Brad_Coovert

There will always be a demand for knockoffs in the tackle industry due to the popularity, high price and/or poor availability of the original product. Someone will try to make it better. Someone will try to make it cheaper. Someone will try to meet the demand you can't fill. It may not be popular, but it is necessary. Otherwise, a lot of the baits we all use, love and can afford would not exist.

As long as it works for you and you enjoy using it, then that is all that matters. Value is determined only by the end user. Otherwise, half the products we all use would not exist.

The Basirisky is a great bait. The body is very soft and will collapse easily, so you can get by with heavy mono and a stout rod in open water and still get decent hooksets. In cover, I'd be using braid though. It is a single hook bait though, so you have the chance of missing the fish. The smaller size is better IMO as fish can eat it better, but the larger size has a great profile for bigger fish. A steady, slow retrieve is all that is needed for that nize plop. plop, plop. I do not know about pike. Teeth and hollow frogs do not seem like a good match IMO. Brad

That is an older Norman Little N. It has the same body as the Deep Little N, but has the small, shallow diving lip. The color looks like one of the translucent Color-C-Lector colors from the early 80's. Brad

There are a lot good lipless baits, but do not use just one brand. They all have a different sound and vibration. I've had days when type of bait outfished another in same size and color 6 to 1. Lucky Craft LV300N, LV200, LV500 and LV-0 Pradco's Cordell Spots in 1/4 and 1/2 oz. Pradco's Xcalibur Xr and XrK series baits in 5/8, 3/4 and 1 oz. sizes SPRO Arukushads in 60, 75 and 85 MM sizes SK Red Eye Shads 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 oz. I will use all of these throughout the year and they all catch fish. Brad

I like to fish these baits on weighted swimbait hooks. Different weight hooks will allow you to fish more deeper water. Brad

When I could no longer carry all the tackle I needed wanted, I found the best solution was to buy a new boat to put it all in. ;D When I do get limited in the rare occurrence that I am a non-boater, I prefer a tackle bag with utiltity boxes so I can choose tackle to fit the water, season, conditions I know I will be facing. Brad

SPRO Bronzeye Pop Frog. This is the best popping style frog I have ever seen or used. The SPRO McStick is a great jerkbait as well. The SPRO BBZ Shad is a great swimbait. As you can see, I really like SPRO stuff because their baits have been very good to me and my livewell. Brad

I like the screwlock heads. Picasso and Spot Remover Pro Model. Brad

My favorite jerkbaits are the Pointer 78 and 100, Staysee 80 and 90 and the McStick from SPRO. Best colors for me are Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Minnow and American Shad. Brad

So, how are those Swiss bass this time of year Trig? Well, the weather was crappy this weekend and the fish in the pond were in no mood to come out and play with the new McStick. The McStick is a pretty cool jerkbait. It has a long chamber in the bait with two rattle balls that shift to the end of the bait on the cast to help make longer casts. When you begin the retrieve, the balls shift forward and fall into a slight dip in the chamber at the front of the bait. This makes the bait run and suspend nose down. The bait has a tight wiggle and the two rattle balls give the bait a dull rattle sound, similar to the Little John crankbaits. The colors are also better looking in person than in pictures and the hooks are super sharp. Brad

I have too many jerkbaits myself, so I know what you mean. Still, I keep trying the new stuff. My Rapala Husky Jerks get the least use now. They still catch fish, but my Lucky Crafts have really produced for me and they get the most use. In fact, my Rapala Husky Jerks will probably hit eBay this winter as I continue to thin out some tackle I use infrequently. Brad

37 degree water?! We're in the mid 60's here in Texas. 37 degree weather, not water. That 37 degree water is not too far away though, sadly :'( Brad

There are lots of good hooks out there for these style of baits. Mustad, Lake Fork Tackle, Davis Baits, etc. have great weighted hooks with either a screw or peg that goes into the nose of the bait. For 5" sized baits, I would look at 6/0 or 7/0 hooks. Brad

Your backordered frog will depend on how fast River 2 Sea USA ships inventory to TW. If R2S USA is out of stock, which they are from time to time, then you will be waiting a while. Brad

Curious what you did not like about them? Also, what did BPS have them priced at? I saw where a few BPS stores had BBZ Shads for $24.99. I'm looking forward to trying out the McStick in the test pond this weekend to check out the action. Brad

I've not used the Tru Tungsten frog hook, but I will also suggest the Gambler Toad hook. Just screw into the nose of the bait and then pus the bait in between the hooks. No need to bury the points or anything as the hook kinda cradles the bait and the points lay on top. Yes, the bait can pop out of the hook now and then, so you have to keep an eye on it, but it is very easy to just pop it back it in. These hooks have worked very well in pads and grass. Another suggestion to avoid torn up frogs and toads is the Reaction Innovations Screwed Up Bullet. It is like a screw in weight, but made of clear plastic and really helps a bait slide through vegetation. Brad

The other two colors of the BBZ shad, Sexy Lavender Shad and Dirty Shad, as well as the McStick and the new Poppin Bronzeye are being shipped by SPRO. They should be in stores very soon for those looking for them. Brad

I plan on having the new McStick in the water this weekend. Will report back on the action next week. Hopefully the 37 degree weather, rain and the cold front have not lockjawed my test pond fish. Brad

Matt 825, I'm a small retailer, so mine are coming from my SPRO wholesaler. If mine are shipping, then other tackle shops should be getting some soon. Suprisingly, SPRO has been doing a good job keeping up with orders this fall. They are usually really slow. I'm still anxious to get the two other colors of the BBZ Shad and the new Poppin Frog. The Little John MD and the first two colors of the BBZ Shad are great baits. The others should be as well. Brad

SPRO just started shipping the McStick. I will have mine this week, so they should hit other shelves this week as well. Brad

The choice is really simple, just buy them all. 8-) Then you know you have all your depths and speeds covered. Plus, you'll stop wondering which ones to buy. ;D One less thing to worry about. Brad

The SW spinnerbaits are great products and you're correct in that you can carry a few heads and some blades and make a lot of different blade/head combinations. Brad

My test pond has no shad, but the bass eat shad baits all the time and they have never seen a shad in their life. The only forage they have are frogs, insects, bluegill and a very occasional crawfish. But, I have been on lakes which had certain major food sources and the bass would key on these many times throughout the year and success was much better had when the baits were close to the forage in size and color. Brad

I have the V-Joint Wakes in both the small and large sizes. If I hold the rod tip down or use a fast retrieve, they dive slightly. If I hold the tip up or reel slowly, they wake or run just under the surface. In fact, almost all of the wake baits I use act this way and I have to give all of them some use to learn how they act. Brad