primetime

I have been looking at the Gantatell, problem is if they are too pretty I get scared to throw it, and bad things happen when I am nervous casting expensive stuff..I was just having a glide swimbait discussion with a buddy and he made a good point when I mentioned how I liked the Sebile magic Swimmers for an all purpose swimbait in lots of sizes and fall rates, but I hate when they curl on the fall and stay locked as a dying baitfish goes stiff and moves, and I noticed this problem while walking my dog today and watching bass in a clear pond backing away from the smallest model when I killed it which is never a good sign and these are hungry stunted Bass anyone can catch. Ig am cool with a $10 lure only being on point 3/4 lures if it produces, but he just said one thing to change my thinking....Remember how awesome those savage and Sebile Soft Swimbaits were? I forgot how good that tungsten sliding system and how realistic the soft versions look, I would only use them on the big boy lakes, but I need to pony up and get some new trash fish, and really good soft swimbaits since they do look super natural and weeds are eliminated...and you can work them anyway you want....all kinds of tricks with nails and sliding weights.... Good luck rest of the year....I went an ordered the red River2Sea Wide Glide last night after watching Bass Hammering the suspender again, I have wanted that red color in suspending since it is awesome in floating....

I remember checking them out at a Bass Pro and they were 2 different lures with 2 different mouths and both had a different lip and design and I was going to buy a few of each as they look the part for the $7 and the salesman told me that one sits completely flat vs. the other which was heavier I believe but I was confident that they were 2 different lures..... All the Strike King stuff and even all the new house brands, Pradco, and "Cheaper" companies are really stepping up their games big time and I notice Lucky Crafts on clearance in popular models at Dicks, Gander, and on Ebay Gunfish and Sammies are under a $10 so they are in Spook land.....I just walked into an Academy for first time ever in new store in Kissimmee this week, and I am flat out amazed at the lures I found for literally a $1-$2 which have looked the part in the pond behind the house....Japanese companies and all the Expensive lures made companies that went stale release new baits and colors, I have heard the name Bill Lewis more in last month than in last 10 years with that Echo and deals on traps with triple grips for $2.00.... Megabass Topwater's at Dick's are under a $15 bill, one $10 coupon and it's on for that Pop Max....

I am not sure, probably neither imo but I prefer bigger glides and swimbaits for waking and walking, so I was simply saying for $20 a bbz is same size 100mm vs 90mm Giron and thought it may be a better fit...The bluegill shaped baits are sold as Glide baits on tackle warehouse with the S Curve sig etc. and I just wish it was larger, sluggish fish down here seem wary of the stiff gliders, but we seem to do better with the one piece glide baits since they suspend and roll on the turn after gliding. Maybe I have not given the Giron enough time but I am down with the Mikey and TN-70 so I am ok with losing money on a lot of swimbaits from a distributor that were and still are just not getting the reviews I expected and my friends as we thought the Giron at the time was going to take off and be a big seller...I wish you the best, I am still figuring my way around all the swimbaits and OEM's etc...fishing them and so far I like about half which I would say is normal for any bait category, some are expensive, some not so much but for whatever reason they stick... I know where the Giron is made, who makes it, what factory, not hard to find and the OEM also makes some really good swimbaits and actually specializes in European Jerk baits or big musky Glides so go figure, they are getting better as the slider glides well for a 90mm bait at $10 and hovers like a champ. Florida bass seem to examine anything slow so maybe it is the harder cutting/gliding and rolling action or CTS that causes them to prefer the larger glides or more aggressive bass even when inactive. Good luck, I hope you do well with the bait, maybe I am doing something wrong and one day will break out with my 2 older models but I have logged some time and the newer model is probably not as stiff as the newer model this year because the demo's in the tank did not ever help sell a Jackal Swimbait because you have to admit, either user error or bait defect, but it looks stiff as heck on you tube or their website....I can't toss expensive lures I pay more than $30 for down here because of Gar and Saltwater toothy predators getting into the rivers and lakes, but you are 100% correct with weight and how to work the bait, I never had the Giron in my hand before buying so when a salesman is calling it a glide bait, I am thinking Glidin Rap, Herky Jerky, Joe Bucher swimbait hybrid and just had my hopes up and the size and weight was a letdown, I learned MM quickly after that...

Sea Eagle makes some inflatable kayaks, rafts that hold outboards, and also an entire line of Small Bass Fishing boats from Bass Hunter etc...I know they make a nice stable kayak that fits in a trunk and is really nice for the money. Harrison Hodge in Port jeff NY is the main company, make Panther Martin Spinners, boats, kayaks etc...I would look them up quick b4 pulling the trigger on anything as they may have a good fit for you and prices are very good...Hope that helps.

I know my point....The Giron is too small for a good glide and it is a bit stiff unless falling....I think they made it too light and small imo, but it will stand up right once it hits bottom...Colors are awesome, but I think I would buy the new version since Jackal Upgraded the bluegill, have not seen it yet though...... My point is the BBZ will swim, thump, sink at any rate, and yes It can glide even with more than one joint....Gliding and Joints are not always meant to be together as the same size Strike Pro Glide bait 90mm is not segmented and glides better than small lures with a hinge like the Jackal but that is just how I view it, I have only done well when the lure is sinking with a soft twitch which really any bluegill colored sinking bait can do, the reaction strike Bull Bream is the one that swims and glides, I forget all the brands, Lucky Craft has one, and Reaction Strike makes baits for so many companies I forget if they are strike pro, Reaction strike, or Bettencourt etc.....Check out overstock.com lots of cool bluegill baits but not the eye candy of the Jackal.

I consider any segmented hard swimbait a "swimbait". Glide baits which the Gyron is technically classified as (I never put it there but many articles just toss it in with the glide baits, maybe it fits neatly in a category now for easier listing. The Gyron absolutely will glide if you work it with a pull and not a snap and it looks really good since it falls extra slow compared to most baits. I find that the smaller S waver Glide baits or segmented swimbaits as most of my friends call them are never good for gliding unless at least 140mm from my experiences, but then again, we all look for different attributes in a bait which is just a tool to do a job, so I would encourage you to buy the Gyron, I was excited when I purchased mine and I still carry them and use them occasionally if I have really clear water and the pattern looks like it may benefit me.... Now a days, glide baits and swimbaits have crossed, River2sea makes a Bass Wide Glide that is 120mm and now strike Pro, Salmo, Reaction Strike are making non segmented glides that float,suspend, sink slowly as small as 90mm.....I would call the Gyron a swimbait, and the Spro a swimbait, and the S Waver 168mm a hybrid swimbait/Glidebait, the 120 s waver glide bait I would call a stiff swimbait or as my friend said "The Hinges suck on this thing since he thought it was a swimbait"...It still get's bit as it will still glide a bit and it has great color, but the Wide Glide or Herky Jerky in any version are more effective for my style, I guess that was my point, I don't have time to even see I had one but I meant no disrespect to the Gyron, but I do have $5-$10 baits that are better imo, but this is fishing, we are not supposed to all like the same stuff, that is what makes it great...Have a great day and hope some of this rambling makes sense....I am from up North so I grew up around Glide baits for Large Gamefish and I like the work companies are doing to make smaller baits glide better.

Try that Jumpin Minnow again and if you watch a one minute video on how to walk the dog, the T-10 has to be the easiest, and perfect profile for ponds, pressured fish, and is a great numbers lure and big fish lure, but it walks aggressive so not all days are walking or slicing days, you can actually wake that lure and use a slight glide and pull with a loop knot and it will get bit...It casts well for a bait it's size, can't think of any like it...Been my best walker this year and replaced the Skimmer for me which was my smaller walker, I don't do well with the T-20 Jumpin Minnow for bass however, that is better in salwater, it is way too much for fresh imo.

1 ounce is normal for a med heavy rod regardless of how long it is? standard is usually 1/4-1oz, you could put some 20 lb Mono or Copoly with same diameter as most compaies 14lb in some cases, but even 80 yards of Trilene 20lb test would be fine as long as you stay near an ounce...If you try to throw 3 ounces then that is just stupid.....Rod will snap on the cast and load a tad bit much....I would start small on lures and weight, but that reel is good with mono or braid, I avoid fluoro unless for leader, too much stretch all over for heavier lures, only like it for flipping in 25lb test short situations, and leader...Braid or copoly or mono....Triple Fish RX copoly 20 lb is same diameter as trilene 14lb and it tested at 19.8 after wet for 4hours better than most, plus it is fluoro coated and triple fish is an OEM so all lines are name brands.

the Silver max is geared for flipping and it only holds like 120 yards of 12lb test, for a 3 ounce swimbait, you need a 300 size or what I am now using again which is the round baitcaster so I can fit a few hundred yards of 20 lb test or heavier, or go braid....I was able to get a deal on the Okuma Cedros round reel which is a great reel for inshore and also for long casts as I can cast it further than my low profiles on topwater's etc, but you can buy large or kind of large swimbaits that are in the 1 ounce range... sebile magic swimmer 125mm-7/8 SPro 4" BBZ under an ounce, and you can find more, problem is when you start gong really big which you may not like so rig up the silver max with 15lb test instead of 12 and go for it....6'6" give you control from a kayak especially on wakes etc....I throw the BBZ 4" on an Okuma Serrano that is same size with 16lb triple fish camo line or Mono on same size rod and it does fine...Also toss 7" Red Fins, Super Spooks, and have flipped with over an ounce, it is ok, odds are you won't get a record fish on that set up.....you can make it work.

I can think of a house brand and a few other bluegill hardbaits that I would recommend in place of the Gyron if looking for a slow sinking Bluegill Swimbait....The Spro BBZ is a different shape but I like it much better, I also find the S Waver and savage Glides to be ok, but for the Money the Spro BBZ seems to be my favorite hard swimbait, Sebile magic swimmers which are long and thin, kind of a niche thing, but the Blackdog Shellcracker is good with a lip if you want a wake... The Gyron is a great looking bait as are all Jackal lures. I have 2 and both sink slowly and do not cast well, and for the price I would rather have 6 Reaction Strike baits or bull bluegills which actually are more versatile. The academy bluegills are cheap and a steal but sink quickly and are legit as they stand on hooks etc, but are small baits, the BBZ in gill color in 4" is the way too go imo.... I like a fast sink most of the time, and I always get a slow as well since you can alter both easily, and suspending and wakes are all good...Check out the Egret swimbaits, I know the Kick a Mullet is way better than my Savage glide and S Wavers, Gyron's, and I even purchased some other brand that was crazy expensive but traded it, think it was a vagabond or something, the Herky Jerky Jr. is the best glide bait for pure gliding next to the Suick Musky baits etc...The River2sea Wide GLide is cool and fun to fish, but the 5" Herkey Jerky Jr. has a better roll and shimmy when suspends on the turn at 2' depth, plus colors are really good, Bomber has always made a killer glide bait I always thought they were for stripers only....American companies are catching up maybe because some were making the expensive lures, Jackall and most companies are not swimbait companies, somehow Spro got it right, and so did Egret which is Stanley I believe, and Sebile has a good lure but I don't put it in same class...Academy are chuck and wind gold...

I think they may sell for like $20 or something silly on Ebay when they are listed....Maybe get a bunch, good find, I would buy 15 with plan on selling half, but would end up with 5 in the box, 10 in storage and maybe I list 1 just to see what people pay....

I think they market the new Mad Flash series to Freshwater, kind of like Rapala lures...I love the chug bug but can't get into the biggest size and think it is a confidence thing as I love the Chug bugs, walks like a spook, spits and chugs like a boss....New one's have some nice colors....

Hey Tom, was that fish caught on the larger Saltwater size Chug Bug? I am assuming it was, also how do you prefer to fish the bug? I figure you must have a few tricks to share with someone who loves the Chug Bug, I know you have some mods or tips buried away....Good info as alway's, My brother loves chicken Feathers as well, I need to get some sent...thx

Its a popper, Zell Rowland used to sell the Rebel Pop'r under the Xcalibur brand and it was autographed and the Zell Pop was under the xcal Rebel line as well, both great baits, only real difference is finish and lip is modified to compliment the Rebel plus it comes with bigger hooks and for the price the Zell Pop, Rebel, and then the Skitter pop are probably all you need....I have Rico's, all the top brands since I like to collect topwater's but my favorite is the Heddon Pop'n image, Yo-zuri ZZ Pop, and the Rebel in all sizes, saltwater versions, and if heavy braid, Sebile Splasher and chug bug all day....Many are too light, the Cabela's popper is a winner for sure, comes from a good family tree, just didn't fall in the area where they mark it up 10,000% when picked...... Don't overthink poppers, you will lose some since they are for casting to targets and are great for shorelines and overhanging trees, Rebel walks, spits, does whatever you need, hooks are fine if using the line suggested with lure, 60 size should get 10-14lb test tops....

Wake baits are just fun to throw, plus the way fish ambush them is like nothing else when they bust through the grass.....I like a squarebill, but I love a wake and can't stop buying them and throwing them, my favorite looking one is the Yo-zuri as it is heavy and flashy but for some reason it is not producing like all the rest...The Academy Wakes are good baits, Egg from BPS, all Mann's decent, Footloose is good but light, Rapala BX Minnow is a fav now after not liking at first, different than the Red Fin and it is not as good as the fin, but the distance for casting makes up for it a bit....SK Wake, my new fav...Strike Pro Hunch back which is kind of a Jitterbug but comes with Owner trebles and an action like no other.....Plus they come in some cool colors that kind of suck, but get bit....

I am sure they are fantastic, they have been hard to come by for a long time now, they sell for a pretty penny when on Ebay and I believe they retailed for $10 range when they came out and as a big wake bait guy, I have been looking to get my hands on some since Xcalibur baits all seem to be well worth the price. I know that lure get's great reviews from guys who love throwing wakes, it only dives a few inches I believe, plus they have nice colors etc..Good luck and enjoy, plus make sure you don't have a weak heart if waking while not paying attention.....They often smash it right at the boat or bank and keep rod tip pointed at lure if you want to get a full retrieve without having to think as much, but the V wake is the key....However, after seeing KVD burn a wake over weeds, lately I have been burning my Mann's wakes and have not done all that well, but every so often a good one smacks it, but slowing down and watching the V wake with pauses still seems to be the ticket, especially over grass.... Key colors for me are chartrueuse, citrus, reds in spring, shads and golds rest of year, but i use the Chart/black craw pattern or Rootbeer patterns the most since I can see them and so can the fish and they work year round....Grab a bunch if under $10......Good deal.

green pumpkin blue flake or GP...Black and blue and gp combo, firetiger grubs, but essentially, a worm dipped in chart looks like a bluegill to me and I love Motor oil chart as a combo if water is clear to mod stained, I use spike it markers and you can put chart on hardbaits as well, most shad in stained water have a chart flash to them as well....Get creative, you can buy Sunfish Laminate worms but at the end of the day they are simply a gp with orange so take a look at the Rage BLuegill flipping bait, can't think of name right now but they are all black blue, gp, watermelons etc...

I Would launch a worm of your choice with a weighted hook and work it fast over the weeds and let it fall here and there....I would look into weedless spoons as mentioned, the Johnson Silver Minnow in 1/2 oz. with a 4" Single Tail grub or creature etc. can be one of the best presentations since fish see frogs and flukes all day long....I would look at the Johnson, Northland Jaw Breaker, Bass Pro version, but don't pay alot for fancy spoons, a gold, silver, black, and something in white or shad pattern and you would be good to go...1/2 oz is a good size for most days, actually Luhr Jensen sells one that is cheaper with a feather...Tony Calcutta spoon that I have been using for years... If fish are Post Spawn, give em a good meal, nice big SLuggo, or if you can get a Floating Jerkbait in the area a little scum should not affect the action of the Legendary Bomber 15A Jerkbait in Gold with florida chart, or bengal tiger or gold orange belly for post spawn seems to be best....Pinch down the barbs to help keep weeds off the lure but a hardbait will be a new look and most guys pass over floater's now a days for more sexy lures but they are still one of the best selling baits period.....Rapala, Rebel, Yo-zuri, Daiwa, Bomber 14A is about as small as you want, but the 15A will get you bit all day long, twitch twitch pause....or slow roll and wake.....I would say Red fin but casting them suck from shore, a wake bait can plow throw floating weeds, I am 100% convinced post Spawn Females are so tired of square bills, lipless cranks, Flukes, frogs, Trick worms, Senko's etc...Put a 5" easy to kill meal in its face and hold on tight, plus you can go 20lb mono or copoly no problem, its a plus....hope that helps

buzzbait for sure....I can wake a popper, or make a walker a subwalk so I could at least cover the water underneath, but a Buzzbait is never a bait I have had confidence in unless on top....Although I have had a few over many many years grab it while it was close to bottom after an overrun or if not paying attention......I wonder how a buzzbait blade would do in front of a c-rig stirring up bottom like a big craw....Always wanted to try with a plastic one in black and then tie a crawbug behind it a few feet or a smaller drop shot bait like a shrimp or 2" grub and see what happens... I can't stand all the New Buzzbaits on the market with frogs etc. for crazy money....Craziness nowadays, 8 blades on spinnerbaits, Quad buzzbaits, 90% of all the new tackle coming out is getting bizarre lately. $10 for a buzzbait blade and a frog behind it???

I throw banjo minnows on every trip, or swimbaits with segments I should say....

I used to change trebles like a freak, now I find I leave em as is and 90% of time I am happy except with lipless cranks which I simply upsize to VMC Inline #3 and #5..I like those 2 sizes since they do not alter action much.

On Walking baits, I find that the short trebles do not help my hook up percentage but I do have a few with short shank for working over weeds, and fish seem to stay buttoned better if Upgrade the split ring, but the Sammy Hooks I leave as is, I only change up hooks on spooks and other walkers...The more weight you add to the tail the better a bait usually walks, but test em out at the ramp and you know if you like the action or not...A dressed treble can add too much drag at times for some lures, The Sammy has good hooks but can't hurt if you have more confidence in another type or kind.

In all seriousness, if I knew what Bass were thinking and I could understand them day in and day out, I would kill for that power just for a few years because that is all it would take to clean up.... I do use red split rings or trebles at times, once used Red hooks on worms, not sure if it helped, helps, or if in my head at times, but I like buying Red Trebles for some reason.

Pink makes them angry, Red....Just annoyed....Swirls in Pink, Hold on tight to your rod.....