Avalonjohn44

I like them, but find other topwaters to be more productive. My father in law uses this bait almost exclusively when we go out.

My daughter loves the Snap Beans and the Aile Gobi (also by Yo Zuri), but I have only caught small fish on either. They are both amazing baits in small creeks though, where you expect smaller fish. Haven't tried them out for Shenandoah smallmouth yet, maybe this weekend.

That's sad to hear, these are among my favorite crankbaits for everyday use. I haven't had to buy any for 2 years. Was the move to China recent?

I like the horny toad, but prefer to use the Gambler Cane Toad. It is a great bait, and the colors are cool... To me it seems the fish hold onto the Cane Toad longer, it is softer than the zoom horny toad, and stinks to high Heaven. The fat ridged/serrated style body and kicker legs create a ton of vibration and commotion. I get fewer roll-overs on this bait too. Also, I fish it topwater and on the bottom with success. I have been impressed with everything I've fished by Gambler, I just picked up some giggy sticks and giggy snakes. Can't wait to try 'em.

I have a bag of Netbait floating worms that are in bullfrog color (yellow brown and green). I haven't gotten a nibble on them, so I stick with the trickworm.

Bandit 100 or Bandit Footloose, in any color.

I always wondered what the 'walk-the-dog' technique was supposed to mimic, wondered if it was a snake. I was on a lake this weekend and saw tons of large bugs on the surface (dunno what the heck they were) fleeing our boat and every single one fled in a perfect walk the dog pattern.

Bagley is my favorite. They rake the fish in for me, and at the same time, are collectible. They are a little prices, from 6-11 bucks apiece. There are many custom balsa baits that are even pricier, but for me, nothing beats a Bagley. Rapala is my second fav, and more attainable than bagley baits. The DT series is awesome, and the original countdown minnow is a go to bait.

They are my second favorite rattle trap. My fav is the old style Diamond Shad by Strike King, which I can't find anymore. Luckily I stocked up... But I collect and use Bagley Baits of all sorts, and this rattler is a very cool one, in neat colors and a shape that looks a lot like a crappie, a natural forage for bass. They have a different pitched sound that is different from other rattlers. A lot of them will stand up on the bottom, but sometimes they fall over.

The absolute best use of Gulp is to sell it to somebody that doesn't know that it is no good and use the money to buy Zoom worms. Seriously, I hate the stuff, I only catch catfish, bream, and snapping turtles with it. Not a single bass.

Zoom: Trick Worms, Zoom: Finesse Worms, Bass Assassin: Charm Assassins, Wobblehead Worms. The wobblehead worms are supposed to work with the wobble head rig, but I didn't catch any that way, so use the worms on a shaky head. I've also caught some by using a lizard on a shaky head.

I throw cranks more than anything else. It was initially because I am an impatient person, and do not wait a long time for a worm to work, but now it is because it is the fastest, most fun way to fish. Bouncing cranks off rocks and rip rap has to be the best way to fish crankbaits. I never tried it until early this year, and it has produced for all year long. They love the deflection. Also, I used to be a guy that would never use a lure again if the paint rubbed off... The bass don't care. I have beat the hell out of my bandits on the rocks this year, and the bass keep killing them.

Are these the new Rapalas with the red bills? I keep meaning to pick one up.

It looks very nice, but I have heard that more often than not you get one that will not swim correctly, on its side or something. I do not purchase storm baits as a rule because I have found the quality to be total junk.

Gander Mountain has a ton, but BPS has some too. Not as good a selection though.

1 Zoom Trick Worm (Banana Seed, Bruised Banana, Black, Tomato seed, Natural Blue) 2 Bass Assassin Charm Assassin (Dirty White, Dirty Yellow, Pearl, Watermelon seed) 3 Tiki Stick/Senko (Pearl, Pumpkinseed, Black, Watermelon seed, Baby bass) 4 Lunker City Sluggo (Alewife, Pink) 5 Sizmic Toad (pumkinseed/pearl belly, black, chartreuse) Honorable Mentions: Gambler Cane Toad (Pumpkin Pepper, Chartreuse), Lunker City Hellgies (all colors), Lunker City Salad Spoon (Watermelon), Zoom Speed Craw (bullfrog, pumpkin seed), Zoom Finesse Worm (Natural Blue, Cinnamon Raisin, Orange Spice, Key Lime), Berkley Power Worm (black, pumpkinseed, black shad) Zoom Lizard (cherry seed, black, pumpkinseed, pumpkinseed red tail, natural blue), Lunker City Sluggo SS, Zoom Speed worm.

Berkley makes a Power Hawg in five inches, it's a pretty bulky bait, lots of appendages, lots of slilthery movements.

Any Bagley Square Lip, from the honey B to the B2 and B3, great great baits... Also love the bandit 100 which is squarish with rounded edges.

I've heard of it, and seen it, and outfished it both in fresh and salt water. It is a wives tale. It is a Federal Offense to use it this way, it says so on the can: "It is a Federal Offense to use this product in any manner other than its intended use...' Usually they reserve that statement for things that can get you high, but in this case it is spraying a non-soluble into the environment...

My two fav colors are the Pumpkinseed that Yamamoto puts out - almost an orange-ish color rather than the drab brown you see from all the other baits. My other go to color is yellow (not chartreuse) with black fleck, it is one of the hardest colors to find, also. I scarf em all up when I see em.

http://www.meatandpotatoes.net/bass_striper.htm They look pretty good, but I would wonder how hard keeping that thing tuned would be. I would love to try some out.

I used my rain hood once, and it was fine, but it was a light rain...

I have the Wheeled Stalker bag, and I love it. My kids (I mean my wife...) got it for me for father's day. It can hold 4 370 boxes, has a ton of little pouches, a cell phone case, a sunglasses attached case, padded backpack straps, a cooler area that I just put small plano worm boxes in, and a luggage style arm to pull it on the ground behind you. The wheels are skateboard sized wheels, but do fine. It also has a rain hood in a tiny pouch to keep it dry. I have a ton of tackle, and it fits a great variety of baits for me. I would highly recommend it. Only thing better to hold your tackle would be a boat.

I like Senkos styled baits (Tiki Sticks are the best I think), but my 'most lethal' baits are the Mepps Fury #3, the Zoom Trick Worm, Bandit cranks, Black buzzbaits and a White/Green Terminator spinnerbait. If I strike out on all of those, I'll throw a Senko on. I'll make myself feel better by catching 3 or 4 dinks, then switch back to a better bait. For whatever I only catch the smaller fish on stickbaits. My nicest fish come on more traditional baits, and every fish over 6 pounds for me have all come on the other five lures, buzzbaits getting me my PB.

That reminds me of another bad bait by Mann's - The Undulater Spinner Bait. I'll never forgive Hank Parker for that thing.