Will Wetline

My favorite has been the Bomber Suspending Pro A since KVD was repping it in the mid-'90s. I've done well with Smithwick's Rogue too. I've been reluctant to spend 3X the price on Pointer 100s, but I have been convinced by several top smallie fisherman in my area that they're worth it. I'll try a few this year when the water temp. is between 47 and 55 degrees. Here's a look at some of the lower priced suspending minnows:

smbrule, you commented that you "have a lifetime supply of blades." Why not purchase the rest of the stuff from one of several component suppliers and assemble your own? Here's my favorite for post spawn smallies: Like others have said, a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait burned just under the surface on sunny, windy days will make you smile even though your arms are sore. Here's a pic of a bass with a mouthful:

gall, your avatar photo tells me you're way too young to remember that at one time, "jig fishing" meant tying on a bucktail jig with an Uncle Josh #11 pork frog. Bucktail is buoyant and pork frogs are bulky, thereby slowing the fall. Our Uncle is still around, but you might have a hard time finding a bucktail jig these days. (Tie your own?) You may be interested in the technique known as "deadsticking" which, if I understand it correctly, involves doing nothing but letting a bait sit on the bottom until a bass in a neutral feeding mode gets curious enough to pick it up. This is not a technique for the overcaffeinated. And hey - Once your water warms up to say, 47 degrees, tie on a suspending jerkbait. That may keep you busy on a sunny afternoon.

I like the concept of this rig too and put one together using a Gamakatsu EWG hook, the lighter-wire version rather than the heavier Superline. #2 rings worked fine. One thing that occurs to me about using a standard split ring rather than buying the hook with the welded ring, is that we have to be mindful of the line tie-off point - we don't want the knot to be snugged up in the split of the ring. Another thought is to use a #10 snap swivel rather than the lower ring. This will not only expedite changing weights. Taking off the weight leaves you with the open snap to attach to your rod's hook keeper while not in use. This snap swivel does lengthen the entire rig, of course . . . I can't wait for my favorite bass water to open here in MA so I can try out the variations on this innovative rig.

Thank you for posting this info, HOIST-N-HAWGS! I emailed MA Wildlife about the "lead ban" email that I too received and asked for clarification about spinnerbaits. They did not reply. J Francho - thank you too for your info on the tungsten we use. I had understood from several comments on other forums that tungsten was 10X as toxic. I have been molding jigs for several years now and I'm replacing lead with a bismuth/tin alloy that's about 6X more expensive than lead and only 75% the weight. The healthy loons will laugh even harder now!

Yup. 58% bismuth/42% tin. It's billed as "environmentally friendly" and having 75% the weight density of lead. Don't be surprised like I was to find your jigs stuck in the mold - this alloy expands as it cools. Once you see the sprue has solidified, grasp the hook shank with pliers and pull the jig out. Also take care not to overflow the sprue. Haven't tried it, but I'm told there's a mold release agent used by bullet makers that works well.