SPEEDBEAD.

To me, that is the beauty of the state record percentage format. Granted Massachusettes, Georgia, and Virginia (maybe others) have it really tough in the format but if the goal is to catch the biggest fish in the waters near you IMO there is no better way to do it.

LOL, Si is the one that scares me. Don't be jealous Allen.

Also, they are not hollow belly swimbaits. I liken those to spinnerbaits in the manner and location in which I would fish them.

I know you are good with a jig. Like I said, think of it that way. If the bass are feeding "down" then dragging with a heavier bait is better. If they are feeding "up" then you should employ a slower sinking bait. Again, these come with the caveat of "typically." 6 hours total and two hours during a hot bite are not enough. How much time have you spent throwing jerkbaits and dragging a splitshot rig with a shiner? Comparatively more I'm sure. It's just another tool in the box although it is a rather difficult one to get accustomed to.

If you were fishing the Hudd as fast as a DD22 or swim jig, I think you might be doing it wrong.

Wish this could have been made a sticky or had more people participate. I thought previous iterations of this had more participants?

I dig big chicks and this sport promotes it. Perfection.

You'd be surprised how lightly a fish can pick up a soft swimbait dragging slowly across the bottom. A lot of guys have the misconception that every bite is this bone jarring car crash. Quite the opposite. The other thing is being able to tell weeds from a soft bite, running into a log instead of a bite, being on mud or in rocks. Doesn't necessarily help with bite detection all the time but definitely lets you know if you are where you need to be. Big baits, big soft baits particularly, are not any different than fishing a jig really. I want to be as connected to what that bait is doing as humanly possible. It instills confidence if I know what is going on when I can't see it.

I know a guy that throws BIG stuff with a Millionaire S. He likes it, speaks very highly of it and catches some really good fish. I think the reel should do fine for you. The 7'6" H Okuma is what I would recommend.

Wife's .40 and my .45 are both on the headboard. The others are where you least expect....

That combo will suit you just fine. I started off with two different Okuma rods and they served me well. My regular fishing buddy now has my 7'6" H and it still performs flawlessly. It's less sensitive than the custom rods but it is a very serviceable swimbait stick.

Low Down Custom 8' H and 8'6" H Production rods, also have a custom Loomis wrapped by a fella on here named Alpster. Lexa, Curado and Cardiff all get used.

You know I'd be throwing a swimbait. LOL

Bass Star Dredger maybe?

Swimbaits don't work well at all. I dont know why anyone even throws those.

I hope everyone in the USA fishes with Megastrike, except the guys who fish around me. LOL I'm pretty low key when I fish. Tourney jerseys are not my thing. I've got a couple Megastrike stickers on the back of my boat and a couple other stickers but that's about it.

I will have to respectfully disagree with your assessment of the situation. While I believe they would eat a shad or minnow that happened by, there is a reason they are watching those bluegills so closely. They are waiting for one to screw up.

Sometimes those 'skis have me wondering why I even fish for bass.

Hmmm.....

Have you considered "strolling" the crank? If you have your spot marked well enough in your head, with a little practice 25ft should not be a problem using that technique.

My father-in-law owns a pre-Civil War house in Gettysburg. 1. The windows are nailed shut. Why, you ask? Because they don't like to stay shut.... 2. When my wife lived there, she occasionally felt a "presence" in her bedroom that was immediately followed by pressure on her chest and a feeling of breathlessness. 3. I'm not freaked out by too many things. I am 100% unable to be upstairs in that house after dark. You just get that "feeling."

I'm man enough to rock a pink shirt.

I dont mind the yellow but I think a white base would look pretty sharp with that maroon as well.

Do you do anything like the Green Pumpkin 3D that Booyah has? That is probably my favorite color overall for a jig.

If I see this scenario, you better believe I am backing off and throwing a bluegill swimbait about 10ft off the outside edge of those beds. You see the fish that are able to be seen. I'd put money on the fact that there are larger fish that you don't see.