daiwa digital chip reel Lexa Baitcasting 400 Tanacom 1200 DAIWA BG8000 SALTWATER SPINNING REEL

In late July through August, those mega-schools of bass in deep water break up, and the bass transition back shallow, says Jones, who competes on the Bass Pro Tour alongside a successful son of the same name

Best for Swimbaits: Shimano Curado 300K Pros Curado monicker stands for the intersection of technology and value Doesnt weigh much more than traditional standard baitcasters Great line capacity Smooth drag Cons Less than ideal for light line techniques No high-speed option Key Features Left- and right-hand retrieves 4.7: 1 and 6.6:1 gear ratios 10.4 ounces Six total bearings Savvy anglers have relied upon the Curado series of reels since the 1990s, but most of the models bearing that name have been 200-sized versions

Rip rap offers heat in the winter, plus lots of places for prey to hide and gamefish to feed

The Uni-to-Uni or FG knot are great knots to join fluorocarbon with other lines.

Honorable Mentions: Dark Matter Astro Spook, Jigging World Spook Best Metal Lip Swimmer: Gibbs Danny Surface Swimmer Pros Excellent when stripers are feeding on large bait fish Works day and night Cons Relatively poor casting distance Not great in rough conditions Key Features Length: 4.5, 6, and 7.5 inches Weight 1 1/2, 2 1/4, and 3 ounces Tunable by bending the line tie The Gibbs Danny Surface Swimmer has a seductive action and large profile that triggers big stripers, which is why its my choice for best metal lip swimmer and one of the overall best baits for striped bass