SissySticks

True. Which begs the question, are pros misleading the writer or is the writing staff over there at MLF just so careless they've unintentionally made pros look like liars? If so, I would be major league mad at the writing staff if I was Walker or any of the others.

You're right, could be the writer, but having done some of that kind of writing myself, usually the pro asks you to make sure to mention "x" sponsor in the article/caption/etc. Not always, and again, not in any way an indictment of Walker specifically, his photo is just where I happened to notice it this time around. As was said earlier, could very well be he ran out, too.

That is a good point, though again, if I were Zman, I'd be ticked off about this particular instance of "grabbing the wrong one." I also think that swimbait trailer might be a Reaction Innovations, not a Diesel minnow, but it's harder to tell. I hear you, I'm not picking on David so much as a general trend I've noticed. David seems like a good enough guy. In other news, how does one run out of Zman plastics? I suspect you could be on a pretty good jig bite and still only use 1 trailer the whole week.

Honestly, I think it bugs me more not even because of the dishonesty, really, since you're all right that they have to make a living. Weirdly I think it's more because it just seems so silly. Walker could easily have threaded a Zman Batwingz on there before the pic, and no one would be the wiser. If I was Zman, I'd be mad he didn't.

LOL. Aren't we all?

I'd be into this. I make various jigs, shaky heads, ned heads, underspin weighted swimbait hooks (like the flashy swimmer), and chatterbaits.

I make that same jig with a slightly different head/keeper, and I really like the Owner Deep Throat hooks, especially for those who use "chunk" style trailers. They skip great (but with the right trailer, you can say that about almost any jig).

The grass jig mold (used to be called the "casting jig") makes my favorite all around bass jig. I make them with a wire weedguard, a 5/0 medium wire mustad 32724 or a 4/0 heavy wire 32886, and an extra wire trailer keeper molded in, and then I file a flat spot on the bottom of the head to stabilize them a bit for bottom fishing. Wire tie with living rubber and you've basically got an improved booza bug. Anyway, it's a great mold (makes great spinnerbaits too with a little modification).

Like probably most of us, I enjoy the "top ten baits of ______ tournament" posts from FLW, MLF, and BASS tourneys. Helps me get a sense of what pros use in certain conditions. But, one thing that comes out pretty shamelessly in some cases is the captions will mention a pro's sponsors' products when the picture makes it pretty clear the pro wasn't actually using his sponsor's product. Case in point: on the Conroe MLF "top 10 baits" post, the caption states David Walker was using the Zman Batwingz trailer on his jig, when the picture makes it plainly obvious he's using a Zoom Super Chunk (the dimples are a dead giveaway). Obviously, this happens all the time though, not just Walker. Does this bug anyone else? Are the writers screwing this up or are the anglers being misleading?

This is a fascinating observation.

Just played with the 2018 lightning rod at my local academy next to a dobyns fury and a daiqa tatula xt. All 7' mhf casting rods. Noticeably lighter than the fury and just as light as the daiwa, nice crisp action on par with both, power rating seemed accurate. Nice composite full grip with a double locking reel seat that was pretty comfy. Still the same old $40 they've always been. I know this rod has always been though of as a good value, back in the day I through plastics on one and always caught a bunch, but seems they've really upped their game in 2018. Anyone actually fished with one of these new ones yet?

These were discontinued years ago, that I know, but aim curious if anyone can identify this jig. It had a weed guard and skirt at one time.

As a finesse fishing affectionado, I don't get skunked often, couple times a year at most, because if I'm chucking the 12" worm for 2 hours without a bite I'll pick up the drop shot or grub or ned rig and eke out a few. But the fact that I do that at all instead of keeping going with the big worm suggests I don't like getting skunked very much I guess...

I bought and refurbished my boat this year, which cost $3000 with anothe $1000 on th horizon. However I don't buy a boat every year (or every 5 even). In a normal non-new-boat year I spend about $1000-1500 for fuel/oil for my boat and tow vehicle and between 200-500 on gear/tackle. So, call it 1200-2000 a year. Still way cheaper than a country club membership. He'll, about the cos of a municipal golf membership. This doesn't count if I go to Canada or somewhere really far away.

Tiny brush hog in black neon has worked well for me in dirty water.