Leaderboard

I was at Staples and discovered Really Useful Boxes, a storage tote company. They make a rectangular shaped 6.5 Liter box that is 6" tall, 7" wide, and about 17" long. The label said weatherproof and I was impressed with the solid build and positive latches. For $10.49, I bought one, took it home, and discovered I can fit around 25packs of plastics per box. The best part is that Staples has a $10 off of $30 and a 15% off storage coupons. I went back to the store and bought six more for $45! They're stackable, and I can fit many of these in my compartments. Now, rather than sifting through big ziplocks for a specific pack of something, they're all single-filed. I have a box for craws, one for shakey worms, drop shots, a beaver box, etc. i have no affiliation with the company, I'm just impressed with the product and figured some of you might be too. Tight lines!

Picked a new to me BassCat Caracal over Memorial Day weekend. I am more than pleased so far, although still learning the best way to drive it with the hydraulic jack plate and trim. Awesome storage layout that is unique compared to other boats.

Good find. I do something similar but with Plano 3731 boxes:

Whenever I think I have my arsenal complete, some company has introduce a new rod or reel. Sometimes a great deal shows up somewhere that is too good pass up. My arsenal is probably best described as a work in progress as things change several times a year. Pieces sold and pieces added. Through trial and error along with plenty of research, I will try to find the right combinations that fit for my style and the lakes I fish.

Take a look at this video.

So as many of you know I posted before about getting into rod building. Well I never got around to posting pictures of the rod and still don't have great pictures but maybe these will make up for it. I had a blast on the build and can't wait to build another. Heres a few pictures of the fish I've caught on the rod though.

I have always been a Jeep fan since my first 1971 wagoneer I had in college about 20 years ago. My previous Jeep i sold when my son was about two be born because, well a 2 door wrangler isn't the easiest vehicle to get a car seat in and out of, not to mention pretty drafty. I then bought a Subaru and when that motor blew a little over three years ago i had to go take look at Wranglers again. After trying my hardest to make a car seat work i decided to compromise and get a 4-door version. Well for three years I did nothing to it other than adding a rack to haul my kayak around. After the odometer passed 60k miles the tires are in need of replacement so that's what I did Here she wa the day i got her back in may 2013... And here she is today Big improvement in my mind and while it still is primarily a grocery getter and kid hauler, it doesn't look like it as much anymore at least. I know the new JKs get a lot of hate from jeep purists but it is awful nice to be able to put flat fenders on and clear 35's. My old YJ i put 4" of lift and barely cleared 33's..

Guess this qualifies winning in a raffel. Pro G. Had two, think I will keep this one.

Raider is gonna be upset that you posted his old lady online..

Agree with Catt, The Heddon Zara Spook first and foremost for walking and Scum Frog for frogging. Mike

Keel weighted hook by any manufacturer you like. Moaner is the most popular on here. Use whatever weight you want/need for the waters you fish. I always use a 4/0 size hook. Tip...Don't forget about the Cut R. Good Luck Mike

I have killed them on the pompadour..one of my favorite topwaters.

Without looking in my boat lockers I have too many soft plastics to keep track of. The basics: Robo worms; Aaron's Magic, Baitball, Orange crusher, oxblood, baby bass, delta dawn, blue crawler, MMIII. Berkley, black w/blue power worm, green pumpkin w/black Chigger craws. Don Iovino worms; Shad, smallmouth killer, R&B, DVL Spl, Uptons Customs; Aaron's tragic, Purple thunder, mid night, black grape /blue vain, Hersey w/neon blue vain. Yamamoto; dark watermelon with black & purple, cinnamon with black & gold, green pumpkin with black& red. Zoom; June bug, margarita sunrise. Custom pours; lightning Shad, purple thunder, sculpin, pea green w/purple vain, smoke with black/silver, gold, green weenie w/ blue flake, dark red with black vain. 30+ colors in soft plastics ranging from 3", 4", 4 1/2", 5", 6", 7", 7 1/2", 8", 9", 10", 12", 13", 16" straight, curl, paddle, spade and trick tails. Tom

From what I have experienced with myself and others this "complete arsenal" is a mythical concept.

In my case, things have been added, nothings been sold....yet.

Next time you are out tie on a leader. If you start catching fish cut off the leader and use straight braid. What happens next will help answer your question

Trophy Plus 27. Have Croxton make it nice for you. Cup it and plug it!

A slower action doesn't necessarily cast farther. Loading more of a wimpy Rod won't do anything for you for example. The most important thing is to select a Rod with proper lure weight range. The sweet spot is usually in the upper mid range. Quality braid that is spooled correctly will not adversely affect casting in most cases.

Lebron James will drive you to work? When does the man find the time??

Wolf creek was phenomenal, that's for sure. After getting checked in we hit the southend near the dam and along the riprap to the SW. I was throwing a green northland spinner and my buddies were tossing 5in plastic worms, it was SM heaven. We then hit the riprap jetty thing both sides and did well there too although more finicky on the calmer side. We threw a lot of lures but the mainstay were plastic worms or jigs with grub/minnow tail. Although I was using 8lb test i probably lost a bag of plastics to something just clean off the line. A few times we had shad erupt right next to us and landed some white bass. At one point i took a break and was getting a water. I tossed my jig out and let it hit the bottom in 25ft while the others were fishing and nonchalantly asked them what they thought the limit size was on walleye. My buddies turned to see my rod bent in half and when i finally got that d**n fish to the top it was a big ole black drum. Man i was embarrassed and they just couldn't stop laughing. We threw a lot but the mainstay were 4-6in plastics 2-4ft from the bank on the drop. The smallies we caught were 3/4 to a 1.5lbs. We left around 1pm. I loved it.

So I'm done and ready for the opener tomorrow. Here are my 2016 addition to the family. 3 Zodias rods, a 7' Medium Glass, 6'10 ML and 6'10 Medium. for reels bought a Metanium XG '13, Metanium HG '13, Curado 200I HG, Curado 70 XG, Core 100 MG and Chronarch E5/E6/E7.

Got on some very DEEP drop shot fish in the kayaks today

Can you help me tie a UNi-Knot ? A-Jay

Yeah I know the feeling. After getting the Team Lews Magnesium I've been thinking of switching all my Lews to the new models so they all have the ACB braking system. It just casts so smooth it's hard to go back to magnetic brakes. After fishing some more with the MH tonight trying to cast lite worms, I'm thinking of dropping this rod down to medium. It's hard to get alot of casting distance with a 1/8th weighted plastic without fear of having a huge backlash, especially with FC. I know I'm casting below the rods weight specs. LC

Sweet ride. But that...P ... in the rear window... Not sure it's the right symbol. I think this one is better for ya:

I will have to check it out...I have not been to the Kalin's website in a while, I forget they make a ton of colors and baits...I will have to try it, I always like to use colors slightly different than everyone else...Junebug Red Flake instead of Junebug....Just figure maybe it is a new look, I like Kalin's baits so thanks.

I have thought about the shock leader aspect too but i can't help but think that stretch in such a short piece of line isn't going to make that much difference but I do know it is all about confidence and if using a flouro leader makes you feel more confident than I am all for it....

Kalin's Ron's craw is close, it has been consistent everywhere for me for years. May not always be the best color, but man it is versatile. I really wish I could get other baits in the color. At least it is a grub so all is not lost.

I fish the Menace flat/also sideways on a weighted hook, 3/0-4/0, 1/8-3/16 bullet since I fish shallow most of the time, and I also fish it sideways with an open hook on a jighead like a swimbait since it gives off a side to side action. I think you should be able to find some videos on the bait,I know it is fished by tons of guys and to be honest, I don't think you can fish it wrong... I use alot of weighted hooks, I also will pitch or punch with the Menace up to an ounce into heavy cover, my favorite swim jig or pitching jig (Arkie style jig) as a trailer, I leave the tail attached if I want a gliding fall, and I seperate the tail if fish are active or if I want it to mimic a craw etc... If you rig up the Menace on say a 1/8 bullet weight and your favorite style hook, you can rig it flat and fish it on the surface like a buzzbait, just under like a wake bait, or like the Rage rig or bottom bugging which is slowly creeping it along...I use the Rage Craw, Rage Bug, and Menace as my 3 main soft baits and I always feel confident that one will get bit, or all 3...Black and blue Rage Craws are a good start to most days...They seem to catch bigger fish and as a general rule, if I can get away without pegging I will, but if lots of weeds, I simply peg and leave a few inches of play or use a screw in weight....The good thing about creature baits is you can fish them on any rig that you could think of and they will 100% work....Need to punch with 1.5 ounces? You can use a Rage Craw, Same weightless, and they still work if you lose an arm...Sometimes better... I am sure a ton of guys will offer good advice since the Rage baits are probably the most popular soft baits these days for good reason....Havoc makes some good baits as well for the rage rig if you are in a jam and can't find any Rage baits before going to the water.... Hope that helps...

How texoma Palestine and squaw creek beat out some other lakes I frequent in east texas I'll never know

Awesome, yes, the Rage rig with any Rage Craw, Menace etc. will flat out catch fish...It also works good as a toad on top if you happen to see a fish break water nearby even if you have a weighted hook on...... I use alot of Black and blue baits and skirts,and I did them or use the Marker to add some chart,and sometimes you can't see it until it hits the water but I seem to think it helps at times...I like to dip most plastics in chartruese in stained water and during/Post Spawn, but I just think the Rage Craws, Bugs etc. work so well because they glide so naturally, move water, and the legs really kick if you put more weight on the Rage Craws....They can get expensive but then again, that is a good problem to have, torn up baits or a boat full of ripped baits = a good day.... Only other bait I would highly Suggest if the Rage Menace...One of my favorite all around baits for any soft plastic technique....It is the Rage craw of Grubs...Good post. It always feels great to change something up and have it work out... You really can't fish a Rage Craw or Menace, Rage Bug the wrong way...Any weight, even topwater, Jig Trailer...They catch fish, and you can rig them on any rig on the market....

that all looks good to me man, nice lineup. as for the deep diving cranks question, i'd probably throw them on the 7'0" Berkley Lightning Rod Shock Medium Heavy Moderate fast if it were me.

Day 2 Top 50 cut weight 33lbs. 3oz.! A record cut weight! Top three anglers at 40lbs. plus. TOURNAMENT STANDINGS Place Name Day 1 Fish / Weight Day 2 Fish / Weight Total Fish / Weight 1 Jordan Lee 5 / 19- 1 5 / 21- 7 10 / 40- 8 2 Jacob Powroznik 5 / 21-14 5 / 18- 5 10 / 40- 3 3 Morizo Shimizu 5 / 23- 6 5 / 16-10 10 / 40- 0 4 Drew Benton 5 / 20- 5 5 / 19- 3 10 / 39- 8 5 Dean Rojas 5 / 20- 9 5 / 18-14 10 / 39- 7 6 Kevin VanDam 5 / 20- 0 5 / 18-15 10 / 38-15 7 Paul Mueller 5 / 20- 9 5 / 17-11 10 / 38- 4 8 Michael Iaconelli 5 / 21-15 5 / 16- 0 10 / 37-15 9 Seth Feider 5 / 20- 6 5 / 17- 9 10 / 37-15 10 Ott DeFoe 5 / 18- 0 5 / 19- 5 10 / 37- 5 11 Dave Lefebre 5 / 20- 2 5 / 16-13 10 / 36-15 12 Brett Hite 5 / 15-10 5 / 21- 3 10 / 36-13 13 Cliff Pace 5 / 17-10 5 / 19- 1 10 / 36-11 14 Kotaro Kiriyama 5 / 20- 3 5 / 16- 7 10 / 36-10 15 Gerald Swindle 5 / 17- 0 5 / 19-10 10 / 36-10 16 James Elam 5 / 17- 5 5 / 18-14 10 / 36- 3 17 Shaw Grigsby Jr. 5 / 17- 8 5 / 18-10 10 / 36- 2 18 Keith Combs 5 / 16-15 5 / 19- 1 10 / 36- 0 19 Chad Pipkens 5 / 20- 0 5 / 15-13 10 / 35-13 20 James Niggemeyer 5 / 17- 3 5 / 18- 9 10 / 35-12 21 Cliff Prince 5 / 19-10 5 / 16- 1 10 / 35-11 22 Jonathon VanDam 5 / 19- 7 5 / 16- 3 10 / 35-10 23 Aaron Martens 5 / 18-11 5 / 16-13 10 / 35- 8 24 Brandon Palaniuk 5 / 17-13 5 / 17- 9 10 / 35- 6 25 Koby Kreiger 5 / 18-14 5 / 16- 6 10 / 35- 4 26 Jared Lintner 5 / 18- 9 5 / 16- 9 10 / 35- 2 27 Kelley Jaye 5 / 15-12 5 / 19- 5 10 / 35- 1 28 Fletcher Shryock 5 / 16- 0 5 / 18-14 10 / 34-14 29 Gary Klein 5 / 18- 1 5 / 16-13 10 / 34-14 30 Alton Jones 5 / 19- 9 5 / 15- 3 10 / 34-12 31 Todd Faircloth 5 / 17-13 5 / 16-15 10 / 34-12 31 Matt Herren 5 / 16-15 5 / 17-13 10 / 34-12 33 Billy McCaghren Jr 5 / 16-10 5 / 18- 0 10 / 34-10 34 Chris Lane 5 / 17- 0 5 / 17- 8 10 / 34- 8 35 Bobby Lane Jr. 5 / 19-13 5 / 14-10 10 / 34- 7 36 Jason Christie 5 / 19- 0 5 / 15- 6 10 / 34- 6 37 Stephen Browning 5 / 19- 5 5 / 15- 0 10 / 34- 5 38 Hank Cherry Jr 5 / 16-15 5 / 17- 4 10 / 34- 3 39 Greg Vinson 5 / 17- 5 5 / 16-13 10 / 34- 2 40 Matt Lee 5 / 15- 2 5 / 18-11 10 / 33-13 41 Josh Bertrand 5 / 15-13 5 / 18- 0 10 / 33-13 42 Skeet Reese 5 / 17- 0 5 / 16-12 10 / 33-12 43 Keith Poche 5 / 19-11 5 / 14- 0 10 / 33-11 44 Britt Myers 5 / 21- 3 5 / 12- 7 10 / 33-10 45 Russ Lane 5 / 19-13 5 / 13-13 10 / 33-10 46 John Crews Jr 5 / 18-14 5 / 14-12 10 / 33-10 47 Randall Tharp 5 / 15-12 5 / 17-12 10 / 33- 8 48 Ken Iyobe 5 / 16-11 5 / 16-11 10 / 33- 6 49 Brandon Card 5 / 15- 6 5 / 17-14 10 / 33- 4 50 Edwin Evers 5 / 18- 1 5 / 15- 2 10 / 33- 3

Welcome aboard! You can use straight braid if you want, plenty do, and I used to, but these days I always tie on a leader. For one, I'm 100% confident in my leader knots. Second, a leader allows me multiple reties of my hooks during an outing, thereby my braid mainline is depleted more slowly than going without a leader. Lastly, often people fish too fast. I don't know if you are, but slow down your retrieve with a TX rig, wacky rig, etc. When you think you are slow enough, slow down again.

4.... I really don't think folks on here are giving an opinion contrary to what they belive or giving advise different than what they do or use. Call me naive, but I've been on here long enough to believe that is not the case. Mike

You can find these, as mentioned, at Cabelas. Currently on sale, too!

I'm a broken record when I say this but color doesn't matter at all-until it does.

I find one thing that stands out in these conversations that is odd. There are many people that feel color makes very little to no difference at all, and they generally want to make sure that others hear their opinion about it. If we were being honest it would be fun to know how many different colors of plastics that they have in their bags/boats right now. It reminds me of that old adage, "Do as I say, not as I do."

Hey folks, I've been fishing with the Okuma Helios rod and Helios Air reel for awhile now, and thought I'd give you my take on the combo. Let me know your thoughts!

Michigan man checking in too. I live in Macomb. I have a tournament out on St Clair tomorrow so I can hardly focus at work today. I did pretty well in my first tournament on Union Lk would have taken 1st but had a fish die and the penalty moved me to 3rd. Tight lines Michigan fisherman!

I used 2 different bands, one was actually for tennis elbow. When it started to get better I started wearing one of the ACE compression elbow sleeves and that helped keep it from coming back. One thing that I did that (I think) really helped was forearm exercises. I did a lot of wrist curls and also did the one where you have a plate weight attached to a rope and a handle at the top. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wVvR8y5cdM Try what I just posted Van ^^^^^^

So? Broken clocks are still right twice a day and lightning is always striking somewhere in the world. What reel a guy caught a fish on means about as much as the last guy's winning lottery numbers the next time the numbers are pulled. We can draw whatever conclusion we feel we must for the discussion at hand, but in the end you can go buy 200 zebcos and none of them are more likely to pull a 20#+ fish than any other reel out there. The fact that there are so many out there is the only reason you keep seeing them. If that's what you honestly think goes through people's' heads when they buy something really nice, I can only assume you never have and don't personally know anyone who has either haha

lol superb, sir

https://www.bassmaster.com/tv-schedule

match the forage in the lake if it is bluegill then use green pumpkin if it is shad use white if the water is stained use black and blue

Zoom Original Trick Worm. Make sure it's the Original & not the "Super Salt Plus" or "Better than Salt" - they sink.

I'm sure you'll find a new "friend" to stay with for free pretty quick in San Fran.

Perfect - I'm going to figure about 10 years of experience per sentence right there . . . . . at least. A-Jay

I seem to be getting Better & Better at eliminating unproductive water & presentations, every time I go out. If you want to know where not to go & what not to use ~ I'm your man. A-Jay

Patience and discipline. The hardest part for me is not getting frustrated if I don't get a bite or catch any fish. Towards the end of mornings like that I start cussing to myself and start thinking "what a f***ing waste of time that was" because I usually wake up at 4-430am to get to the lake by 5:15am, and will fish until about 10-11am, and won't get home until noon. I start thinking about all the other things I could have done with the 7-8 hours that morning.