.ghoti.

Let us know how it performs.I'm sort of looking for a new deep crank rod. Oh, by the way, when you go back to the same store, buy another rod, not a pistol. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to shoot fish where you live.

Getting old is much better than the alternative, but it is not for sissies.

this is something I "knew", but didn't really consider the implications of until spending some time on this wonderfull thing we call the web. 50% of the people are below average.

Rage Tail Space Monkey, on a 5/16oz Evo Shake2 jighead. It bass crack.

I use a snap for jerkbaits and some topwaters because I can't seem to tie a decent loop knot. I use a swivel for c-rigs and deep dropshot rigs. I never use a snap-swivel.

I've actually decided to get out of the "bait finesse" game. I'm liking my spinning combos enough, such that, with a little more time on the water with spinning gear, I won't be needing to push the lower limit on any of my baitcast combos. The two reels I mentioned in a previous post will be re-dedicated to other applications. I have the LTB ML-XF rod sold; just haven't completed the transaction. I'll probably keep the Kistler ML; it's a good backup light crankbait rod.

I'm in this camp now. A couple of years ago I had one spinning rod, and almost never used it. I didn't use it for bass fishing at all. I now have five spinning combos. I do use them, and have become more proficient.

I got it covered from A to Z LOL. love me some Alphas. I buy every used one I find except the ito's. I find it incredible (bordering on downright silly) that an engineer with Mr Ito's reputation would produce an unfinished aluminum framed reel, not to mention a delicate, clear plastic side cover. Those two factor make the reel suitable only for life on the shelf.

This is about "balance". It takes a balanced baitcasting combo to cast very light weights. Well, actually, it doesn't. You can do it with heavier gear if you're willing to put in a lot of practice time, but I'm guessing that wasn't what the original poster was asking about. I use Daiwa Alphas reels for the lightest of weights. . I have Daiwa Zillions which never see really light weight baits, so I don't know if they're capable or not. I have no reason to find out. The Zillions are spooled with heavier line than the Alphas and are mounted on much more powerful rods. This makes them unsuited for casting the lightest of baits. If they were all I had, I would have to make do, but I have better options. I have Fuegos, which are good down to about 1/8oz, but given the line and rods utilized, these combos are mostly used with baits in the 3/16 - 3/8oz range. Again, if they were all I had, I could use them for the lightest of baits. My Alphas are spooled with light line; one with 6, one with 8 and two with 10lb test, all mono. The best combos I have for light weights are as follows. Best: Alphas 103, 6lb line, St Croix LTB 6'9" ML-XF. Good down to 1/16oz never tried anything less 2nd Best: Alphas 103F, 8lb line, Kislter Helium 7' ML-MF. Again, good down to 1/16oz The other two Alphas are mounted on medium power rods, so they never see really light weights, but they both will cast 1/4oz just fine. I made the decision a couple of years ago to get re-aquainted with spinning tackle, so I pretty much use that now when I need to go under 1/8oz. I would love to have a Pixy SPR, but the cost of admission is too high for me.

I originally heard this as Philosophy major, but that's not quite right. Nobody hires a philosophy major, not even starbucks.

Call me crazy Raider, but I just didn't have you pegged as an English major. My apologies, sir. LOL

I had to get up every 90 minutes, all night, every night, to start my truck. If i didn't, it would not start in the morning. It was a brand new truck, not a beater. Went for two months basically without sleep, and never got warm except when in the shower. Like I said, never again.

Happy Birthday Grizzly, er, I mean Wayne.

I've heard a few of these lately. here's my fav to date The most interesting man in the world says; "I don't often speak to English majors, but when I do, I order a venti cappucino". Heard any good ones?

I was in both N and S Dakota in the middle of winter for projects. I will NEVER do so again. I'd flip burgers before subjecting myself to that kind of weather again.

Dang it. I've been wanting an Antares. Now I have no excuse for not having one, except for being a cheap bastage.Been hoping a gently used one would show up someplace. Maybe that will happen now that these beauties are more readily available.

Exactly right!

If I had to guess, I would say ESPN still has a bad case of indigestion over their involvement in BASS. They bought into that expecting BASS to be the next NASCAR. Didn't happen then, won't happen now, nor will it in the future. Fishing, as much as we all love it, is simply not a spectator sport, and will never be able to support network programming costs. Look at some of the comments just in this thread, and then search for similar threads. What gets "beeched" about? too many commercials, well who do think pays for this stuff? all "he" does is promote his sponsors lures; DUH? "he" only fishes private ponds and that's not fair, here's some tissue, go wipe your kitty I don't like "him", "he's" a jerk. so what, "he" has a show and you don't (see previous suggestion) I think I will stop right there. This could go on for quite a while if I let it. Be happy we get as much as we do get from time to time. BTW, I get WFN and have no complaints, just some shows I will no longer watch.

For really cold weather I have Cabelas MT050 bibs and parka. The set sells for around $800 normally, but seems to go on sale every year for less than half that. After using this set for two winters, I would not have a problem paying full price for another set.

The first day, Glenn and I put well over 100 fish in the boat, with about 75% caught on a spinnerbait. We had a spinnerbait bite all day. I kept trying jigs and plastics deeper, looking for bigger fish, but that did not pan out at all. I really expected a deep jig / plastics bite at this time of the year. A week over warmer then typical weather preceeding our trip had the fish positioned shallower than normal. The second day was a little different. Glenn and I again had a good spinnerbait bite until about 11am, then it just died. We found the fish positioned on a drop from 6 to 22 feet. Caught a few from that spot and went looking for more spots like it. Turned out the only steep drops that produce were one next to extensive flats. Kind of backwards from most expectations. You know, look for a flat adjacent to deep water. This was look for a drop adjacent to a flat. When we figured that out, we were back on the fish, just at a bit slower catch rate. The bite picked upp when we switched to cranks. Glenn tied on a trap, and I tied on a Koppers bluegill crank. That's how we finished out the day; repeated drifts across a large flat, catching fish on every drift. Not as many fish as the first day, but still a great day. And, this was the first time in at least three years that I actually threw a crankbait. One night, Long Mike fed us some of his wife's excellent gumbo. A special thanks again to Marlene for the top shelf chow. Kent made a seafood fettucini one night that was also top shelf. I made dinner one night and breakfast two mornings. My brother, Mike, supplied some very good South African wines. John supplied the excellent scotch and bourbon. Glenn brought great coffee from the northwest. A good time was had by all. Maybe Glenn will chime in with some pics. He took quite a few.

I don't know what's up with that pic. My bro took it using my iPad. The iPad normally takes outstanding pics.

Just had a great weekend with Glenn, Long Mike, RoadWarrior, my brother Mike, and buddy John. Good fishing, top shelf food and drink; a fine get-away with some fine friends. Glenn took a lot of pics. Hopefully he will post a few.

Raider, the thought of you at an Eagles concert puts a smile on my face. Be rather like a warthog at a butterfly convention. LOL

I'm with you topwaterspook. I despise the stuff. braid too.

Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas