river-rat

Full size bait - it's a tie between the Zoom Brush Hog and the Gene Larew Hoodaddy Small bait - Bitter's Bait and Tackle Salty Hog or a Zoom Baby Brush Hog

Pink is a great color in very clear water. Use it with a fast retrieve. The other spinnerbait could be used in anything from stained to clear.

In this order 1 - 3/8 oz. Boogerrman Racket Buzz or 1/2 oz. Boogerman Magnum Racket Buzz 2 - Black Ribbit or Rage Frog (whenever there is a lot of surface vegetation) 3 - 5/8 oz. Black Jointed Jitterbug

Interesting. I almost never split the tails on the Sweet Beaver. I think the bait glides better with the tails connected.

Absolutely. I still use the Bomber Long A along with a Rogue and a Cordell Redfin.

In openings in the pads, I use a steady retrieve just fast enough to ge the full motion of the spoon. On top of the pads you can fish it as slow as you want to while twitching the bait - almost like a frog. When you get a strike keep reeling until you feel the weight of the fish and then use a sweeping motion to the side to set the hook. One last tip if you decide to try this. Use heavy tackle. Like I said, the JSM will catch some mighty big bass.

In south Louisiana, especially in the Atchafalaya Basin, 1 foot or less of visibility is normal. I use chartruese with a black, green, or blue back and an orange belly.

Everything mentioned will work, but my first choice would be a 1/2 oz. Johnson Silver Minnow. It's worked for me in these situations for almost 50 years. Be sure to sharpen the hook before using it. The plating process makes the hook dull. And add a trailer, either pork frog or some type of plastic (I mostly use a rubber spinnerbait skirt). I can assure you, a JSM will catch some mighty big bass.

Ditto!

Black during cloudy conditions, early/late during the day and night time. If it's sunny and bright go with the chartreuse and white.

Bandit 200 or 300 and Bagley's DB1 and DB2

If I'm "on a roll", obviously the fish are very active and biting. I'll change to something similiar and keep on catching them.

Like most, I use the Zoom Speed Craw and the Rage Craw. But I also use the Gene Larew 4" Salt Craw, 6" Hawg Craw, and the 5" Biffle Craw either T-rigged or as a jig trailer quite a bit.

I've used the Bagley DB 2 and DB 3 along with the Poe's 300 and 400 series for many years with good success.

For plastics (In no particular order) Sweet Beaver (Penetration or Payback) 4.5" Flipping Tube (Black/Blue Tail) Net Bait Kick'N B (Black/Blue or Bama Bug) Zoom UltraVibe Speed Worm I also keep a rod rigged with a 3/4 or 1 oz. Oldham JIg in Black/Blue or Little Gator with a matching trailer

Under the right conditions it's tough to beat a buzzbait, but I will also use a Smithwick Rogue, Cordell Redfin, or a Hub's Chub by H.C. Baits.

I've been using a single spin during winter almost as much as a jig. I keep it really simple by using either a 1/2 oz. or 5/8 oz. with a Hildebrandt #5 colorado and a white or white/chartreuse skirt. And I always use either an Uncle Josh #11 pork frog or split-tail eel in white. If I'm fishing any deeper than 10' - 12' I'll switch to the 3/4 oz. size.

All the Beaver style baits will work. Just to keep things simple I use the Sweet Beaver and the Biffle Bug.

Mud Bugs were originally made without rattles. We would drill a small hole in the bottom of the bait, insert 3-4 BBs and then seal the hole. Worked like a charm.

I've been replacing the hooks using a split ring on Mud Bugs for too many years to remember. The easist way is to remove the plug screw eye and carefully open the eye. Slip the split ring into the opening, close it up and your ready to go. The Mud Bug is still one of my go to crankbaits year round.

Even though I fish a spinnerbait a great deal, I'd have to say a jig. I don't catch as many fish with the jig but the average size is better. And if you are really determined to learn how to fish a jig don't bring any other lures - just jigs and trailers.

X2. Don't need anything else.

Any time you are after a BIG fish no matter what time of year it is. You won't get as many bites, but your chances of catching larger fiush goes way up. Just depends on if your after numbers or size.

Once the water temp reaches the low to mid 50's I have more confidence in a trailer without a lot of action such as a Zoom Super Chunk or Gene Larew Salt Craw (4" or 6"). I also still use Uncle Josh Pork Frogs a great deal.

I use the Biffle Bug or the Netbait Kickin' B and rig it texposed.