Joe S

For the medium/small sized swimbaits it's hard to beat the Bass Assassin Turbo Shads. Just a huge variety of colors available, great action and priced decent. https://www.bassassassin.com/store/p62/Turbo_Shad_-_4″_Freshwater.html#/ Also, for a slighty more expensive one the Storm 360 Search Baits are killer and you can get them much longer in teh 5" + range. From what i have heard they bought the old Trigger X molds to bring these out to market. whatever the history they work great. https://www.rapala.com/storm/soft-baits/360gt-searchbait/360gt-searchbait-/360GT+Searchbait.html Enjoy and good luck out there.

I like tying the rapala knot for most all crankbaits, stickbaits, topwater and spinnerbaits. It just seems the action is better (doesn't mess with the lures natural action) and one less piece of hardware on at the lure front. I tie directly to the lure loop and not the split ring (i usually take that off). Other lures like jigs, in-line spinners or the like i am ok with a split ring and simply hook it with a ball bearing swivel. In fact in many case this helps to reduce line twist.

For me it's a Berkley Ripple shad. These are great looking swimbaits (color and action) but i have yet to catch a single fish on them (not even a pike). I can change it up for another brand of swim bait (same color and all) and will get a hit on the next cast. It's crazy. Not sure if there is a smell or something that turns off the fish. It's a shame since they look great in the water. After a couple of years of nothing they go in and out of my tackle bag throughout the season. Fingers crossed something will hit one day or i might just give them to someone to purge....!

Here in SE Michigan our local DSG has an abysmal fishing section. The few fishing aisles are half empty all the time and even the stock they do have is stacked up so that you have to sort through to see what they really have. Besides that they have one clerk in that area that simply lies to sell stuff. I've called him out on it a few times and he gets angry (oh well the customer he was scamming was thankful). To be honest, if they fully close the fishing section then there is not much lost in my local DSG.

To be honest for me it has simply been time fishing. This past couple of years i haven't been able to get out on the boat very much (just too busy) but i realized i had an hour to kill here and there which drove me do more shore line fishing. I could get in a solid 50 minutes mutilple times a week. It was great, and kept my fishing needs satisfied. Also, since i only had the hour i would limit what i brought and only focus in on using 1 type of bait/lure each time. This gave me good learning time with that particular lure. You'd be surprised what you can do with each type of lure when it's all you bring and you want to rip some lips.

Unless it's a very secluded lake you should be able to find a depth map by googling it. As noted above find it on google earth and zoom in looking for the structure or varying water color, weed beds, etc. . It might be different than the pic depending on when you actually fish but it'll give you an idea where to start. Also have an idea (from a local bait shop or internet) what the lake has for fish type and be ready to hit those particular ones with what you have confidence (cranks, sticks, drop shot, senkos, etc. ).

Crankbaits are great for covering a lot of water and water depth. But there are a few things to keep in mind when using them: 1) Remember that cranks are designed to trigger reactionary strikes from fish. They have a tight wobble pattern to give off a fleeing sense directly to the lateral line of a predatory fish. It the fish are waiting for a meal to dift by their nose or dangle near by (like when using a drop shot) then a crank just wont bring them in. 2) The great thing about crankbaits is you can cover many depths simply by changing up to one with a longer bill. As you noted the square bill is for shallower water and also designed to bounce of the bottom structure. This kicks up the bottom and helps to call-in the hogs. Make sure you are knocking it on the bottom. 3) As with other lures... color can matter. Something too flashy in clear water might spook instead of entice. Something muted in stained water might not be visible enough to strike. Be sure you are selecting for the conditions of the water and the local forage. 4) Most minnow-type lures do better with a little rod twiching on the retrieve. nothing dramatic but enough to give the lure a bit of erratic motion instead of a steady predictable retrieve. This can enhance the 'fleeing' or injured bait look to temp the big 'uns. Crankbaits should have a place in every fisherman's tackle box but you do have to grow your confidence in using them over time.

SLF --- You nailed it! I just looked them up and found a pic on google. It's is one of the Roscoe Shiners. I had got a bunch of these from my dad when i was a kid and forgot all about that maker.

Webertime. well i have a note off to Nils and did a check on Bagley. For sure the Bang O lure in the Tennesee Shad/Orange Belly is the closest i have ever seen although it is missing the red gil marks and squared bill. It might just be a good replacement if i cannot find the original above. Thanks! UPDATE: I talked with both Bagley and Nils. Neither claim it to be theirs. Of course Bagley did note (as i did above) that is is really close to their Bang O 4" in the color noted.

JA - thanks. I'll give that a look up. For sure it is an old one. I've had it for at least 25 years.

My experience is that when the sun gets up (even in winter) the fish are less likely to be preditory unless you fish along the edge of a weedbed where they can take cover hide and ambush. Once the sun is up, I will usually switch to a jig and bounce slowly off the bottom or a drop shot and wiggle it in front of their nose. To that...i have had luck during sun-up in the spring when they are warming up from winter and feeding like crazy.

Need some help identifying this stickbait. It's for sure not a Rapala (i checked with them) but can't remember where i got it or the make. It is 4" long and the hooks are galvinzied. It is a floating at rest, dives 5-6' when cranked. Key also is a squared bill much like stubby crank baits. Have caught dozens of fish on this one (see the battle scars) from bass to pike to walleye and even lake trout. Want to get another but am at a loss on who makes it. Appreciate the help...! Joe S.