Jon G

x2 on the spoon

im not concerned, scrathes and nicks just add character. I don't like scratching a Core 50mg right out of the box from droping it on cement though.

Really considering a metanium I didn't know what an off season was either till i moved to Illinois from SoCal lol

Some people use 17-20lb mono for frogs but they do not fish slop mainly open water. IMO Braid is the only acceptable line when fishing frogs. I have gone on periods where i use braid for everything and then i switch to fluro, I am back on braid again and this time for good. I made the switch from fly fishing for trout to serious bass fishing about 6 years ago and compared to a trout bass are not line shy (IMO). I do however always use a topshot of flourocarbon just because it makes me feel a little more comfortable but for frogs and all topwater it is just straight braid.

Jigs, Squarebills, Chatterbaits, Rage Craws, and for me at least a River2Sea Swaver 120 size

smithwick rogue

In The Red Eyes I almost always use Bleeding Gizzard Shad. My new Favorite lipless has to be the Spro Aruku Shad in either Wild Shiner or Cell Mate

I sometimes use a full size 5 in paca craw as a trailer. Definetley dont get a lot of bites but they sure are big bites when you do get bit

Since i moved it been TW but when I lived in SoCal it was BPS because it was right behind my house i just needed to walk outside and it was right there.

I switch around a lot from braid to floro but I found i like braid with a floro leader mainly just so I can break it off if im hung up. I will even use copoly sometimes but i think floro makes a better leader

1/2 Brush Jig

*** Crazy Blitz in white with a Keitech Swing Impact trailer in the same color

I use squarebills almost year round

I use to use them but gave up on hollow bellies in general due to price/quantity/durability issues. I use to slit the belly so I get better hooksets and used a twistlock hook so it would stay on a little better.

I use them but the Big Bite Bait Trick Stick is also pretty good imo especially for $6 for a pack of 25

Im still looking for "The One" but as of right now for price, performance, and sensitivity it has to be the Powell Endurance 714

I found one a month ago for $199 one of my absolute favorite reels. I just replaced my curado 200e7 with it on my chatterbait rod

I sometimes replace jig or spinnerbait skirt bands with a small ziptie. That seems to make them hold up a little better

Berkley Havoc Grass Pig or Beat Shad. I've tried using a regular 5 inch senko a couple of times anf have had a lot of good luck with that.

If im Flipping i will use a Snell knot anything else with braid i will use a San Diego Jam or Palomar

Yup the last 12 Little Johns ive had, had to be tuned right out of the box. I catch a lot of fish on them so I will deal with it especially since tuning a crankbait is extremelly easy. But I will say I shouldnt have to tune a $11 crankbait right out of the box IMO

I really enjoy Clinton it seems that the biggest fish I catch are from there. But I will say this a lot of the fish I catch there seem really beat up and have been caught A LOT. I am also still trying to find these "Smallmouth" that I hear people catch out of there

Well I have lived in IL for 14 months and have only fished a handful of lakes here and havent run into anything too difficult..... yet.... I used to live in SoCal and the one lake that drove me absolutley nuts was Lake Silverwood it had a lot of BIG Stripers and bass and I did catch my PB Of 11lbs off that lake but that lake was ridiculous with the wind it was like trying to fish in a hurricane, at least when I went there, also there were days when I couldnt even catch a little bluegill If my life depended on it.

Rage Tail, Jigs, Hooks

Powell Endurance 714 Shimano Curado 200e7 20# FC Sniper