Barry S.

I use swimbaits all the time for river smallmouth here in SC. My favorite is a Strike King 3.5" Shadalicious in Green Gizzard rigged on a Gamakatsu 3/0 1/8oz weighted swimbait hook. In the picture, you can see the swimbait I referred to hanging out a 18" smallmouth's mouth, along with a real 4" shad hanging out of its mouth and, if you look closely, you'll see the head of ANOTHER 4" shad back in its mouth/throat. So yeah, swimbaits work. Lol!

ALX Rods ENOX Gravity https://alxrods.com/collections/enox-series/products/enox-gravity-75-heavy-fast-casting I pair that with a Quantum Smoke S3 PT in 8.1:1 spooled with 20lb Sunline Super FC Sniper fluorocarbon.

Any of these ALX Rods would fit what you're looking for... https://alxrods.com/collections/zolo-series/products/zolo-deputy-71-medium-heavy-fast-casting https://alxrods.com/collections/zolo-series/products/zolo-toadface-72-medium-heavy-fast-casting https://alxrods.com/collections/ikos-series/products/promise-7-7-medium-heavy-fast-casting https://alxrods.com/collections/ikos-series/products/promise-73-73-medium-heavy-fast-casting

I don't know about your neck of the woods but we're seeing some summer time schooling right now and that will continue for the next few weeks. After that, the first cold fronts to hit the area will trigger fish into heading towards the backs of creeks and the fall/winter feed usually begins.

Thank you!

We're getting to that time of year when the striper and bass will start schooling again. I've heard some reports of it starting around the mid lake area already. You can literally throw a big topwater bait all day long this time of year. If you mark active fish in 20-30 feet of water, they'll come up that far and smash a topwater bait. Unless you run WAY up the river, a lot of the bass action is going to be out on the big water right now. AS temps start to cool, they'll make they're way back towards the backs of creek arms.

I use a ALX Rods ZOLO Toadface when I'm throwing a WP. It's a 7' 2" MH+ fast action but it has a soft tip. That slows reaction time and allows the fish to get the bait but has plenty of casting/hook-setting backbone as well. https://alxrods.com/collections/zolo-series/products/zolo-toadface-72-medium-heavy-fast-casting

I've used many different Shimano/G Loomis rods, various St. Croix rods, Quatum PT rods, Abu Garcia rods, Kistler and Fenwick, but from the time I bought my very first ALX custom rod back in the early 2000's, that began my transition from any rod that wasn't an ALX Rod. Now, after adding several other custom rods and countless production ALX rods, they are the only rod I use, period. They have a rod for every occasion. I fish for inshore saltwater species, nearshore saltwater species, all manner of freshwater species and all manner of techniques/presentations and I have done so for many many years and I have yet to find a fish I can't target or a technique/presentation I can't use with an ALX Rod. Between their extensive lineup of production rods and their custom rod shop, they truly a one stop rod manufacturer. https://alxrods.com/

ALX Rods has a very extensive lineup of production rods but they began as a custom rod builder. They can customize one of their existing production rods or they can build a rod to your exact specifications. Give'em a shout and tell them Barry sent you. https://alxrods.com/pages/custom-build-shop

What's the "go-to" tackle shop(s) on or near Lake Wylie and Lake Norman?

GA, SC, VA, W. VA

New to this site but not to fishing. Of course I love chasing big green fish but the small-lipped ones really get my blood flowing. Truth be told, I'd rather catch redfish and sea trout but this is "bass resource" so we'll keep it content relevant. Looking for to swapping stories and disagreeing with y'all. thanks for having me.