I've been reading about people catching smallmouth on gitzits. I found the official website for gitzit, but would like to buy them locally. Do local fishing shops usually carry them, or should I just get some regular tube baits?

Also, what size tube bait and jig heads would be good to stock my tackle bag?

Gitzits are great baits for smallmouth, I use them all the time in Arkansas, and had similar luck in the BWCA. You can order them from Cabela's, Bass Pro, or generally most any bait shop now carries them, even Wal-Mart. My favorite colors are smoke red flake, Crawdad brown with green flakes, or green (motoroil) with red flakes. I fish them two ways, on a 1/8 oz jig head I make myself with a 3/0 hook, or use a 3/0 Shaw Grigsby Keeper Hook, (has a little clip on the end to hold the gitzit on) and a 1/8 oz, slip sinker. Fish it just like a worm, move it a little and jiggle it. Many times you will not feel the bite so watch your line too. Good luck...

Also, generally I use the 2 1/2 inch or 3 inch gitzit... forgot to include that.