Dogmatic

I take a razor and make just a small slit to open up the hook slot to all my weedless, from the grass minnow and shad all the way up to the 8" have never had a problem. I usually do more damage hooking it to my keeper, and nothing rips the crap out of my hudds more than a BB rigged treble w/o. the barb cut off.(Toothy critters are the worse). Also, of course, there's this stuff called Mend-It(or Hudd-bond) it works wonders. No offense, but if I want a bed gill, I tie on a Mattlures. I bought my Hudd gills for "weedless" applications.

Welcome, from S.E.PA.

...and that's YOUR money at work. They also stock many quality rivers and streams, I follow Jersey's stocking closely, just like PA's, usually means striper and musky are biting. I didn't mean to offend your sensitivities for stocker trout, the reality is, for every dollar they spend on a stocker trout they reap ten fold in license fees.

...and as a swimbait fisherman, I would be on that lake every chance I got!

Stop knocking Jersey's trout stocking! I rely heavily on those trout to get the Striper bite going when they get flushed down to the "Big D". It's the only time I get to fish my trout swimbaits.

You're better off giving me the name of the place so I can look it up on Google Earth(and NavMaps), because that's a pretty rough topo.

Use tungsten for everything, except split shot, and that's only because I had a supply of lead, once that's gone I will make the switch. There's only one reason to use lead, cost.

When I use the BBZ shad floater by itself, I usually almost dead stick it, like ya said, sit, give some cranks, repeat. However, I usually use it for specific situations, when I know the fish are keying in on the surface and they're after bait fish. Contact me when you decide to unload any of them. Depending on pattern, I'll take 'em.

+1 on bait ball question, anyone have any reports on them, and which ones were you using. I really thought about putting them on an umbrella rig.

Just a heads up. Electronics don't need a big group 24/27 12 volt battery. 12 volt batteries come in all sizes. Some very small, that are more than adequate to run your electronics.

Just get a cast net permit for the pack. Cast nets are legal in PA, but only by permit, and only by specific water.

Sounds like you got the cold water covered. Jersey is considered the N.E. in this forum, although technically some might consider it the Mid-Atlantic. I want to know how you have open water in North Jersey, when here in S.E.PA my farm ponds are just barely open, and anything sizable is a ways off? It's still creeks and rivers for us, and most are closed til opening day of trout, or muddy and blown out due to recent rain and run off.

+1 SK KVD flat, plus a few others mentioned. Depending on where the fish are holding.

Good luck getting a Hudd Gill for less than $50 once spawn does come. ; )

When changing line out, never strip all the old line off, just add the new on top. Exercise maybe(seen and have consumed many a 12 packs sitting on a bank "fishing".) save money not really. I lost more baits and lures from shore than I have from the water. Choose your watercraft wisely.

IMHO you can do what you want with the bait, but I'm not fond of "flippers". For the most part they're not good for swimbait fishing. I hand my concerns at first about hook ups, but they're not much different than the other weedless hudds, and if I can set a hook on a fish with an 8" weedless, I shouldn't have a problem with the gill. Plus I always take a razor and lengthen the hook slot just a hair. I also read some reports and it doesnt seem to be a problem.

Never been there, but read some reports, they say there's bass, but...you never know, bucket brigades could fish out a lake like that quick.

Difference is, Ultimate gills aren't weedless.

What's your rod rated for? Even smaller swimbaits run 2 oz. but baits like BBZ1 shads, and Hudd shad/grass minnow can definitely be thrown on your set up. Remember though, not all baits are created equal, and you tend to get what you pay for. Bargain-basement priced baits might not be such a great value in the long run.

Check website for retailers, otherwise, the big box sporting goods...BPS, Cabelas, ect. have them.

Yeah, for 175, that's not much of a deal. I just picked two up for ~$60 per.

Like so many other things in fishing(and life), you should always "try before you buy". But yes, good sunglasses are as important as your tackle, and yes I've had sunglasses that gave me a headache after awhile. My Costas do not.

Outriggers, stay close to shore, and always wear you PFD.

Don't know about the double treble on it. One of the cool things about using the salt water versions was the relatively weedless single double hook on it. Can't wait to try these suspending versions.

LOL Can you even get six set ups in a fiesta? I'd invest in a roof rack.