Hello all, I have been curious about a few things and am hoping to see if anyone can shed some light. Thanks in advance.

Spike it - I use it like a religion on pretty much every soft plastic I use. I usually use the chartreuse and it's usually on watermelon red anything. I think it's turned into either a habit or confidence booster. So my question is, I am hurting anything? I've heard that many people just use it if the water is stained or the fishing is tough. Am I decreasing/increasing my odds of hooking up?

Stick baits - Does anyone know of a company that sells stick baits that float besides Z-man (because the spike it doesn't stick) I like using them on shaky heads and feel like if the worm would float and the little bright green tail that I dipped would float around in the water so beautifully that no bass could say no to it.

Still hot summer time fishing - What are some preferred methods of bass fishing on those hot still summer days around 4:00 pm? I'm kind of leaning towards drop shotting, but am open to trying different things and learning. I fish this local pond after work for about 45 minutes after work and it's usually still and hot. There is no brush in the water nor anything to provide shade. I'm also convinced that the deepest part is around 12' There is a rocky dam and a few large chunk rocks in one spot. Every where else is pretty much dirt/gravel.

Once again, thanks in advance.

Zoom trick worms work great on shaky head. Dip the tail and you get the floating tail action. Nothing wrong with spike it. I err on the "less is more" side.

Am I decreasing/increasing my odds of hooking up?

In my opinion anything that gives you a confidence boost is helping your chances of success.

I use spike it a lot on plastics when flipping docks. I only dip about a 1/16" of the tail in the spike it. My experience with it, I can not recall ever catching a 5 pound or better fish while using spike it. It seems the smaller fish love the stuff and if I'm having a hard time getting a limit I will use it, otherwise I don't.

Spike it--use it if you have confidence in it

Floating shaky head bait--Xcite raptor tail
You can still find KickerFish hightail holeshots at some places
I know SmashTech bought the bubble fry mold; but there was another company that purchased the holeshot molds--can't remember the name right now.
KC Injection Baits and ntxcustombaits would be other good options

End of the hot summer pond with rock and gravel area--
1/4oz shaky head
1/2oz c rig
1/2oz jig
Bandit 300

I remember now, it was Bonehead Tackle that purchased the other molds from KickerFish.

Absolutely not decreasing odds. I've personally caught several fish while using spike it. If im not getting bites then I try it without. Many fish over 7lbs, including 2 over 9lb while using spike it. stick with what you are confident in the bites will come.

I haven't personally used this stick bait but it's advertised as floating Riveratackle.com. I have used zoom trick worms and hags tornadoes with good results. I use spike it when the bite is tough and on dark baits, like green pumpkin.

Give grandebass air tail a try for a different bulkier look.

Thanks for all of the responses. I do use the trick worm a lot. I love it. I also like the grande bass products. I also appreciate the names and links of the other products.

I dip but when I'm getting pulls and pecks and no catching I go without.

I definitely wouldn't think it ever keeps you from getting but, but I personally only use it in really stained water. Regarding the shaky head question, I don't think you'll find a better bait for that technique than a 4 inch GrandeBass Rattlesnake or Hags Tornado (same thing really) That 4 inch version will literally stand straight up.