Back Country

Use this hook (5/0): http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/strike-king-pork-o-s-lightn-in-strike-hooks-5-pack/pid-18899 Start with green pumpkin ...... lure can be fished top to bottom. Find out what the fish want that day. Tight lines.

Walks easily, does not really glide. I've caught a load of fish with them, including my personal best smallmouth. Excellent when fish are responding to a noisy topwater (I also fish spooks a lot).

Where you are getting bites on frogs, try a Zara Spook, Zara Puppy, Heddon Torpedo, or Smithwick Devil's Horse. Work them along the edges of the pads, or in large holes in the pads.

Zoom trick worm.

Heddon Spit' N Image, Shad Rap, Rapala J-11.

For Horny Toads, I use 5/0 Pork-O's Lightn'in Strike Hooks (come in a five-pack). The guy that first turned me on to these would use super glue to hold the bait to the shrink-wrap.... I used to do that and found that it really wasn't necessary. Once I began using these hooks with the toads, I never looked back. http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/strike-king-pork-o-s-lightn-in-strike-hooks-5-pack/pid-18899

G-finish shad Zara Spook.

Zoom trick worms, horny toads, and every manner and sort of topwater.

Clunn, and Bo Dowden, "the Picasso of pork rind."

I have had the same experience. Went back to wearing the Columbia all cotton shirts. The PFG was good for cool/cold weather, and that was about it. Finally gave away the one I had.

It's been a while since I've bought any of the Mustads (I usually stock up when I see them), but I usually get them at Academy, and for far less than $12.

Try this amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Mustad-Ultra-Point-Impact-4-Pack/dp/B00EU9VRC2

Oink, oink! That's a hog.

:pig: :pig: Oinkety-oink-oink!

Well, let's see if this link works..... http://www.amazon.com/Mustad-Ultra-Point-Impact-4-Pack/dp/B00EU9VRC2

I used to use those (and still do sometimes). For the past several years, I've been using these: http://www.mustad.no/catalog/asia/product.php?id=509 I went to the Mustads because I like a weighted worm most of the time, and got tired of pushing nails into trick worms.

Never have fished an umbrella/Alabama rig. There are a couple of places I fish where I think that this might work really well. What are the potential advantages or disadvantages of the long rig vs the short rig? Blades or no blades?

Oink, oink.

Nothing beats the topwater bite!

Anyone ever fish the Zara Pooch? Smallest of the bunch, but just as exciting when a hog smacks it. Typically have to replace the stock hooks with some of better quality, but I've had a few days when the pooch was the Zara of choice.

Oink, oink.

These all are good suggestions. Now, having your price point in mind, go to several sporting goods stores to see and handle a bunch of different rods. In my experience, it only takes handling a rod for a short time to to know......

G-finish Shad Zara Spook. Cast next to a laydown tree. Let it sit for about 1 minute, then twitched the lure. Just over 10 lb.

Often, I'll stop and slowly count to 10 before starting again, especially after bringing the bait up to any structure sticking out of the water. Just keep changing it up..... the fish will let you know!

Precisely!