Dogmatic

Like I said...Ospreys all over the place, and pretty cheap too...$8!

I fish the ponds at a local C.C., they have nice fish, I've had permission since I was a kid(my parents were members), they do not let non-members fish, and there's no fishing while there are golfers on the course. I really wish they would let me goose hunt, but they're being pretty stubborn on that one. As so much now days, they always site legal liability... blah,blah,blah

via has good advice, R2S, Spro, and Savage Gear make good, reasonably priced, entry level baits that catch fish. Learn those, see how you like it, then make a decision about something like a 3:16 or TT.

Ours are the same, brownish, greenish, with a hint of orange in the claws, lighter belly, so I pretty much throw that all year long. Never seen a blue craw, or bright red, or yellowish one(not that they don't exist),so I "match the hatch".Some manufacturers call it "spring craw", some "summer", but it's what I go with.

Looks like a nice Osprey clone...not quite a match...but probably easier to get.

Yeah, ever try to read those translations? LOL

Some good advice here, as always. I just want to add, and it kind of ties in with the new LT hollow body sunfish thread. Yesterday I was fishing a pad line, pads ended,then water depth dropped off quickly to 15', nothing was happening on top, so I was using a Hudd Gill running parallel to the pad line with only minor success, when an errant cast put the bait 8' deep into the pads, I quickly reeled it off the pads, then let it sink at the edge, and BAM! Strike after strike. Went back with a frog,figuring they were under the pads along the edge, nothing. I figured they weren't under the pads, but on that ledge in depth, waiting to move up.

I like hp restrictions,keeps the pressure down, and theres plenty of wake coming from the 9.9 hp and 20 hp lakes I fish on. The re-badging engines use to be a thing on The Nock, but from what I understand, the Rangers have gotten wise and check registrations and serial numbers on suspect motors.

I have grass beds that run from 2'-12' deep, it's only a half ounce, so I'm thinking using a Boo rig to get some depth, but I'll throw it on my light cranking rod, or a spinning combo by itself.

I picked up a "Nock Special", 12ft Meyers semi v, with a 10 hp, decked out, just perfect for one, and occasionally 2($500). Most of the time I use another craft though(canoe,kayak,pontoon). My advice, choose your launch wisely.

My vote, power that beast up! Go with a new 55lb. motor, "War Canoe" dserves it. As far as motor wearing out, makes sense, but I don't know either way. My first thought would be prop, but I know jack about this kinda stuff.

Not hard swimbaits much,but plastics, spinnerbaits and big cranks. Like others said, Savage gear makes an excellent product, and they're primarily for esox, bass fisherman have just caught on. I've definitely caught my share of musky, pickerel, and pike on my "bass" swimbaits.

Buy it or not, they're easy to make and come in handy...

Yes.

I,like you, and the tester on YouTube thought the same thing, but after trials he came to the conclusion that it worked, with both hooks sinking in.

Waiting for my answer to show up in the mail... ...this and a boo rig, I think will get the job done.

Baker (just as solid as a Boga, for half the price), Make digital ones too...But barbless is the way to go.

Problem is, even my xxxh only allows me to throw up to 20oz., so a new set up would be in order, just to throw one bait.

13" Mattlures Dead Twitch(LMB 6.10#), 16" Boggs Eel(Striper). Most "productive" big bait however, probably 9" Slammer.

I really love the way this bait swims, and I really want it to be a fish catcher, but I haven't hooked up yet with it. Mattlures Hardgill still the king.

Like I said, I will try this bait, I like LT, but I have Hudd Gills that are on the way, and that I have now that can do this application, and are more versatile, but they're expensive. A cheaper alternate, almost the same profile is the Mann's Goliath Frog.

Welcome from Philly.

Not really a "rat", but Mini Slammer works, and is reasonable. Otherwise you need to be a little more specific, how big? how much? Does it have to be wood?

Texas rigged lizard.

I have one as an emergency backup, never really had to used it, but it worked well the one time I tried it out docking. It's small so it's easy to stow, but I wouldn't want to paddle any distance with it. I also have one that clips onto the end of my frabill net, much more useful.