DitchPanda

I can tell you from experience a few things I've seen help people learn T rig fishing...when I taught my girlfriend these are some things I had her do that gave her some success. 1) start with a smaller bait...they seem to get more bites and this will boost your confidence. 4in power worm,baby brush hog, zoom ultra vibe speed craw. Once you get the knack for it then step up in size. 2) This is one @roadwarrior mentioned above and it is of critical importance...slow down. I see people fishing bottom baits in general way to fast. I'm not saying there isn't a time and place for working a Trig or jig faster but in my 20 years of bass fishing I'd say 90% of my bottom bait fish have been caught on a slow methodical approach. So there you go...try some smaller baits and SLOW DOWN! Good luck to ya.

I've got two pretty solid lakes about 40 miles away and one small city pond that produces on the way to one of those lakes. My two usual spots...both county park ponds/small lakes...are very close. One is 6.7 miles the other is 1.2 miles.

Well this is what I was gonna say. I would sure think he would like to make the classic again...if so why dump points? If its not important to him to make the classic he needs to hang it up. Kinda the point of the elite series.

Hasn't been 20 here in a week

1) 5/16th finesse jig with zoom super chunk Jr 2) 1/4 oz bluegill swim jig with menace grub 3) 3/8ths spinnerbait double willow or double Colorado depending on conditions ie.water color,temp,weather 4) weightless T-rig senko style bait or fluke 5) toss up between Ned and shaky

I fish alot of different spinnerbaits...some strike kings...a few war eagles...lots of booyahs...couple sieberts....even some homemade frankenbaits. My favorite hands down is Nichols...by a pretty wide margin. They are more compact which I love...they have great colors...are very durable...and always run right.

You southern guys are killing me..oh god its gonna be 20! Cracks me up. Our low Sunday is gonna be -28...now that's cold.

There are big fish baits obviously...swimbaits and jigs are known big fish producers. That said I think time and place trump type and color of bait almost always. I caught 4 bass last year that would fit your criteria of 6lbs and up the biggest being an egg laden female over 22inches I around 7lbs. The baits were chatterbait, lipless, jig and spinnerbait so as you can see the bait is not super important. The important thing was I caught 3 of them in a 6 week period between the first part of April and the 3rd week in may. My advice is fish the prespawn hard...fish earlier and cold water than you'd think...and fish on cruddy weather days.

What do you prefer for an everyday carry...folder or fixed blade? What brand(s) do you like? I've carried a pocket knife or folder for as long as I can remember

I've got a big pot of chili simmering now...been going on low simmer for a few hours already. growing up on the gulf coast it wasn't uncommon for me and my dad to eat boiled shrimp at all times a day...sometimes for 3 meals a day! Every now and then ill fry up a few perch or gill fillets next to a couple eggs...old school fisherman's breakfast!

Like most everybody I throw shad/chrome/minnow colors and craw colors. Also I love gold black back...and have had success on bluegill or fire tiger patterns. Are there any niche colors you have had great luck on? Always looking to expand the arsenal!

Never used a Dobyns baitcaster but they have a fantastic reputation for a reason. Like others have said they are notorious for fishing light so stepping up one notch would be beneficial. I love falcon rods and they are like that as well. As far as going medium heavy for one rod that's the way to go...it can do most anything. Buzzbaits, larger top waters, spinnerbaits, Texas rigs, jigs, bladed jigs, square bills , lipless,weightless senkos and flukes. Its not perfect for several of those but with the right line and drag settings it can do everything pretty well.

Yep I'd go with a medium fast in the 6ft6 to 6ft8 for jerkbaits and poppers.

I really like the BOSS offerings...for finesse I really prefer the mini ball jig. Just buy a pack of skirts and for $9.50 you have 4 nice quality jigs. These are also good if your ok with a football head.

Well its the only scotch he enjoyed so far. Definitely open to other options!

I have a series of cold clear water ponds about 15 miles from my house that has some studs in it. I've caught several in the 5lb range the past few years but have seen fish in the 8+ range maybe even bigger. Anyhow the pond has alot of small gills and green sunfish plus the state stocks it with rainbows a few times a year..figured a bluegill or trout colored one slow rolled after ice out may get me a giant. Only one way to find out I guess.

Have you tried wrapping lead wire around the hook shanks to help it sink faster? Also have you had luck in cold water with these or are they a warm water bait for you?

I'm thinking of throwing it on a KVD composite crank bait rod that I fish wake baits and shallow square bills on with 12lb copolymer . I have no experience in hard swim bait fishing...do these produce better in cold water or warm water?

I can't offer alot in the way of suggestions for color for small mouth...I don't have many around me. Most of the ones I've caught have been accidentally while fishing for largemouth. I do however have alot of experience and success fishing suspending jerkbaits from shore. I usually opt for a bait with a max depth of 4ft or less...I use the rapala shallow shadow rap alot. As far as the 6th sense baits go I've heard good things about all there baits...maybe or @Bluebasser86 will chime in I believe he throws them slot.

I've had laphroaig...forgot to mention it...and it tastes like you took a bottle of whiskey threw in a handful of cigarette butts then left the cap off and hung it over a tire fire. A little on the smoky gasoliney side for me.

Never been a big scotch guy...leaning more towards bourbon and Irish to a lesser extent...but I'm starting to get into it more. I need recommendations for a decent bottle under $50? For background I've had monkey shoulder....it was so so...glenlivet...not my favorite...Johnnie walker black...another so so...and glenfiddich 12 which was my favorite by far.

What rod,reel and line setup you throwing these on? How do they fish?

Only traditional grubs I use are 2 and 3 inch white twisters for crappie and walleye...I catch plenty of bass by accident and 5 inch big bite bait grubs for swim jig trailers. I guess a also use yamamoto double tails for finesse jig trailers. Yep.

Forecast here for Sunday has a high of -6...yikes

I'm a pop r guy as well. Not saying its the best popper out there...whatever best means anyway. But throw some better hooks on a pop r and go to town. It just gets bit.