blckshirt98

The 200 size reel might be a little small if you're going to be throwing 3oz baits, with the heavier line you'll probably want to use. The 200 size will work fine though if you spool up with nothing heavier than say 18lb fluoro/mono.

The S-Wavers are a good starting point that won't stress your wallet as much as some of the other baits.

I used to use a double-uni to connect braid to fluoro but had a lot of breaking issues. I now use a small Spro Power Swivel to connect and no longer have any breakage issues. Usually the hook will bend before the knot fails.

By thin do you mean flat thing or pointy/needle thin?

I'll have to stop by the one DSG in the area on the way back from trout fishing this weekend.

my mistake, didn't mean to make it sound like I frowned upon it like that, but if you're going to eat it then I respect that. I was more thinking along the lines of people who don't eat the fish but cut one open so they can get fishing clues then discard the fish. A bit of West Coast snobbery on my part since so many people here catch and keep bass in already heavy heavy pressured waters.

I've caught a bunch of trout on my Shimano Sojourn UL rods (4'6" 1-piece and 5'0" 2-piece) and they only run $30-35. It looks like the 1-piece is discontinued but they still make the 2 piece.

Rage Tail and Missile Baits package their twin tails in plastic and always seem perfect out of the package.

I'd probably try a shallow running squarebill in Firetiger or Chartreuse Shad that rattles. Maybe even a Sexy Shad chatterbait.

FC Sniper x2

I like seeing the variety of responses here...lots of techniques that wouldn't be on on my top 10 list of confidence techniques that work well for other people. Gives me hope that the bottom line is bass are dumb as rocks and when they're hungry they'll bite anything lol

It looks like they're made of a 95/5 polyester/spandex blend which is basically the same material used by all athletic companies and their "cool fabric" shirts (Nike Dri Fit, adidas ClimaCool, Champion Vapor, etc though some use 100% polyester). Those shirts are bloody amazing in how cool and dry they keep you. Gym, fishing, outdoors, whatever, I wear those everywhere, mostly greys/blacks/dark blues, and they keep me cool as a cucumber. Only thing to look out for is if you have a skin allergy/reaction to spandex, as it can cause itching.

Anyone hear of people cutting a bass they catch open and check stomach contents to see what they're feeding on? I've never done, have never seen anyone do it, nor condone it, but, I'm sure there's people that do it.

Green Shad was the only color TW had on sale

The first generation D&M Piranha swim jigs where the blade was attached directly to the jig head are the best ones IMO if you can find them. Z-Man basically sued them and D&M had to change the design where now they have to add a split ring between the blade and the jighead. I have not fished the D&M Piranha II, or the Z-Man Project Z which might be the most similar to the first generation Piranhas. Among other brands the Picasso Shock Blades are fantastic, though those seem to work best when fished slow. When reeled in too fast they tend to roll, but when fished slow they maintain their action and look great, better than any other. The Rage Blades are also a solid option, fish those with confidence. Stay away from the Original Z-Man Chatterbaits, last I checked those things have no trailer keeper and the trailer will slide down and shift and get all wonky on every cast.

Hmmm, interesting. I got a couple of jars I grabbed from the local tackle shop clearance bin but they're not the #11. Do you pound out the entire trailer and smash down the "thick meaty" section of the trailer or just the thin tails?

What do you mean by "pre-softening"?

Drop shot but have some of that lure glue with you because the eyes tend to fall off. To be honest, if I could pick one problem with Jackall products is that the eyes on all of their lures tend to fall off easily.

Watermelon Gold Shad Molix Sator Worm on a drop shot. Bass, trout, crappie, bluegill, they all bite that sucker.

Those are some sharp looking hair jigs, good luck with them!

+1 for wire ties...I have some older jigs (not Siebert) where the bands are rotting off where I either had to buy a new skirt or replace the band with a zip tie...wire ties the way to go on anything with a skirt!

http://fishingtackleretailer.com/end-of-an-era-uncle-josh-to-discontinue-pork-products/ Not sure how many people fish with pork trailers but I've heard from a few pros/guides that using pork trailers in the wintertime makes a difference. Any alternatives out there?

I think it's the current 2016 In Fisherman Gear Guide that just got released that had a picture of a bait called a "Baby Beaver" by Beaver's Baits that looked like nothing I've seen before. I'm in California and we have no beavers out here, and the bait is huge and designed for muskies, but I was wondering how it would work for largemouth bass.

After a day of fishing I look at the stuff I brought and think about how much I actually used (it's usually a small %), and what I didn't bring that I wish I had (usually only a couple of items). I've gotten it down to where I can bring three primary pieces of storage - (1) 3600 sized Plano for hardbaits, (1) 3500 sized Plano for terminal tackle and used plastics, and (1) gallon sized ZipLoc freezer bag with plastics. I may upsize the 3600 to a 3700 if I'm fishing a new lake I'm unfamiliar with to bring more stuff, but for the lakes I fish regularly and familiar with, I can fit what I'm confident in into those three items. They fit in almost any backpack and I can usually get away with bringing only 2 rods.

Yeah I placed one final order a couple of days ago, right before they ended it. Was kind of hoping they were doing some kind of "the longer it goes on the bigger the discount" sale...I was ready to swipe up all of their Crosstail Shads at 70% off haha.