Hoytman#1

I throw my traps on a Dobyns Coalition 735c. I've had 5 trap rods in 4 years and finally have found what I believe is the best rod for me. I fish traps with Braid and usually in grass. This rod has good tip to keep fish from pulling off and the backbone to keep them from burying me in the grass. Rod also makes a good rod for froggin or big spinnerbaits.

I throw my traps on a Dobyns Coalition 735c. I've had 5 trap rods in 4 years and finally have found what I believe is the best rod for me. I fish traps with Braid and usually in grass. This rod has good tip to keep fish from pulling off and the backbone to keep them from burying me in the grass. Rod also makes a good rod for froggin or big spinnerbaits.

I throw my traps on a Dobyns Coalition 735c. I've had 5 trap rods in 4 years and finally have found what I believe is the best rod for me. I fish traps with Braid and usually in grass. This rod has good tip to keep fish from pulling off and the backbone to keep them from burying me in the grass. Rod also makes a good rod for froggin or big spinnerbaits.

I throw my traps on a Dobyns Coalition 735c. I've had 5 trap rods in 4 years and finally have found what I believe is the best rod for me. I fish traps with Braid and usually in grass. This rod has good tip to keep fish from pulling off and the backbone to keep them from burying me in the grass. Rod also makes a good rod for froggin or big spinnerbaits.

I throw my traps on a Dobyns Coalition 735c. I've had 5 trap rods in 4 years and finally have found what I believe is the best rod for me. I fish traps with Braid and usually in grass. This rod has good tip to keep fish from pulling off and the backbone to keep them from burying me in the grass. Rod also makes a good rod for froggin or big spinnerbaits.

Dobyns DX744c / Shimano Core mg7 Perfection

Topwater Rod I would go with the 704c "I use 3 different rods for this category 704cb for spooks, pop r's etc any top water with treble hooks, for Frogs I use a 735c and for Buzz baits I use the 734c." I feel the 704c could easily handle all these baits well. Worm Rod I'd go with a 734c long enough to make short pitches excellent Texas rig rod using 3/16-3/8 ounce weights. Can also be great with lighter Carolina Rigs. The 734c is probably the most versatile rod in the line up! Spinnerbait / Chatter Bait rod I would go with the 684c. Usually when I'm throwing a Spinnerbait, chatter bait, or swim jig I am throwing targets, stumps lay downs under over hanging branches etc. I like the shorter rod for doing that. Flippin Rod I like the 765c, great rod and I also use it to throw small swim baits and A Rigs. For the crankbait rod your right on with the 705cb glass rod. I love mine only problem is it is a little much for throwing smaller cranks such as the 1.5 square bill. Full handle or split is really just user preference. But the Crankbait rods only come with a Full handle. Good luck let is know what you decide to get. Oh the DX744c for soft plastics is amazing and well worth the extra money IMO!

I just bought a few myself and haven't been able to fish them yet. I am excited to throw the Jerkbait I have it modified to suspend just how I want and sometimes I will let it sit for upwards of 30 seconds during my retrieve. To me this where the technology will shine a motionless bait that still makes noise! Gonna put this theory to the test today.

XCalibur XRK75 Rayburn Red XCalibur XRK100 Foxy Momma Custom lure I had my lure building buddy make me out of PVC stock, same size and shape as the XCalibur 3/4 ounce baits. It has no rattles and you wouldn't believe how many fish I have caught on them. I have 5 in different colors red craw and bone fish are my best 2 producers.

Here are some pics of my big bag loaded and ready for the weekend.

For me it is a very complicated thing. Going from Boater to Non Boater gives you a whole new perspective. As I have a whole room full of tackle, I generally try and take as little as possible. Which is not always possible. For instance I have a 2 day tournament this weekend on a body of water I have never fished. Not to mention the fact that I really haven't had a chance to do any fishing, so with my boaters permission this tournament bag will be my big one. Holds 5 3700 boxes, I can put 3 bags for soft plastics which hold 10 bags each, and also has room for my weigh-in bag, Spinnerbait binder, spools of line, scale, tools, rain suit, cull Tags, and measuring board. I know sounds like a lot but there is more I also wear a fanny pack while fishing with just a few things I know I'm gonna use such has a couple bags of soft plastics, hooks, weights, Jigs etc whatever I'm catching them on keeps me from moving about the boat and digging stuff out. I also have pliers, scissors and clippers on my fanny pack too. Now I also have a medium sized bag which I use most often that only holds about half of that stuff, and a small bag I use on my home waters which I know exactly what I need. I'll add pics of my big bag loaded and my fanny pack when I get home in the morning. No matter what bag I take I keep it under my legs or console "if a dual console boat" while running and in the passenger seat while fishing. Keep your stuff put up and the size shouldn't really matter.

Well I'll be fishing Rough River Lake in Kentucky the last weekend of March. This will be my clubs first tournament of the year. I have never fished this body of water, so if anyone has some insight they would be willing to share that would be great. I won't be able to make it down there to do any pre fishing. Our club is located in Indiana and it's a 2 1/2 hour trip one way. I've searched the web and can't find many fishing reports on it. Not looking for exact details, just usual water color, temps, average lake depth, grass or no grass, what is the typical bottom consist of. Maybe the average 5 bass winning weight that time of year. I have a google earth map and have a few spots that look like they should be perfect for a pre spawn pattern. Only a couple away and I'm excited to get rid of this ice and snow and start the season!!!

Favorites to win KVD Duh right Chris Lane Odds are good! Dark Horses Mark Dove Jordan Lee Kid can fish!!! And has been fishing the lake his whole life!!

Some very sweet rigs in this thread!!!

Looking to buy several new reels for the up coming season. Trying to pick between the Shimano Curado 200E and the Core 50MG7. I have several Shimano Chronarch 50MG's and love em. They are just hard to find now and most are asking full retail or more. So I guess my question is are the Core 50MG7 reels really worth the extra $175 each? They sure feel very similar to what i use now so that is one buying point. Any advice thanks.

I have used several different types of lures to skip under boat docks and low hanging brush. Some lures skip much easier than others. What types of lures do you like to skip under docks and brush? Plan on using this technique alot this year and looking for more ideas on what lures work best thanks.

Send ya a pm!

Rod: Kistler Magnesium 6'9" MH Reel: Shimano Chronarch MG 50 Line: Vicious Flourocarbon 8lb Bait: Yamamoto Fat Ika Wieght / hook 1/8 oz gamakatsu custom jig head

Congrats to Skeet!

No, there's Daiwa too. ;D You guys kill me with all the bickering about which reel company is best. I have owned and used them all! Right now I have 15 Shimano's all new of course, 5 Daiwa's, 4 Quantum's, 2 Pflueger's, 2 ABU's, and 2 BPS reels. All and all for the average weekend angler any reel will work well for many years as long as it is taken care of properly. To each angler his own. Hope you enjoy the Clunn's!!!! Now can't we all just get along?

Not so sure it should have been worded like that! Also this is not the first time Shimano has not been a part of the reel trade, and a few years back Daiwa was not part of the reel trade either. Now that Daiwa has a bass pro exclusive it is part of the reel trade? BPS has affiliations with all major reel companies except Shimano. Looks like to me BPS is upset about that and trying to give them a bad wrap. Just my opinion either way I doubt neither company will be effected much by that small print! I just don't think Shimano wants to make a lesser quality reel just so BPS can slap there name on it or call it a BPS exclusive.

Well all the smack talk I did isn't justified after day on of the classic! Hope my five pick it up in a big way tommorow!

Kistler Magnesium and a Shimano reel is hard to beat! You might also want to look at a Shimano Curado E! I know where to get them for $155.99 shipped. Citca's are sale there too for $105.99 shipped. Check it out www.basstackleoutlet.com/

You didn't give much info. Like price range or specific brand you prefer. If it were me I would get a Shimano Citca CI200DSV or a Shimano Curado 300DSV both are last years models and can be purchased at a fraction of retail price. Personal preferance is the Curado because of the line capacity for those long striper runs but either of those reels should fit the bill. Only problem might be such a heavy reel on a light rod.

Would like to see something that says what you could or be willing to do for sponsors. Work shows, work on getting local retailers to sell the sponsors product at there stores, give seminars. What type of work are you willing to trade to be sponsored by a company? What about your education history? Do you currently do any kind of community service? Looks like you are leaning more towards the fishing side of things, let me tell you that is one of the last things most companies are looking at right now. Millions of anglers are excellent fishermen what sets you apart from them?