WELCOME!! This is a GREAT site. Read some of the posts in which others have asked the same question/s you have. I would think that top/upper water column would probably be your best bet to get a LUNKA to crush your lure ,with a minimal chance of losing it,as fishing from the bank makes it a bi*** ,ie; VERY difficult to retrieve hung up lures in deep water. (I speak from experience....LOL). A Fish Arrow Monster Jack or a M.S. Slammer ,maybe an A.C. Plug ( 7in.- 9in., for ON TOP) would probably be really good places to start.For just subsurface,maybe a Huddleston ROF O , Osprey Talon, or an A.C. Minnow.Also the are a nice selection of Bluegill/panfish imitators out there that could be the ticket too(MATT's , RAGO, Mission 3:16, Castaic Sunfish or Gizzard Shad- for examles of proven lures. Now, FROM THE BANK,Cast parallel to the bank and also quartering away casts as well as just casting it "way out there" will keep your swimbait in productive water (fishing from/near the bank). As for rods and reels, I'll again point you to the fantastic discussions in the previous posts/Rob's GREAT product reviews ,read all/different catagories in the forum and his REVIEWS-they have some VIDEO TOO! Get a GOOD/ Couple of different kinds of LURE RETRIEVER(pole type,BassPro 18 ft expandable,and a 4-8 oz lead and rope style,you'll thank me later....). Use Heavy line (17lb test on low end 30 on high end) and quadruple check your KNOTS, they are likely to be your weakest link, use a palomar if tying to a HEAVY DUTY clip or c-ring, and a loop knot if tying DIRECT to the eye(this will improve the action dramatically). Did I mention to CHECK your KNOTS religiously?!! Nothing will make you feel sick all over, than seeing a HUGE bass that you FINALLY hooked jumping all over the place with your $$40 - $100 swimbait hanging off it's face and you reeling in a VERY slack line.......(this is followed by a littany of excuses/mumblings/crying about bad line,shoulda retied,must've got me in a bush,etc.........and the oft lamented "he was HUGE,...BUT..........") GREAT LUCK, catch the biggest dang bass ANYONE has caught on that property to date,and think of it a mission, it may take 10,000 casts or it may take 2, the end result will be worth all the effort(although there WILL be times you question your decision to look for that ONE BIG BITE!!)- Be SAFE, I hope this helps you a little bit, Alex -- ALVO69

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