Teal

If they did have a patch, i would hope that if works better than the nicotein patch. Hundreds of patches and im still at a pack of "cowboy killers" a day.

I didnt care about "competitive" fishin the last time NC had one (2004 i think) Im ready for the Classic to come back to NC. I grew up on Kerr Lake/bugs island and Kerr hosted the classic when i was just a kid back in the early 90s.

I like a longer rod simply for longer casting distance. But a 6' rod would be pretty good for pin point accurate casting. I would say MOST guys use between 6'6 and 7'. Medium or Medium Light action with a fast tip. I use a 7'M. But a 6' rod will work! It will be great for skiipping under docks and brush! My wife uses a 6'3 M fast spinning rod for shakey heads and does great with it. (My wife is 5' tall so that is like a 7footer for her.

If the weather and the front mess with the fish, look for Martens and Ike for a finesse bite. KVD is a just a beast and he will most likely be fishing on sunday anyways.

3 days. Friday - sunday. I think the field is cut down after weigh in each day and only 12 will fish sunday. Best 5 fish limit each day. Heaviest total weight from three days on sunday takes the purse.

Id like to see one of the Bass Nation guys take it. But my money is going on Aaron Martens.

Its been in February for the past 6 years or so. It used to be in the fall. Ive heard people say its so BASS doesnt have to lose audience to the major fall sports like the NFL, or MLB playoffs/world series. Im not sure how they decide on a location. I personally like the new format. Its much like racing now it that they start the year with the granddaddy of events and then work towards a points champion/ angler of the year.

Gotcha. My jig rod is a Powell Endurance 714. 7'1"Heavy and it is awesome. A little more than you want to spend but if you look hard yyou can find them online for under 150. Retail is 169. Avids, Dobyns Savvy, Phenix Recons or Duckets would be great too if you can find a used one or one that is on sale. Also look at a Shimano Compre. That is in your price range and alot of guys on here use them. I think they make a 7'2 H

Big time up grades!!

Why not stick with the Veritas and get a 7 MH or a 7'6 MH?

I will say i have seen a bunch of great deals on theFlea market in the past few days that i would have jumped on just for the sake of seizing a deal. And that is killing me...it only happens when funds are depleted.

Itss not the baitmonkey. Its his aggravating cousin the "b.o.a.t. monkey" just spent 768. To repair boat. Needless to say, i dont have any bait monkey funds. I did buy some Sniper line. I dont need any. But it was buy one get one at the local store.

Besides..like diggy said, i havent heard of anyone having to return rods. Im saying to go the ABU route because if you do and they send you another rod. You can always take the veritas to a local rod repairman and have him put a new guide on it. Now you have two..

Diggy hit the nail the head. Try the Abu route. They may just send you a new rod. However it is, it is under warranty and Abu will make it right. Abu/pure fishing have excellent customer service. Pure fishing will normally get back to you in a couple of hours and let you know something. Id say try that. Theres a good chance you can end up with a new rod. Why not... one little email to find out cant hurt.

I say this, and ive pretty much covered that shoreline multiple times last year. When i say covered it, i mean about 30the ft from the bank, and the entire shoreline all the way down and back the entire creek....never seen such devices and havent harmed my boat.

No. The only poles ive seen back there are mainly in the far back end and right there near the ramp. Most of them are wood,rebar with plastic, or pvc. They were put there by residents to mark stumps so that you wouldnt damage your boat. Durring the spring and summer, im back in poplar at least once a week (working on vegetation) and have never seen an intentional device to harming boats.

Zoff, you are putting in at the back on popular creek. Poplar is a long winding creek that has deep water. I dont know if it is a channel per se, but it is deep and the are shallow pockets and arms coming off of the creek. Theres alot of good points within the creek it self. Polplar is in a good spot because if you travel down to the main lake, you aree in the middle of the lake and right at "the bend of the river" there are some big fish right there at the rivrs bend...

Neat, i like that color.

Well..what are yyou lacking? You can always buy hooks, tungsten weights, extra spool of line, flipping/punch weights hooks, KVD Line and Lure, fishing glue, scent/attractants or baits that you will be using soon. 45 isnt really alot so i cant reallyy make any rod/reel suggestions unless thats a dire need. Jerkbaits and jigs are super spring time lures to consoder also. BPS has a sale coming so take a look on the flyer or website.

Honestly, my favorite mod is the one I dont have to make. I like trying to find hard baits that i dont have to change hooks or do this or do that. I mean, i love the color selection and price of the KVD squarebills but by time i change out those sorry hooks and bend the line tie a few times to get it to run straight, i start thinking that i could have spent 5-10 more bucks on a Spro,Rapala, or Lucky Craft. I like to buy War Eagle or Stanley spinner baits and rarely have to do anything. I may bend the arm down just a bit, but thats not biggie. I like to tinker, i just get fruustrated sometimes with some of these lures. Seriously tho, favorite mod is takingthe beat up old jig skirts and putting them on a finesse round jig head and then trimming and cleanin up and making a finess jig. Keeps me from having to by finesse jigs.

You shouldnt have to strip a new reel, clean, regrease and relube it, but it is an option. I bought a Lews TP off ebay like that and i didnt want to go through the hassleso of trying to send it back so i decided to strip it down first and give that a try...reel is smooth as butter now. But like i said, you shouldnt have to do that on a reel that is new. That is totally on the manufactuer.

Curly tail grub, baby fluke, or kietech impact.

Hello welcome to the site. Advice- make a fishing equipment budget that is balanced and wont cut into family or bills. Get quality equipment that fits into your basic needs and meets budget. And last but not least, go to the articles and videos section of this site and learn all you can. We have a good bunch of guys that will help with your questions!

I used to carry and taser and gun for a living. I struck quite a few folk with lightning. Does that count?

If nothin else, i can bring you one of my several hard copy topo maps. (These are the good ones, they have notes alll over them)