Black Hawk Basser

I've had some good days with small spinnerbaits like this one. I like to use a curly tail grub or pinched down paddle tail for a trailer. A trailer helps add some heft for casting distance. I fish small spinnerbaits on a medium or medium light spinning outfit for the fun of the fight.

Hard to say, but many of the fish that make surface disturbances around me in Iowa are carp. Being where you are, they could be around their spawn time. I know they get pretty fired up around May in Iowa and make all kinds of commotion on top.

Don't just fish on the "nice" days. Go when it's windy, spitting rain, etc. That's when they can *sometimes* really be fired up to chase faster moving baits like spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and crankbaits.

If enough guys answer, every bait type and brand will be listed. So far it looks like jigs and plastics rule. No surprise! 3/8 oz jig w/craw 3/8 oz double Colorado spinnerbait Chug Bug Buzz toad Trick worm Belly weighted boot tail plastics

The Chug Bug is my topwater MVP. LC Sammy a fairly close 2nd, but is not useful in as many situations as the Chug Bug

5-10 is considered calm around here for this time of year. I'd actually prefer closer to 15 MPH. Moving baits work a heck of a lot better with some sustained wind.

Rapala is my all-around favorite, but I'd put Lucky Craft first if I wasn't so cost-conscious.

The red craw Super Spot is killer for me in spring. I fish an old quarry often during prespawn. It is very clear. Most waters around here are pretty clear. My best producing spinnerbait is a BPS double Colorado in red/black.

I tie some for myself. I like a 1/8 oz bunny leech type in all black or an orange craw pattern.

Lipless crankbait Slowly drag a jig

Spicy!

I only leave them in the package if it's a duplicate. If it is one of my favorites, I may have two ready to go in a box and the third in the garage in the package.

Translucent/green back Lucky Craft Sammy in 1' of water on a hot evening in July.

I've tied 10,000 flies and I've honestly never had that happen. What Smalljaw suggested has definitely happened to me.

My choice for a popper is the Storm Chug Bug. My choice for a walker would be the LC Sammy.

I have a novice fisherman friend who calls soft plastics "jellies".

Just a tip, keep your leftover epoxy on your plate or whatever, so you can touch that to test it rather than touching one of your guide wraps.

Done with hollow bodied frogs. Countless blowups through super thick slop and probably 3-4 fish last year to show for it. Too much frustration. I'll commit fully to a buzz toad.

Well said, couldn't agree more!

SLAYER!

Iowa: Berkley Bedell, founder of Berkley (duh) Doug Stange, editor of In Fisherman

I heard that, too. But maybe he doesn't want to do any more press conferences..

Guys on the bass forum wishing for warm weather, guys on the ice forum wishing for cold weather. I'm in the ice camp at this point, there's no open water whatsoever probably until late March.

I had a Legalis about 6 years ago, and really liked it, except - When I'd make a hard cast, the bail would sometimes slam shut. Perhaps that doesn't happen anymore, but I stopped using mine because of that. I own 4 Presidents from size 20 to 35. I've never had any grinding problems. I even used one for over 10 years, and only lost it to a catfish dragging my rig into the depths of the gravel pit. That was a heart breaker. However, I've also had two Trions, and both eventually ended up being pretty 'grindy'. I don't lube my reels often, but I do from time to time.

Those ties look fantastic. It's appropriate to keep bucktails rather sparse. You get more movement from the hair, and it creates the baitfish silhouette that makes them so effective. As you gain more confidence in tying, try using different combinations of materials that impart different action under water. Sometimes you can stumble upon a great thing for what you do and where you fish. I'm sorry to hear about your father. That is a tough thing to have to experience.