SudburyBasser

I generally fish in pretty clear water up here using braid but I rarely use a leader whether its plastics, cranks or top water. I know I'm paying somewhat of a penalty in at least some situations but I've never really had a problem not using a flouro leader.

If you can't use it for fishing you could always use it as line for your boat anchor.

I'm not sure what the manifesto that opened this thread is supposed to be arguing. The reason I use Pflueger spinning reels, Shimano baitcasters and rods is because they have a proven track record for me. Over, in some cases, several decades they've just worked. Am I supposed to go out and buy an Abu or Quantum reel because -- for some reason -- it's dubious to have a homogeneous collection of reels or to just take a chance on some other brand? Brand loyalty isn't always unthinking acceptance, it's a reaction to having a history with something that meets a consumer's needs.

I pretty much agreed with a lot of what Bobby said...with the exception of the decline of crankbaiting. Of course, I'm looking at it only from my perspective...and the fact that I just bought a new crankbait rod

Another vote for the Shimano Selus. I was initially skeptical because I became a total pimp for the Compre line after last summer but the Selus reasonably impressed me for a rod at its price point.

I pass by the Chicago BPS everytime I go to and from there and never get a chance to go in. Sigh. It's only 13 hours away from me

You're going to compare the King of the Jungle to God Himself? Sacrilege. That said, James Earl Jones would kill in that commercial. Hell, he almost had me wanting to try and play pro baseball just because of his in Field of Dreams. UPDATE: Damnit, I just watched it again and for some reason my eyes are nearly leaking...must be dusty in this room.

If you have a BPS near you I would check out the BPS Extreme Qualifier 370. I have and love it. It holds five 3700s in the main compartment and you could probably slide another five 3600 or smaller into the two side and one front compartment. As for tackle boxes, I use the regular Plano boxes but I have heard good things about the Falcon FTO Elite boxes.

GYCB Senkos...generally watermelon. This year I do plan on throwing a greater variety but I doubt that the Senko is going to stop being a mainstay of my plastics.

Welcome!

Welcome aboard. Be ready to spend every single minute of free time you have not fishing on this web site!

LOVE this one. Iaconelli, for whatever faults people may ascribe to him, is a great teacher. Like Minkota and Rapala? :-) Actually, I enjoy them as well. The two brothers always seem to be having a good time and they are good communicators. The Classic Patterns are generally pretty good. I just ordered some of the old Bass Pros seasons so hopefully they'll be good. I also enjoyed Robert Montgomery's Better Bass Fishing. It is a good intro the subject.

Sports Illustrated is about to make one of those happen.

Darn, this lure sounds so great that Morgan Freeman better do the voice-over for the commercials.

I feel your pain, believe me.

I was kind of thinking about this the other day now that I bought a few right-handed baitcasters. I cast and reel with my right hand...which means I'll have to cast, thumb and then move the reel to my left hand so that I can start reeling in with my right. I see plenty of people do it but I almost wish I had bought left-handed reels. Of course, I do that with spinning gear now so....

For me it's the Jitterbug. Used to use it back a few decades ago when I was in high school and then hadn't touched it in years. Decided to throw it last summer. Didn't catch anything on it but it felt good to use an oldie goldie lure again. Probably use it more this summer just to give it a decent tryout.

I once fought an epic battle with something I thought was real big -- a nice pike or something...and of course it was some old line with a jig on it that was caught around some rocks. The boys in the boat didn't let me live that one down the rest of the day. Kept the jig head though.

They're still selling a lot of lipless cranks thanks to KvD

Hmmm, and I've run out of space in my present crankbait box. Sigh. Well, it will be interesting to see if this is the new now or the next helicopter lure. Either way, if a pro wins using this at the Classic, Rapala will be printing money for the next decade.

Which zone are you in? I heard a few of them open up bass earlier this year. But yeah, I would pay more just to fish sooner.

Selection up in my local Walmart is so bad I wouldn't take most of it even on sale.

That's why Rapala is going in that direction. Balsa only gets you so far.

Count another vote for the President.

A Rapala branded A-rig with Banjo Minnows on it.