Munkin

Not going to budget just figuring out what works best for me. As for moving baits I have sold every high end rod since it didn't offer what I was looking for. For bottom feeling baits I have slowly upgraded but do not feel that I need a $400 rod to feel a jig. For me a St Croix Avid is the best of both worlds, it provides the sensitivity I need and does not have the weight of a lesser rod. I have sold St Croix LE rods because I did not like the handle setup and the blank upgrade was not worth the price. Allen

Top 3 are: Crawfish Old Matte Lite Pearl black Back Otherwise look into the Rebel shallow and Deep Wee-R baits in similar colors. Allen

Looking at a lot of the questions on here it seems members have trouble with the catch rate of hard baits. It seems that day in and day out soft plastics work best which is true for me from late spring into fall. What I would like to add to members that get discouraged is that when the hard bait bite is on ITS ON. Of the days I have caught over 50 bass 19 out of 20 were on a hard bait. Just because that finesse bait has been working all summer does not mean it is the best thing to be throwing so keep your options open. Example a few years ago I was launching when two older gentlemen said I had better be using tubes or I should just go home? I caught 67 fish in 3 hours off one point and had to change out the jerkbait treble hooks twice. Fished a club tournament at the Lower Potomac and a guy told me to use finesses worms, my partner and I caught about 200 fish using a 1/2oz rattle trap type bait in 2 hours to the point we were both tired of reeling in fish. I say this because while soft plastics work most of the time don't overlook baits that can really produce. Allen

For some reason I cannot catch SM on a bluegill pattern bait in our rivers. The lake LM crush them but river SM just seem to prefer baitfish and crayfish to the point I quit using them. Allen

That is a great price if they are real Megabass lures. Allen

Mine has said she will sell all of them for $0.50 each if I die. I have a friend that will sell them for her if something happens to me who knows what they are actually worth. Otherwise I am sure there would be some happy customers buying RI BLV's, Lucky Crafts, and Megabass Visions for that price. Allen Stop by my house then as I have a serious project for you. Allen

My Coast Guard plate says 550lbs max so it would sink if I were to put all my tackle in it. I have been making strides the last few years to cull tackle but it isn't easy. Allen

I carry at least 12 rods and if I broke off every cast I would run out of line before I ran out of lures. Allen

Last count I had 46 Plano boxes and 7 66quart containers for stuff that is extra that I don't carry in the boat. It has become ridiculous and I expect the fishing lures hoarders to show up at any time to berate me. Allen

Anyone else have the same problem that they have so much tackle they cannot find what they are looking for? My basement, garage, living room, and SUV have so much tackle that I have a hard time finding anything I am looking for. The stuff I use 90% of the time I can find but when someone asks if I have something they are looking for it is like a search for the Holy Grail around here. It is out of hand with the mounds of different boxes of lures to the point it takes me forever to find something. An example is someone was looking for some SK spin shad spinnerbaits and it took 6 weeks for me to find them hidden in a old spinnerbaits box that I forgot about. Good thing is I finally found them with some SK Titanium baits that someone else was looking for. This has gotten ridiculous with the hording of baits. Hopefully in the next several months I can cull out the 1000 baits I will never use so I can actually walk around my basement and find what I am looking for, Anyone else have this problem? Allen

Around where we live it is one extreme or the other it seems. The Lower Potomac 8' is really deep but Piney Run 20' means they are shallow. Deepest I regularly catch them is on a drop shot at Black Hills Lake Seneca in about 30-40'. Allen

Don't know anything about the vib but that Gunnish in Archer Bee is a fish catching machine. Allen

The #1 river crayfish crankbait is a Bandit 100 in craw color. Allen

https://www.lurecraft.com/Plastic-Mold-218/productinfo/5X218/ Send Lurecraft a picture and they can let you know if they make it. Above is a similar worm that is longer but had a good pic unlike most of Lurecrafts pictures. Allen

Let me find the link but I found this mold for sale on ebay earlier tonight. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lure-Bait-Mold-Fishing-Lure-Molds-Fischkoderform-molde-de-pesca-Pulse-R/192586832859?var=492714387665 Allen

Like others have mentioned tying down the skirt with 22 gauge wire works great. Any jig that should last more than one trip I wire tie. The exception is when I am using the hole in one skirts. Allen

I have used Zoom horns roads as a jig trailer before when I needed a large profile. Allen

The trailer hooks I use are 2/0 short shank. Allen

How are you painting the blades? I tried powder paint but it was a disaster with the amount of paint on them. Allen

When I want to add bulk to the bait but that is maybe 10% of the time. Generally I am fishing them fast in the upper water column . Allen A spinnerbait that I do not recognize, what is it? Allen

Didn't know they made different ones? I have no idea which ones I own. Allen

My other favorites are the Jackal Zero Footer and TD Scouter Crank. Allen

During the summer over top of grass. Allen

Have you looked into ROTC? They will pay for you to get your Bachelor's then Commission you as an Officer. Figure out what you would like to do then report back and the group can give you more specific advice. I enlisted as an E-1 at 17 in the Army and left as a Captain 03E so I can give you advice on that branch. One thing to remember is the recruiter is looking to just get you in and will push certain fields. The Army is always short on MP's so it is an option. Allen