primetime

I have not made a cast with a jitterbug in years, but I need to throw that the next time out, I used to love that lure but I somehow forgot about it and only think of it as a night time lure and looking forward to using it again. I noticed a few new lures coming out from Japan with the Jitterbug and crazy crawler style, and it always was a lure that seemed to get steady action with good sized fish as well. I like that idea of making it louder, I will try that out, thanks.

I watched a video of this flat sided diving popper (The shape and colors are just awesome) but the action is taking the idea of pushing water to a new level....It is a floater that walks, pops and spits, but when you jerk it down as if wanting to create a loud pop, it dives subsurface and shoots forward making all kinds of sound with bubbles & action which is extremely impressive for a lure that size. It is the power version of the much larger Daiwa DC minnow or Yo-zuri Mag Darters but tiny which is a great engineering since it also weighs just under an ounce for long casts..... I would have estimated a price of $25 if I saw the Molix video first, but TW has them for $9.99 and they are not available anywhere else so I am curious if anyone has thrown this lure....I am getting at least 2 as I like to collect cool looking lures and I do not have any Italian Topwaters so I NEED them, plus they would look great in my topwater box, but they will work for sure since you can simply walk it slowly if you want, or pop it, but I would think it sounds like another fish blowing up on bait and will draw attention, and when they look, the lure will be slowly rising looking like it is wounded & an easy meal nice and little that they will think is much larger so I like the concept....

I had to replace a spool for my Pfueger Supreme last year and I was able to find a ton of them online as people sell models that are broken etc. for half of what the company wanted, but a new spare spool is only $12-$15 so you could save a bit more... The Patriarch is a Fantastic reel, I would put it in the same level as the stradic but that is just my opinion, I like Pfueger spinning reels alot and I have some baitcasters which are old but they never die, so a bit heavy but grab that reel for $99, Dicks is good with warranty as well. Great Find...Rods are on sale all over at awesome prices...

River2sea Wide Glide 120 suspending or floating....Just used it for the first time yesterday, never knew how to work one correctly and just never gave it any thought since I have way too many options as it is, but WOW.....Now I want every one they make in each color, fish were active and they would chase it and hit it 2-3x, my buddy had a box full of glide baits, He throws huge one's but I have a box of walkers, he has a box of glides instead, and I am a believer, totally new look fish do not see as much in the south I guess because it was producing. 14" bass were hitting a 180 size Suick, and now I see why I was not happy with my S-waver, I was not using it the most effective way which I figured. Nice list...I need to try that Cavitron buzzbait, that lure get's alot of press... I love the megastrike jigs which come in the 2 pack, Revolution I think it is, plus they have that creature which saves alot of room in the box since it is a toad or a punch bait.

If you want to go Daiwa I would look to go with the Tatula and they can be found low $90's easy on Ebay from Reputable dealers, but the best deal on the market right now is the speed spool combo with the IM8 Rod at academy for $99 or the reel for $69....The lexa is a great reel, but they have been $70 for the last 6 months at someplace somewhere and the new aird is really nice, the older one was just the exceler with color to me. The White Revo is $94 right now as well. Sometimes spending the extra $20 will put you in an entire different range this time of year, and for a reel you will use for years, I try to not save the $20, but I have a tough time since I would be happy with a Lexa or Aird, or Exceller, but the T-wing is really nice in my opinion, speed spool super light, and the rod is actually $129 I believe, and the Reel is rarely under $99 was $129 to start the year, I would pick up that combo, my buddy just picked it up for $69, literally saved $130 actually more, but it is super light and was a dream flipping a jig with it...I am now getting one today, selling the reel, don't need it and I have a free $100 rod, do that with the Aird as well, By the combo for $79, sell the rod for $50...Lexa combos are $99, Rod goes for $79 easy

1x could be a fluke, 2x you may be super lucky, 3x I see a trend developing......

I would say the Chug bug is my favorite to throw since I find it the easiest to walk or to pick apart structure so it doubles as a walking bait and a popper, however it has a flat bottom and is great on Southern lakes like Stick Marsh where Hugh Crumpler guides, it has alot of areas where the grass grows to the surface but you can work a chug bug supper shallow, it is bouyant, and loud.... Chug Bugs and floating Minnow lures/Wake baits are where I start, so I usually start with the smaller Red Fin early in the year and the 7" for post spawn females, and the redfin is the most bouyant minnow ripbait and the key is to reel slowly so the v wake is still present. If the V wake is not presentt then it is being worked to fast. However, if a fish missed the lure, often pulling it under a few feet with a sweep gets that fish to hit it again....The Ripplin Redfin is also great, gold early and silver in summer, I like the gold and silver and that was my favorite topwater up north as I call Wake baits and lures like the Rapala minnow topwaters... I usea a lure called the Yo-zuri Banana boat in silver 100mm size, add a silver and red dressed treble on the rear, and it walks fantastic and is silent which I prefer, but if you want some noise the one knocker spook is great, I don't do well with the big spooks, I use the middle size 100mm I guess, and last but not least, Devils horse for slow, Cordell Crazy shad for a double prop in silver is a killer since it is also bouyant and seems to have a better roll than the others.

I don't want to give away the company or the models of reels, however, I was working last weekend and a young kid who is about to win his under 18 classic this weekend and loves his expensive reels, handed me a reel direct from overseas, 11bb, 10 +1 double shielded stainless, 2 Nbc or Abec Japanese bearings, saltwater gearing, light so it was made from some nice stuff, awesome looking handles and it just so happens that a company that makes killer reels is now onto new models, also having this new Oem make reels for a house brand, they still do r&d in America, info is all available online from Tackle Retailer etc.. Do some digging if interested, This is the first legit overstock and if it is a copy we gave the guy who fixes the reels for most local companies 2 to compare and he said the China Oem reel was actually better since it had a ceramic line insert and the bearings were sealed better, and not in places they do not need to be...Price is roughly $28 if you go buy overseas, I would not trust Ebay since everyone is knocking these off since so many are selling, apparently this has been going on and people in this area are well aware that the blueprints are still in the old factory and deal is officially not expired or something... I have struck out big time on the 13 bb red and black casting reel, it was Junk, and I have seen many others that people bring in to have spooled that are aweful, however if willing to pay $75 plus on Ebay you can get a decent reel but at that point why not just go to TWarehouse with warranty...Just remember quallity control is rough at times, but in today's Economy, we are no longer #1, we are #2 behind China and they call the shots, and just don't believe the hype on Ebay, cross reference.. Figured I would share this while the reels are out there, I just picked up a Lews at a silly price with a rod IM8 for a bit more, so I would still say go Lew's, but these reels are light, smooth, I was able to cast it and the button did not stick like most I see, has centrifugal and magnetic brakes, swept handle, just way too nice, times are changing, The lures for $2.00 are actually pretty good now, a local company just had a delivery from an American Company who is starting a hard bait line and the lures are good for $2.00, I forget the name but they say made in USA since they put the split ring on in the USA....... I figured I would post since I received the report from our guy about the internals, and I was surprised to say the least, usually they come back like all the braid, crappy....do your research and you will be rewarded if you have $28-$40 depending on model, and it looks nice, not corny...hope that helps someone out for the Holidays, and it is good to learn where all the stuff we buy comes from...It is cool to check out Bando and Tica to see the new stuff coming out and being worked on but you need a good 20k to deal with them....

Head to the store pick them up and put them on the rod you want, because there are so many good reels for crazy prices this time of year..I will second the Pinnacle Baitcasters, they are the Oem that has been making many of the reels on the market anyhow, so I picked up an Optimus for $100 and I absolutely love it, and the Producer is a nice reel for $80, The Optimus looks and feels like a reel that sells for alot more..Wonder if they are the Oem since the Frames are identical.

I have been using fluorocarbon in clear water even though it sinks and is "outside the rules" but I must say, I actually like Fluorocarbon now for all applications except when walking a lure, I like the way it creates drag and allows your popper to have more Pop to it when you have open water...I also just feel better with fluoro because of the stealth, I am forced to go straight braid in some lakes here in Florida and I would rather get less strikes than lose a fish because of a leader knot, plus 30lb test is not going to be stealth compared to 10lb diameter 50lb braid....I prefer to throw my topwaters and jerkbaits on #15 Pline CXX or Hybrid #10, but if I can go spinning, I love the Samurai 15lb 2 diameter and I color it the same as the camo lines so fish can't get a bead on it, but it is so thin, cast a mile, fish can't feel it, I can see it, and it is strong, plus knots are easy to tie on a shock leader if needed.

The Academy H20 Slush Daddy Prop bait is a killer topwater lure....Double prop bait is great for schooling fish or for covering water early when you don't want a buzzbait, I am starting to use these because of the colors instead of the crazy shad, and I need to try the longer version but I doubt it is a Devils Horse....The H20 line of tackle in general is very impressive not only for price, but I have had days with that 3/8 lipless crank where it is everything my Spro's and Red Eyes are.....

I am guilty of purchasing the expensive Japanese Baits etc. Because I love new lures and I like to give every lure a fair shake and spent a few hundred bucks on Hardbaits from Jackall, Lucky Craft, Ima, Evergreen, Deps, Duo, Rico, and a few others, I still have not purchased a Megabass lure since the Parabug, and it seems most of these lures are not anything different, basically they are knock offs (what everyone says about anything that looks like a Senko).. Out of all the lures I have purchased, the only one's that are truly innovative in my opinion and not talking colors, are the Ima Skimmer, Sebile Flatt Shad Suspending, and recently I have started using the Spro Crankbaits and they seem to be really good with nice trebles with the Gamy #5, #3 which I like. I recently purchased the Evergreen Shower blower, and once had the Repo Man, but I can't say they are any better than the original Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper which is limited in color, but I can get the same action from that lure as I can the more expensive versions... I am curious if I am the only one that thinks spending $10 plus on a popper, walking lure, prop bait, or topwater in general is really worth it? I look for deals, but I have a few Jackall Poppers that I paid good money for that look nice, but are not any better than a pradco brand in my opinion, so my point is this.... other than color patterns, better treble hooks usually, what Lures are worth a $12 plus price tag that I am missing? The Sierra minnow is a lure I am working on and not giving up on it yet since I like the concept and innovation, but the Rico magic is only xMagic when you actually pay the money they are asking, it pops, it floats, a Brians bee Prop bait for $30+, how is that better than a cc crazy shad, or Academy Slush, isn't it the guy or gal fishing it? I am dying to buy one of these Megabass topwater lures in the white Skeleton color, and I just wonder, do I need another topwater lure that does the same things? only in a cool box and color? Sorry for the rant, I was just looking at all the lures I had high hopes for and my lures look like the one's I see alot, perfect shape and that is not good. What make the Rico Magic so special, I am curious, people bu

I never get bit on a buzzbait anymore, I used to love them as a kid, but I never even try anymore....I like double prop topwaters instead, I still try cause they do catch larger fish, but with all the fishing pressure, I am finding success using lures and colors and sounds, modifications to make all my lures look differrent and so far I like the results....My OCD is kicked in and I love dressing treble hooks now, I actually just did a few Long A's with all 3 hooks dressed, but I had a few strikes this evening while I let it sit for 30 seconds with the front hook dressed up and also red....I am also chaning alot of my last treble hooks for willow blades, and making my rattle traps weedless, or more weedless...Oh, I can't catch fish on the Gunfish, but they look awesome in the box...

You can find pliers for $6 and it is worth every penny, if you don't get that ring put back properly you will lose a big fish one day as I like to crimp my rings once I open them, I change trebles and dress them at times, and I mainly use the 3x short Triple grips, Tx3 Inline Rotating, Owner Stinger, and like said already, size #6 is what you will find on many lures but you can modify to 1 #4 and one #6. For topwaters you can go larger but always be careful and make sure to read about why trebles are the way they are, since a 3x strong is a good treble for a Topwater fished on 50lb braid, but not a good choice for light line since it will not penetrate.... I find Spro lures do an awesome job with hook sizing, and so do most Japanese Companies, so take a look at a spro, or LC, or Similar lure in a top of the line to get a feel for the hook sizes, Gamakatsu makes awesome hooks in size #5 and #3 and play around with red and other colors, and often I like a wide gap on the rear to catch swipers.

I just started using Flick Shake worms on a shaky Head rig, and they stand vertical which I did not know, and I have been doing well with them on 8lb camo mono....I usually like fluoro but on spinning gear I get frustrated with it in the cold, but braid to fluoro or even mono to fluoro is something I will do as I believe in cold clear water fluoro helps, and it is also good for topwater in many cases...Louder pops, I know it sinks, but I have been doing well with topwaters on cold days in the afternoon, Chug Bugs, Sebile Flatt shad suspending using reel for all the action works great since you can pitch it like a jig...and a Jig...I forget that the Jig is never a bad choice, and when in doubt, a brown jig with a twin tail trailer in black is always a good pond lure....or add a floating worm and fish it like a shaky rig...

I have a box full of wakebaits from almost every company, I like the Roumba for a smaller look and it is good with a trick worm on the rear treble which is something I stole from their site...I would say I have learned that a dressed treble is the key to success many days with topwater/wake baits...If fishing over grass, you often can't move your bait much, and that is where you want to fish em, in the places everyone else is throwing flukes, frogs, and worms, modify the hooks a bit, short triple grips on the front, and on the back an EWG with dressing usually, I like Marabou and flashabou and it gets wrecked but I only throw one wake bait 90% of the time and I do better with it than any other.. Ripplin Redfin in gold and one in silver blue, Regular 4" and 5" Red fin, key is to make sure you are going slow enough to keep the shiner s wake, I like the Storm's, Footloose, Mann's, Roumba, LC's, Rapala Dt Fats etc...Get a Red fin in 4", 5", and 7" if you are in an area with big fish, and then one gold and one shad colored Ripplin Red fin, and shorten the hooks, and you will be amazed out how well that lure produces when they won't touch other square bills, fish like the minnow shape better these days...I just ordered 10 Ripplins, 12 Redfins for myself for xmas and some Triple grips, Owner Stingers, and t3 rotating although they come with good hooks, I don't like silver for fresh water, but that is just me...

Wow, that is a big blade, I remember Half Dollars, but never remember fishing one with a blade that big, I am sure I have seen Jimmy Houston throw some blades that big...

I have loved fishing topwater, shallow hardbaits, I am at the point that I throw the Sebile Flatt SHadd suspending which sits on the surface and is practically weedless, the Ima Skimmer, Chug bugs, Ripplin red Fins, floating Minnows, Love the Bagley Bang O lure with the rear prop, but dressing the trebles has opened my eyes to the power of a lure sitting still.....

I buy Lucky Craft for their ghost minnow pattern, I love how they look, rarely throw them though, have not found a lucky craft bait that is #1 in the category with the exception of the pointer 78....Flash Minnow's are legit, but topwaters are over priced in my opinion and you are paying for color, I have found that the prop baits from other companies and even walking lures are as good as the Sammie and Gunfish, but they are good lures for sure. I was able to pick up a few of their poppers and prop baits on clearance and I have never seen anything from them that seperates them from other lures that are half the price, just my opinion, I own em, just think they have so many baits and not all are as good as they are, other baits can do the trick, I do wish I could afford some of the stuff on their website however...

overall, I would say the chug bug since It walks so darn good and with fluoro it spits and pops like no other, I have used all the Lucky Craft, Japanese stuff, other than the color patterns, I honestly would still fish a bone colored Rebel Pop'r before any other popper, if I want a walker, I like the Sammie, but I would rather throw the Yo-zuri Banana boat with a dressed treble on back, or lately the only lure I have found that is awesome and unfortunately expensive is the Ima Skimmer, I am in love with that lure, but then again, the BPS slim dog is tough to beat..... I wish I did well with the Gunfish, I love the concept, I just do not have the confidence to throw it, I do better on the chuggin spook one knocker...Megabass looks awesome, love the colors, hopefully they end up at a liquidator like the River2 sea and Spro, Savage stuff has lately, and the Bubble pop is good, but no better than any other popper in my opinion, Chug Bug can do it all.....

worm-Black Power worm creature-Yum Mighty Craw Jerk bait-Bomber Long15a spinnerbait- No brand preference Crankbait- Luhr Jensen speed trap Lipless- Sebile 77 suspending flatt shadd popper-Rebel Popr Walker-Ima Skimmer and Ripplin Red Fin

I love buying lures when I find good deals, hate opening them for some reason, and I dump them in big boxes like I had in college that you can see through...I say they are "collectors items" and will be worth money when they are out of production, but really I am just a sucker for deals on lures, and like going through them a few times a year only to find a few gems which I didn't know were good at the time.... I just found a bunch of yo-zuri ss minnow wake baits, crystal vibe lipless cranks, Banana boats, live bait series, Norman Rat lure topwaters, and a bunch of other lures which are actually worth some money so it is worth it...Plus I like to collect, I try to only bring the lures I need for the day and leave the rest at home and right now I am liking the Savage lures which a local store has super cheap and they just look so nice....no need to open, I will never use one, but they killed it with the packaging for sure.

a pack of assorted hooks, and I would find worms and insects to catch baitfish and then live line em....game over...

Ice fishing stuff, all the Yum disco'd soft baits, cotton cordell crazy shad, rogues for $1.50 and lots of great Walleye lures and spooks for under $2 Really good stuff, plus free shipping...all Pradco brands and not the cheap value series of Rebel etc...spinnerbaits as well from Booyah..

these are the value brand xcalibur lures for walmart and dicks and big box stores. You will find the real spit n image on the Pradco site under Heddon, and it is a 6.99 lure and much better quality. that crankbait that says fingerling is the value series of the Bomber Fat free series and are much more expensive..In the 80's the Zara spook and super spook as well as many other lures from Bomber, Heddon and Cordell were under the xcalibur label and were good quality, these are seperate from Pradco....Same as Bait Bonanza lures...Pradco site is where all the legit Bomber, Heddon stuff is listed...This is probably why you thought the Bomber cranksbaits sucked, I would think so as well....The Fat Free shad is rated the #5 crankbait of all time by Bassmaster magazine because it is such a good crank, and I am not a crankbait expert...I do however collect old lures, and the old xcalibur lures from the 80's marketed by Bill Dance and Jimmy Houston like the super spook are top quality and better than some of the new ones in my opinion as they have a different sound. If you ever see older xcalibur packaging which looks the same, look for a lure called the ghost Minnow, it is a thin floater that is awesome and in my opinion one of the best floaters made..The Yo-zuri Pins minnow reminds me of the ghost minnow but not as good.