Catt

My thought process is to buy quality reels first & be done with it for years. At one point I had nothing but Shimano Calcuttas & Cardiffs, served me for well over 30 years. That ment for 30+ years I could spend all my budget on rods.

Top one is Zoom's Swimming chunk Bottom is a spinnerbait skirt

I do not pay attention to daytime temperatures, instead I pay attention to nighttime temperatures. Until nighttime temperatures are above the water temperatures you will not get any sanificant increase in temperatures. What is gained during the daytime will be lost over night.

One reason the Rat-L-Trap became more popular down here at least was availability. I could buys Traps out of Bill's station wagon, local stores around Toledo & Rayburn carried them. Bayou Boogie & Pico Perch we had to wait for tackle shops to receive their monthly allotment.

@Delaware Valley Tackle

@woolleyfooley I would start with 3/4 & 1 oz in at least 3 colors listed above. You've thrown 3/8 & 1/2, get comfortable with 3/4 & 1.

Ben wasn't fishing a tournament "In February, Milliken caught a Legacy Class ShareLunker largemouth bass at Lake Naconiche and falsified his contest entry form, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said." https://www.dailysentinel.com/news/local/pro-fisherman-popular-youtuber-ben-milliken-charged-with-fishing-tournament-fraud/article_7a9d1efc-8fff-5ba1-94f7-b14520ec8879.html

Knowly & willing falsifying documents for monetary gain. Yeah that ain't cheating

@gimruis We have 3 local sporting goods stores that are well stocked. I seldom by rod-n-reels, so most of what I buy is replacing what I lost.

A heavy weighted T-rig or Jig isn't only for "punching" through the grass. The heavier weight falls through the water column so fast its creating a reflex strike.

Tailspiners, Spoons, Lippless prove that during winter bass will hit fast moving lures.

The closest Cabelas/BPS is 2 1/2 hrs away in Baton Rogue. I'll get 2-4 couples together & make a day of it. The guys go to sporting good stores, they ladies go to the malls, we all meet for lunch. I ain't comfortable buying anything sight unseen. Don't order much online, I gotta have hands on.

Highly suggest you watch Greg Hackney on YouTube.

Not necessarily All predators were young once. Often times immature bass will streak though the bait ball wounding some. The mature bass will lay in wait below.

@Ohioguy25 Didn’t say larger "baitfish" chasing smaller ones. Predator chasing prey! Big ones eat little ones, you know that whole circle of life thing.

Anybody know if the lake is still there?

Diawa Tatula TTU731MHFB 7' 3" Medium Heavy Fast Medium Heavy is good enough for Rojas it's good enough for Catt.

https://youtube.com/shorts/NbBeGRWhGDM?si=QZ_gti4myC8Z614g

Two thoughts behind the longer middle wire. First is as mentioned above; slow weaker, wounded baitfish. Second & the reason for a larger lure on the trailing hook. Predator chasing prey.

@woolleyfooley Do you know the types of grass in your waters? How dense is it during peak summer months? It's quite possible 3/8-1/2 is enough maintain bottom contact.

Additional tips: Depending on water depth & type of "grass" you may need to keep your cast more vertical than horizontal. If you don't have a lot of experience with jigs in the 3/4-1.5 oz range I highly suggest you start practicing now. It's kinda difficult for a newbie to adjust to weights this size. Of all your equipment I think your rod is the most important. Not only for feeling bites but it must have the backbone to move fish & grass quickly. Ya wanna turn that bass's head & get her coming up in one motion.

@Mike L https://youtu.be/rXGEREqFmJ4?si=ZmBOMY9E2DHQ-NqH

How about long & fat

https://youtu.be/pkglwf0PxZE?si=4wHxY4oG60p409Bd https://youtu.be/MbByRgCNm28?si=Dv54jmvzbNpWCYGy