All Rigging Soft Baits Jig Heads Hard Baits Species Conditions
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Not sure where to begin? These guides cover the decisions that affect almost everything else.
Deep tackle guides
Dig into the details behind jig heads, soft plastics, hard baits, color, trolling, and common rigging choices.
Jig Heads How to Choose the Right Jig Head Weight, hook size, hook gap, wire strength, head shape, and how to match the head to the plastic. Read guide → Soft Baits Fall Rate First: Choosing Soft Plastics Why fall rate changes everything, then how profile, action, and color fit into the decision. Read guide → Hard Baits Depth, Action, and Retrieve How to choose crankbaits, jerkbaits, spoons, and trolling baits by what they do in the water. Read guide → Moving Baits Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, and Underspins Blade flash, vibration, retrieve speed, water clarity, cover, and when each moving bait makes sense. Read guide → Rigging Hook Size, Gap, and Wire Strength What hook size really means: fish size, bait body, hook gap, wire strength, and hook exposure. Read guide → Color Fishing Color Selection Without Overthinking It A practical way to choose colors by water clarity, light, contrast, forage, and confidence. Read guide → Crappie Crappie Plastics and Jig Heads Small plastics, lighter jig heads, hook size, vertical presentations, docks, brush, and when to downsize. Read guide → Trolling Trolling Baits: Depth, Speed, and Spread How trolling cranks, spoons, speed, depth, and line angle work together when covering open water. Read guide →
Browse by question
Start with the thing you are trying to solve, then work back to the right bait or setup.
Question What Size Jig Head Should I Use? How weight changes fall rate, depth, contact, current control, and how natural the bait looks. Answer it → Question Crankbait vs. Jerkbait The physical differences, how they move, and when one makes more sense than the other. Answer it → Question When Should I Use a Ned Rig? Pressure, bottom contact, clear water, small profiles, and why the setup works when fish get picky. Answer it → Question How Do I Choose a Soft Plastic Color? Natural, dark, bright, translucent, contrast, and when color matters less than profile or fall rate. Answer it →