flippin and pitchin

The term is from the late 20's and is derived from the term " Not worth a plugged nickel." Kids learned how attach a string to a nickel and drop it in a vending machine slot and trigger it to give the candy or gum and bring the nickel back by pulling on the string. A lure maker, William Wingate from Michigan tried to produce a wooden lure for pike and would cast it out but only get follows and no strikes. He commented to a friend the lure wasn't worth a plug nickel and that term was shortened to not worth a plug. The term plug caught on. Wingate was from Horsecrap Michigan I think.

It takes a man of true character to snitch on himself. At least you didn't hook and land the neighbor's cat. Funny those cats...they fight like a steelhead.

When you guys become Force Instructors, you'll truly get it.

No way. Don't limit your options.

I don't mean to spit in your lemonade, but I have never understood or grasped having a single confidence bait. I suppose if you fish the same location it's reasonable to have that confidence bait. If you fish a variety of water with multiple scenarios, I can't see a specific lure, be it your "confidence bait" filling every or even most needs. My " confidence bait" on my home lake would never fly at the location I fish exclusively for smallmouth. Having confidence baits for situations is the point I'm getting at. Just rambling as usual.

Stained water, dark skies.

LM, 8-15 on a swimbait. SM, 5-14 on a swimbait.

Here's a thought Brian, How fish posistion themselves on a piece of structure can give you a hint of their mood. I'm no super experienced structure fisherman, but it seems like fish on the shallow portion of structure,fish tight to the break or fish that move along the running edge are generally feeding. Crankbaits are a good choice in that scenario. Fish who suspend off the side at the break line depth but suspend well off the edge are less active. Jerk baits and wacky worms dropped through them can get a bite. My buddy says, find em with a crankbait and catch them with slow plastics.... or a jig. Maybe this will give you an option when you find that good looking spot with the arcs on on it but the bites just aren't coming. Doug

Cop. Not any more.

More nano technology. Higher prices. Lots of name dropping. Lews should reveal a higher level spinning reel "designed" by Jay Yelas. Some rod manufacturer will come out with a fore grip made of walrus tusk or some exotic bone. Should do well. The hot deal on hooks will be green. They will complement red and be available around Christmas. Lots of videos with pros and reps who forget where they are.

Norman N and Luhr Jensen Speed Trap have been my best producers over the last 13 years.

The top has been unscrewed off the bottle. Seriously, open water as I understand and define it is water void of any cover. Cover and structure are two different things. Weeds,pads, trees, stumps, piling, etc. are cover. Humps, drops, bluffs, creek channels, ledges are structure. Structure can be void of cover. That's the way Rick Clunn explained it in a VHS tape he did about 30 years ago. Find structure that draws fish such as a point or saddle and add come cover, brush piles and you have a great place for fish to live. Fish where they live and your catching should improve. Clear as mud ?

Very pretty Major. But can they fight ?

There are some shallow fish all the time. A Bandit 100 or Normans Little N crankbait and a Zoom green pumpkin baby Brushhog, for largemouth. A Normans Deep Little N and a Robo Worm set up for a drop shot with a GYCB Hula grub as a sleeper, all for smallies. One last thing, don't panic.

There are hundreds of clips on tou Tube to demo the two presentations. Flipping is a delivery where the reels only stores or retrieves the line. Pitching is a cast using an underhand swing to create the lure's speed and trajectory and the spool is dissengaged. Keep the spool free or loose. Start you pitchng practice using a 1/2 ounce jig. Start slow and set your target at 20 feet or so. When you understand and get the feel of the lure pulling lineand staying parallel to the surface, move to a 3/8th and then a 1/4. repeat the deal with your target at 26 to 28 feet. drop weight as you get the feel of how to generate lure speed, control the spool and keep the lure parallel to the surface. You learn and practice in the yard. After you become confident, hit the watter and it will become secondnature to you. Pitching is a delivery that will change the way you fish.

That makes perfect sense. I frequently browse University of Oregon Football sites.

The block ad that sits next to the Forum's front page logo rotates it's ads. I found it a bit funny when it had the " CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR ARREST RECORD " ad. Anyone willing to admit they clicked on this link ? How did you do ? Did it cover all your felony arrests and misdemeanors ? Were they listed by state and county or chronoligically ? There's nothing more frustrating than forgetting one of those old arrests you lost track of. Wait... it switched to a Hobie kick boat ad. That looks appealing. I wonder if the gal pictured in that ad was ever arrested ?

Great photo, awesome fish.

Okay, i'm going to unzip my fly. I have several original Lews BB1N's. No instant anti-reverse. I had some hook up issues with this series over 26 years while using graphite rods. I made the switch to glass cranking rods about 8 years ago and saw my ratio improve and landed ratio significantly improve. I retired my Lews and moved to Revo Winches. Instant anti reverse in play. No changes. The rod has more impact than the Lews reel design in my opinion. I have two new generation Lews BB1 reels. I feel the bait very well, love the ergonomics, smoothness and they cast very well. I am however not convinced that the delayed anti reverse is as big a deal as Fritz would imply and I am a fan of Lews baitcasters. The 5.4 to 1 TP is 23 IPT and the BB1 is 5.1 to 1 with 21 IPT. Both deal with the resistence of a deep diver very well. I plan on staying with the BB1 for most cranking regardless.

I've seen a very similar reaper if not the same at Phil's Propellers in Redding CA. They were hand poured. That place has hundreds of custom hand poured baits. Maverick Baits out of Lakeport CA also has a similar hand poured reaper called the Shark. That bait is slick.

Let the peeving begin.

All the stuff.

The Champion 702SF is a fast action but the shut off point is a little further down the blank. That's one reason I like it. I fish #8 flouro with it (1/8 to 5/16) and use a 2500 series Stradic FJ. It balances perfect for me. I don't own a reel smaller that a 2500 series. I want to minimize line twist, increase drag washer surface and maximize casting distance. It's just what works for me. Dobyns also made the move to the Kigan No Tangle guides which is nice.

What ever manufacture/brand you choose, look for a rod with a forgiving tip. Each angler has their own preference in length and grip style. The ability to rest your fore-finger on the blank is an advantage. I have three rods that are used to ds, two are 7-0 ( Lamilgas 701TSTH, Dobyns Champion 702SF ) and the the third is a 7'4" Dobyns DX742SF. Balance on all three makes a tip up presentaion easy all day. Add your favorite 2500 or 3000 series reel and go to work.

Yes, it's a buff. They are multifacited. If you value your skin, get one.