Al Wolbach

I hate the use of poisons, who knows you may have killed the bird that flew away with the mouse. But I realize sometimes that is all that works. I read somewhere that Peppermint Oil poured on cotton balls will work as a repellent but I have not tried it yet. You can get peppermint oil at health food stores for about five dollars if you want to try it...............Al

My Champion is primarily white and it yellowed after a few coats of pledge. I didn't realize it until I used a paste cleaner/wax afterward. Now I use BTS (Bow To Stern) routinely and have been quite happy with it...........Al

I always use EWG hook.............Al

Good choice. That camp is a piece of angling history, but it's a 13-mile boat ride and one lock-thru to Lake Toho. Roger Thanks Guys. The boat ride doesn't bother me, the 1000 mile drive is another matter. We intend to fish numerous lakes around central Florida, from Istapoga to the Big O and maybe Stick Marsh as well as K chain and Toho. Will decide each day where we are fishing tomorrow and using shiners will eliminate one problem. Fishindaddy- We will hit the candystore and try to avoid the dancing girls. Thanks to all for the info...................Al

I have heard that C and O Marine has a tournament trail that is well run, but I know nothing about it. Try their website for info...They are in the Nashville area. The winter boat shows(Jan-March) usually have several booths for the different trails, at least in E. Tn. You may want to try there if you can't find any info beforehand at tackle shops or Marine dealers.........Al www.candomarine.com

I use both and have always considered them two different type of products. BBS is a cleaner and BTS is a protectant/wax. I may be wrong but this is the way I have used them.............If I could only use one it would be BTS.........Al

I am very happy with a Revo winch for deep cranking......................Al

I currently have three of them and could not be happier with them. I had five I believe at one time but my 42 year old son has talked me out of a couple of them. The oldest is about four years and have been trouble free except for one knob came off the handle on one and Ardent replaced it without any issues. Cleaning and maintenance are easier than most reels. They also have a three year warranty. I have received so much grief on this site for offering my opinion on this reel that I have been reluctant to offer any feedback. But it has been some time.........so...........................Al

I don't believe there is any difference in the hook set with this hook. However they do frequently stick the fish with an additional hook point while fighting the fish. Many times I have had several hook points embedded the fish when landed. Sharp hooks................Al

I like them for heavy grass like Gunnersville(late summer/fall) to pull in twenty pounds of weeds with each fish. I like the Revo winch because of the 24lb drag also, for this same purpose. Will be trying this same reel for shiner fishing early next year in Florida. Should be a good reel for this also. I like them for several methods mentioned above, but not buzzbaits. I can see buzzbaits and can tell if I need to speed up or slow down and the high speed allows to speed up easier.........Al

To SCbassin and way2slow. I am a retired Senior Chief Torpedoman and was taught something about batteries in the Navy. I was taught to fully discharge individual battery cells completely(down to zero volts) as a maintenance procedure at a regular intervals. However this was for batteries that the plates were made of Silver and zinc(and other materials), not lead. I do not remember what type of battery cells were on the diesel boats. I have learned since I retired that these maintenance procedures to not apply to lead/acid batteries. You do not totally discharge lead/acid batteries as a maintenance procedure as it shortens the life of the battery. This may explain your difference of opinion........Al To Redlinerrobert: I recommend Deka or Trojan from personal experience but have a close friend that really likes AC Delco.

The thought of spending 6 hrs cranking a 20' ledge in 70 degree weather, let alone 100 degree, is enough to make me take up needlepoint. ;D ;D Course I ain't riding a bike up any hills either. : We all tend to think and respond to questions/statements based on our style of fishing. I am a tournament fisherman and if I need to deep crank for 8 hrs in a tournament on my knees with the rod 4 ft into the water to gain 4 ft more lure run depth I want a reel that cranks easier. And in the area I live if you want to win any money in the warmer months you must deep crank. But to a totally pleasure fisherman it probably doesn't matter, whatever trips your trigger..............Al

And that accomplishes what? It is much easier to crank, especially important with the deep divers.............Al

My advice: Avoid any electric steer model. It will not respond fast enough for bass fishing except maybe open water fishing. If you must navigate around weeds, stumps, rocks, docks or normal bass habitat stick with the cable steer models.............Al

Or make cover- Drop brush at/or about the 20' mark........Al

I have tournament fished for two decades and sometimes you just can't get them to hit anything(or at least I can't). The two lures that have worked the best for me are lipless crankbaits and silver buddy's, but a swimbait should work but I don't normally carry one rigged. Vary your retrieves to see what will work but usually for me a yo-yo type works best or most often. Nearly all of the lures mentioned in previous post will work sometimes. The advice I would offer is to turn off your sonar and stay off the trolling motor as much as possible. This will allow you to get closer to the fish without spooking them(sometimes). If you are catching white bass(stripers) try fishing under them, sometimes largemouths will school with and under the white bass. Good luck..........Al

One piece of advise. Some chips offer contour lines for every foot of depth change, which is great if you only use your gps for fishing or you live where the lakes are shallow. If you also want to navigate with it the 1ft contour lines clutter your screen and make it more difficult to navigate. The lakes where I live are over 100 feet deep and it is just to many lines. I think your best bet would be to go to a Bass Pro Shop or Cabelas and install the different chips for your local lakes and see for yourself. The BPS in my area will do this for you in a unit just like your own.....................Al

I've been debating the same thing for a couple of months. Can anyone recommend where to purchase a Racor on the web?...........................Al

Or remove the unit if it is not flush mounted......Al

I have the 100 mph and like it in cooler months, to hot in summer months, but you will not get wet. If the guide wear comes uninsulated I would take a good look at it. As JIG Man said return those to BPS and they will replace them. They did for a buddy of mine and his were several years old................Al

17 to 20lb floro works well for me............Al

Can you explain how you do this? You must have a separate line attached to the sinker, right? Just slide it down the line and it knocks the lure free. Keep line tight.........Al

Those pole type are great until the wind blows. Trying to hold a fishing rod, extend/operate a 20ft pole,while positioning the boat in a 20mph wind. Well give me the paper clip and 3oz sinker..............Al

I still have about 200 left but I believe I read that they are still in production or back in production. They are a little firmer than most of todays worms but they still catch fish and still smell like grape......Al