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I've thrown Red Eye shads... I like their action and all, but for my money it's a 1/2 oz Bass Pro XPS Rattle Shad. I just restocked for Spring and replaced the hooks with some KVD Mustad Triple Grips. I'll keep quiet about the exact color but it's a shad pattern, and it catches everything (including the 9# wiper in my profile pic). No, I'm not a BPS employee.

My most productive popper has been a Rapala Skitter Pop in Firetiger

Braid direct, especially when on the bottom.

awesome idea

What's your favorite pattern of popper to throw? Shad? Bluegill? Bass? Something else?

I had one of my spinning reels spooled with 832 in dark green and the line had faded to a white-ish green after a year or so. Not sure what the high vis stuff is like though.

Rapala Skitter Pop. Very walkable with a nice big cupped mouth. Firetiger for clear open water, Frog for skinnier waters, you get the idea. Best finesse popper I've used. That being said it's only available in 1/4 oz, and I'd like something a bit more castable. I may give some of the aforementioned LC and Megabass poppers a look.

The 1/2 oz lipless on the left has stock trebles, and the one on the right has the 2x short 1x strong KVD Mustad #2 on front, with the stock front hook moved to the back (I'm guessing its a #4). I'm happy with it, thanks for the feedback guys.

Has anybody heard about what Garmin's been up to? Apparently they just signed a couple new guys to their pro staff, Brent Chapman and some guy I've never heard of, Bill Dance. http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140120-903003.html

Thanks man, I was kinda thinking the same thing. Just wondering if it would be worth the trouble.

Just to expand a bit, by ball head jig applications I meant things like Ned rigs, Yamamoto grubs, etc.

While the water temp at my favorite lake still hasn't made it into the 40s, I've been researching finesse techniques for early Spring. I've seen some guys using split rings on ball head jigs... does anybody else do this? I like the idea but I'm wondering if it really produces more strikes, or if it's just a confidence booster.

I purchased a Chronarch 200e6 last year, it's currently spooled with 8 lb. mono and sitting on a St. Croix Mojo Bass jerkbait rod. I love it.

Yeah... As I said earlier Martens can do no wrong

Aaron Martens can do no wrong, so this should be helpful: http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/trimming-jig-and-spinnerbait-skirts

It sounds like those KVD 1x strong 2x short triple grips in #2 are the deal for my 1/2 oz. BPS Rattle Shads. 90% of my hookups come on the first treble so I may just replace the front and leave the back stock. Thanks for the feedback guys!

Thanks Joe, I'll give the 2x mustads a look. It's always after a few wipers in the 6-10 lb range that my hooks bend out, and I'm not even throwing braid! More like 12 lb. mono!

We've got a dock on the KC side of 7mm so launching has never been an issue, but if you're coming from Lees Summit and looking for bass and crappie I'd say head to the Gravois Arm. It should be the shortest drive and give you the best of both while the water's cold. If the water's more clear than you want you can always move up the lake from there. Good luck!

Very helpful, thanks!

Believe I found my answer here if anybody else has the same question: http://answers.basspro.com/answers/2010/product/10205312/mustad-mustad-ultrapoint-kvd-elite-triple-grip-1x-treble-hook-questions-answers/questions.htm

I like throwing 1/2 oz. lipless cranks for wipers, but all too often the larger fish bend them out. Has anybody replaced their trebles on lipless cranks? I'd like to beef them up without affecting the action of the lure while slow rolling. Cheers!

Before we left we went to try for some more of the crappie that I'd caught from the bank. I caught 6, 5 keepers from 13-14 inches that all came home with me so Cbass could have a fresh crappie dinner.

beautiful wipers blue. gotta love those hemi-powered runs.

FWIW I'd post on here a heck of a lot more if I got more opportunities to fish the lakes around KC, but most of my weekends have been spent at LOZ helping family out (and trying to fill a freezer)

I hear you Bluebasser86, in the end those guys won't be as successful fishermen (or people) as they would be if they knew what common courtesy was.