looking45

My go to wake Bait is a Dep’s Buzzjet. It makes a lot of noise and it catches fish

If conditions allow, use a tube with a 1/16 oz head. It will fall slowly and spiral. Watch your line for the twitch when they pick it up

It’s happened at bass tournaments here on the west coast. I’ve talked to a couple tournament directors. They said if someone is. Aught cheating AFTER they accepted a prize/money, it was considered fraud. Guys who have been caught cheating have been banned for life by all the circuits

Not a typical top water lure but I would try a fluke. You could work it on top but you could also let it fall a foot or two. Good luck

You might be able to do this with a 12’ aluminum boat. I’d sure like to see you do this with a fully loaded bass boat

Don’t worry too much about color, start using a bigger worm

I replace my trebles with inline hooks

I use a Deps Buzzjet

I’ve had to stop using my swim baits because the Bald Eagles would keep trying to get them. I’m surprised they came within 20 feet of the boat. It was great to see them so close. They’re beautiful birds

I’m using a GLoomis GLX 802 for throwing 9”-12” worms.

I suggest you call the airline to see if you have to check in your lures and feels. Some airlines don’t allow eithe as carry ins. Have a good trip

I’m using green Daisy Samurai 18# braid and 6# fluorocarbon. It’s soft and doesn’t “sing” when I’m playing a fish. For me, coated braid coming thru the guides is like running your fingernails on a chalkboard YMMV

I suggest you start watching your line. Watch the last 6 inches before the line disappears into the water. You don’t need to feel the bite. When you get bit, the line will twitch or start to move. Reel to tighten the line, until you feel the weight of the fish, then set the hook. This takes concentration. If you’re turning around to talk to your buddy, you’re going to miss a lot of bites. The bass don’t always take up the slack when they pick up the bait. Hope this helps

If you end up using a phone or tablet, I’d suggest getting a wireless keyboard to make it easier for you to type. No more mashing more than one key with fat fingers. Amazon has good prices on them

Don’t get locked into the idea that you need to get your bait UNDER the dock to catch fish. I know you mentioned you’re throwing soft plastics but if you want bigger fish, try swimming a 7”-8” swim bait or glide bait on the OUTSIDE of the docks. The fish will come out from under the rocks to grab it.you don’t have to right next to the dock either. If they want the bait, they will come out 10 feet or more. Try it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised

I go fishing to relax and have a good time. My friends know I don’t care how many or who catches the biggest fish. Betting, even for a hamburger, never comes up. I’m not on the lake for competition.

6” hand poured spade tail worm

I use a small ice chest for my lunch and drinks. Any trash goes in there. All my fishing buddies know that where the trash goes too

Brillianize is a one step cleaner and polish. TAP plastics sells it

Goggle has conversion charts. Of course, you have to know the size of the treble hook I don’t use sieash hooks because the angle of the eye makes them hang horizontally instead of vertically, like the inline hooks. They are two completely different designs. If they work for you, keep using them

Check Costco

If it isn’t windy, I would try a weightless senko, twitch it often enough to keep it out of the weeds

It’s impossible to duplicate a color from a picture. How many do you have? Post in the classifieds for someone who is willing to do custom work and send him a couple of worms. Good luck

Are the weeds in the ledges or just on the bottom? There are similar areas on the lake I fish but there are no weeds and some areas can drop to 80-90 feet or more. I use a shad colored tube and drag it down the ledges, hesitating for 30-40 seconds on each ledge. Drag it off the ledges, hopping it will pull it too far off the ledge , I want the tube to hit each ledge

The best speed is the one the fish tell you they like. Vary your receives until you start catching fish and fry to replicate what you did. This applies to all lures