Oklahoma Mike

Sweet. I bought one of these late last year that I never had a chance to throw. Can't wait to give it a go this spring.

I love those Snake'Os! They are like the mullet of stick baits - business in the front, party in the back!

Im 100% with you in this. I don't really have any desire to fish the big TRD. Nothing about that says Ned Rig to me. If I want to go that route there are other, better options.

Sounds like you need to get on TRT... Tackle Replacement Therapy

You'll likely be wasting your time with a buzzbait right now. Perhaps you meant to say chatterbait? As to your comment up above... Fish can see a lot better than you might think, even in stained water like you're describing. The darker colors will be easier for them to find because they will silhouette better against whatever ambient light there is and have more contrast. Bass can also detect sounds via the inner ear (although there is some debate as to how well they can actually hear, but that is probably a whole 'nother thread). But more importantly, as everythingthatswims mentioned above, bass can feel vibrations via a system of sensory organs called lateral lines that allow them to detect and home in on prey, and this will help them locate your bait. This is why a cahtterbait can be a good option.

I have never used any kind of fish attractant because I've always assumed it was hokey and never wanted to bother with the mess. But this thread has convinced me to give it a try, so I just ordered a tube of Megastrike. I'll use it this year and see if I think it makes any difference.

I had so much success with spinnerbaits to start the season last year I threw nothing else for probably my first four or five outings. Just was no reason to get off of spinnerbaits. As for the original question, this year I want to put an emphasis on fishing bigger swimbaits. I had the same plan last year but was too impatient and would abandon them for other proven baits after a short time. Hopefully I'll do better this year.

Buzzbait Jackall Pompadour Popmax

He said visibility was only about one foot. In that case I would be throwing darker colors like black/blue, green pumpkin, junebug etc. It can be hard to accept getting skunked. Last week we had a nice 3 or 4 days of good steady weather here and temps in the 50s. I thought the conditions would be good for a little winter fishing. Went out for an hour the evening before and had good success. Next day I spent 6 hours on the water and couldn't buy a bite, despite throwing everything I could think of at them. I hated to give up and go home empty handed, but you know when you are whooped. Some days it just isn't on.

LC 1.5 & 2.0, KVD 1.5 & 2.5, Baby Manns 1-, Square A. Those are what I mainly throw. I just picked up some 6th Sense 75x cranks that I haven't had a chance to fish with yet, but they look pretty good in the bathtub

I have not fished them but I like to try new things and it looks interesting, so I'll give you a bump and hopefully someone who has tried them will chime in.

A snell is actually a very easy knot to tie. Watch a vid and give it a try - you can master it in no time.

Good advice in here. I'll add that I will always use the lightest weight I can get by with. If a 3/4oz weight will get me through the vegetation and to the bottom, that's what I'll use. Sometimes it takes as much as 2oz if I'm trying to punch thicker/heavier stuff, but I will start with the smallest weight I think will do the trick and work up as needed. I always use tungsten to keep the profile smaller. Always pegged (2x bobber stopper is a good idea or you'll be stopping more to re-rig). Always a straight shank flipping hook tied with a snell knot. One thing i didn't see mentioned above - you really don't need to leave your bait in there for very long. Drop it in, feel it hit the bottom, give it a hop, then bring it back and toss to another spot. You should pretty much be in constant motion, and you can cover a lot of area efficiently. And always be ready to set that hook. Most bites will come on the initial drop.

I almost always use a trailer on a spinnerbait. I use one on a buzzbait maybe 50% of the time. I never use a trailer hook on a spinnerbait and next to never on a buzzbait (I will occasionally throw one on there if I'm getting short strikes, but that is rare and only then after I've tried everything else to remedy the problem - change colors, add plastic trailer, slow down, etc).

The only Diawa reel I currently own is an Exceller that is use on my topwater setup. I have been very impressed with it for its price (got mine on sale for $60). I would not hesitate to recommend it.

Whe I need to go weedless I use the Owner weedless wacky hook for weightless or the Owner wacky jighead if I want it weighted. They use a nylon weedguard and I have zero issues getting hookups with either version.

Topwater lure for sure ... probably either a popper or buzzbait.

I just saw that TW finally has the new Bass Mafia stuff in, and man does this thing look like a good solution! Quite pricey, though. Edit: I'm referring to the Blade Coffin. Tried multiple ways to post a link but the site won't let me for some reason. The last of the link has B_B_C in it. I guess the site thinks I'm trying to post links to black men's genitalia.

The Pop Max is better as a walking bait, and the Pop X is more of a true popper. That's the easiest way to explain the differences.

Nice solution. Have you looked at the Plano Elite series box that's made for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits? I have a couple and they do work pretty well. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Plano-Elite-Spinnerbait-Organizers/1938272.uts?productVariantId=2805556&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03093144&rid=20&gclid=CP7QytuoktECFRSPfgodTswNDQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

The other site mentioned throughout this thread has 20% off all non-sales items today.

I've said it here many times but I will say it again - if you like the Whooper Plopper, do yourself a favor and try out a Jackall Pompadour. Makes even more commotion, you can pause and let it sit, and you don't have to worry about the bait rolling over on you.

Yes, they definitely catch fish. I would skip the size 90 though and get the 130.