CroakHunter

If I would get out and go more than 1 time every 6 weeks I'd be catching them too!

I usually have both rigged up after a tournament I fished last year. Knew the fish were holding on the outside of the grass lines so went to town pitching a rage craw and couldn't land a keeper, so I thought I'd bulk up my presentation and change the action and switch to the magnum rage bug. And I'm glad I did. We ended up winning the tourney, and had one of our best days on the water as far as big fish go. I think the bug imitates a bluegill and crawfish more than the craw only imitating crawfish. Not a whole lot of people throw the big around me, let alone the magnum bug, so I usually reach for it first if a place has already been fished or it has had some pressure on it.

I've been known to be wrong. Especially with the weird weather we've been having

25 days and they'll be on beds!

Drop shotting a pink buzzbait

Feel your pain. When I went I to work it was 72, by lunch it was 43, and now it's mid 30s

What length worm and what size hook? And also short twitches while giving it slack on the frog. Frogs are harder than to walk than say a big spook style bait

The difference I've found in the fuego and ct are only the t-wing and the cosmetics. The cts have different colored tension knobs for the different ratios and also the fuego has a matte finish where the ct's and she's have a glossy finish. I have 2 fuegos, 3 ct's, 1 ct type r, and 2 sv's. All cast the same difference pretty much. Although I didn't buy the sv reels to be casters. I use them for short casts and skipping/pitching.

Another big southern indiana bass.

If you think like that, all the fish you kept before were preparing to spawn just not as far along as the one you kept today. Don't feel bad. There wouldn't be a limit/regulations on them if they weren't meant to be kept.

7" senko.

I have the 7'5 medium heavy cabelas rod. It's a good rod for the price. The winn grips are nice as well as the the build quality is good for $69 Which is what I bought mine for on sale.

7.3:1

natural and black/blue.

Line is line. Use what you prefer. I use a combo of fluoro, braid, copoly, and mono depending on what technique in using and what rod I'm throwing it on

Senko/dropshot, spinnerbait/chatterbait, Texas rig/jig

Power poles don't work in 30 feet of water. Which is where I would think staying in the same place would be the most beneficial

There's a good write up on how to catch bass anywhere written by @roadwarrior. Not sure how to link it maybe someone could help me out there. It's a very simple way to get bites of you follow every step. You'll either catch bass or realize there are none in the area

Slow down. Simplify. Focus. Check your line/knot.

Whatever I have tied on is what I put my confidence in. But if I had a choice i would pitch a jig or Texas rig 100% of the time.

Try something different

I have recently on the past 2 years switched from lead weights to tungsten. And boy what a difference. I don't have any tungsten jigs yet but plan to soon.

Those look like great pitching reels. I'll probably get a few.

Either would be fine. Nod fast would probably load easier, but could be tougher to walk a frog.

I'd suggest a dobyns fury 705 cb and a daiwa fuego. With the deals that can be had on ebay right now that is a great $150 combo. Or if you wanted a higher end reel try a tatula ct, tatula sv, or curado k. I'm not a Shimano fan, although I have one. I prefer my daiwas but Shimano does make quality reels.