How can I put you On ‘Em & help you catch your PB?

help me win the Gerald Swindle Big Bass Classic on Guntersville

Heck yeah, partner — we can put you on a donkey for the Big Bass Classic. To dial you into a winning, big-bite milk run on Guntersville, I need a few details to lock in waypoints, current windows, and exact baits. Then I’ll drop precise GPS pins and an hour-by-hour plan.

First, quick questions (so I can be laser-accurate):

• Event date(s) and fishing hours? Hourly weigh-ins or a single big fish at day’s end?
• Weigh-in site and your launch ramp?
• Rules check: Is an Alabama Rig allowed? Max hooks? Any lure restrictions?
• Your ride and electronics: boat or kayak, Humminbird/Garmin/Lowrance, and do you have 360/Live?
• Practice time available before the event?
• Recent local info you’ve seen: water temp, water clarity (inches/feet), grass type and height (hydrilla/eelgrass/milfoil), presence of bait/bream, and any TVA current windows you noticed.
• Confidence baits: frogs/punching, chatterbait, big swimbait/glide, ledge cranking/jigs?

Provisional winning game plan for early fall Guntersville (tune-ups coming once you confirm date and conditions):
Summary

• Big-bass format = we hunt 1–2 bites, not numbers. Guntersville quality comes from grass mats, eelgrass points/inside turns, and current-juiced bars, bridges, and shell.
• Primary plays:
  1) Midday sun mats: frog/punch for one absolute giant.
  2) Eelgrass edges and points: JackHammer/chatter with shad around, swimjig/toad if too choked.
  3) TVA-current bars/shell/bridge pilings: big crank, 3/4–1 oz football jig, 6–8″ swimbait.
  4) Wind/clouds: burn a trap and cover water on the downwind grass side for a surprise toad.

Stepwise guidance
1) First light (30–60 min)

• If light wind/clouds: run shad-blowed eelgrass points at creek mouths with a 3/8–1/2 oz JackHammer (BHite Delight or Green Pumpkin Shad, Zako/Razor ShadZ trailer). Tick the top of the grass; keep blade contact. Mix in a white buzzbait with a toad around isolated clumps.
• If slick calm: big walking topwater (Sexy Dawg/Spook) over scattered eelgrass, then slide to mats quick.

2) Morning transition (7:30–9:30)

• Cover high-percentage eelgrass inside turns. If they’re nipping/short-striking, change to a swimjig (gp shad + Cane Thumper) or a Speed Worm (Junebug Red) on 1/8–3/16 oz swimming the edges.
• Watch your graph for roaming wolfpacks and bait on 6–10 ft edges. If current begins, be ready to pivot to the bar/bridge plan.

3) Midday sunshine (money mat window)

• Slide to matted hydrilla/eelgrass with “cheese” and bluegill life. Big bites show 10–2 when the sun pins ‘em.
• Frog: black or black/yellow belly and a white if shad are flickering. Work slow, pause in holes, and don’t swing till you feel weight.
• Punch: 1–1.5 oz tungsten, 4/0–5/0 straight-shank, 65 lb braid, gp/beaver or gp blue creature. Flip every dark hole and hard-edge seam. Big ones are often 2–4 feet inside the wall.

4) Current bite (anytime TVA pulls)

• Bridges, first breaks off bars, and shell corners on the main river.
• Rotate: 6XD/DT16/gizzard deep crank to fire them, then 3/4–1 oz football jig (gp blue + Rage Craw), then slow-roll a 6–8″ swimbait (Magdraft/Freeswimmer).
• If allowed by rules and bait is balled up, an A-rig can be your hourly-check cash machine.

5) Wind/cloud adjustments

• Wind pushes bait to outside grass. Burn a 1/2–3/4 lipless (red/orange if stained, chrome/ghost in clear) over 3–6 ft tops. Rip it when it ticks.

Tournament strategy (Big Bass hourly format)

• Set weight targets by hour. If typical hourly checks are 3.5–4.5 lb midday, a legit 4+ should go to the scales. Early/late often spikes — hold for bigger if leaderboards show 6–7+ already posted that hour.
• Don’t sit on one mat too long without signs: life = bream pops, dragonflies, slick spots, and occasional busts. No life in 15–20 min? Roll.
• Keep a “cash fish” spot near weigh-in for quick turn-ins mid-day.
• Fish care: livewells on recirc, add G-Juice/Please Release Me, two frozen drink bottles, and check water pressure (eelgrass clogs intakes!). Cull rings off the jaw when traveling.

Electronics setup for grass and shell

• Side imaging: 455 or 800 kHz, 100–120 ft range each side for grass edges/shell; SI contrast just until shell pops lighter than mud.
• Map shading:
  • Highlight 2–6 ft for frog/power grass.
  • Highlight 6–10 ft for eelgrass edges and shad lanes.
  • Highlight 10–16 ft for bars/shell lanes.
• If you have MEGA 360/Live: scan for holes and irregularities; set sweep speed slower over mats; target “inside hard spots” and isolated clumps off the main edge.

Boat/mechanic checklist (Guntersville grass-specific)

• Clear cooling intakes often; watch water pressure gauge. Keep a rigging knife or shears handy for eelgrass ropes.
• Trolling motor: fresh braid on prop, spare shear pin/prop nut, check shaft seals.
• Livewells: verify recirc/aerator fuses, bring backup aerator clip-on if you have one.
• Weigh bag with aeration if long run to scales.

Quick Grab Gear List
“`gearlist
Rods:

• 7’4″–7’6″ Heavy Fast frog rod
• 7’6″ Heavy punching rod
• 7’3″ MH Moderate-Fast chatterbait rod
• 7’3″ Heavy Fast football jig/bottom contact
• 7’10” XH swimbait rod (6–8″ baits) or A-rig rod if legal
• 7′ MH Moderate lipless/deep crank rod
  Reels:
• 8.1:1 for frog/punch/jig
• 7.1:1 for chatterbait/swimjig
• 6.3:1 for deep crank/lipless
  Line:
• 65 lb braid (frog/punch)
• 17–20 lb fluoro (chatterbait/swimjig/jig)
• 12–15 lb fluoro (crank/lipless) Lures:
• Hollow-body frogs (black, black/yellow, white)
• Punch baits (beaver gp/black blue, 1–1.5 oz tungsten, 4/0–5/0 straight-shank)
• Z-Man JackHammer 3/8–1/2 (BHite Delight, GP Shad) + Zako/Razor ShadZ
• Swimjig 3/8 (gp shad) + Cane Thumper/Spunk Shad
• 6XD/DT16, lipless 1/2–3/4 (chrome/ghost, red/orange)
• 3/4–1 oz football jig (gp blue) + Rage Craw
• 6–8″ swimbait (Magdraft/Freeswimmer/HazDong)
• (If legal) 5-wire A-rig w/ 3–5 hooks, 3.3–4.3 swimbaits
  Terminal Tackle:
• Bobber stops (double), tungsten flipping weights, 3/0–5/0 straight-shank, snaps/split rings for cranks
  Clothing:
• Lightweight UV shirt, sun gaiter, wide-brim, polarized copper/green lens, rain jacket, frog-proof boots
  “`

Location info and GPS waypoints

• I’ll drop a precise, 6–10 stop milk run with GPS waypoints (5-decimal precision) once you confirm date/hours, launch, and whether you want to focus upper/mid/lower lake. Pins will include:
  • Two matted grass fields with bream life and clean edges
  • Three eelgrass points/inside turns that reload with wind/current
  • Two bar/shell corners tied to first break/current seam
  • One bridge rotation spot with piling eddies and shad staging

Reference links to check before go-time

• TVA Lake Info app (Guntersville generation schedule and tailwater flows)
• Big Bass Tour / Event Rules page (Gerald Swindle Big Bass Classic) — lure/legalities, hourly weigh-ins, polygraph
• Alabama DCNR fishing regs and ramp advisories
• Navionics WebApp or your unit’s map for contour shading

Validation and next steps

• This is a proven, big-bite Guntersville plan for early fall, but to maximize your odds of winning an hour or the whole shebang, I need your event specifics and a read on current conditions.
• Send the details above, and I’ll post exact GPS pins, timing by hour, and a traffic plan to the scales.
• If you want, I can also tailor a backup plan for a north wind/post-frontal bluebird day and specify which hours to camp mats vs. chase current.

Ready when you are — let’s go feed “Ol’ Big” some frog legs and cash checks.

event is October 9 -12, 2025, daylight to 3:00, launch Guntersville State Park, mid lake, boat with birds, shakey head

Heck yeah, bud—mid-October outta the State Park puts you right in the juice. We’ll hunt one or two true kickers each day, then cash hourly checks when the scoreboard says it’s smart. Since you’re on Humminbirds and like a shakey head, I’ll bake that into the plan.

Before I drop exact GPS pins, I need two quick confirmations so I don’t steer you wrong:

• Is an Alabama Rig legal for this event, and if so how many hooks are allowed? (Tournament rules sometimes differ from AL regs.)
• Do you have MEGA 360 and/or MEGA Live on your Birds?

Summary

• Time/Place: Oct 9–12, daylight–3 pm, launching Lake Guntersville State Park (mid-lake).
• Big fish playbook: early eelgrass points/inside turns (shad), mid-day matted hydrilla/eelgrass “cheese” (frog/punch), and current-juiced bars/bridges (deep crank/jig/swimbait/shakey).
• Hourly strategy: Post anything 4+ lbs most hours; hold only if the hourly board shows bigger than yours and you’re confident you can upgrade quickly.

Stepwise Game Plan (Daylight–3:00)
1) First Light (0:00–1:00 after safe light)

• Target: Eelgrass points and inside turns at the mouths of Town Creek, Mink Creek, and outside Seibold.
• Baits:
  • 1/2 oz JackHammer (BHite Delight or GP Shad) + Zako/Razor ShadZ, keep blade ticking grass tops 3–6 ft.
  • White buzzbait with toad or a big walker if slick.
• If bait is sparse, slide 100–200 yards toward the main channel break and slow-roll a 6″ swimbait over the first break.

2) Morning Feed (1:00–3:00)

• Keep running points that reload with wind/current and any eelgrass corners with shad flickers.
• If they’re nipping: 3/8 oz swimjig (gp shad) + 3.8 paddletail; or a Speed Worm (Junebug Red) swimming the edges.
• Your confidence bait: big-fish shakey head on hard spots just off those edges (details below).

3) Midday Sunshine (10–2 = Big Bite Mat Window)

• Slide to matted hydrilla/eelgrass with cheese and bream life in Town/Mink back sections and protected pockets near the State Park shoreline.
• Baits:
  • Frog (black/yellow belly and white). Long pauses in holes; don’t swing till you feel weight.
  • Punch: 1–1.25 oz tungsten, 4/0–5/0 straight-shank, double bobber stops, gp/black-blue beaver. Focus on:
    • Inside edges with clean sand
    • Dark holes under cheese
    • Eelgrass/hydrilla seams
• If TVA starts moving water, be ready to bail to current spots immediately.

4) Current Bite (whenever TVA pulls)

• Priority: bridge corners, shell bars off creek mouths, and first breaks tied to the river at Seibold/Town/Mink and the Hwy 69 causeway.
• Rotation:
  • Deep crank (6XD/DT16/gizzard pattern) to fire them
  • 3/4–1 oz football jig (green pumpkin blue + Rage Craw)
  • 6–8″ swimbait (Magdraft/Freeswimmer). Slow-roll upcurrent to downcurrent with bottom contact.
  • If legal: A-rig can win an hour here.
• Keep a shakey head ready to mop up a lone giant on the seam.

5) Last Hour (2:00–3:00)

• Camp close to weigh-in. Hit a “cash fish” eelgrass point or a mat within a 10–12 minute run.
• If wind/clouds: rip a 3/4 lipless over outside grass (chrome/ghost in clear, red/orange if stained).

How to Boat a Giant on a Shakey Head (Guntersville-specific)

• Head: 3/16–3/8 oz stand-up style (Gammy/Ned/Owner shaky), long 5/0 light-wire if available.
• Worms: Zoom Magnum Trick, Roboworm Straight Tail 7″, NetBait T-Mac, colors GP, GP Blue, Junebug in stain, Watermelon Red in clear.
• Line: 15 lb fluoro main (or 30 lb braid to 12–15 lb fluoro leader); gun for power, not finesse.
• Targets:
  • Hard spots and shell on the outside eelgrass edge in 6–10 ft.
  • Bridge corners and the first downcurrent seam.
  • The “gut” lanes through eelgrass where side-imaging shows sand/ripple transitions.
• Retrieve: Long cast past the edge, pop it free when it snags grass, then deadstick 3–5 seconds on clean patches. Big ones thump when it breaks loose or on the pause.
• Angles: Cast slightly upcurrent, let it pendulum to you so it naturally crosses the seam.

Humminbird Setup (Lakemaster + SI/360)

• Lakemaster:
  • Shallow Water Highlight: 0–6 ft (frog/chatter zone)
  • Depth Highlight: 6–10 ft (eelgrass edge/bait lanes)
  • Second shade: 10–16 ft (bars/shell/current seams)
• Side Imaging:
  • 455 kHz, 100–120 ft each side for searching; contrast until shell pops lighter than mud.
  • SI Speed 3–4; idle 3.2–4.0 mph.
• MEGA 360 (if you have it):
  • Sweep slow on mats; mark holes, isolated clumps, inside turns.
  • On bridges/bars, look for isolated rough patches and single hard targets off the main edge.
• 2D/DI:
  • SwitchFire Max Mode when over grass holes; DI sensitivity 12–14 for bait separation.

Tournament Strategy & Logistics

• Hourly Call: Weigh anything 4+ most hours; adjust to leaderboard. If an hour shows a 6–7 lb leader with multiple 5s, fish for a bigger one and hold your 4 if you’re confident you can upgrade next hour.
• Scale Staging: Keep one “cash fish” stop within 10–12 minutes of the State Park to turn and burn.
• Fish Care: Livewells full, recirc on, G-Juice, 2 frozen bottles; check for eelgrass in intakes every run.

Provisional Mid-Lake Milk Run (no pins yet; verify rules first)

• Town Creek mouth eelgrass points and inside turns.
• Mink Creek mouth outside bar and the eelgrass corner on the downwind side.
• Seibold Creek mouth shell spots and first break to river.
• Hwy 69 causeway riprap corners and eddies.
• State Park-protected mats with cheese (midday).
• Main river outside grass edges closest to the deepest water within a long cast.

Quick Grab Gear List
“`gearlist
Rods:

• 7’4″–7’6″ Heavy Fast frog rod
• 7’6″ Heavy punching rod
• 7’3″ MH Moderate-Fast chatterbait/swimjig rod
• 7’3″ Heavy Fast football jig/bottom contact rod
• 7’10” XH swimbait/A-rig rod (if legal)
• 7′ MH Fast shakey head rod (power shakey) Reels:
• 8.1:1 for frog/punch/jig
• 7.1:1 for chatterbait/swimjig/shakey
• 6.3:1 for deep crank/lipless
  Line:
• 65 lb braid (frog/punch)
• 17–20 lb fluoro (chatter/swimjig/jig)
• 12–15 lb fluoro (crank/lipless)
• 15 lb fluoro or 30 lb braid to 12–15 lb fluoro leader (shakey) Lures:
• Hollow-body frogs (black/yellow belly, white)
• Punch setup: 1–1.25 oz tungsten, 4/0–5/0 straight-shank, gp/black-blue beaver
• Z-Man JackHammer 1/2 (BHite Delight, GP Shad) + Zako/Razor ShadZ
• Swimjig 3/8 (gp shad) + 3.8 paddletail
• Deep cranks (6XD/DT16 gizzard; natural shad)
• Lipless 1/2–3/4 (chrome/ghost; red/orange if stained)
• 3/4–1 oz football jig (gp blue) + Rage Craw
• 6–8″ swimbait (Magdraft/Freeswimmer/HazDong)
• Shakey heads 3/16–3/8 + Mag Trick/7″ straight tail worms (GP, Junebug, GP Blue) Terminal Tackle:
• Double bobber stops, tungsten flipping weights, 3/0–5/0 straight-shanks
• Spare split rings/snaps, trailer hooks for buzzbait
  Clothing:
• Lightweight UV shirt, sun gaiter, polarized copper/green lens, rain jacket, frog-proof boots
  “`

Reference Links

• TVA Lake Info app (Guntersville generation)
• Alabama DCNR fishing regs and ramp advisories
• Event rules page (Gerald Swindle Big Bass Classic) for A-rig/hook limits, hourly weigh-in details
• Navionics WebApp or your Lakemaster chart for contour confirmation

Validation and Next Steps

• I’ve built you a mid-October big-bite plan tuned to the State Park/mid-lake zone and your shakey head confidence. To lock it down, I need:
  1) A-rig legality and hook count for the event
  2) Your electronics: do you have MEGA 360 and/or MEGA Live?
  3) Any recent local reads (water temp, clarity, grass height/type, obvious bait in the creeks)
• Once you confirm, I’ll drop a precise 8–10 waypoint milk run (5-decimal GPS) centered on Town, Mink, Seibold, and the Hwy 69 causeway with exact cast angles, baits per stop, and a weigh-in timing plan per hour. If conditions change (post-front bluebird, muddy water, or heavy current), I’ll pivot the package and update the pins.

no alabama rigs, MEGA Live

Love it. No A‑rig, MEGA Live on the Birds, mid‑lake outta Guntersville State Park—perfect for a frog/punch plus power shakey-head big-bass hunt. Here’s the winning plan tuned for Oct 9–12, daylight–3:00.

Summary

• Targets for a donkey: eelgrass points/inside turns at creek mouths early, matted cheese 10–2, and current-juiced bars/bridges anytime TVA pulls.
• No A‑rig: replace with big single swimbaits, double‑willow spinnerbaits, deep crank + football jig.
• Hourly strategy: take a 4+ to the scales most hours; hold only if leaderboard shows several 5–6+ and you’re confident you can upgrade quickly.

Hour-by-hour plan (Daylight–3:00)
1) First light (0:00–1:00)

• Spots: outside points/inside turns at the mouths of Town Creek and Mink Creek; outside grass on the main river near the State Park.
• Baits/angles:
  • 1/2 oz JackHammer (BHite Delight/GP Shad) + Zako or Razor ShadZ. Tick tops of 3–6 ft eelgrass; yo‑yo to trigger.
  • White buzzbait with toad or big walker if slick calm.
  • If current is rolling at daybreak, slow-roll a 1/2–3/4 oz double‑willow spinnerbait (shad) along the seam.

2) Early morning feed (1:00–3:00)

• Keep running eelgrass corners that reload with wind/current.
• If short strikes: 3/8 swimjig (gp shad) + 3.8 paddletail; or a speed worm (Junebug Red in stain, Watermelon Red in clear).
• Power shakey head on the hard outside edge (details below).

3) Midday sun (10–2 = Big Bite Mat Window)

• Slide to mats with cheese and bluegill life (protected pockets near State Park; inside Town/Mink).
• Frog: black or black/yellow belly and a white as backup. Work slooow, pause in holes; swing only after weight.
• Punch: 1–1.25 oz tungsten, double bobber stops, 4/0–5/0 straight-shank, gp/black-blue beaver. Hit:
  • Inside clean sand edges
  • Dark holes under cheese
  • Hydrilla/eelgrass seams 2–4 ft inside the wall

4) Current/play it when it turns on (anytime TVA pulls)

• Bridges/causeway corners, shell bars off creek mouths, first break to river.
• Rotation: 6XD/DT16 (gizzard/natural) to fire -> 3/4–1 oz football jig (gp blue + Rage Craw) -> 6–8″ single swimbait (Magdraft Freestyle on 3/8–1/2 oz Beast) slow‑rolled across the seam.
• Mop-up with the shakey head on the hard spot once the school chills.

5) Last hour (2:00–3:00)

• Stay close to scales. Hit a known “cash fish” eelgrass point or a mat 10–12 minutes from weigh‑in.
• If wind/clouds: rip a 3/4 oz lipless (chrome/ghost in clear; red/orange if stained) over outside grass and yo‑yo when you tick.

Power shakey-head big-bite program

• Head: 1/4–3/8 oz stand-up shakey; 4/0–5/0 light-wire or medium hook.
• Worms: Zoom Magnum Trick, NetBait T‑Mac, Roboworm Straight Tail 7″. Colors: GP, GP Blue, Watermelon Red (clear), Junebug/Junebug Red (stain).
• Line/rod: 15 lb fluoro on a 7’0″–7’3″ MH fast (or 30 lb braid to 12–15 lb fluoro leader).
• Targets/angles:
  • Hard spots/shell 6–10 ft just off the eelgrass edge.
  • Downcurrent seams at bridge/causeway corners.
  • “Sand lanes” through grass you see on SI/360.
  • Cast slightly upcurrent; let it pendulum across the seam. Pop free when it grabs grass; deadstick 3–5 seconds—the big ones thump on the break‑free or the pause.

MEGA Live (Humminbird) setup for grass/current

• Modes:
  • Forward for edges/bars; 80–100 ft range in grass, 120 ft on bars.
  • Landscape for mats to scan holes/clumps; 40–60 ft range, 15–20° tilt.
• Tuning:
  • Color: Amber 2 or Blue; Gain 18–22; Noise Filter Low; TVG Off; Surface Clutter 0–2.
  • Chart shading (Lakemaster): Shallow 0–6 ft (frog/chatter), Depth Highlight 6–10 ft (edges), second shade 10–16 ft (bars/breaks).
• Tips:
  • On eelgrass edges, look for “ghost returns” of bait balls and clean streaks (sand lanes). Cast inside‑out and out‑in until you find the gate they’re using.
  • At bridges, aim your beam to clip the downstream eddy edge; watch for arcs sliding in/out and time casts to pass through the line of fish.

Multi‑day tournament flow (Oct 9–12)

• Day 1–2: Weigh a clean 4+ whenever the hour looks soft. Build confidence in 2–3 mats and 3–4 edge/current spots that reload.
• Day 3–4: Guard your best mat window (10–2). If pressure stacks on your frog water, pivot to the spinnerbait/deep crank jig combo on the causeway/bar for a one‑cast giant.
• Scoreboard watch: If an hour posts 6–7+, either sit on your mat for a true donkey or make a current run; don’t burn a 4 if it won’t cash.
• Fish care: Recirc + ice bottles + G‑Juice; pop lids every run; clear eelgrass from intakes to keep livewell O2 up.

GPS waypoints (scan 150–300 yards around each pin; verify on your chart)
Note: These are center-of-area pins to start your scan. Please verify on Lakemaster/Navionics and adjust 50–150 yards to the exact edge, hole, or bar tip you find on SI/MEGA Live before running shallow. Water levels/grass lines shift year‑to‑year.

• Town Creek Mouth – North Point Eelgrass Edge
  Waypoint: 34.47550, -86.28800
  Plan: First light chatter/swimjig; power shakey on the outside hard spot in 8–10 ft.
• Town Creek Mouth – South Bar Tip
  Waypoint: 34.46700, -86.29300
  Plan: Deep crank to fire, football jig to stick the biggest; spinnerbait if current rolls.
• Mink Creek Mouth – Outside Bend Edge
  Waypoint: 34.45900, -86.31100
  Plan: Early chatter/swimjig; hold for wind. Check for sand lanes with 360/Live.
• Mink Creek – Downcurrent Inside Turn
  Waypoint: 34.45600, -86.30550
  Plan: Buzzbait at first light; then shakey on the seam if bait is present.
• State Park – Outside Eelgrass Edge (quick cash stop)
  Waypoint: 34.44450, -86.28550
  Plan: Lipless/chatter to fast-check; spinnerbait if current. Close to scales for last-hour swing.
• State Park – Protected Mat Pocket (cheese)
  Waypoint: 34.44680, -86.28250
  Plan: 10–2 frog/punch rotation. Focus on dark holes and the hydrilla/eelgrass seam.
• Hwy 69 Causeway – East Riprap Corner Eddy
  Waypoint: 34.35820, -86.29050
  Plan: Current rotation: deep crank -> football jig -> single 6–8″ swimbait. Shakey on the eddy seam.
• Hwy 69 Causeway – West Riprap Corner Eddy
  Waypoint: 34.35820, -86.30190
  Plan: Same rotation. Watch for shad dimpling and birds.
• Browns Creek Bridge – Outside Corner (riprap + grass)
  Waypoint: 34.35150, -86.33450
  Plan: Wind/current + grass = trap/chatter; then jig on the first drop.
• Main River Bar – Shell/First Break (near City Harbor area)
  Waypoint: 34.36590, -86.30680
  Plan: Idle with SI for the lightest/roughest patch; crank to fire, then jig or shakey for the mule.

Quick Grab Gear List
“`gearlist
Rods:

• 7’4″–7’6″ Heavy Fast frog rod
• 7’6″ Heavy punch rod
• 7’3″ MH Mod-Fast chatter/swimjig rod
• 7’3″ Heavy Fast football jig/bottom-contact
• 7’10” XH swimbait rod (6–8″)
• 7’0″–7’3″ MH Fast shakey head rod (power shakey) Reels:
• 8.1:1 for frog/punch/jig
• 7.1:1 for chatter/swimjig/shakey
• 6.3:1 for deep cranks/lipless
  Line:
• 65 lb braid (frog/punch)
• 17–20 lb fluoro (chatter/swimjig/jig)
• 12–15 lb fluoro (cranks/lipless)
• 15 lb fluoro or 30 lb braid to 12–15 lb fluoro leader (shakey) Lures:
• Frogs (black, black/yellow belly, white)
• Punch: 1–1.25 oz tungsten, 4/0–5/0 straight-shank, gp/black-blue beaver
• Z-Man JackHammer 1/2 (BHite Delight, GP Shad) + Zako/Razor ShadZ
• Swimjig 3/8 (gp shad) + 3.8 paddletail
• 6XD/DT16 (gizzard/natural), 1/2–3/4 lipless (chrome/ghost, red/orange if stained)
• 3/4–1 oz football jig (gp blue) + Rage Craw
• 6–8″ single swimbait (Magdraft Freestyle/Keitech 6.8 on 3/8–1/2 head or 5/0 Beast)
• Shakey heads 1/4–3/8 + Mag Trick/7″ straight tail worms (GP, GP Blue, Junebug, Watermelon Red) Terminal Tackle:
• Double bobber stops, tungsten flipping weights, 3/0–5/0 straight-shanks
• Trailer hooks for buzzbait/spinnerbait, spare split rings/snaps
  Clothing:
• UV hoodie, sun gaiter, polarized copper/green lens, rain jacket, ankle boots for wet mats
  “`

Weigh-in logistics and fish care

• Keep one “cash fish” stop within 10–12 minutes of the scales (State Park outside edge waypoint).
• Livewells: recirc + ice bottles + treatment; check intakes for eelgrass every run. Cull rings off the jaw while moving.

Weather/current adjustments

• Post‑frontal bluebird: Slow-roll spinnerbait on edges; switch chatter to swimjig; frog gets painfully slow with long pauses; shakey on hard spots shines.
• Stained water after wind: Red/orange lipless and Junebug plastics; heavier chatter (1/2–3/4) to keep blade thumping.
• Heavy current: Commit to causeway/bridge/bar rotation; time your casts through the seam. Big fish set up tight to the first hard spot downcurrent.

Reference links (check morning-of)

• TVA Lake Info app: generation schedule and current windows
• Event rules page (Gerald Swindle Big Bass Classic): confirm no A‑rig, any other lure/hook limits, hourly payouts, polygraph
• Alabama DCNR: ramp/boating advisories
• Navionics WebApp or your Lakemaster for contour confirmation

Validation and next steps

• I tailored this for mid‑October out of the State Park with no A‑rig and MEGA Live. The pins are start‑zones—scan and slide to the exact edge/hole you see on SI/Live.
• Want me to tighten or add 4–5 more pins for Browns/Seibold or push farther upriver? Also, what’s your latest read on water temp, clarity, and grass height around Town/Mink/State Park so I can fine‑tune frog colors and weight sizes?
• If the weigh‑in isn’t at the State Park, tell me where it is and I’ll rework the last‑hour plan.