fishballer06

I'd either get him a gift card, or something he normally wouldn't spend for himself. Since you're saying the $20-30 range, you could get him a Megabass lure that he might not normally shell out the cash for.

Noisy topwater lures (buzzbait, poppers, jitterbugs, Pompadour), and then maybe some squarebill or lipless crankbaits in brighter colors (white, chartruese) or maybe try the dark colors as well (blacks and browns).

DD22 DT16 Duo 400 R2S Goon

My 6'6" rods are used for jerkbaits, and topwater (mostly poppers). I prefer the shorter length for making twitches with the rod tip down.

How many state record bass have been caught in the past 2 years in the US? It's been quite a handful. I'm also pretty sure that the world record spotted bass has been broken twice in the past year.

All those reels Hootie, and not one of them has the handle on the proper side Nice collection.

BassPro has the Pro Qualifier on sale for $80 online right now. I'd go that route.

That's a wee sized perch. I've got 4 of them in the standard size (see middle). Interesting to see the different shades of those 4.

All Pre-Rapala. I've got 3 more on the way.

My latest purchase. She'll be joining the rest of the girls in the lineup.

I was joking on my original post. To my surprise, I can't believe some people said no. I personally own 3 of the old bantam Curados and I love everyone of them. Great reels, a true workhorse,and they last forever. I'd venture to say they're one of the best all around reels ever made.

Are they any good?! Are they any good?!!

I bought one last fall. Tried it one day just for a couple casts to see what it's all about. You've got to retrieve at the perfect speed, or it gets out of control. Neat little bait, just not sure how much I'll actually use it.

Hiding your shipments from the wife I take it???

You will totally destroy the chain. Just spend the $40 and buy a hand auger.

Very interesting. At 10-15 years old, it makes you wonder how many times those fish have been caught in their lifetime. I'm surprised to see you caught 3 fish on the same day in the 7 pound range in a northern state (very northern at that). That's a fish you once catch once every few years type of thing around here. I need to move further north apparently!

Jerkbait

Is it a husky jerk? I've never seen that color.

Yes, I have one half a mile from my house and I pass it every day going to and from work. It's gotten to be an expensive drive from work because of this...

I got one back in the fall. The water was much too cold for a topwater bite to be effective whenever I got mine (I live in PA), but I threw it just to see what the action was all about. I must say, even though I wasn't able to get any bites, I see no reason why this lure won't be very effective once the water temperature is right.

I'll second this.

You're correct, but some days, the fish want a bait that sits in the strike zone and teases them as well.

It may depend on your location in the country, but around here, I don't have any confidence on topwater in the early spring. However, I do amazing with buzzbaits in the fall whenever the water falls in the 58-65* range. And by buzzbaits, I mean Cavitrons.

Something that just ticks the bottom. I'd be tying on a DT10 first if it were me.

I did some salmon fishing in Holley this past fall. Small world.