CWB

We probably all grew up using a Zebco 33. I still have 2 of them. Great for when the kids or rookies come out to play. I have Zebco ultralight underspins on all my ice fishing rods and wouldn't trade them for anything. No tangles, twists, and drag is smooth as silk. Not sure if the model I have is made anymore.

X2 I sat on an Extreme last year that was over a year old and brought it back and they gave me the same length and action, but the newer model, with no questions asked. Keep the little registration paper that's wrapped around the handle but dont send it in. Bring it with if you go to exchange it. Never broken a rod while fishing, just stupid stuff.

Is it possible you got a non-production model or demo? Looks like cosmetic issues that would not affect performance. I do not own a Smoke but have 2 Accurists and an Energy and have yet to have an issue. I agree the craftsmanship in the pictures is not up to snuff, and I do manage a CNC machine shop. The model I picked up and looked ovet at the Spring Classic was very nicely finished. Looks like the grooves in the crank were roughed out and not polished. Same wth the back part where the handle pad is and the drag star. Not polished and anodized prior to installing the handles. I don't recall you mentioning if performance was poor but I would be ticked at the finish as well. Good luck. Tackle Tour rated it pretty good, giving it the Editors choice, for what that's worth. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewquantumsmoke.html

Don't pay too much attention when someone says they aren't "impressed". If you looked at a senko for the first time would you be impressed? Just a straight hunk of plastic. The only way to find out is to try them and give them a fair shot. I think these are priced pretty reasonably too.

A Shimano with a problem? Blasphemy. ;D Check out below. http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SHIMANO-CURADO-200E7-REEL-RH-NIB-CU200E7-/380317198046?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588cabe6de http://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Curado-200E7-Casting-Reel-CU-200E7-NEW-/360351906194?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e6a5b992 $143.00 with free shipping. Returnable also. Less than the $149.00 plus tax you paid. I thought She-Man-O (as Muddy used to call them) didn't participate in the reel trade in program. I bought one at this price ($142.95) last year from a seller in Florida and free cleaning and lube for life was included. Sometimes you get lucky on EBay.

Great observation! That drove me nuts also. You might be on to something. I remember Scumfrog made a lure with 2 toads about a foot apart. Don't know if it ever caught on. (pardon the pun)

I also think where you are fishing it has alot to do with the hookups you'll get. If you cast it on top of a mat of slop, and get a blowup chances are the fish will inhale a bunch of slop around the frog too and you'll be lucky if you get a hook in him. Had that happen enough to know. Set the hook and all you get back is a frog covered in moss or other gunk. If you're fishing pads, or other overhead cover like that, your odds will be better but the fish could still miss or only get a leg. If you're fishing more open water with no overlaying cover on top as in the video, you will not have near the hookup issues, especially if the fish are as suicidal as those were! As Senko said, set the hook as hard as you possibly can and crank for all your'e worth. I set the hook so hard that I almost throw my partner off the back of the boat and still do not connect sometimes due to reasons listed. Froggin' and Rage Shadding are my favorite ways to fish.

I've been eyeing these: http://www.***.com/Strike_King_Tour_Grade_Painted_Blade_Spinnerbait/descpage-SKTGPB.html Here are some double Chartreuse: http://www.***.com/Strike_King_38_Special_DBL_Willow_Spinnerbait/descpage-38S.html#multiview

Can't help you as I prefer not to fish for bedding bass. JMHO

Some popular lure retrievers: http://www.frabill.com/accessories/9865.html http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_37104_100011005_100000000_100011000?hvarAID=shopping_googlebase&om_mmc=shopping_googlebase http://www.***.com/descpage-JBHDLR.html http://www.tackletour.com/reviewgogetit.html

Best job I ever had was working for the local Tropical Fish store when I was a kid.had aquariums all my life but never had the luxury of owning a saltwater tank though. Wish I could talk the wife into it. Beats the heck out of watching T.V.

Answers 1) No 2) Don't know 3) Don't know 4) Either stop buying on ebay or file a claim with seller.

I'm with Fluke and Sam. I don't see a situation where it can hurt, only ones where it will help.

x 2 !!!!!!!!! X3

X2 I do this to all my jigs and spinnerbaits that come with rubber skirt collars. Nothing more frustrating that throwing your bait and it goes one way and the skirt goes another. Cinch the wire tie up tight and I always make sure the connection points up vertically, same as hook. More and more manufacturers are going away from the rubber collars these days.

Leo, I think spooling the line on backwards is for the guys in the back of the boat 'cause they are casting backwards. :

Great observation. The additives make the difference, at least that's what I recall from my drag racing days. I don't think you can go wrong with the Penzoil. I've been using the non-synthetic for years with zero problems.

I prefer a 6'6" MH spinning rod and 4000 series reel. Most of my skipping is done under docks very close to the surface and under pontoon boats moored to a dock with the back facing out, which means you have about a 1 foot square opening to hit to avoid the motor or the pontoon from 10-15 feet away and still skip it 20 feet more after that to get it all the way to the front of the boat. The bigger reel and spool allow for longer, smoother skips and bait will fall straight down without having to peel line off reel. I'm sure there are people out there that can do this with baitcasting gear, but I haven't seen it. Try both but I would start with spinning. Might not want to go to baitcasting.

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I think they are 3 X worm , you can pull them and they are like a rubber band, And they have a garlic sent. Best floating worm that I have seen! X2 4" and 7". Float great. Z-Man probably makes one also and he uses Elaztech material. http://www.zmanfishing.com/store/categories/elaztech/finesse_wormz Bonus with these is once you get them on the jig, they last forever. If you use the screwlock heads, you will need to heat the screw portion up and install the bait while it is hot but once on, it'll last all day or until you break off.

Right on with the depths. Have got quite a few fatties the last couple years on 4.5" Shadalicious, Sexy Shad color of course. Had a few good bites from toothy critters also where all I got back was the chewed end of the line. Did get a 41' musky 2 years ago. Great battle. 3 feet of water, 12lb line and pad stems everywhere. Took a while but I got him.

Not sure there are any skirts made of elaztech. Give it a pull and find out. I believe the trailers are as Chatterbaits are made by Z-Man. I prefer Strike King Pure Poison anyway.

X2 to both posts above. The Craw Fatty looks good too. Ikes Spear might even get a look. At that price, definitely worth a try. Very few baits that are not "knockoffs" of something else or at least copied some aspect of it. Skinney Dipper is good example. How many soft swimbaits are out there? Good bait at good price = sales.

It would depend on what they're wearing. If it's nice out and they are wearing a bikini, I would probably view them more often and more indiscreetly than if they were wearing a full rainsuit. Of course, this is unless it's my wife in the boat. ;D

I think everyone is going to try to unload their Yum stuff now that the baits come with F2 and not LPT infused in them. I still put megastrike on them anyway.