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I fish "cheap" too, but only because after many years of buying higher dollar stuff, I catch just as much and just as big of fish on lower priced stuff, with none of the "issues" people claim to have with lower priced gear. Here is just a sample of some lower cost items that I use, I still use some "expensive" things but not nearly as many as I used to. Hard baits: Storm, Strike King, and Bandit. Jigs: Strike King Bitsy jigs, Booyah jigs Frogs: Booyah Pad Crasher Soft Plastics: Berkley Havoc, Netbait, Some Yum, SK, and Zoom stuff................nothing GYCB LOL. Terminal Tackle: VMC Rods: Berkley Lighning Rod Shocks, and Abu Vengeance/Vendetta/Veritas's Reels: Abu Max (casting) Pflueger President (spinning) Line: Power Pro (braid) Seaguar Red Label (Fluoro) Trilene (mono)

85 here in Ocho Rios yesterday. be about the same today, and tomorrow, and the next day , etc,etc,,,, we really picked the right week to go on vacation.

Im glad I was sitting on the toilet when I saw that..

Really? Although I am not impressed with this lure, I have been VERY impressed by The Rig.

And finally the video! Jeff

This may not be the best way to do backing but it's easy and inexpensive. Go get some of the super cheap mono line they have ay Wally World in 8-pound test and fill your reel spool up where you normally would, then go outside somewhere where you can tie the line to a fence or tree or your side mirror of your car - whatever. Now with the bail open walk back to where you are farther than the farthest cast you would ever make, then go another 15 or 20 feet more. Cut the mono off right there (and please dispose of it properly) and tie your braid on. I like back to back uni for the backing/mainline knot.

I've only ever used Power Pro and have no complaints. The first time I tried it I spooled up with all braid, but as it got used up (mostly from having to cut off sections due to wind knots) I realized that I could replace all of it or start backing it. I use 12# Berkley Big Game for backing because it was like $5 for about 100 miles of it, tied with an Alberto knot. If there is one thing I wish someone had told me about braid, it's that lures that promote line twist coupled with a tendency to throw too hard sometimes will lead to wind knots that you won't always be able to undo. Use a swivel for twist-prone lures and easy does it, 10# PP should cast pretty effortlessly.

Trick question! All your jigs are 207.2, or lead's atomic weight. You fools are all answering with various mass. Ha! I win! Obviously, it's winter here, too.

That really hurts Yes it's true I failed as a father.

There are also reports of BASS Pro anglers burning 4800-5800 in one tournament day..... a pitcher in base ball who weighs 183 burns 900 calories in 2 hours, I am not a base ball guy but I belive that is about what the pros pitch in an outing

Here's the stripey-est one I have a pic of, she went about 19-20", maybe 4 - 4.5 lb. Here's the same one right before release...such a nice looking fish, love the ones with red eyes too. Heres a smaller one from last year, it had nice coloration.

I hate it when people try and say it is not a sport. I am surrounded by these people everyday at school. They think all we do is go out in a boat and "sit" and "watch a bobber"..... Maybe that is not a sport but these type of people have no clue to as what we do out in a boat BASS FISHING. Bass fishing is like no other, it takes years to learn the ins and outs and even then big name pro like Edwin Evers say the reason they like the sport is because you can never master it. He also states that he is still learning today. So let them talk, let them claim they know what Bass Fishing is..... they could not tell you what a Texas-Rig or a Carolina-Rig, a crank bait a bug bait or whatever. They have no clue what these things are. This is a sport and we are athletes, and do not let anyone tell you different, use it as motivation for you fishing career.

I vote getting in good with Bill Dance or KVD and get into BPS after hours for some indoor fishing

I've got fluoro that is three seasons old on one of my spinning reels. While that is extreme, it's just a test in progress.

Dynamite Video ~ Killer Gorgeous Fish Jeff ! To get the full effect, I just cracked a window here in the office. A-Jay

Sweet video. Almost made me think I was there minus the cold.

Sounds like she was trying to help you. I know that as the client it can be frustrating when someone tells you that your technique could be improved. I believe the side swipe hook set (which I often do) is the cause of many missed fish. At least she did not say you cast like a girl

Another angle I will stick to fishing

I bought some of these skirts for Christmas. I also bought some living rubber, paint and some jigs from Cadman. Here was the result. In the water the combination is awesome. Seems to have a life of its own when combined with living rubber.

Get yourself a BPS pro qualifier. It has the dual brakes(plus the tension knob set to tight enough so the spool doesn't move side to side, tighter in the begining, then looser as you get better). Set the internal pins, two in the on position.Use inexpensive 10 or 12 pound monofilament. Buy a cheap larger spool of line and change line often when you notice it feeling too rough.With the dual breaks you can increase the outer magnetic break for windy conditions or just to keep from backlashing. The reel is a good starter and many people stay with this reel. For $100 or less, on sale they get down to 60, 70, or 80 bucks.Keep the reel clean as you can and periodically oil the spool bearings with quality reel oil/lube(one drop). It may all sound like much but it becomes a labor of love for most of us die hards. Wish I knew all of these tips when I first purchased a baitcaster 30 years ago.(otherwise buy a daiwa or shimano )

All great suggestions if you decide that a swimbait is the way to go. That's a big IF considering other options. IF you're fishing for your own enjoyment and not in a tournament setting, I'd say go for it. It's a great way to build confidence in any presentation. IF, however, you are in a tournament I'd recommend holding off on them until you have your limit. Swimbaits will produce some big fish, but the downside can be spending a lot of time searching with them as they are, IMO, not a good search bait. That area close to deep water would likely produce some nice fish on other presentations as well with the added plus of being able to cover water faster in your search for active fish. I'd definately keep one tied on, but hold off until I'd found active fish.

I don't use backing myself. The line capacity specs are for a complete spool up to the top, recommendations for the most part is to leave at least an 1/8" from the lip, so you are really not using that much line, especially on a size 30 reel. Whether a reel is braid ready or not, braid or mono line, spinning or conventional, I always put tape on the arbor.

Kids Fiskars scissors from WalMart, $2

Boomerang tool co. Extended cord for tackle bag or belt loop. I have used one for over a year and have been pleased with the longevity of the blades.

<------------------------- Does this guy look like an athlete?

My first article for BR comes in the form of a tackle review! Check it out! Jeff http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/perfecta-optimus-review.html

Andy has felt the afterglow a few times. It is a very special feeling. Great story el Tigre.

It is not set in stone but this Wednesday I meet with my school principle about a Bass Fishing club through the TBF, but if it goes through we plan to reach out to a Local gass station, and a local grocery store (excluding all the Fishing related business).

Without a doubt I would say Yum Wooly Bug. That being said I think even they do not hold a candle to the Berkley Havoc Skeet Reese Pit Boss..... This bad boy T-Rigged is LETHAL

Alcoa makes rolls of sheet aluminum for cans (beer, coke cans). They also pour small pigs to sell. They use to make raw aluminum from boxite ore, but they closed that part of the south plant in 2009. There is some decent fishing in that area, but I would highly recommend looking at the Chattanooga, Cleveland, Dayton triangle area. The fishing is 10x better.

I've found Zoom or Rage lizards in a watermelon, green pumpkin, or junebug color are deadly Texas rigged with a 1/8 or 3/16 weight.

MCS you crazy man, go for it, don't forget your long johns good luck!!!

Back at work so my weekday fishing is going to slow down drastically. Heck MCS if you can go, then go for it! You never know they might be hungry. Throw some worms at em lol.

I have a printing company as sponsor, Digital Sign Graphics,. Its a local small business and happened to connected to him through my main sponsor Meyer's Lodge. Went in talked to him he was all about supporting outdoor activities, and after talking identified many potential markets that could be impacted. After talking to him more and seeing the operation more in depth he showed me some Vehicle wraps he had dome for companies. And that's when we started talking about Boat wraps the difference in materials and application....and now he is working in an additional market, at a lower price point than most large competitors, and doing it very well.

Almost all I fish is jigs. I use everything from 1/4oz up to 1oz. I would think that you would want at least a 7'3". Personally, I love my 7'6" flipping stick because of the leverage it gives me, the accuracy with pitching, casting distance, and hook setting from a distance.

Done Mike

Wow ~ Brings new meaning to Hammer Time. Like the "Ring Girls". A-Jay

I always thought Immodium AD would be a great sponsor.

If you put the LSS transducer at the hull bottom level, it needs to be to the right or left of the diameter of the prop so it won't cause aeration of the water going to the prop and water intake. If you have it above the hull bottom, then you can have it as close to the engine as you want as long as the lower unit does not hit it when trimmed all the way down. The proximity of the LSS to the 2D transducer is for the DI overlay on the 2D image. Otherwise it makes no difference.

I use a 7'6" glass rod for the deep stuff.

The Boomerang tool is the best, most convenient braid cutter I've ever used. I have one everywhere I work on tackle or fish.

You gotta want to fish pretty bad when you drill a hole in the ice...

I have the Denali Kovert 7'8 as well and its a nice flipping rod at that price point! Its paired with a Revo SX and 65lb Power Pro! Works well for me.

called it

Buzzbaits come to mind.

I have two projects for 2014, both of which will have a negative impact on my fishing time. And on the funding for fishing trips. We recently aquired a small cabin on our local lake. It needs a lot of work. I have a contractor working on the floor right now. They are tearing the floor out, down to the joists, and replacing all of it. That is the biggest piece of the puzzle, and I'm glad the wife agreed to farm it out. I tore out the kitchen completely, leaving nothing but the stove. It's new, everything else went into a dumpster. Once the new floor is in place my work will begin. building a new kitchen, replacing a stool and shower, drywall, trim work and painting, deck repairs, dock repairs or replacement, adding AC, etc, etc, etc. The outside is in good shape. New roof, new siding, new windows and doors. Inside, it has a new stove, new washer/dryer stacked combo, new frig, and a fairly new gas-fired heater. Thw second project is getting rid of the last of my debts. I've paid off all credit cards this year, and I'm keeping only an amex green card. The only remaining debt I have is a home equity loan. I will pay this off sometime near the end of 2014. Then I can retire. And that is my primary goal for 2015. I will be 62 shortly, and I've been working two jobs since 1988. I had my second heart attack three months ago. It's time to stop and smell the coffee.

I don't disagree with that, as it is exactly what I would do in the same situation. But not before he spent several hundred dollars on a product that he finds problem with. What if someone had taken the action to actually contact the company and let them know what they are experiencing, maybe something would have actually gotten changed. I guess what I am trying to say is that you can come here and air it out and it just sounds like brand bashing, or you can actually go to the company, spend the same amount of time and help get it fixed.

I sure hope the folks over at Pure Fishing will be able to sleep tonight with all this well thought out and highly detailed criticism of the their product. If you don't like their product, why not write to them and let them know your disappointment, see what they can do to make it right. Standing on a soap box on a internet forum that is obviously heavy supported by Shimano Fans only makes it look exactly like that. Choose to do something productive about it.

I’ve been very fortunate here the past few seasons to have some very memorable days on the water. At least half of it has to do with being able to get out on the water a bit more and the other is directly attributed to where I’ve been fishing and who I was with. But back before I’d started floating the sweet water again, every spare moment I had (and some I didn’t) was spent chasing striped bass off the east coast. A Coast Guard career helped put me in some killer spots from Maine down to the outer banks of North Carolina and most everything in between. The last several years were on the southern tip of the New Jersey shore. May not be common knowledge but the “Locals” know – very good fishing. This is where my efforts went nocturnal and it all clicked. The fishing became more like hunting. By combining the right tide, moon phase, season and with a little luck, the right weather, there were some epic nights on the beach & rocks. It was a little hairy at times but I was addicted. I didn’t often stay much after grey light for a couple of reasons. One, the big fish bite was usually over by then & two, I didn’t want others seeing the spot or the method. So I’d split just as most were getting to the beach. The fish pictured was the first of many plus size stripers and most memorable as it came after sunrise. After a very satisfying night, I decided to hang just a little longer; just a few more wicked long casts and Boom; there she was. The fish offered a fantastic battle and rather than “using the force” to land it in the dark, I actually got to see the event. Nice. Since the retirement and subsequent relocation to northern Michigan, there’s no salt water on these lips any more. I do miss it. However, 11 pound green bass & 6 pound brown bass work wonders to help ease the burden. A-Jay

Anger managment.