river-rat

Adjust the weed guard to 1/8" above the hook point. When you get a strike you need to wait until you feel the weight of the fish before you set the hook. (Kinda like when fishing a frog)

I've been using the Silver Minnow for over 50 years. It's one of my primary tools when I'm fishing heavy vegetation of any sort during the late spring to mid-fall periods. I always have a rod rigged with one. And I use 50-65# braid all the time.

I've been using a Smithwick Devil's Horse since I was a youngster (I'm 68 now). It's one of the best topwaters of all time as far as I'm concerned.

I would be awfully tempted to fish with it. I have several 4" Balsa B's and still use them mostly in the summer time. On the other hand you could probably get $75 - $100.00 on ebay.

I usually have both on the deck and let the fish tell me which one they prefer on that day.

I've been making my own spinner baits for over 40 years. For summer fishing I mostly use a 7/16 oz. spinner bait with a single #4 1/2 Hildebrandt gold Colorado blade. For a skirt I use green/chartreuse/white or blue/chartreuse/white and add a 4" twister tail grub in silk chartreuse color. I've found these two combinations to be the most productive where I fish in south Louisiana during the summer time.

I use it for flipping/pitching on a texas rig with a 1/4 - 3/8 oz. slip sinker. I've found it to be effective as an alternative to a flipping tube.

I'm still catch fish on the following topwaters some of which have been out of production for quite some time Whopper Stopper Hellraiser Rogers Lures Hawg Hunter H&H Lures Skipjack Smithwick Devils Horse Hub's Chub Rattalur Johnny Rattler

Since I fish shallow water in south Louisiana 90% of the time, I'm usually using a floating jerkbait. I have listed my favorites in order. Cotton Cordell Redfin (gold) Smithwick Rogue A.C. Shiner

I haven't found anytime of day necessarily better than others. I've caught fish on a frog at all times of the day.

x2

Absolutely agree with this.

I use a Sungill colored Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw as a trailer on a bream colored swim jig and have found it quite effective. I fished Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn last week and this combination was my most effective bait.

Usually under calm conditions and in shallow water around vegetation and wood cover.

I've used a Hula Popper off and on since I was a kid (I'm 68). My grandfather taught me that it is most effective letting it sit for long periods and then to twitch it lightly. I'm guessing it's not as popular today because most of us don't have the patience to fish it that slow.

Sapphire blue is one of my most productive colors that I use in the following lures Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw (texas rigged) Zoom Super Speed Craw (texas rigged and jig trailer) Zoom Big Salty Chunk and Super Chunk (jig trailer) Also a Strike King Blue Sapphire Rage Craw has bee really productive for me the past 2-3 years either texas rigged or as a jig trailer.

Texas Rig Spinnerbait 1/2 oz. jig I'd say those three are what I do best.

If I had a favorite it would be a Bagley Balsa B 2 in Tennessee Shad or Black/Chartreuse. Probably because I've caught so many fish on this since the 1970's.

Living in south Louisiana where we have so much vegetation I'm never without several Johnson Silver Minnows in my boat. Been using them for over 50 years and they still produce.

I use them texas rigged for pitching and have had more success on the Biffle Bug Jr. I don't see why it wouldn't work on a football jig for a deep water application.

I'd have to try a 3/4 or 1 ounce jig on braided line to generate a reaction strike. Normally when faced with this type of situation I'm just pitching the bait close to the boat and let it fall on a slack line.

Same with me.

I can assure you have at least one and sometimes two square bill crankbaits on the deck all summer. I normally use Bagley's BB2 or a KVD 1.5 or 2.5.

Denny Brauer straight shank 3/0 - 4/0 for pitching. I use the 5/0 for punching.

I always remove the split ring from a floating jerk bait and use a Rapala knot. I have never had it fail.