Chaz Hickcox

My '04 Bass Cat Pantera IV is just awesome. Good rough water ride and a solid 19'5" fishing platform. Perfect for the rivers I fish. If I were to upgrade though it would likely be to a Puma FTD or Puma Advantage Elite.

FYI about a third of Az is higher than the Appalachian Hills. It's cold out there in the foothills of the Rockys.

I had to take an 8 year hiatus from fishing when I first joined the Corps. Time and money were an issue when it came to fishing. Since then I got back from my fifth combat tour, it was only my first time in Afghanistan, and paid cash for a POS 1993 Javelin. I ran that into the ground relearning how to fish/learning how to fish somewhere other than deep clear reservoirs in Az. Once that motor blew and I was showing 13th in my club (meaning I am starting to hold my own, grant it it's out of only 19 members) I decided to use hard earned money towards an '04 Bass Cat. I won a few tournaments and placed high in a few more. All off of money I spent 8 years earning. I would love to get a job in about ten years when I retire where someone would pay me to fish, but it most definitely won't be my sole income. Something for nothing, that's what's wrong with a lot of things.

Why would he design a bait then change the trebles out of the box? If the design was wrong then why wouldn't he make that change?

X2, I also do the same for jerkbaits.

www.reclending.com Todd found me an awesome loan for my boat. Their service is awesome and my rate is at 6%. For a boat that's pretty awesome. They make things easy and they all are guys like us who would spend 365 days on the water if they could. They also have a good deal on aftermarket warrantees and a line with an insurance company. Give them a try and shop around for a good loan. You will end up back with them anyways.

I saw something in Richmond where an ol' boy put a Deep Creek DC Super Beetle on a Scrounger Head. Same concept as a chatterbait, but the DC Super Beetle looks like a bream in the water. Something to think about.

Had a 24 inch fish go 4lb 12oz last summer. Skinny fish suck, and it happens.

Does it affect the action that much?

The Luhr Jensen Kwick Fish is an old favorite. Mostly the old balsa ones, not the new plastic baits. I haven't used one in years, but back in the day they were the heat.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/254508 25lbs 1oz, foul hooked, no record, very old news.

BTW Chesty was the BN commander for my old unit displayed in my avatar.

Good to hear Sam! Maybe I can get my LCX-15 to act like a sonar/chart plotter again! BTW, how long did it take you from Hampton to get there?

Have a Merc, but that was on my used boat that I bought. If I had a choice it would be an Evenrude. They all have ups and downs, it really depends on how you maintain it for how long it lasts. BTW, the reason I would choose a 'rude is because it has better stats with my Bass Cat. Faster speeds, better fuel economy and the 130 Amp alternator with 50 non-dedicated Amps is pretty cool.

X2 I use braid for all kinds of things. Bottom contact, rip baits, grass, and my most used application is for spinnerbaits in heavy wooded cover. Better feel and with the strength of the braid I can get their heads pointed towards me quicker.

Blue Back Chart is different for different companies. It's not parrot in Rapala though. In the Xcalibur series it's called Foxy Mama. In addition to the blue back it has a white belly and an orange stripe down each side.

Never done it, though I just loaded up on punching gear this year. Can't wait to start as soon as the grass starts to matt this summer. Yeah man, I've done it a few times. But I got a new rod and alot of equipment to do it this year. I'm going down to toho in like 3 weeks, and plan to do it. I don't think it's primetime to do it down there, but I'm sure I could catch a few doin' it. Yup I'm jealous. Water ain't hard here, but it's most certainly not warm. A lot of the grass is still short and hasn't started growing up here yet. It will get matted by May or so. I HATE WINTER!

About that, does it look like this when it's alive and well? If so it's Wild Rice.

Been using the cheapo Black Max for about a year, and the Cardinal for almost five. No issues yet and I'm in brackish tidal rivers 90% of the time. Mine jamed up like I said. I cleaned it really good and it was still not working right. Took it back to academy and got another one. Had the same problem so took it back again and got my money back. Clancy W Hmm, either I'm lucky or you got a lemon.

This is the closest thing I have. This was on my old boat, I have a Bass Cat now. The cats come with a swing away. I think this may help because I put this one on my old trailer and seems to be more like what you're talking about.

X2 The Excalibur has some really good looking XCS's in these two colors. I also like the citrus shad from them as well. In Rapala colors I would most certainly go with their Parrot, Hot Mustard, or Chartreuse Shad.

Be patient. Waiting an hour or two for an answer on a winter morning isn't going to kill you. : Too funny, for a Wednesday morning too. I have had great luck wacky rigging senkos that were 50/50 Chart and G/P, 50/50 the long ways like how a hot dog bun is cut.

X INFINITY!! Dead sticking a senko has to be the most retardedly slow and boring way to fish. I might as well get a tub of minnows and a bobber!

Love the stuff. It's never going to be invisible, but it blends in better without the long black (dark green really) silhouette of normal brades. It's a great concept, and I have yet to have spiderwire go bad in the sun. Like any line you will have to respool every 6 months or so, depending on how much you fish.

Never done it, though I just loaded up on punching gear this year. Can't wait to start as soon as the grass starts to matt this summer.