Big Swimbait

1/8 oz . The double collar gives me something to hold the skirt and another one to hold the grub. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_Round_Jig_Head_5pk/descpage-GRJH.html

Another vote for Siebert. I like the Hog Farmer Spunk Tail Shad for a trailer.

Agree with BrianMDTX. Super easy and it has never failed me.

Heavy action swimbait rod. You really need to be able to drive the hook home.

Cabin Creek Spider Parts on a 1/8 oz jig head- just a mini Hula Grub. But with a separate skirt I can mix/match any combination. With the one thick tentacle, you can rig it weedless.

I just started using Bait Fuel and it really works. I was always a JJ's Magic guy but the opportunity to mess up your boat or your clothes always made me leery to use it.

I have it and a 2 piece light action Lightning Rod in a travel case. It has been flawless the dozen or so times I have used it. One bit of advice I read on another forum. Set the brakes and cast control in your back yard or driveway first. It did take about 20 minutes to dial it in. But then I could cast 1/16 oz baits as far as I wanted.

I started experimenting with using a Super Fluke as a wacky bait. It has worked surprisingly well, especially during the shad spawn. For the bottom dwellers, a 1/16 oz nose weight worked well too.

Berkley Powerbait 7 1/2" worm in Blue Fleck

The Hog Farmer Spunk Shad works great as well.

https://www.michaels.com/search?q=glass beads I like the Evil Eye beads!

13-12 on Lake Fork in Feb 1992. White bucktail jig with a 6 in pearl grub trailer. 27 degrees and sleeting.

The $1.00 buzz baits at Walmart. Sharpen the hook, bend the blade down a little and throw it anywhere since they are a buck!

Cabin Creek Spider Parts in the small size. I like the fact that you can mix and match skirts and that one of the tentacles is thicker to rig it weedless on a 1/8 oz jig jead.

Yes for both. This is my go to color in the 3 inch size.

I went through 3 of them at a pond I fished for the first time in about 2 hours. I didn't have any Mend-It with me but not sure it would've helped. They were chewed!

Dark Sleeper. Stop it anywhere close to the bed. It sits upright and drives them crazy. The buck usually just picks it up by the tail and swims off about 10 feet and spits it out. The female wants to kill it.

Another vote for Rod Warrior. The quality is exceptional.

I have found that if the connection knot isn't absolutely perfect, it will fail. And it's usually after 20 or 30 casts with a big bait. I went to this knot exclusively and my only breakage has been with the line - not either of the 2 knots. It is very easy to tie. I use Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo as my leader line.

Fishing Frugal Puffy Jigs

Best local shop is Anglers Pro Tackle in N. Richland Hills, TX. For a big box store, Scheels in The Colony, TX is amazing.

I have seen a couple of swimbait rod builds that use the Alps aluminum reel seats. Is the extra strength worth the extra weight?

Thank you, Sir!

Thanks MickD. 1/2 oz baits and a 7 footer preferred.

I want to build a dedicated chatterbait rod. I do not want a heavy glass blank if possible, but looking for something with some backbone but still have a moderate tip, if it exists.