Marty

Assuming I'm interpreting your post correctly, you add 75 yards every few months, presumably because you've lost that amount of line due to retying and the like. So in effect you're using braid as backing? Why not use cheap mono and save that braid backing for those 75-yard refills?

I'd love to see conservation efforts succeed, but I'm not overly optimistic that these efforts can keep up with the poaching. As long as there's a demand for rhino horn there'll be poachers. Similar situation with drugs. As long as there's demand, there will be dealers, cartels, and all the associated violence therefrom. Here's an excerpt from a very recent New York Times article: "After two decades of gains, the world’s population of rhinoceroses is being killed off by poachers at such a high rate that conservationists fear the deaths could soon surpass the number of rhinos that are born each year. The International Rhino Foundation, a global nonprofit group, said Friday that two rhinos a day are being poached in South Africa alone, and that 688 were believed to have been killed there in 2012 — a record that was surpassed this year by September. Susie Ellis, the executive director of the foundation, warned that worse days for the rhinos might still lie ahead." http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/23/science/experts-say-poaching-could-soon-lead-to-a-decline-in-the-rhino-population.html?_r=0

I fish with 50-60 yards of line and the rest is backing. I don't recall ever getting down to the backing.

I've used various brands, but all have been short shank, round bend style. I don't really know why I prefer that style. When replacing, I generally stick with the same size that came with the lure.

It makes one wonder why a company sells $45 worth for $16. Maybe as a loss leader, maybe something else is going on.

John, I agree heartily. What a lot of people seem to not acknowledge is that free speech has consequences. You have the right to post on Facebook, Twitter, etc., for example, that your employer treats people miserably and the employer has the right to discipline you. Many of you will remember when "Jimmy the Greek" was on CBS's NFL studio show. He made a remark involving race (which I think was not offensive) and CBS canned him. He had the right to say it and he suffered the consequences. Always engage your brain before your mouth.

Perch take a variety of artificial lures. In addition to the advice offered above, I'd use crankbaits as well. I've caught many perch on my bass cranks, but I'd go smaller if you're targeting them.

Hard to argue with the choice, even though there are other worthy candidates.

I never had a problem with the snap, but like a previous poster, I doubt substituting a split ring will change the action enough for you or the fish to notice.

Some years ago we were in a surgeon's office to discuss the abdominal surgery that my wife needed. The doctor checked his calendar and told her his next available date was Friday the 13th and asked her if she had any problem with that. She said no problem without even thinking about it. I feel the same way, no superstitions.

My 6935 is on one of my rods (I'm too lazy to go down cellar and look) that's 6'6", medium power and fast action which I use as an all-purpose outfit.

You're not alone in that department. My year was lousier than lousy.

Sure you can use it, and with a medium power rod, you can use it for a wide variety of techniques. That, of course, assumes the reel is in good operating condition and you feel comfortable with a reel that size.

Jitterbug.

Yes it is. My post could've been misleading because I didn't use the word "other", as in "other power conferences."

Hasn't he had other offers from the power conferences? I wonder what changed other than the money.

I'm new to fishing on a canoe and I've been bank fishing all my life. I have a few questions and if you guys could answer them, that'd be great! I don't want to violate any non-written rules or trespass in any way. 1. Where can you launch a canoe? Any boat launch or any public property when you can slide the boat from land into the water. 2. What's considered private waters? Not sure. This can get complicated. 3. Can I fish around/under people's docks? Yes, but many property owners hate fishermen, they don't want them near their docks and confrontations can and do occur. 4. How close to people's property can I fish? In general, close, they don't own the water, but might own the lake bottom. 5. If there's a public lake/pond and then there's a small river/stream attached that heads into a neighborhood of private docks, can I head down it and fish? Not sure.

Bass behavior is unpredictable and you ought to try various depths. Bass have been known to be in two feet of cold water, so I wouldn't rule anything out.

Topwaters.

I'm with Craiger, I consider a 4+ a big fish. They're not an everyday occurrence around here.

Sounds logical. Norman baits used to have a walk-the-dog lure called ZZ Top. As the story goes, the band forced them to change its name, but I forgot the new name. I think the product has since been discontinued.

As far as I'm concerned it doesn't matter. I'm fishing with the good line which never goes out far enough to get down to the backing, so it doesn't matter what's under there. I've used cheap line that costs $2 for 600 yards or something laying around the house that I don't use. I used to not like that knot either because it migrated outward, but I solved that problem by putting a small piece of blue painter's tape over it.

Congratulations. Hope you find something in the sports field that you really enjoy.

I use bent arms and let the picture speak for itself. (See my avatar).

I fish shallow cranks a lot because I fish a lot of shallow water. Among my favorites, in no particular order, are KVD 1.5, Shallow Shad Raps, and Heddon Swin-N-Image.