roadwarrior

A few of favorites: Rage Tail Menace, Baby Craw, BPS Tender Tube and the Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad.

Welcome aboard!

Nice fish, GREAT PIC!

Welcome aboard!

No Just kidding...Stocker trout are not picky.

Hmm... My main smallmouth rod for live bait is a G. Loomis PR844S/ Stella 2500/ Yo-Zuri Hybrid #4. The rod is powerful, the reel incorporates the PERFECT drag and the line is strong. but stealthy. Both of the fish in my avatar were caught on this rig and a #8 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook.

Mann's 1- is another alternative

Glenn & Keri May specialize in spinnerbaits, too!

Okuma Helios

One and done... The only spoon I fish in a pond is the Johnson Silver Minnow which is basically a topwater presentation.

Trokar, Gamakatsu, Owner and XPoint penetrate very well and do not bend.

You have to experiment with the retrieve on every outing. To start with imagine a crawdad moving over a rock. This is a very subtle lift and drop on slack line. Sometimes they want a slow steady retrieve, other times move, stop and let it sit. For a steady retrieve stay just off the bottom, clicking cover or structure occasionally. I prefer a true swim jig for steady retrieve. I think you will be impressed with Siebert Outdoors jigs. I prefer the G2 with a recessed eye. Mine are always wire tied which requires a small additional charge. Favorite colors are Kent's, Black and PB & J, but your favorite color will work just fine. My choice for trailers are Rage Tail Craws, sometimes Baby Craws and sometimes Lobster. For a swim jig I recommend the Structure Bug, Shellcracker and Menace. Match or contrast the trailer with the jig skirt. The size of the trailer varies with the weight of the jig. For a 3/8 ounce jig the Rage Craw is perfect, but I bite off the first two joints for a more compact presentation.

Owner Phantom Hooks

Rage Tail Menace and The Rig

Bass spawn at different times in the various regions. Florida is already into pre-spawn and many of the southern states will be gearing up shortly.

If the shad are backed up in a creek, I fish "outside" in the mouth of the creek and especially adjoining points. On deeper structure focus on the angle of presentation. For example, if there is current cast upstream and retrieve with the flow.

Really?

"I change line as needed."

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/bandit-rack-it.html

Well, I like particular line for specific applications, but you were asking for suggestions to "simplify" your choices. #6 and #12 do just that. Here is how it actually shakes out for me: #4 Yo-Zuri Hybrid for live bait, both smallmouth and trout #6 Tatsu for all other spinning reels (weightless soft plastics) #11 Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo for treble hooks #15 Tatsu for jigs #40 Smackdown/ #15 Tatsu leader for the Alabama Rig

Spinning: #6 Seaguar InvizX Baitcasting: #12 Seaguar AbrazX

Rage Tail Menace