iceintheveins

We had a later spawn this year, and so in one lake they are just now wrapping up and into their postspawn mentality. Do you guys still do well with red craw colored cranks this time of the year, or is that more of a spring and fall type color? The water clarity is stained to heavily stained, about 2 to 4 feet of visibility.

I prefer a five ratio reel. I'll throw spinnerbaits on faster ratios when I want a faster retrieve, and a 6 ratio reel is fine for shallow to mid depth cranks. Any crank over 7 feet I like a five ratio though.

I have it figured out now, I have almost no back wash getting me. Just had to out run it.

I see the Curado I was on sale at Tackle Warehouse for 149.99, but now all sold out. Anyone know if they are coming out with a new one? I like the I series, but wish they would go back to an E series type reel.

I throw both, and sometimes one outproduces the other. The toad style bait is better obviously in thick vegetation and cover. It also can be better in situations where a buzzbait should be drawing strikes but isn't. Have to let the fish tell you which one they want.

Figured it out and have it pretty much mastered now. Only a bit of splash into the splash well now. Thanks guys for the help.

In sparse to moderate cover I use a 7.1:1 BPS Pro Qualifier and a 7' MH Abu Veritas Winch, I like a crankbait style rod for buzzbaits, and 14 pound test mono. In heavier cover I will use the same setup but go to a minimum of 17 pound mono. Very heavy vegetation calls for 65 pound braid, but I always prefer a moderate action rod.

Can be a good lake. Very thick weeds overall, so heavy braid and heavy gear are a must.

The Heddon Original Zara Spook has really bad hooks, the super spook series has Excalibur Rotating Trebles and they are quite good. I lose a few fish on them but not many. Most of the time, it's better to replace a treble than sharpen it IMO.

Best popper out there in my mind, nothing walks the dog better, nor produces such a good range of sounds. It has the perfect "blip" action.

I would use mostly Pepper Custom baits spinnerbaits in the 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 ounce sizes. My favorite 1/4 ounce spinnerbaits are Nichols Pulsators, and on their website you can build a custom spinnerbait. Make sure you have both double willow and tandem style baits. My favorite colors are white, chatreuse white, bluegill, golden shiner, and a chartreuse shad/bombshell shad color. I would replace the bad skirts with pepper custom baits skirts as well.

I like the pepper custom baits Fred Roumbanis signature swim jig, with either a Mr. Twister Split double tail or a Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail for a trailer. I mostly use the 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 ounce sizes. I think of them as a spinnerbait without a blade, though I will pause them to allow them to sink a little more often.

Definitely the Rapala Skitterpop for me. No other popper walks the dog as well and produces such a wide variety of sounds. Runners up for me would be the Heddon Pop N' Image and the Booyah Boss Pop.

I probably use 65% to 70% casting gear, the rest spinning. Anything with 10 pound or heavier line for me (except braid) is done with casting gear.

I prefer fluoro, I would go with 10 or 12 pound InvisX or Gamma if you can afford it.

I use a Veritas 7'6" MH frog series. Great rod for launching frogs, although a bit on the long side for skipping frogs, even for a guy like me who's 6'.

Another vote for the Curado, but I hear good things about the Lew's MB. As the others have said, if you are a little shorter on money, go with the Lew's.

Rapala DT6 Storm Wiggle Wart Bandit 200 Norman Middle N Bomber 6A

Match the forage closely, and don't overlook smaller to medium sized swimbaits.

I prefer a cranking style rod with a slower action for spinnerbaits.

I use a Halo Cranking Rod, 7'11" MH, and a Curado 200I 5.5:1 reel. Great deep crank setup.

I recommend the Berkley Lightning shock, 7' medium. Great for small cranks.

I really like my Ike Series spinning rods for sure. They are light and sensitive.

Original Stren mono and some KVD Line and Lure. Works awesome, plenty strong and not much memory.

A LETHAL bait, basically a weedless, soft buzzbait. I rig them on a 4/0 EWG and 12 to 17 pound mono. Sometimes they will outfish a buzzbait two or three to one. And sometimes a regular buzzbait works better, but having both really pays off. As far as soft toad or soft buzzbait type plastic, the rage shad is the very best IMO.