i know this is silly me saying this but i have been staying in nh for a couple months now and have been trying to catch a state record LMB (haha ya rite) but seriously i have been using a heavy action rod with an abu garcia ambassadeur c3 5500 reel using 65 pound power pro braid using big lures such ashttp://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Bettencourt_Baits_Dying_Bluegill/descpage-BBDB.html and http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Spro_BBZ-1_Swimbait_6/descpage-SBBZ16.html
these are probably the most expensive lures ever! but i have been getting really big bass so far... i have been fishing at night on the merrimack river and have been getting quite large larrys. my biggest so far is 7lbs. 15.oz soooo freakin close to 8. i been getting lots of 6 and 5 lbs and also a lot of Northerns ranging from 7 to 9 pound im soo close to to the 10.8 Mark. Good luck to u all and tight lins
Hey look on the bright side, you're catching fish bigger than most of the guys on this site (myself included) even without that 8lber. Keep at it, sounds like you have your technique down quite well and just need to wait my Larry Large to come swimming by.