senile1

People choose the one pair they have used in polls like this. You don't really get a comparison between all the choices. I suspect all of the high dollar glasses are similar in quality. My eye doctor sells Kaenan and Maui Jim glasses so I wear Maui Jim prescription polarized sunglasses. I like them, but it doesn't mean they are the best.

I have a 2000 Stratos 295 Pro Elite. It has been a very good boat.

I have experience with Dobyns Champion Extremes, G.Loomis GLX, and NRX rods. I would rate them in this order: NRX, GLX, and then the Extreme. Keep in mind that I use these rods for jigs and soft plastics where perceived sensitivity is a key factor in making my choice. Someone else might have a different viewpoint based on the use of the rod. With a $200 discount I think you have the right idea to go for a high end rod.

Stratos boats are good boats, but there's a lot to check before you buy one used: Check the boat deck for weak spots, check the transom for flex and weakness, take it for a spin and see if it leaks, have a mechanic check the compression and motor for $150 bucks or so, check steering free play, etc. An Internet search will give you plenty of checklists on what to look for. I wouldn't skip any steps when purchasing a used boat. Some owners lie and some owners don't have the knowledge to know when a boat has problems. I wouldn't take my Mother's word on the condition of a boat.

When I am catching fish and doing well it is all a result of my extensive skills. When I have a bad day on the water, that is due to bad luck. Chance plays a part obviously, but like anything the more you learn and the more skill you acquire the better you are able to determine where fish are and how to trigger them to bite. A-Jay's signature is a perfect encapsulation of this axiom.

Very nice fish! Congrats.

That 4 lb'er is a nice looking fish!

Nice fish, Steve!

Like most of you I want to treat the fish with care and I like to keep them off the ground, but I've found that getting self-righteous about it without knowing the situation a bank angler was in when they placed a fish on the ground is sometimes an unfair attitude.

Nice bass!

Nice bag of fish!

Those are some very nice sized fish. Congratulations!

Congratulations! Nice fish.

Thanks for the good wishes, Dwight. I'll have to fish out of state more often to raise my chances for one of these babies. Wow. This one was on the Grand Glaize arm as well. Too bad he didn't return it to the lake.

Very nice looking bait!

That's a nice one!

Nice fish, Paul!

Yep. Go to Nitro's site online, choose 2016 Z18 and then click on "Build a Boat" on the menu bar at the top of the page. You will see it listed under the "Functional" options.

Nice work! As long as one is truthful about the weight and size of a fish, I don't care how you hold it for the pic. That one definitely matches up nicely with the weight you provided.

Nice work, K_Mac!

That's a very nice fish! She's got a great gut on her.

Congratulations to her! Those smiles are what it's all about, aren't they?

The Missouri Department of Conservation provides PDFs to manage new and old ponds for different types of fish. The link for managing for trophy largemouth bass (below) tells you how many pounds of fish to remove and how many forage fish to add per acre. You can find pricing for stocking bluegill on the Internet as well. Removing small bass and adding small bluegill is what it boils down to in most cases. What typically happens is the bass become too numerous, eat all of the small forage fish, and you are left with bluegill and sunfish that are too big for the small bass to eat. Adding forage fish to a 1.5 acre pond will probably run around $1000 - $1500 more or less. Since your landowner isn't likely to spend money your only choices are to remove fish, or go fish somewhere else. http://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/resources/2011/05/trophy_bass.pdf

My wife has been telling me for a while to back off a bit because I still feel pretty nimble for 55. However, the joints are stiffer and hurt more. At some point, you have to start being careful or you will hurt yourself.

You can add some of your accounts as contact info in your profile, if you choose.