kdatwe

awesome catch

I love real frog baits. My favorite was the original superfrog, but it was a lot smaller - can't wait to see the one you're working on in the grass roots section.

no, might be even better

Time on the water is the best...but unfortunately mine's limited due to ice, family and job interference. So I supplement with reading, SU, YouTube and buying too many swimbaits. Mike has a great site.

also my favorite from an historical perspective is "Lucas on bass" by Jason Lucas 1949. He was probably the most under rated bass fisherman of all time. He was touting catch and release when people thought that was insane. He fished with extremely primitive gear compared to us: pre ABU casting reels without line winding or drag capability using silk line that tested around 8 lbs. No electronics or trolling motor, but his observations are astute and relevant to today.

Big Bass Zone by Bill Siemental is pretty good, but try to find it in the library, it's expensive. Big Bass Magic by Doug Hannon

great bait! How did you attach the joint sections?

thanks, that looks like a much better option!

I saw some listed on ebay. I had one fall off my 250. I think I'm going to make one out of epoxy and foil, there are youtube videos that explain how.

I love my Negotiator. Started making my own, cause muskies like them too!

Amistoad, you have friends but they're all on SU

New to the forum...I have a South, Mother, Negotiator and lipless trick; the South is ok, but doesn't do near what the others will. In the video on youtube it seems to swim subsurface, but mine doesn't - it's strictly topwater. I like it enough to keep, but for the money it's over rated IMO. I didn't know it was originally made with a tail, that's intriguing. I like the idea of weighting it, but having to modify an expensive bait is disappointing. It sort of walks side to side but needs to be worked slow. I haven't found a blue gill bait that I like - I was thinking of trying a Live Target Wake?

Last Sunday fishing from shore with my daughter, Lake Storey in Illinois had a musky slam my negotiator; it wasn't a tiger and I didn't land it, but what a rush!

I lived on the Alabama coast for the last 20 years but recently relocated to Illinois; I plan on vacationing down in December. I wasn't able to fish much for largemouth down there, but I fished off the pier and caught Jack crevalle and redfish on bigger baits. Lake Shelby in orange beach used to be a Florida LM trophy lake but has been decimated by hurricanes over the years. however, it has a big population of redfish in the 20-30 lb range that are cooperative. The lake is very clear, but stained like Florida waters. Redfish and Jacks are great practice for when you finally encounter that trophy largemouth!