Outdoor Zack

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Use a 1/0 round bend hook and use a pegged weight in your choice of size.

Favorite technique is probably swimming a brush hog/lizard or crankbait along the bank T-rigged worms like YUM dingers and ribbontails when the bite is tough

Depends on conditions for me, if the shore is pretty open, then I use a ML-F spinning rod, a Daiwa Shock Custom, with a Pflueger Tri-30, spooled with 10 lb. mono, sometimes with a 6 lb. mono leader. I use it for lighter plastics and as more of a "finesse rig". I throw things like 7" ribbon tails, baby Brush Hogs, and lizards. I almost always use a 1/8 oz. bullet weight, unpegged, and a 1/0 or 3/0 round bend hook, depending on the bait. If the cover is pretty heavy and there is a lot of brush/vegetation, I use an old Shimano FX-2000 in MH-F. It's pretty stout, so I spool it with 50 lb. braid, and I sometimes use a mono leader in 15 or 20 lb. test. I usually use it for big worms (10" and 12"), heavy stick worms (5'' dingers or other 'knockoff'), large creatures (Christie critters, 8'' Kriet Tail lizards, etc.), and other heavy plastics. I usually throw them weightless on 3/0 heavy wire EWG hooks.

Berkley hard baits are pretty nice for the money. I like the flicker shad a lot

Will keep my eye out for one. I like Jawbone lures. They're not great, butfor $3 they work. I have a small 1/4 oz. frog and a squarebill from them.

They will usually eat most lures they can fit in their mouths, sometimes lures even bigger. I've gotten them on 1/32 oz. jigs as well as 6'' lizards, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. That said, I usually go to a Rebel Frog-R or Heddon Teeny Torpedo in the morning, then a Rebel Wee-R, roostertail, or beetlespin, all worked pretty quickly on long casts along the bank or around riprap, brushpiles, or other structure/cover. Then I play clean up with a small feather jig or Trout Magnet, grub, or tube hopped along the bottom or suspended under a bobber. I've caught 15-30 crappies/panfish in under 4 hours using this game plan before

Favorite spinnerbait under $4 ?

Spring: Weighted T-rig, small squarebills, spinnerbaits, and creature baits Summer: Big worms, light jigs, weightless senkos, frogs, prop baits Fall: Inline spinners, senkos, just about any plastics Winter: Senkos, finesse worms, most slow techniques

They are cool baits for the price. I also like some of the Mister Twister baits that are usually in the bargain bin with them

If you can find them, look for Rebel Wee-R's online or in small tackle stores. They work well with a straight retrieve and the bluegills, crappies, redears, perch, and bass in my streams love them. Good for when the bobber fishing gets boring as well

That about covers it. But instead of pit bosses I would get some brush hogs on sale somewhere for the same price. Or Christie Critters

Shimano FX 2000 in 6' MHF has been the go to lately. Otherwise it's a Daiwa Shock Custom

Be patient and confident. You'll get to catching them soon enough

How have you been fishing these types of worms? Swimming? Hopping? I ask because I have a couple bags full but I haven't been able to hook up on one yet

For lures that will catch a lot of fish, including bluegill, perch, sunfish, and, of course, bass, look at the Rebel miniature series. A Rebel-Wee-R is awesome for beginners and you're pretty much guaranteed to catch something on it. Also look for the Pop'N Frog and or Wee Craw

I use the classic Trilene and have had no issues with it. I would suggest that you keep an eye on the lne for damage or UV breakdown. It might be damaged or even a screw-up by the factory (happens sometimes).

Hip boots are the way to go for under $100

Mine are: 1. KVD 1.5 in chart. with black back 2. Smithwick rogue in chrome 3. Rat-L-Trap in chrome 4. Cabea's fisherman series 6-8 ft. crank in gizzard shad 5. Custom made popper that I got from a friend, in frog pattern I don't have a big collection yet, but these are my favorites so far

You're correct, but I was really referring to most hardbaits (with the exception of spinnerbaits, frogs, swimbaits, etc.) when I used the term. When I said plastics, I meant things like senkos, tubes, and 'rubber' lures. Sorry for the confusion.

This has been my go-to topwater lately, except in chart. with green back.

If you could only have 5 plugs (squarebills, crankbaits, poppers, spooks, jerkbaits, and others. No plastics, spinnerbaits, or jigs, please) to fish year-around what would they be? What lure and color?

I always fish them on spinning gear and light line (6-10) and typically T-rigs. I use 3/0 hooks (round bend usually, but I've been using Mustad EWG's lately) and almost always weightless. 1/8 oz. is the heaviest weight I use, if any. Use 5'' for aggressive/big fish and 4'' for smaller/picky fish. I like dark colors and chartreuse tails for dirty and muddy water. I make short casts right along the bank and close to structure (into the shade, into or next to grass/lilly pads, or near brush piles or tree limbs). Then I let it fall and hit the bottom. Pick it up with your rod tip, NOT THE REEL, and twitch it a little. Then let it fall again and repeat. WATCH YOUR LINE. If you see it do anything weird set the hook.

I use this bag and it holds enough tackle and daily essentials for me to fish for a few hours.

I have to 5'6'' UL for crappie/bluegill/panfish fishing and it is awesome, at least in my experience. It's durable, sensitive, and casts very nicely. It's been dropped on concrete, fallen out of canoes, and even accidently met with my ceiling fan. Still bulletproof though. If you're looking for a temporary rod, it's tough to beat it. You could also look on craigslist or ebay for a 'better' rod or combo under your price point