Hooligan

The 803C is incredible thus far. It's got a lot of power, is incredibly sensitive, and will handle a worm better than any rod I've fished. The 853 is an awesome rod for fishing jigs up to and including 1/2. It has a huge amount of power to move fish, but the tip is light enough to work smaller to medium jigs with incredible accuracy. It will bounce a jig better than any I've ever fished. The 873 I'm up in the air about. I love that the rod is sensitive, and light, but I don't really feel that I am gaining anything from my Cumara for this purpose. I really wouldn't say the rod is a double duty rod, either. It's so specific to Carolina rigging in its action and feel, I don't think I'd like the way it fished a jig or other plastics.

Same thoughts. That said, my favorite grass jig is still probably the Jungle JIg from Northland. I wish they still made it in 1.25 ounce.

They're not different species, they're color patterns based on geographic location; more commonly referred to as a strain. (I don't CARE what wikipedia says, there are many biologists that discount E. m. immaculatus/ohioensis and will classify all as E.m.masquinongy. Tigers are a hybrid of muskie x pike or pike x muskie. As was stated, it's a process, one which I've been at for close to 25 years and still learn every day. They have the most amazing way of frustrating you, and some days they do just what the books say they should. There's no hard and fast rule to answering any of your questions in terms of habit, habitat, or difference in size and appearance. There are times, for instance a Leech Lake strain looks just like a WI strain. There are times, as well, that WI fish are smaller than the LL strain and comparable sets of fish are different every time. They're weird, and that's just starting. Get your hands on "Muskies on the Shield" from Pearson. If there's one guy that knows muskies better than anyone on the face of the earth, it would be Dick. Also, be prepared for what you're getting into in terms of tackle. The Bass bait monkey has NOTHING on the Muskie Bait Monkey. I literally have a safe for my muskie baits. Literally. I keep them in a Browning fireproof. I've got some 300 jerkbaits and pull baits, all are wood. Add a some plastic to that and you're talking 500 baits. Add in bucktails... well, you get the picture.

Yes, but definitely not finesse baits. I've become disillusioned with the KVD Finesse worm, and am now back to old reliable Baby Ring Fry and GYCB Shade shape worm.

Send them to me, I'll dispose of them properly.

I understand that, hence my statement of being the best I have been able to get my hands on. Kureha GM, SM, Multi are all lines that blow everything else out of the water. The problem is their availability. You just can't get them.

Agreed VA, agreed.

It's up there, but it doesn't have some of the same qualities that Tatsu does. One of my partners has it on a Core and a CH50MG and it does some things really well, but lacks the abrasion resistance of Tatsu. I guess, apples to apples, it would be the closest to Tatsu that I've had my hands on.

Everyone's given you great advice for a rod that you're going to be ripping grass. For situations where you're not dealing with grass or heavy cover I tend to fish them on a Loomis CBR843. I don't know why I like it so much but it just feels right.

They may well have discontinued them from their stock. I know firsthand it isn't discontinued from Rapala, I just ordered 6 of them in 8+9. It HAS been discontinued in the Shallow Shad Rap, however.

Interesting. The difference I'm seeing isn't imaginary, though. It's such that I put a depth gauge on it and it's 15/100s different.

Theonly time I've found anything worth it there was 1000 count mix and match of VMC Barbarian treble. I bought them in 2,3,4,5 and the order ended up back ordered, then canceled. Haven't bought anything since then.

I've not done it on smaller jigs, but that's my favorite trailer on a 3/4oz jig.

I think I ordered these from fish307 in November, possibly December. Seems to me like the price was $4.99 or so for the 1/4 and 3/16. I'd have to look for the receipt.

Not at all. They're about the highest quality hook you're likely to find. Katsuage would be one of the only upgrades from that hook.

The whole purpose of knots like Alberto is so the angler doesn't have to match diameters. In doing so, you'd have 2different diameters of line to purchase in addition to what is being spooled, by your advice. You'd have him with 8lb, 12lb, 15lb, 20lb and if you go with 50lb braid 25lb. Learn to tie the Alberto or Albright and peel some off a reel that has fluoro or mono and use that as leader.

Glenn, have you had any experience with Webroot? Every once in a while I'll get an authentication error here, or on Facebook. I almost want to say that it's acting more like a hard disk error though.

That's a very good way to put it. Given that the two are so similar in the first place, you can't compare the base fiber on their own merits when you're talking about a finished line. I think that it's more appropriate to compare the finished lines.

Dead on. There is a minor difference in fiber weight and rigidity between the two, based on the process. One is gel-spun, one is extruded. The process in which the individual fibers are spun then braided and coated are the differences that we would compare.

Club tournaments and possibly one other. The dates will be in May and June, I don't have the schedule on my PC. One in late April.

Ghoti gives good advice.

You mean Pline Shinsei, and it's definitely not a competitor to Tatsu. It's a leader material, not a mainline.

Designed by a fisherman for fishermen. Yep, that's about right. It should read, "Designed by a fisherman for fish."

There really isn't one. There's nothing else that really comes close.

Good point, in that case, you just can't beat black and blue!