ldogg

Sounds like an outstanding day. Great pic.

I have very good luck with the BPS' 3 1/2" Tender Tube (smokey shiner) with a Tender Tube 1/8 -1/4 oz lead head. A buddy turned me on to this particular tube 2 years ago after out-fishing me on my water. Since then I've added it to my arsenal and it has not failed me.

Longest smallmouth I caught was 21 3/4". Fun part was, I caught a 21 1/4" on the same day.

I like the BPS tender tubes in silver & black, zoom Fat Albert salt & pepper grub, and the Fat Ika.

I use a BPS Extreme 7' Medium action rod with a Pinnacle spinning reel loaded with Yo-Zuri 8# Hybrid. Favorite baits are tubes, grubs (3-5") and the Fat Ika. As far as colors go i like the normal greens (watermelon seed, green pumpkin) and crawfish browns.

I use a small (1-2") plastic crawfish rigged on a small jig head. I like dark reds as well as orange/green. I throw it upstream on a spinning rod and let it drift with the current allowing it to just bump the bottom.

I agree with D.Taylor. I've used that technique of limiting my time with a new bait so I don't get discouraged but also go back and fish the same area with a "goto" bait. Once I've caught a couple of fish I go back to the technique i'm trying to learn.

A black plastic lizard with a 3/0 offset hook will tease them to bite.