good fish and odds are it was not an accident. You will get them, sounds like you are starting to figure them out. Keep it simple, fish the areas you are most confident in fishing with the baits you feel work best for you and you will figure them out. You may need to get inside those weeds by flipping during the day to get the bigger fish.

I have had the same issue, and I have tried changing color or size, speed etc....I do get fish to strike at the last minute at times, but I never see them following or when they started the chase. I agree with the above post that if you are getting followers, at least you know you are in a productive area and you may just need to use a different approach. I have had success by switching to a Minnow bait or Jerkbait in a different profile, or fluke, or sometimes just a weightless Senko. I usually get most of my strikes on glidebaits or big swimbaits in the first few feet of the cast, or when I kill them or speed them up near cover. I only own a few glide baits so I don't have the option of tying on 6 different colors in different sizes, but you can make any soft bait glide as well. Or Jerkbait for that matter, some move side to side and some move straighter, you can get certain Rip baits to glide just like the S-Waver, and at times a slim profile seems to work better,but I am no expert on Glide baits. I only have used the S-Waver's, Savage, and a few Musky versions. The Herky Jerky from Bomber is great for Stripers and I have used that for Bass when fishing around spawning bluegills since it is shaped the size of a good 5" panfish and has a great action.

I fish Bass Pro Magna Super Lock Hooks, Academy Hooks, Offset straight shanks, Gammy's, Owner, anything buy Matzuo as I have seen them bend when they were on the right line and drag. Finesse guage hooks will bend if too much pressure is applied, the larger the gap, the more easier they bend, but you will not bend a superline gammy, or Flipping hook unless you really apply pressure. Fluoro stretches more than Mono, Or Nylon since both are monofilament one Fluorine, one Nylon, but I have bent hooks when I have had my drag locked when I forgot and switched rigs after flipping. I have bent VMC Vanadium hooks in standard guage (15 per pack 5/0 EWG, Gammy regular guage, and EC lazer, but I have bent them because of user error. I find BPS brand hooks to be some of the best hooks for the money. Sharp and strong? I like Trokar hooks and Owner hooks as well, but love the Magna superlocks for heavy braid. You can haul in a tree if needed. EWG will bend before a straight shank of similar guage and each brand has different guage hooks for a "Standard hook". I only use EWG when using wide baits and big swimbaits, frogs etc...I fish a Zoom Horny toad hook 5/0 on 50lb braid and not sure who makes the Zoom hooks, but they are not too thick and I have never bent one. I have seen guys bend out strong hooks on big fish, Visit any hook companies facebook page and you will see bent hooks since people are usually upset when a TK 130 Bends on a Bass at the Price of Trokars. Braid can bend any hook if everything goes wrong. However, you should not be bending hooks often, One possiblility is if you buy your Gammy's online in bulk. Fake Power Pro and Gammy Hooks are made in China and end up sold as real, manny times you can't tell until you take a closer look.

They make bait buttons for this exact purpose. they are marketed toward saltwater I believe, and a pack of 100 is like .99 I think Puchi makes the ones I buy and they make colors from glow etc. I have the same problem, especially with Elaztach or when fishing in weeds, sometimes a bigger hook helps, less stretch, but the collar is a good idea as well. Z-man makes a weighted hook for elaztach called a Trigger Hook which has bait buttons on the bottom and on the shank for holding baits in place. I use the 4/0 more than the 3/0 on the frogs, I like the 1/8 & 1/16, that is a great hook, SUPER STRONG. Priced well, easy to find on Ebay cheap.

Pradco-Bomber, Heddon, Cordell, Xcalibur, Booyah, Yum, Bandit and more. Rapala, Strike King, Culprit, Gambler, Bass Pro, Spro, Zoom & ZMAN...But I have lures from Sebile I love, as well as soft baits from companies like Lunker City, Larew, etc.. I use some Japanese lures like the Gunfish, Duo Topwaters, and I love Yo-zuri lures in the Sahimi series especially. Stained water the Sahimi pencil one knocker is great on heavy braid with ultra strong hooks. Love Saltwater hooks for topwaters I throw on braid which is why I love a long A for a Rip bait even when I want to throw a Bang O lure or Rogue etc. Stronger hooks, TX3 heavy guage are great hooks. Love the Long A 15 and Pro Long A Timmy Horton for a suspender.

3" Curly tail grub on a jig head or split shot rig, but a 3" sassy shad would be fine as well. I would go grub only because it comes through weeds better, can be buzzed etc...single tail xps grub in white ice.

Yes, For fun on light line and ultralight tackle. They are best on 2-4lb test, light tackle and will catch fish. I have used the Cricket hopper when I want to have fun, and sometimes you will get a decent bass, just not the norm. Lots of smaller fish, bluegill, crappie, great lures for kids, the weedless Pop'R is a great one as well.

DUO makes some great topwater lures, I like the 6th Sense Walking bait for only $10, I think that is Japanese, I am not a believer in the Rico. But, if you are, then confidence matters most. Duo makes a popper that is 64mm and really good, and all the one knocker walking baits from Jackall, Duo, Damiki, River2sea Rover, LC, are all good. Evergreen and others are also good. IMA skimmer and Grande are great for clear water. If fishing stained water spend $3 for the Rebel T-10 which is a loud one knocker that can hang with any of them, just upgrade the hooks. Ima lures are pretty, but The Rebel has lead rattles that seem to produce and nobody ever seems to throw them, that matters in my mind. So many good lures and not enough time, I would pick the colors and sizes you feel most confident in. Every lure mentioned above in the right hands will produce results. Then again, So will a Zara Spook one Knocker or standard. Just not as pretty. But plenty of top guys throw a spook over high dollar lures. Just preference. Duo makes some awesome looking lures that produce and are actually priced well for what you get, they are all Quality and I like that 64mm Popper they make.

Strike king has the best soft bait colors right now imo. That Magic craw color is growing on me big time. The Rage bug in the bigger size will be a great bait, no doubt, Almost every rage bait is awesome, not sure they make any gimmicks, colors are awesome imo and the rage swimmer is legit. It does seem to produce better than a speed shad but not sure why, but I like it. I still love the Caffieine shad swimbaits and flukes, Strike king soft baits along with Z-man and Culprit are dominating my new bags.

Try to keep your fishing rod pointed at the water if lighting is around. I know that is how I will one day meet my end. I love fishing in the rain, or before, and I think Fiberglass is safer? But I love a Lizard or Frog or any lure once you find areas with moving water that attracts bait and where water enters the lake etc..It is more location than lure, but soft baits, cranks, topwater can all work. I do well with a lure like a Gunfish when raining since the water has some chop, You can also get away with heavier line many times. Buzz Frogs work well also. I like fishing under trees with lizards here in Florida or Creatures like a brush hog. But the Fish are super active....Risk vs. Reward. But always best to be safe, Lighting is no joke when holding a graphite rod in your hands or any rod. Some of my best topwater bites of all time have been when lighting is "Approaching or really close". I put the boat on shore and get under trees, fish from shore, not sure if that is scientific but I feel safer, even though it is probably not. Bass go on the prowl when the pressure drops quickly. Stay close to the ramp as storms can come close really fast. Tournaments will not let you fish if conditions are dangerous. They don't play around, safety is always first since storms can be dangerous for tons of reasons, Fog being very scary as well.

Hey, do you know of any Lucky Craft Jerkbait that is either a suspender or Floater that only dives maybe 1-2'? I don't think they make the Flash minnow anymore and I was about to order some new floaters and shallow suspenders for fishing over weeds in the end of summer and into fall, and I wanted to try some new lures. What is the New LC lure that works well, you seem to know your jerkbaits based on your photo? Impressive collection, I can tell which ones seem to get used the most. Thanks in advance, it is hard to find floaters or shallow suspenders that are different than the standard stuff.

If you think they are worth it, then they are worth it 100%. Lucky Craft has lures that are priced in the same range as Strike King like the New Gunfish 117 and the Gunfish is worth every penny at $12-$15, now at $8, yea they are worth it. They make a lipless crank bait that can do something no other lure can do in the weeds, The LV series is a great bait and you can find them on sale at Cabelas at times for $7, but they flat out work great. Sammy is a good lure, and I know guys who love suspending jerkbaits will only fish a Pointer when they want an erratic action. I am not a brand name guy, but I have no doubt that the 2 Flash minnow's I own are 2 of my best lures I own, I paid maybe $12 each, and too me, I will pay for lures that can do things most other lures cant. The Flash minnow in Floating is just hard to beat and I would also say Lucky Craft has become much more competitive with their pricing. They have made some misses, but usually they have winning lures. You can't go wrong with any LC lure on the market today that has a following, they run perfect out of the package and details are awesome. If you don't own a Gunfish you are missing out on an Essential topwater lure that seems to out fish other lures that are similar looking. Not sure why, must be sound imo. They do tons of testing. At the end of the day, you need confidence, if it takes a Lucky Craft lure to give you that confidence than it is worth it. I have a few lures that are expensive and probably over priced, But I believe in them, so that makes them worth it for me. Hope that helps, but at the same time, don't assume you will do better on a LC lipless vs. a Bill Lewis or Strike king if just starting out. Make sure you know why a lure sells for 4x the price of other's. The LC series corrects itself to help it navigate weeds which saves your arms if ripping traps in grass for example, plus if water is clear, LC colors are money.

I forgot about the Skitter Pop. I have that huge one in a frog pattern that I found at a garage sale years ago, I used to love that lure but happens to be one I forgot about. It is a great lure, it has an unusual sound and action, but I need to pull that out. I have the brown frog color and it is really big, bigger than many walking baits. Rapala just makes good lures. I never mind spending the money for a Rapala, or Bomber, or Strike king, Bill Lewis etc..I find Rapala and Bomber along with Cotton Cordell covers most of my needs, I rarely use any Chinese made JDM lures unless I buy them from China for only a few bucks. I am sure hate will be coming soon, I forgot "They are assembled in Japan. I can change out hook brands on my own. Rico poppers for $30. Tackle Retail magazine online just did a number on them. I will leave it at that. Different strokes for different folks, some lures are worth it, some are nothing more than a pradco lure with nicer Eyes and paint. hard to beat a Rapala or Bagley's or if looking for a wake bait, comparing the IMA roumba to an AC shiner is easy. AC shiner is much better, not even close imo, but then again they are not cheap and hand made I believe. I should not hate on IMA, I used to love the IMA skimmer until I realized the Rebel T-10 was better for what I do in Florida, and they do make good baits. It seems high priced lures are coming down, except for big swimbaits which is not an area I really get into as I can't afford a $100 Lure, nor would want one. But if you can afford it more power to you, just make sure it really is hand carved, not all advertising is what it seems. I love buying Deps Frogs for under $3 per. Oops.

I find I tend to fish Frogs to fast at times, or if using a popping version I work them to hard. I am not a big believer in "Walking a frog", I like the concept which keeps the lure in the strikezone longer, but the key to Frog fishing imo and I do it alot, is SLOW. Sometimes you need to really slow down, have long pauses and barely move it, and you often need to get the frog in places where you may lose a few.... Bass in Summer will not alway's chase a fast moving bait, they need to be sure they will get it if they are going to burn energy. I find if I make better casts, skip it, and then work it slowly, I almost always do better. I like to twitch it 2-3 times so it just sashays in place and then kill it, wait, shake it a bit, and sometimes if you think a fish is watching it, speed it up gradually as if it was panicked and then sometimes you get a strike. In the Summer, fish are not always willing to break the surface.If you don not hear panfish in the pads popping, or see any movement or topwater action, it may not be a good Frog day, I am guilty of trying to force feed the frog many days, and if I want to fish faster, I go with a buzz toad as a Ribbit on top is hard to beat, or something with less noise like a Mann's toad or Larew 3 leg frog which is not as loud. Waking the Horny toad is another great option if they are not breaking the surface, I only care about 3 colors..Dark-GP to Black, Whites, or something with a chart belly, or Orange Chin like the KVD color GP/Orange which is one of my favorite frogs since the rattle helps in weeds imo. Size can also matter. But usually slowing down and making casts to the right places will get results, but you need to be willing to lose a few frogs if fishing shorelines. Just my take but sometimes I need to know that I am near fish before I quit, Usually in cover bass will be grouped up so I have had days where I go 2 hours without any strikes and then 10 minutes makes the day worth it, Summer is tough no matter what you fish .

Original Rapala F-9 through F-13 for topwater or waking, and the F-18 if looking for a big fish and for casting gear. Long and slim, hard to find another lure that duplicates that big F-18. I tend to like the Gold and Black most of the time. I throw the Floating Rapala as much as any lure I own, and I tend to like the Jointed Floater at night slowly waked and paused on top. Only issue is I find I need to use light line on spinning tackle to get the right action on most and that is an issue in Florida during the summer. I love the way the new BX Wake bait looks and acts in the water but I have yet to gain confidence in the lure since I have never really done well with it. I do much better with the Red Fin. I have also tried the BX floater which is actually pretty good since it is a wide body and has great detail, can stay shallow over weeds, and when I think of it, and tie it on , I have done Ok. The Floating Flat Rap is good when the water is calm, and or fish are not active. The added Flash from flat sides helps. I fish the DT series both flat and standard, DT fats for wakes, and can't say I like them better than say a Strike king etc....But they are good, I am just not as confident with a Rapala as I am with say a Spro Crank or Strike King and a few other models. The X-Rap Prop has replaced all my Devil's horse double prop lures that are slim. That is a great lure, and I have heard the X Rap Popper is really good as well. I love some of the Rapala colors that are chart head and white body. The Skitter walk is my favorite topwater for Saltwater however. Rapala makes great lures, I am sure if you put the time in they all work well, Bills often break but that happens with all balsa lures I have used from Bagley's to Ac Shiners. X Raps are much more durable. Shad Rap #7 is my favorite Crankbait to throw during winter and the shallow Shad rap is highly under rated but they need light line in the 6-8lb test range so they can be hard to use at time. I don't like braid and treble hooks, but braid gives the floater better action in stained water where I don't care about line color, and I just make sure I use my drag, but casting distance is an issue with all Rapala lures. I never have caught a fish on a scatter rap but I am sure they work. Not enough time to use them all, but guys who are really good with cranks seem to love the DT series.