Alpster

This isn't true for everyone. I for one, like the feel of a stout recoil. The model 629 44 magnum is a favorite shooter of mine. I did my instructor training with a 1911 45 ACP. My wife will sometimes flinch a little with the big bore handguns, but she can print a tight group with all 3 of my 9mms.

Keep in mind the contours are not water depth. They are bottom elevations. Depth will change with conditions, drought, heavy rain, snow melt, etc.

Culprit black shad. The 4" make great spinner bait and jig trailers. 7.5" most of the time, 12" when the conditions are right. Caught more bass on this than all other baits combined.

Quite hard to choose just 3, but if I had to today, probably... Lamiglas MGX844: You can throw nearly any bait with it. My go to for T-Rigs & Jigs. I would have put the Loomis GLX MB844, but I didn't build it, I just replaced the guides and re-wrapped them in a spiral fashion. I thing this is the 'Gold Standard' G-Loomis Slate (IMX) 904 7'6" "Flippin Stik": Awesome for flipping in heavy cover, can throw frogs and small swim baits and umbrella rigs. G-Loomis Slate (IMX) SJ722 6' Med Fast spinning rod for light baits, finesse worms & shakey heads. 9 thousand may have been an exaggeration, but there's a bunch and I have sold and given away many.

5'6" Lamiglas MH w/pistol grip for pinnpoint casting 7'6" Loomis flippin stick for grass & upright timber 3- 7' Loomis GLX MH 2-Loomis 6'6" Med spinning I'm pretty sure every rod I have has had a worm or jig tied on at one time or other. I keep a couple on the deck pretty much all the time.

I always think of it as the "Keystone Cops" went bass fishing. Great memories there.

Of the 9 or 7 thousand rods I have, they are my own builds except for one drop shot and one fly rod. I have nothing against factory made rods, I just like to make my own.

Here's the latest, I am downsizing my collections trying to stick to what I really use in my old age. LOL I intend to sell/give away more than half of this stuff so I don't have to maintain it. The plano boxes on the shelves are packed full. I consider myself a recovering Bait Monkeyholic.

I was going to write something mushy and heart felt, until I figured out he's not dead. LOL I have had the pleasure of fishing with Kent on several occasions and he is the real deal. On the first road trip to Lake Fork, I enjoyed generous hospitality at his home for an overnight stay and some fantastic BBQ ribs. I was also a part of the famous 5 person, two boats and a dock team that helped land his 8+ bass that won the pool at Guntersville (see MAD magazine for details) LOL. He is a best friend the first time you meet him and I hope to see/hang/fish with him again one day. God bless you and your retirement. Ronnie

Shimano MG50. I have a half dozen of these. I have bought much more expensive reels, but nothing that out performs them.

I used to have several "Snagless Sallys" they were killer along grass lines parallel to the bank. Haven't seen one in years.

I must say that I can't count the # of birds nests I have skillfully constructed over the years, but I will take advantage of the opportunity to pick on a Moderator. On one of the Guntersville road trips while fishing with "Roadwarrior" I was sporting my new Calcutta DC reel. Kent said "let me give it a try, these reels are supposed to be backlash proof". He took a MLB backswing and with no thumb at all launched a Rattle trap into the mother of all birds nests. I had to laugh and I set it aside to cut it off later. Great memories! LOL

I bought one of the first DC reels, a round Calcutta TE. I paid a small fortune at the time. Although it's a fine reel and performs well, I've never bought another DC. Its best attribute is casting light baits and windy conditions, but no real magic IME. I still use it quite a bit.

Tom picked me up in NJ and we traveled (and fished) together for the Roadtrip in the spanking new Triton. Got to hear many Maine lobsterman stories. Wonderful, generous fellow. I am also a an "old timer" joined in 2006. Got happily remarried in 2010 and life just got real busy. I still check in now & then, but I also miss some of the old timers. I'm finding more time these days to fish and build rods, etc. I will be around when I can.

I like synthetic burl (rubberised) cork. It's light, durable and is easy to glue and turn.

I have been doing this for years and it works well.

I have had rheumatoid arthritis for nearly 40 years and my feet/toes are a twisted mess. I never wear shoes at home unless I work outside. For many years I bought the shoes most highly recommend (by my podiatrist) and spent small fortunes on shoes. You all will laugh at me, but in an emergency, I bought a cheap pair of slip on sneakers from wally world and now I don't wear anything else. The most comfy shoes I've worn in decades. I forget I have them on. $24 at Walmart. I bought several pairs, just in case they discontinue them. It's crazy, but they are awesome.

If you have a shield EZ, 380 or 9mm, never put a round in the chamber and cycle the action. Always load from the magazine. Releasing the slide with a round in the chamber will break the locking block. S&W has mine now. Waiting to see if they will fix it. This is a common occurrence I have seen on various forums and shooting sites.

I built a med heavy rod from a Lamiglas 5' 6" graphite blank with a pistol grip for pitching dense cover.

The thing about poppers is you can just twitch them and make ripples or jerk them and make a big splash. They are quite versatile in presentation.

Rage Craw w/1/2 oz pegged bullet.

Old school "Hula Popper" and "Skitter Pop" are my favorites.

This was actually Guntersville, but still an impressive bass!

That was the funny part. It took five people to land this one. 2 from the dock and 3 in the boat. Kent hooked this 8 1/2 lb bass with an ultralight rig with 4 lb test line. It was a tense moment, but yea, credit where it's due, Glenn was holding the net. What a day!

I had the pleasure of fishing with Kent on Picwick, Guntersville and Kentucky Lake in years past. Always a great time. I docked the boat to go grab a sandwich and he caught the big bass of the week from the dock. Great memories.