Heron

Was reading Homer Circle recently and he favored dark colors in clear water, and light colors in dark waters. Interesting

Twin-tail grub. Zoom Super Speed Craw.

Good suggestions.... Also try a Fat Ika. They are weightless, but heavier/more compact than a Senko. The wind doesn't man-handle them as much.

I'll probably have a jig, chatterbait, and lipless crank on deck my first time out, depending on water temps.

D&M Slow Roller. No other buzzbait makes such a sound. Fantastic addition

Found at Walmart... An even better value, I think, is the Outdoor Angler Spinning Reel 30. Its almost a Pflueger President knock off, for only $14. Solid reel. I have that paired on a $40 Berkely Lightning Shock 7' M rod. So far it also has performed great.

Combos? Dude, my last two 5lbers this year, were caught on a $22 Berkley cherrywood spinning rod, with a $9 Outdoor angler 2000 reel. This rig has held up just fine for 3 seasons so far. I like to use gear that is inexpensive, but has great value, because it is gratifying to me, to catch fish well with cheap gear, while everyone else spends hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, to catch the same fish.

Ive rigged the magnum on a 5/0 screwlock hook, and that worked out just fine. Never fished it deep, and never weighed the bait before, but I would guess it to be at or above 3/4oz by itself. Ive heard of guys fishing the magnum fluke deep on a Carolina rig

@AustinHellickson.......No need to take a wide variety. Bring what works (your T-rig worm), and then bring only a couple different additional baits to try. Keep your selection small so that youre not spending too much time changing baits. Kinda like Rule #4. Then refer to Rule #3, and make sure that the additional baits you are trying are a good fit for the day's Season/Water Temp/Location/ and Weather conditions. Figuring out which baits work with some consistency, just takes time on the water to figure out (that's part of Rule #1). But do so in an intelligent, and organized manner. Its better than succumbing to junk fishing. Rule #6 - When in doubt, throw a Fat Ika. Fat Ikas excel at simplifying things.

I can relate. The topwater action around here is so unreliable, that I don't even do it unless I have to.

Try visiting the Bassjunkie frog pond blog. The guy does a good job writing reviews on all frogs. http://bassjunkiesfrogpond.blogspot.com/

Rule #1 - Know your fish-Know your waters. Then youll know what you don't need. Rule #2 - Don't carry too much stuff. You wont use it, and it will be dead weight. Rule #3 - Organize your stuff at home before you grab it. So youre not taking things you wont use. For instance, I like to have the hierarchy of my organization be based on something like this.... > Most productive baits all year Then... > Season/Month --> Approx. water temp ----> Shoreline location / Bottom features (Ex. Rock, mud, flat, steep, weeds, logs, etc.) ------> Weather conditions That way, I can just take a quick peek out the window, and know exactly what I will take. Rule #4 - Just grab a couple. When you decide which baits youre bringing, just grab a couple of each, depending on how long youll be down there for. Don't grab youre whole jig box, or your whole crank box, or 25 bags of plastics. Rule #5 - When youre at the water, stop thinking about the stuff you left at home. You will lose confidence in everything you do.

None

It caught me a big fish liked it

This looks like a job for....The Banjo Minnow!!!

Well the way I see it, in order to get someone started at "catching bass easily," and on a budget...Id say theres no real need to "cover most techniques and presentations."

So is buying online not an option here? Are you just going by what can be found at your local Walmart?

Yikes..Squarebills definitely, by far. I have like.....5 of them. Its crazy.

I would add... - Fat Ika - 3" Senko - Ned Rig

Yeah Im obsessing over it.

Bought another pack of rage craws for some new jig skirts, tested them out in the water, and still showing droopy claws and not standing upright. Im just not understanding this......The baby Rage Craw stands upright, and the Rage Lobster stands upright. But the 4" Rage Craws do not. I don't get it. (end of gripe)

Actually, whenever Im packing for a trip to the shore of my home waters, or any other waters, I usually pack in this order.... 1. Baits that are most productive all year, for numbers 2. Baits that are most productive under the known conditions listed above 3. Baits for big fish 3. Baits or methods that I want to try, but haven't lately Its a little ambiguous, but that's really it. But it still doesn't add up to be more than what can fit in my little pouch. .

What do I bring? Well it depends on a few things.... > Month/Season > Water Temperature > High Sun or Low Sun > Average water clarity > Cloud Cover, or not > Depth > How much time I have When I factor these in, it basically leaves me with only the baits that are typically more productive than others. So Im never packing more than what can fit into a small shoulder pack. The wife calls it my man-purse. I guess if you wanted a more specific breakdown, it might go something like this... > March-April - Lipless Cranks, Squarebills, Chatterbaits, Jigs. > May-June - T-rig Craws & Fat Ikas > Summer (from July on) - Mostly Fat Ikas & Worms > Fall (Mid October/Early November) - Still haven't been productive with that one yet. But plan on Spinnerbaits, Squarebills, Dog walkers, and Lipless Cranks. > Any colder than that - Jigs, Jerkbaits, Chatterbaits After sunset, I bring only a selection of buzzing topwaters. These include different Whopper Ploppers, XL Jitter Bugs, and various Buzzbaits. Conditions and selections may vary, but that's a basic jist of what I take.

I always shore fish.....never needed luggage for it.

Fat Ika