Simp

I dis like Red label and love Seaguar Invis-X.

Oh man I was worried you were going to go in a different direction with this. The kind were you ask your partner not to make any sudden moves or tap the trolling motor on high for a couple minutes. ;D

Well I may be of some help. I have three AR team series rods. I found them all to be of amazing craftsmanship. I don't have any of there cranking rods though, but I'd bet they are very well made as well. So far the three AR TS rods I have are all on the stiff side of there ratings. This probably won't translate to there cranking rods though. As far as the grips go I stayed with cork over the new grips. I personally like cork and they were offered at a great price since they were moving to the newer handles. Personally I don't know if I would like the new grips. I say this with just my experience with golfing as much as I used to. They can offer a better grip when your hand is dry but it can also lead to blisters easier as well. Then when they become wet they can become very slick. With that said I'm betting AR worked on that last issue allot when designing there new grip.

My prayers go out to his loved ones. Every day we pull out fish from their world. I'm sure god has just done the same for fishfordollars. Only he's in a far better place. Where every moment is that sun rise peaking over the tree tops while sitting on your favorite hole, but this time with the lord as your co angler. Tight lines my friend and may the winds always blow from the west.

Well I use that set up on all my spinning gear, I simply love the way braid handles on spinning tackle. I also use it for frogging, but that's all. My baitcasting pitching gear is 100% fluro. Over time I've developed a feel for fluro on my pitching gear and sometimes wind or other circumstances causes a slack line on braid and then the sensitivity is gone. I've also hurt my wrist from hook sets with braid.

WHAT??? I can email the forms instead of mailing them in???

That's fantastic! Our local university has started one as well and performed really well. I think college fishing might be the biggest thing to grow this sport in years.

BTW toward the "how could you tell it wasn't grass question". The biggest clue is the depth reading. Those fish were in about 20ft of water. At that depth usually only hydrila (in the feshwater US) can crow that deep, and that would have looked much different.

Wa.Waa..Waaa..... . Been busy catching these guys this winter I'll make sure to get them mailed soon.

Well I'm not going to tell you buy this or that rod. I'm just going to say make sure you like the reel seat it's going to have and make sure your happy with the warranty. Pond fishing especially if your going to use braid is HARD on a rod!

All the the ones with the Clam shells are coffee scented.

If BPS has a location in your state, you're going to have to pay sales tax. Don't like it? Move to a state with no sales tax or order from another retailer. And if Cabela's is in your state, you're going to have to pay sales tax from them as well. It isn't just BPS. Any business with with "brick and mortar" store in your state, you'll have to pay sales tax on online orders. You can add to that. If your state has a sales tax, it most likely always has a use tax which is due on all purchases made from out of state. In Michigan, you are required to make an annual declaration of all such purchases on your income tax return, and to pay this tax. No comment on how often it is used. :-X I think IL is or just about passed something similar. BTW I can't remember if it was BPS or Cableas (I think it was BPS), but I called them up for some help on a online order last year. Anyway somehow I got to catalog sales and was informed they don't charge tax on catalog mail orders only on online orders. So I placed a catalog order and sure enough no taxes, but the same price on the shipping and items.

I throw Curado 200e's, Citica200e's, and the CBL's. I use the CBL's on my smaller set ups like my 6'6 m crankbait rod. I prefer to use it with lines that are 10lb and under throwing light baits. The second external brake is useful for those conditions and windy applications. It's also smother then the citica but it's harder to click over but I usually don't notice that. Personally I'd decide by what your applications going to be. I wouldn't use it with braid for a frog and it wouldn't be my first choice for other larger bait applications. It's mainstay in my arsenal is for medium-small crank biats, and topwaters like popers ect..

Today I was amazed again the way fishing can be phenomenal and then just as quickly turn off. While fishing a local power plant lake today erau618 and I had four 3 pound keepers and many 2 pounders. All caught in a hour or so period. Then that school just shut off and no switching of baits could get a bite. We ran to a different spot were we found a school feeding and again caught a few nice ones and then boom there done. You simply found a school feeding or you didn't get bit period. It was tough for me because we left our area where I knew there was fish. So we could go find new fish that might be on. It's a pressured lake this time of year and of course as soon as we left that spot to find other fish and let that area rest, somebody jumped on it. It still leaves me wondering was it the right decision to leave?

Guys my pops isn't kidding either. Were talking about rangers and tritons set up for side by side seating and everything. It's a sight to behold!

The above post was me simp.

It gets warmer quicker then is does anywhere else. The north part of the lake can get very warm but at the same time it seems like in my experience that plant is ran less during summer. Plus the fish can move down lake for cooler temps. In summer, tournaments are held at night on that lake rather then the day as well.

At this lake the power plant is on the northern end by the dam. They have a fairly large portion of it sectioned off so we really can't even get to the best fishing. The two most popular community holes are a point that is closest to the plant that you saw see in the video, and a cove across the lake that the warm water can flow into with the right winds. So if you can imagine a tournament being held every weekend during the year. You end up with the cove being filled end to end with boats. Then the buoy line marking the no fish zone having boats lined up from one end to the other being a cast apart. Then 2-4 boats on that point. Even with all that pressure the fishing is usually outstanding. Why? Because there is a huge population of shad and other things for the bass to feed on all winter. These fish we caught weren't your typical winter fish where they just fight for a second and quit. These guys were drag pullers!

Yes my nickname for him is ZZ Top! ;D BTW we didn't east any big fish. We had a friendly two boat tourney for kicks and giggles. However I did fillet up some slot 12-14 inch bass plus some huge crappie. This lake is as well known for it's crappie as it is for bass. I caught one that was close to two pounds and lost another that was around 2.5lb I'd say. Dang thing was a monster! I'm a big believer in catch and release but there is nothing wrong with keeping and eating fish that's part of a management plan. With that said you will never see me not release a bass 3lb or over. As far as clean water concerns. I always look at the reports our state puts out, but we don't even come close to eat enough fish to be worried about merc levels.

No problem Alpster. I just really over thought what to get ya. I really couldn't find what style of baits you prefer except you like Caviatron buzz baits. So I thought I'd let you decide what I got ya. Plus with their 12 days of Xmas going on I though it might go a long way for ya. I also need to thank you for your gifts. I can't wait to try out those long shank spinerbaits. Plus those rage shads are going to get torn up on Crab Orchard next year. Also I haven't used the Please release me before is it for when a fish is bleeding? Here is a pick of my great haul from Alpster.

Dang sorry about that. I'll get my group to send them out after smas.

Mop jigs are fantastic for giving the fish a diffrent look. They have always produced well for me in cold water, and at night. They are no doubt a great big fish bait, but I get good numbers as well. It's a great SLOW bait, because for one thing it takes 4 ever to fall. I've did a fair amount of clear water testing with it to get a good look at the skirt and letting the bat sit a little while really lets that skit flare out. So I went to longer pauses and seemed to get more big bights. When I bring it back I'll drag ot or hop it. It just depends on the conditions and what I think will work best.-

So me and my buddy (erau618) went out with a couple of friends to have a little fun fish off. We went to a local power plant lake because all the other lakes are frozen!! :-X Well water temps were at 50 up to 55 later in the day. Perfect temps for jerkbaits and there happens to be a great population of had there two. We also went on a weekday and so we had the lake to ourselves. It all added up to a great day of fishing. We probably boated 30 bass easily here is short video and pic. ----

Food is the one area I'm a bit concerned about at moors. When I stayed there we were in a cabin so I don't know if they have a kitchen in the hotel area. I know they have a restraunt, well more like a dinner at the Marnia that's in the Moors site, Problem is in my one time easting there it was pretty bad. Like I wish I left after I got my drinks bad. So grilling out as most we can might be the best option.

Oh crap all you do gooders. I'm over thinking my gift for alpster. Pleas PM if you guys have any ideas at what Alpster might enjoy. I've read over a hundred posts by him and still nothing solid that would blow his mind or get at least a "Man I really needed this".