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I've been pretty happy with the rage tail baby craw on smaller jigs or when I want a smaller profile. I have also been happy with the netbait paca chunks.

welcome to BR! I was just in SD a month ago. Great weather and I had a great time fishing Lake Murray resevoir. NIce lake, gin clear and lots of pressure. I threw all I could (spinner baits, crank baits, rattle trap, worms) and managed to catch a 3lb bass on a black spinner bait, yoyo'ing it back on the retrieve and the 2.5lb spotted bass was on a 3/32 shakey head with a senko.

Braid for how well it casts and the sensitivity. Leaders for clear/pressured water. I have braid 30lb braid spooled up for almost everything I throw except for weightless soft plastics which is 15-20lb power pro super slick.

Da Bears and the Blackhawks and at the moment, USA! USA! USA! That game against Ghana was awesome, 86' goal to seal the win, can't beat that.

I agree with deadadrift89. I use this exact same set up, I have both 3/8oz and 1/4oz megastrike shake2 pro

nice feesh!

I fish a weightless fluke with a 4/0 offset round bend worm hook and a mh 6'6 graphite spinning rod and 20lb power pro super slick braid. There are typically two ways I fish them. I'll cast them out and as it hits the water, give it a couple of jerks/reels to get the bait to cause a commotion on the surface, then let it sink. After sitting a while I'll twitch it back to the boat. The other way I'll fish them is to slowly swim them back to the boat. If you rigged it correctly the slow swim back to the boat/shore should dart from side to side. If the fluke is spiraling you don't have the hook directly in the center of the nose and center of the bottom where the hook exits the nose. Keep at it, eventually you'll find out what works on your waters. Good luck.

I usually through either 3/8 or 1/2 oz jigs on my Shimano Crucial 7'2" mh xf worm and jig rod paired with a shimano chronarch ci4+. I like the reel because it's super smooth and light, the balance with the crucial is a little tip heavy but not that bad. The rod I like because of it's sensitivity and the tip loads up pretty well and I can cast lighter jigs pretty well if it needs be. I also like the reel seat and the overall weight of the rod. The 7'2" length is nice because I'm shore bound and in IL, our lakes/ponds get kind of weedy and the more water I can cover is an advantage to me. I have 40lb braid on it as well. The dicks sporting goods near me had the crucials on sale for 119. ci4+ might be out of your range, consider the curado I then?

I try to do a mix of things, but the fish will ultimately tell you how to fish it. Usually during the first few casts (from shore), I drag the bottom to see what the bottom is like. If it comes back with weeds or if I run into any rocks. If I hit a rock, I'll try a little hop to get over the rock and drag/hop back to shore. If it's weeds I'll swim it back, but I usually go to a jig after going through my faster presentation baits (crankbaits and spinnerbaits). My problem is that sometimes I fish the jigs too fast and have to tell myself to slow down.

I would check to see when you are birdnesting. If you are birdsnesting at the beginning of the cast, then I would adjust the spool tension and the centrifugal brakes. If at the end of the cast I would adjust the magnetic brakes. I usually go with 10lb mono diameter on a baitcaster. I tried 20lb powerpro superslick and it didn't work out very well. I've since gone with 30lb regular power pro and have had less issues.

I've got a speed spool on my cranking rod and another tournament speed spool for general use. Very good value for the money.

I second the dredge jig from siebertoutdoors. My hookup ratio has gone up considerably since switching to them, it may be coincidence or I just have gotten better at fishing jigs. I know what you mean about instant gratification, but I think the quality is well worth the wait.

Nice job, keep doing what you're doing.

I got one for my ten year anniversary from my wife. Honestly the best reel I own by far. I would not have bought this reel for myself because I couldn't justify spending that much. Super light and very smooth. I use it for jigs and worms on a shimano crucial 7'2" mh xf. Did you get the 7.1?

What rod and line are you using? And what size jig?

I use them for senkos sometimes too. I like to use a offset round bend 4/0 worm hook if I'm not using twist lock for super flukes.

You can also use the San Diego jam knot, pretty close to the improved clinch. I use it for my power pro super slick 15lbs.

My last trip to San Diego, I went and bought a Berkley lightning shock. I was impressed. The rod was 40$ and was fairly light, MH, cork handle split grip and the tip was versatile for many different techniques.

Nice job and great write up.

I ran into this during my trip to San Diego. Fishing Lake Murray was kind of a struggle but I managed to catch 2 pretty good sized bass (3lbs). They came on a senko rigged on a shakey head (3/32) and on casting gear.

I have been looking to getting one of these huddlestons and get into swimbaiting. How does the weedless shad compare vs. the weedless grass minnow? Or should I get one of each and have at it?

Thats pretty awesome, I've never seen a bass with that pattern before. Great job and great fish!

Man, great fish(es). I'm totally jealous.

I have the 7'2" MHXF spinnerbait rod, I tried to like it but it's too much rod for what i was planning on using it for. I'm mainly fishing from the bank and I wanted to use it for jigs/frogs (3/8oz to 1/2oz), I like the action, length and sensitivity, but it's kind of broomstickish at times. Maybe I just have to fish with heavier lures in deeper water.

Great fish, hurry up with the pics already.... Those little neighborhood ponds can hold really nice fish. One of my 6 pounders last year came out of those ponds. I was worried about the fish kill this winter but it seems to be ok. I might have to give that pond a visit this weekend.