I'm curious as to which colors have proven best and what hook should be used.  Also, is there a preferred knot to be used?

Thanks All !!!  

rage shads are awsome! i caught all my largest fish last year on topwater, with a good chunk of em off this bait. the shad color is the only color i have used. just pull the tab off the tail, with a ewg 4/0 gammy t-rigged with tail up. reel it at a quick clip and make sure that head is wobblin, and hold on!

Shad or Toad? I give the edge to the Toad, but that could change as conditions change. Play it safe. Get both.

Green pumpkin/pearl, and green pumpkin chartreuse have worked equally well. Plan to try the chartreuse and black/red tomorrow.

Hooks? Only one way to go as far as I'm concerned.

http://www.ownerhooks.com/pages/products/hooks/basshooks.htm#5130W

I had three toads torn up after sliding up the line three or four times. Cannot happen with the Owner twistlock. They are expensive, but for me, worth every penny.

Zoom toad hooks are so so. They have the coil lock, but it does not have the centering pin, nor to my knowlege are they available in a keel weighted version.

Hooks? Only one way to go as far as I'm concerned.

http://www.ownerhooks.com/pages/products/hooks/basshooks.htm#5130W

They are expensive, but for me, worth every penny.

You can get twist locks separate and put them on whatever hook you like.  That should save you some dough and give you greater flexibility.

I have the shad in the silver bling and the green pumpkin and I'll be adding the smokey shad. Haven't tried them out yet but if it warms a bit here I'll give them a try this weekend.

The weather here in Chicago has been crazy with a warm day here n then back into the lower 50's the next 3.

I like using natural colors, the green and pearl toad is awesome.  I also like the pearl color on the shads.

Hooks? Only one way to go as far as I'm concerned.

http://www.ownerhooks.com/pages/products/hooks/basshooks.htm#5130W

I've seen them, and posted about them elsewhere.  About 50 cents each, but also worth every penny.  Thanks.

I plan to get some.

They are expensive, but for me, worth every penny.

You can get twist locks separate and put them on whatever hook you like. That should save you some dough and give you greater flexibility.