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Sounds like $30 is a meaningful amount of money to you, so a broken rod CAN be spliced back together and made to work almost as before. If you want to tinker with it, email or PM me and I'll walk you thru the repair. A stiff inner splice will only cause another failure more likely than not.

Easy. Buy 35 more dollars worth of stuff.

I was on vacation in Maine. I went out on the water the last night I was away. I managed to get this slob.

Over the past couple weeks I have been fortunate enough to land 2 Florida Trophy Catch Program fish. For those who may not know that's a program FL has that rewards you for catching, documenting, and most importantly releasing trophy bass 8lbs+. Each category qualifies you for different prizes on top of a Bass Pro Gift Card (Lunker Club: 8-9.99lbs $100, Trophy Club: 10-12.99lbs $150, Hall of Fame: 13+ $200 & free replica) & there are certain rules you must follow FL fishing license is required. This is an awesome program to help the conservation of big bass. Both my fish came from the same spot just different area. Both were caught on a senko during the hottest part of the day, each time the temps were creeping towards 100°. This was the first one. I caught her by myself and had my gopro recording. This one was my favorite catch in my bass fishing career. Went fishing this Sunday with my girlfriend and I told her that if I caught a big one at the spot we were going to that she would fall in the water getting it jokingly and she laughed at me. Reason why I said that is because I fell in landing my buddy's 9lber, my other buddy fell in landing his brothers 7, and my fishing partner Jermaine Davis fell in when he caught a 5lber by himself lol. So long story short she fell in the water while landing my 8lber. I have the whole thing on gopro and she will not let me show ANYONE the video so I took screen shots lol. Even though I have caught bigger this was by far my favorite and most memorable moment bass fishing simply because I shared it with the mother of my son and the woman I will spend the rest of my life with... She's a keeper! If you have Instagram check out my page: ak_86 Tight lines!

Proof that catch and release works!

Today I was interviewed at the local foundry and my orientation is Friday and I start Tuesday. I can finally get back to bass fishing for the pure joy of it and not just trying to catch as many panfish and catfish as I can to feed my family. It's hard dirty dangerous work in 130 to 140 degree temps but the pay and benefits are solid. Now if I go fishing and don't catch anything I still had fun and don't feel like a failure. I just wanted to share the good news with y'all.

Speaking of fishing with wives... here is the wife unit upon arrival to the lake the one and only time we ever went fishing. A perfect June morning! As you can see, even at 5AM, she could hardly contain her excitement. And... back in the car 30 minutes later.

No doubt spots are a blast to catch. Hard to determine if I like spots or smallies better. They both are fighting machines!

Just buy a new rod.

Not all fish are equal regarding slime coating. Bass in general are heavy scaled fish with heavy coating of protective slime that guards them against harmful bacteria or parasite in the water. Removing the slime coat subjects that area to desease, if a harmful bacteria or parasite is present in the water where the bass lives, before the slime recovers. You see bass with sores, bleeding fins or tails not associated with nest building , it's a sign of desease. Bass die slowly from desease and you don't usually see them floating. Boat carpets and nylon nets are more harmful than carefully hand handling the bass. Tom

Removing the slime from one side of the fish as can happen when laying the fish on the boat deck to unhook or measure will create a situation of more water resistance on the slime-less side and force the fish to swim in a circle. Please send all inquiries about my mountain top Florida cottage to my personal message account! Thanks you. oe

It helps if you and your fishing buddy are like-minded. The guy I fish with all the time is all about the hunt, which is how I am. Every cast is an opportunity. And, even if you are fishing with someone, when you have a friend like that, you can still be alone with your thoughts.

The south side of oak trees with red head woodpecker nest in them .

Might wanna check out the T-Rock forum on Ozarkanglers.com and Pete Wenners' Youtube channel. Very good info

Supreme MGX= Best Value Spinning reel under 100$. The okuma is no contest against it, especially considering that the okuma is a graphite reel while the Supreme is aluminum. Overall, if you're any good with spinning gear, you definitely should be able to feel a huge difference between the two.

Haven't had my hands on the Okuma, but I have a Supreme and two Supreme XTs. I consider the Supremes to be the best bang for the buck among spinning reels.

My season's been way off too. Firstly, I've not been out nearly as much this year as last. Spring saw only one bass, under a pound, and a handful of yellow perch & pickerel. Early Summer was a complete bust. A trip to Virginia seemed to cure that, however, and just like many members told me, persistence and patience (tough for me....), it all turned. I've not been slaying them like other members around me, but dinks turned to 2 - 3 pound bass (big metro Boston area...). I believe I brought some VA bass-mojo back. Trick was that I went deeper and worked my soft baits more quickly than last year. I have a Lowrance Elite 4X on my kayak. Surface water temperatures are in the mid/high 70s where I fish, in medium ponds and a couple of reservoirs that run roughly 20-25' deep. I caught the largest on drop offs starting at roughly 10'. Keep at it, and good luck.

Man that thing's disgusting! And so is the snot rocket!

What I think you need is just one. AND a Frabill 15' Lure Retriever (36.99)

Okay, you young guys are officially members of the "Old Codgers Club". Hootie

Whoahhhh now. Don't be getting so excited. This is about scrapple.

Sucks about the hook in the arm but at least you got some fish. My first trip ever to Melvern I caught 1 8" smallmouth so you did better than me. No wipers in Melvern though, just huge white bass.

Welds, while I am a big Shimano fan I really don't think many of Shimanos rod lines will wow you for feel any more than your red Cumara. The Cumulus rods are the best rods Shimano has ever offered for feel and they are incredibly light. The downside is they fish lighter in power than their ratings suggest. For example the 6'10 MH casting rod fishes more like a true medium rod. I use mine for sort of a mag finesse rod. The only way to get your hands on a Cumulus would be buying one used more than likely and also keep in mind that they are lighter in power than their specs would indicate. Even if you could save some money and buy an Avid, a Zodias, a KLX, etc in the back of your mind you will always be wondering "what if". I would encourage you make this one count. Whether it be an Orichi XX, older classic GLX, Rep Sample NRX, Custom rod, Z-Bone, or some JDM rod you should treat yourself to something nice that has proven itself for feel. I would save up for the NRX rod and not look back. Rep sample and dealer demos can be had for under $400 and used rods are closer to $320-375. Good luck whatever route you go!

Don't ignore the Abu Gacia SX.. It's a better reel than the ones mentioned. I highly recommend you look at one before you buy. Following ICast... They're a 150 reel but there are deals in eBay right now. I've seen them for 100. Good luck

Ebay. Big Ugly Plug Knocker. I swear by them.

Yep. The Pluefger should definitely feel much more smoother and more connected than the okuma simply because of the Aluminum Frame.

Nice one! I love pike, my biggest is 23 inches, it fought super hard.

I think at the $300 price point you have several options that will all perform well, each will have different strengths. Having not personally fished the Helium yet I have no basis for comparison between it and say an Orochi or a Legend Elite. I've also not fished an Expride either. So my opinion on this will not provide any real objective feedback. I went out on a limb trying the KLX because I was looking for a length and action that seemed to be a niche. If I could have gotten an Avid in a similar specification it would have likely been my first choice. In your price range I have more confidence recommending the Orochi XX or a St Croix bc I have more time on the water with them. I've only had my KLX about 3 weeks. I will say I see far more discussion and feedback about the Orochi line then I do about the Exprides, while they look nice they just don't seem as popular as the Orochis. Sorry I can't help more on that direct comparison. I think given your recent disappoint you should go with the purchase you have the most confidence in and don't look back.

again you have to like the look and design of the rod especially when your spending good amount of money but looks alone to me would not dictate my rod purchases although I guess it does factor in but weight , blank quality, sensitivity , guides and feel should really be what comes first when make the choice if it has the looks to match then you found a winner! Shimano vs h3 or z bone kistler wins every time in my book although some of the shimanos are really nice rods in both form and function so if you really like the looks and they offer length and action you want then by all means go for it and if it turns out not to be the one you can always sell it

The Zodias/Expride and Poisin Adrena use two different blank constructions. As I recall reading on a different forum where a Shimano rep posts both constructions are different ways of achieving the desired power characteristics, and prevent ovaling and twist. I believe the Poison Adrena construction leads to a better strength to weight ratio and lighter rod. Try googling Zodias Hi Power X to find more info. In the Zodias there is just an extra 2 layer of carbon tape wrapped around the blank at different angles to reinforce, that's hi power x. Spiral x in the Expride the carbon sheets are laid at alternating angles during they layup and rolling of the blank, with one layer of carbon tape. At least that's how I understand it. This is all about strength and construction, not the materials used in the construction. Again it's my understanding that the materials used in the Zodias and Expride are not the same, but can't find confirmation of that. The 40 ton carbon reference of the Invicta is a specification of the materials used in the construction. Shimano doesn't seem to publish this for the Zodias or Expride. Generally it's accepted the higher the ton rating the higher quality the blank. But not all materials manufacturers or blank manufacturers publish that rating so very hard to use it as an industry standard for comparison.

Any 843 blank will work. That's normally a 7 ft MH Fast tip. It is a good multipurpose rod. My personal hollow body frog rod is built on a Rainshadow Rx8 XMB843.

.ghoti, what other parts of a pancake are edible?

That looks shopped to me. I will wait in till you are standing 10ft from me. Then I will know you really fish.

Caught this solid fish on a chatterbait this morning.

Like a broken record.. I'm 23 and prefer my st croix avids with the full cork...

I am 24 and will take cork over eva any day. I have rods with cork full grip, cork split grip, Eva split grip, and Eva full grip and enjoy them all. I just think cork looks and feels alot better.

Reminds me of a good George Thorogood And The Destroyers song... I fish alone, yeah / With nobody else I fish alone, yeah / With nobody else Yeah, you know when I fish alone / I prefer to be by myself

Could be worse -- at least a strike and brief hookup is something. But, man, are they ever escape artists. River smallies have been skunked me this summer too, although I haven't been after them much. If I'm starting in the morning, I go top-middle-bottom in that order. I start with a tiny torpedo or try a buzzbait around wood or current breaks and edges of eddies if I can find them. Then I try crankbaits or flukes along the same kinds of edges. Then tubes or curly-tail grubs, or a 4" worm on a slider head, hopped along the bottom in the shade or into deeper holes.

Did a short float on the little river by my house. Caught a couple smallmouth, half a dozen largemouth, and even a fallfish. All on a Cavitron Buzzbait, the 1/4oz caught smallies and the 3/8oz caught largemouth. I stopped by a pond on my way out and hooked a giant kitty on the cavitron but he pulled off!

Caught and released this Florida Trophy Catch Program fish today!

If you haven't seen the FG on salt here, it may because it was developed in Australia. If you don't like micros, don't use them. If you like your uni-uni, fine, keep using it. If you want to know what I think is the easiest way to tie an FG, go to . You don't have to keep tension on the braid or the leader except between sets of weave when you put the leader between your teeth and work the weave into a compact arrangement. It really is not difficult once you put in a little practice. Were you an expert caster with your first cast, or did it take a little practice? Was it worth it? ALL I'm saying is that this knot will do things that I want better than any other knot I've found. That's all. Just trying to provide some tips for those who might be interested, not trying to change the world. I will not take your double uni or Albright or Slim Beauty or Alberto from you. Relax.

Obviously it's my opinion, why else would I have written it? And "generally" only fools or kids spells buy when they should spell by.

Butt on the left and tip to the right. I also wrap the stripping guide first and work my way to the tip, but that's a personal preference.

Left to right. Butt on the left, tip on the right.

As promised, here are two baits I recently purchased. They are in great shape, in the original boxes, with Inserts! The black bait Is pre- 1965 and it was later named Rebel Humpy. If you'll notice on this bait the screw that holds the lip onto the bait is on top of the head. It was only later, not sure when, they decided to go from the bottom.

Do MS slammers count?

Big females are all over southern indiana, lol

what they didn't report, was that fish smokes 2 packs of cigarettes a day.

I get them every year here's a couple I've got wading and kayaking te same creek.

I've got the dotline lure retriever that's very similar to the Frabil one. Easily pays for itself within a few uses. It's not as compact as a plug knocker, but I feel it does a better job. Very few baits are ever lost with one.