gulfcaptain

5.4:1 is a good all around ratio, but also depends, sometimes he 6:1 ratio's work well also depending on the crankbait and time of year. Slower works better on deeper baits and keeps you from wearing yourself out, the other I use on squarebill and shallower running baits when I want to get a faster reaction strike.

I started with the Kopper's bluegill wakebaits, they are about 4" and weigh just over an ounce. The MS Mini Slammer would be a step up from there. I know everyone is saying the 68 hudd, but you want hard baits. Savage Gear is making some affordable swimbaits, check them out on TW. But beware, it's addictive as I'm sure you have read on many posts.

try the 8" triple trout cut tail, floater. I've seen 6lb bass try and eat a 10-12" bass off a hook, an 8" swimbait is fair game and an easy meal for a big bass. Check out the Southern Trout Eater's DVD and look at some of the lakes they fish that don't have trout but eat the triple trout and MS Slammers. Also look at Kopper's makes a bluegill wakebait that may get their attention

Used the regular swing impacts on both an A-Rig as well as drop shot. The dropshot will work great on the regular swing impact with a #1 dropshot hook. Think if I had the Fat's I'd use them as the center bait on the A-Rig or T-rig them with a 1/8 to 3/16 tungsten weight and slow swim them, or use them as a swimjig trailer.

the ISH series frogs, both the phat frog as well as the poppin phattie are awsome hollow frogs. They walk great, don't fill with water, and have a small rattle in them. Others I like are the new bronze eye shad, and koppers field mouse works well also. Just remember to have the right tackle when you throw them to set yourself up for success otherwise it doesn't matter what frog you throw.

I don't think I can break one of these hooks with 6-8lb flouro. I have had no issues with these hooks and have had good success with them in the short time I've used them

I bought a couple, yes they are kinda expensive, but if you're using it for what it is, a small bait presentation in a bigger package then yes it's going to work. How many times have you seen 3-5lb bass run up on a school of 1" glass minnows, or crash a small pack of tiny shad. This is where this bait is going to pay off when you can't get a reaction out of a standard crank because they are keyed in on a certain bait. From yrs of being a charter captain, you see schools of tuna eating "no see ums' and they won't even look at a sardine, but flip a 3" chovy at them and they inhale it. Same principal.

Love flouro, but I only use it in topshots. Back all my reels with braid (20-30lb) with around 100-150yds, then put whatever length topshot on. Gives you the ability to fish deep to since the braid will let the crankbait dive deeper, just remember to back the drag off a bit so you don't pull hooks. Then the expense of flouro isn't so bad when you can use 1 spool a whole season or more. And agree with the KVD line conditioner, works wonders.

with the TW sale going on, I'd put a Okuma Citrix if you're looking at the sale reels. It would be a good all around set up for just about anything, jigs, worm, spinnerbait, buzzbait, topwater, traps, etc. Only thing is when you go to crankbaits, topwaters, and traps(anything with smaller treble hooks), I would back the drag off a bit to soften up the set up as so you don't pull hooks and would probably fish 10-15lb mono, or if you're looking to use braid, 20lb with a topshot of flouro up to about 17lb would work great as well. If you're looking outside the sale area and like Diawa's, check out the Lexa 100's.

10lb braid, standard power pro is ok but stay away from the slick braid, worse wind knots ever. But I do love it on my baitcaster's though. And about an 8ft flouro topshot. And always close the bail with your hand to help minimize line twists.

#1 thing, use braid. Size is up to you but I use 30lb for my frog/flipping needs. #2, do not swing until you feel the pressure of the fish, normally when they blow up and come through the grass it takes a couple seconds to get the bait and close their mouth. IF you swing when you see the strike you're not gonna get them. #3 use a rod with enough backbone and power. Everyone has their own preferences, I use 2 different rods depending on situation, but it has to have enough power to pull the fish out or bring him and the grass to you.

I'd say different types of rigging, wacky, dropshot, texas, carolina, etc. What condition to use each in and a quick tackle guideline for each. I agree with to peg or not, but also when to use lead or tungsten also.

my fishing advisor on Android gives you solar/lunar activity levels as well as a quick outline on what you might use and where. Good basic info if you get stumped on trying to figure them o

I got into swimbait fishing last year and now I really enjoy it. But as far as the rods I use, I throw a Bass Pro Shops IMG Graphite Series Musky MH 7'6". This works great on 4oz swimbaits and can pretty much cover any of the med to larger swimbaits you are interested in fishing. And the best part, $59.99. I throw 6 and 8" hudds on this rod all day. The rod loads up nicely and has the power you need to move and control larger fish. This gives you another option to get into swimbaits without breaking the bank. I now have 2, the 7'6"'s MH and H. One with a cardiff 300 spooled with 40lb powerpro and 25lb p-line topshot and the other a Lexa 300 spooled with 65lb powerpro and 25lb floro topshot. But the MH will cover what you're looking for as it's rated up to 10oz.

first off, what rods are in your price range? This last fall I started throwing the 4-5oz swimbaits for the first time and I was stuck with what rod to get. Now I know I wanted something forgiving since I was gonna be using braid with a mono leader. So I wanted something in a IM6. Next I wanted something that I could feel comfortable throwing a heavy swimbait on. If you're not comfortable casting a $30-80 swimbait wondering if the rod you have can handle it, it's not the rod you wanna use. I have a dedicated swimbait rod for just that use. I purchased a Bass Pro Shops Graphite 7'6" H musky rod. Having saltwater fished for years as well as being a charter captain, big baits get eaten, not nibbled on. I understood that anything that is gonna eat a 8" swimbait is going to be a good one. Now the rod I fish is a moderate action, loads up nice, and can handle the weight of the bait when casting as well as having the power to move and handle the size fish your after. Having caught 4-8lb fish on the big swimbaits, I'm glad I had the rod to handle the size fish attached to that 5oz swimbait and not worry. Of course, that is what works for me and is only my opinion on the topic.