I live down here. It depends on what Lake you want to fish. If you want to do Toho, go with Pippin, I've heard good things.
If you want to fish the Stick Marsh, I can put you touch with a super guide, he knows the place like nobody else.
I love fishing East Toho, one of my favorite places, and it never lets me down with big fish.
Most guides down here do use artificial to help ensure the client catches big LMs. These fish down here see lures all day long, but either live bait, or a good guide can put you on some.
Another really good guide in the O-town area is this guy.
http://www.cyberangler.com/guides/lunkerbass/
Plus you can fish from his Gambler, the finest bass boats made.