Welcome to the Gear Hub — your go-to guide for proven tackle, lures, and equipment. We start with season-specific picks so you can match your gear to the time of year. Click here for the complete Arsenal — a quick-reference list of every rod, reel, lure, and tool we recommend. Jump straight to:
Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter.
Spring Loadout
🎣 Go-To Baits
Prespawn:
- Red lipless crankbait (e.g., Rat-L-Trap 1/2 oz) – Burn or yo-yo over grass.
(Why it works: Mimics crawfish, which are molting and active, and triggers aggressive reaction strikes.)
- Jig with chunk trailer – Flip to staging wood or rock.
(Why it works: Replicates crawfish or bottom-dwelling prey, perfect for slower presentations in colder water.)
- Suspending jerkbait – Great on clear water staging banks.
(Why it works: Imitates dying baitfish, triggers wary bass, and can be paused in their strike zone.)
Spawn:
- Texas-rigged creature bait (e.g., Rage Bug or D Bomb) – Pitch to beds.
(Why it works: Mimics intruders on a bed, compact profile allows for precise placement.)
- Wacky rig (Senko-style worm) – For spooky bed fish.
(Why it works: Subtle, natural fall triggers tentative bites from fish locked on beds.)
- White tube bait – Helps you visually track followers.
(Why it works: Highly visible, can be fished slowly to entice bass protecting beds or cruising nearby.)
Postspawn:
- Topwater walking bait (e.g., Spook Jr.) – Early mornings.
(Why it works: Bass are recovering and willing to strike on the surface, especially in low light.)
- Bladed jig – Along grass edges.
(Why it works: Vibrating action and flash imitate baitfish and attract recovering bass in cover.)
- Weightless fluke – To pick off recovering roamers.
(Why it works: Erratic, dying baitfish action appeals to scattered, postspawn bass without being too aggressive.)
⚙️ Priority Picks for This Season (See Full Arsenal at the End of the book)
The following gear represents a focused selection from the complete arsenal — the remaining gear needed to cover every pattern and condition is listed in the full checklist at the end.
- Rod: 7’–7’3″ MH Fast (or M for finesse rigs)
- Reel: 6.4:1 to 7.3:1 casting reel
- Line: 12–17 lb fluorocarbon for bottom contact, braid to leader for finesse
Summer Loadout
🎣 Go-To Baits
Early Summer:
- Topwater popper or walking bait – At sunrise.
(Why it works: Early morning low light and active baitfish create prime topwater conditions for aggressive bass.)
- Swim jig – Imitate baitfish in grass.
(Why it works: Slips through grass effectively, realistic baitfish profile, and can be worked at various speeds.)
- Big worm (10″ ribbon tail) Texas rigged – On deeper brush.
(Why it works: Large profile appeals to bigger bass, excellent for probing deep cover slowly and effectively.)
Mid-Summer Heat:
- Deep-diving crankbait – Bounce off ledges, brush piles, or shell bars.
(Why it works: Reaches deep, deflects off structure to trigger reaction bites from heat-stressed bass.)
- Dropshot – For vertical structure or deep fish.
(Why it works: Extremely finessy, allows you to target suspended or reluctant fish with precise depth control.)
- Popping Frog – Worked slowly in shade (docks, overhanging trees).
(Why it works: Grabs the attention of bass in shade. Entices bite through slow or methodical popping.)
Late Summer / Dog Days:
- Finesse worm on shaky head
(Why it works: Subtle action and light weight for enticing lethargic, pressured bass in clear water.)
- Punch rig – For flipping matted vegetation.
(Why it works: Designed to penetrate thick mats, reaching bass seeking shade and cooler water underneath.)
- Buzzbait – Late-day reaction strikes around shade.
(Why it works: Creates a commotion on the surface, triggering aggressive strikes from bass ambushing from shaded cover.)
⚙️ Priority Picks for This Season (See Full Arsenal at the End of the book)
The following gear represents a focused selection from the complete arsenal — the remaining gear needed to cover every pattern and condition is listed in the full checklist at the end.
- Rod: 7’3″+ Heavy or MH for heavy applications, M spinning for finesse
- Reel: 7.1:1 or faster for power baits
- Line: 15–20 lb fluorocarbon or 50–65 lb braid for punching
Fall Pattern Loadout
🎣 Go-To Baits
Early Fall:
- Squarebill crankbait – Burn around shallow rock or wood.
(Why it works: Excellent for deflecting off cover in shallow water, mimicking fleeing baitfish or crawfish.)
- Spinnerbait – Windy banks or cloudy days.
(Why it works: Vibration and flash excel in low light or choppy water, attracting aggressive fall bass.)
- Neko Rig – Calm, tough conditions.
(Why it works: Subtle presentation for finicky bass.)
Mid Fall (Feeding Frenzy):
- Swimbait – Over schooling bait or to cover water.
(Why it works: Excels at imitating panicked baitfish on the surface, drawing explosive strikes from schooling bass.)
- Soft jerkbait (fluke) – Twitch-twitch-pause.
(Why it works: Erratic, dying baitfish action is irresistible to bass actively chasing bait, especially in clear water.)
- Underspin swimbait – Match the hatch below schools.
(Why it works: Subtle flash and realistic profile mimic individual baitfish, effective when bass are focused on a specific size/shape.)
Late Fall / Cooldown:
- Jig – Pitched to isolated rock or wood.
(Why it works: Excellent for targeting lethargic bass on specific pieces of cover, mimics crawfish or small baitfish.)
- Finesse worm on a shaky head
(Why it works: Subtle action for coaxing bites from cold, inactive bass when other baits are too aggressive.)
⚙️ Priority Picks for This Season (See Full Arsenal at the End of the book)
The following gear represents a focused selection from the complete arsenal — the remaining gear needed to cover every pattern and condition is listed in the full checklist at the end.
- Rod: 7′ MH for power moving baits, M for finesse
- Reel: 6.3:1 to 7.5:1 — adjust based on reaction speed
- Line: 12–17 lb fluorocarbon or braid-to-leader for finesse
Winter Pattern Loadout
🎣 Go-To Baits
Early Winter:
- Blade bait – Subtle vibration in deep water.
(Why it works: Mimics dying baitfish with a tight, vibrating action, effective for triggering reluctant bass in cold water.)
- Ned Rig – Small, finesse worm on a mushroom head jig.
(Why it works: The small profile and slow, subtle fall are perfect for enticing lethargic bass, mimicking a struggling baitfish or worm on the bottom in cold water.)
- Mid-depth crankbait – Craw or shad pattern around 45° banks.
(Why it works: Excellent for probing specific depths along steep banks, deflecting off structure to trigger bites.)
Deep Winter:
- Finesse jig – Dragged slowly over rock.
(Why it works: Extremely subtle, allows for painstaking exploration of hard bottom where bass are hunkered down.)
- Drop shot – On sonar fish or steep breaks.
(Why it works: Allows precise presentation to suspended fish or those tightly glued to vertical structure without moving the weight.)
- Tight wobble flat-sided crankbait – For lethargic fish near structure. (Why it works: Less aggressive action than standard cranks, appealing to slow-moving bass; mimics cold-stunned baitfish.)
⚙️ Priority Picks for This Season (See Full Arsenal at the End of the book)
The following gear represents a focused selection from the complete arsenal — the remaining gear needed to cover every pattern and condition is listed in the full checklist at the end.
- Rod: 6’10″–7’3″ M or MH depending on bait size
- Reel: 5.4:1 to 6.3:1 — slower gear ratios preferred
- Line: 6–12 lb fluorocarbon or braid-to-fluoro for vertical rigs
The Gear Audit Checklist
This is the section you come back to every few trips — or every season — to make sure your gear’s tight, functional, and ready to win. Don’t wait until you’re on the water to realize you’re out of 3/0 hooks or your frog’s legs are melted.
🎯 How to Use This
- Run this checklist before the season starts, after 5+ trips, or any time you feel disorganized
- Mark what’s low, worn, or broken
- Use the notes column to track restock needs
- Then hit the Tackle Loadout Gear List to fill in the gaps
✅ Rod & Reel Setup
| Item | Check | Notes |
| Casting Rods (MH/H) | ☐ | |
| Spinning Rods (ML/M) | ☐ | |
| Frog/Flipping Rod | ☐ | |
| Cranking/Glass Rod | ☐ | |
| High-Speed Reel | ☐ | |
| Deep Crank Reel | ☐ | |
| Finesse Reel | ☐ |
✅ Line Inventory
✅ Terminal Tackle
| Item | Check | Notes |
| Hooks (EWG, flipping, drop shot, wacky) | ☐ | |
| Tungsten Weights (varied sizes) | ☐ | |
| Nail Weights, Neko Weights | ☐ | |
| Pegs, Bobber Stops | ☐ |
✅ Plastics & Soft Baits
| Item | Check | Notes |
| Worms (trick, finesse, ribbon) | ☐ | |
| Fluke | ☐ | |
| Creatures/Beavers | ☐ | |
| Stickbaits (Senko-style) | ☐ | |
| Swimbaits (paddle tail) | ☐ | |
| Craws & Trailers | ☐ | |
| Tubes & Ned-style | ☐ |
✅ Topwater Box
| Item | Check | Notes |
| Walking Baits | ☐ | |
| Popping Frog | ☐ | |
| Poppers | ☐ | |
| Hollow Body Frogs | ☐ | |
| Buzzbaits | ☐ | |
| Prop Baits (Devil’s Horse, Whopper Plopper) | ☐ |
✅ Hardbaits & Power Fishing
| Item | Check | Notes |
| Squarebill Cranks | ☐ | |
| Medium/Deep Cranks | ☐ | |
| Jerkbaits | ☐ | |
| Underspin | ☐ | |
| Spinnerbaits | ☐ | |
| Bladed Jigs (Chatterbaits) | ☐ | |
| Swim Jigs | ☐ | |
| Lipless Cranks | ☐ | |
| Glide Baits / Big Swimbaits | ☐ |