WIGuide

Just like everyone else said, go with the 115,

I've had a lot of success with them! So much so I keep one rigged up at all times. They work great as a swim jig trailer or with a BPS 4/0 Vertical Drop Hook. Believe it or not the weight will slide through with a little pushing and pulling but it won't tear it and they'll hold up great. I've had some killer days using them and highly recommend them!

The flippin' weights are fatter to match the baits usually thrown on them and provide a more life like presentation. Also, they are designed to slip through cover easier and to help allow your bait to do the same.

Actually if you kind of pulse the bait on the retrieve it does look a little like a crawfish that's trying to get away.

I get way too excited the night before and I can't sleep. It's not because I'm nervous, just excited to get out there and compete. One thing I know works to help put you to sleep is a drink called Neuro Sleep. You can find it at a lot of grocery stores and I've yet to last an hour after downing one of those.

Winter and idiots that think they own the lake

Whatever is holding fish the best on that day!

Fishing pressure is a term relating to the amount of fishermen on the water fishing for the same fish you're targeting. For example, somewhere like Lake Guntersville gets a lot of fishing pressure because tons and tons of people go there to fish because it's such a great lake. From what I hear, you can go there pretty much any day of the week, any time of the year and the ramps are pretty close to full. This translates to lots of baits being put in front of bass and bass can become accustom/conditioned to seeing every presentation out there. Fish will become somewhat harder to catch, depending on the lake. Now take a little lake pretty close to my house that might get a few boats a week on it total. Those fish are hardly being fished for and won't be as skittish. Other examples of high fishing pressure would be: the days following a big tournament a holiday weekend lakes that hold bass in very condensed areas

Usually you get what you pay for in reels so I would suggest buying that or even putting a little bit more into it.

Go for the smaller one. It's got plenty of line capacity for what you will be using it for and it'll keep your setup lighter.

Never trust the brown fish! If there are good numbers of both in the lake go and catch your limit of LM and try to catch the smallies after. I've fished in two tournaments that I had found really good numbers of quality smallmouth prefishing and went in thinking I was going to catch them only to have them pull a disappearing act that they are so well known for. If that's all that's in the lake or if there's a lot fewer LM then that's different, but if they're roughly equal I suggest you gun for the LM first.

That price doesn't include the spike, or at least anywhere I've checked. Those mounts cost anywhere from $100 to $250 a piece and you still have to buy the spike. The motor adds major convenience. With the manual systems you have to run to the back of your boat, pick the spikes up, put them in the bracket and then stick them into the bottom...if you can get them in. With the power pole you can deploy the spikes hands free and the units apply downward pressure to hold the spike down so it will hold your boat even if the spike can't dig deep into the bottom.

Haha yeah that would make for a better option!

They are turned on when they contact water and are turned off when pulled out. There are two contact points on the bait, and when it's in the water, the water completes the circuit.

Just straight into the pan with a little butter is hard to beat otherwise beer battered is also good.

Yes they are well worth it. The only hard baits I wouldn't suggest are deeper diving crankbaits. Anything else should work just fine.

It's more about the quality of the bearings than it is about the number of bearings. If it's worth it is for you to decide. Personally, I'd rather buy 2 $300 reels than 1 $600 one.

I prefer the Trokar wacky weedless hooks. My go to size is a 1/0.

Smallmouth and Shoal bass are two distinctly different species. http://www.bassmaster.com/sites/default/files/imce/slam_9species.pdf

I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger on one then, it'll suit you well.

Correct, your trailer doesn't but the guy who's post I quoted does.

This dude is hardcore! He fishes so hard his reels are bloody!

I'd go with the 6'8" M/XF Mojo. I think it will suit your needs well.

I'd suggest a St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Frog N Slop/ Swim Jig rod for your burner reel. It's 7'4" H/F which should suit your needs. It's got great sensitivity for your bottom contact baits as well as a good tip so frogging will be a breeze. The line you want to use for top waters is either a 15 or so LB mono or 20-30lb braid. You want to stay away from fluoro because it will sink and pull your top water baits under. Also, depending on if you fish spinnerbaits or heavier texas rigs often you might want to return your KVD rod and exchange it for a MH/F. You will still be able to use it for bigger crankbaits you'll just have to loosen your drag some, and you can throw smaller ones on your M/F again doing the same thing.

You shouldn't have any problems with 10 lb test at all.