iceintheveins

Cut a netbait mad paca in half, and use it as a trailer. Gives you the best of both worlds.

The Fred Roumbanis Signature Swim Jig from pepperjigs is great: http://pepperjigs.com/pepper-custom-baits-products/pepper-custom-baits-jigs.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=55&category_id=3

Cavitrons and nothing else are all you need.

I probably have a hundred. You can never have too many lures.

Go with Power Pro green, the best braid in existence. I second using a mono backing too. Go with about 15 yards.

Oh and try the lindy no snagg timber rock jigs with grubs.

Rig a yamamoto hula grub with a 1/0 EWG and a parasite weight pegged to it.

I use a double uni knot and it doesn't fail me.

The scum frog popper is a really good frog. Use braid and a heavy action rod and wait until you feel the fish before you set the hook.

How do you guys retrieve a finesse worm, such as a reaction innovations flirt or Zoom finesse worm, when you are using a split shot or mojo rig?

Lipless cranks are fantastic in weedy lakes or non weedy lakes. Earlier in the year, a stop and go retrieve, ticking the tops of the grass is the way to go. When it hits a weed, rip it away. This technique will work all year, though I speed it up once the water is warmer than the low 60s. I almost always use a varience of stop and go. The fact you can fish them slow or fast, shallow or deep, is what makes them such great baits. When ripping grass, using braid and a medium fast or fast rod will help you get free of the grass better.

A spinnerbait works in all waters and all conditions, though in clear to lightly stained water, my go to baits are soft jerkbaits and soft sticks.

The KVD line and lure is worth every penny. It really reduces tangles and line memory, and you get some extra casting distance too. One bottle lasts about half a season for me.

Bomber Model A, Bandit 100, 200, and 300, Rapala DT, Excalibur Fat Free Series.

Pepper jig and rage chunk.

I use spinning gear for any lure under 1/4 of an ounce, it just works better and you get better distance. To cast 1/4 ounce lures best, you need a quality baitcaster, something like a Pro Qualifier or better. The old CuradoE and the new Chronarch are superior to the PQ in casting 1/4 ounce lures. The Revos are good at this too.

I cleaned the bearings and shafts, and put a drop of oil on the bearings. Maybe it will be better tomorrow with the new line I spooled on.

I know with a heavy weight (at least 1/2 ounce), you feel the bottom better and get better casting distance. I mostly fish shallow water under 15 feet, which is small waters with clear water and pressured fish. Do any of you ever use lighter weights, say 3/8 or 1/4 ounce as a finesse carolina tactic for touchy fish and post frontal conditions?

Hmmmm, I've noticed my baitcasters seem to have less casting distance lately and have been newly spooled. My question is if you spool the line under too much tension, does that take away casting distance? If you spool too loosely, does that make you more prone to backlash?

Pflueger President, nuff said!

I like ring worms, but finesse style worms are also really good, like robo worm fats, zoom finesse, and reaction innovations flirt.

I use a trailer hook if the weedgrowth isn't too thick. Color selection is basic and doesn't seem to matter much, especially with the blade. For the skirt, I like black, white, chartreuse, shad, and colors like that. It's more about how you fish it and having the right equipment.

Cavitron buzzbaits kick the butts of all others IMO, though I like strike kings, accent hi rider double blades, terminators, and booyahs.

Most of the time, the key is reeling as slow as possible while still making a good surface disturbance and keeping the bait on plane. Lighter baits are easier to reel slower, but bigger baits cast further and make more noise. I like a minimum of 12 pound test for buzzbaits, paired with a 7 ratio baitcaster and a MH fiberglass or composite rod. Sometimes if slow isn't working though, which it usually is the key, faster retrieves, zigzagging the bait, or popping it with the rod tip can trigger more strikes.

1. Spinnerbait 2. Jig 3. Plastic Worm I don't catch as many bass on jigs and worms as I do some other lures, but I chose them for their versatility.