S. Sass

Hugs? You lost me... Personally most of my waters are not crystal clear to start with. But sometimes it is pretty clear and most of the time it is slightly stained. All that in consideration I have never found running straight braid to end or slow the bite. All I can say is A rigs, Spinnerbaits, and I am sure other baits like huge wood fish with hinges get bit all the time. If the difference in a small semi clear mono or fluoro line is that much better than braid to you and makes you feel better by all means add a extra knot to your line and have at it and whatever else floats your boat. Nothing anyone else believes should dictate what you should or shouldn't try. What works for me or anyone else may not be the ticket for you. That is what is great about fishing.

I do all of the above.

I also prefer spinnerbaits. I don't have a issue with them even in cover for the most part they come through pretty good. Also light grass is always a good place to skim. I have always preferred the colorado style blade but over the years it seems many companies have pushed the willow blades. Those are OK but generally for me more of a stained/clear water windy overcast kind of blade. I find the colorado blade sized property is a excellent calling bait. It has that slow methodical heavy thump. This works good in any water, wind is a plus from my experience. Just last weekend it was cloudy and windy as 20+ mph gusts were happening. Went to some ponds and there was no bite. Nothing worked we absolutely couldn't get a nibble. Even my partner went Ned rig and ever other small presentation he could think of. I pulled out a solid black 1/2 oz w/ a single #5 black colorado blade spinnerbait and it was instant game on. It was amazing 4 hrs of fishing and the old spinnerbait was all it took. I have heard a the chatter bait talk and have some but for me I really have seen zero conviencing evidence that they have done any better than the spinnerbaits. Sure it's a different vibration and I guess there may be that one day it's what they will only strike. But I haven't seen it. Most cases for me it's the spinnerbaits that get hit. I don't see using them anywhere different than a spinnerbait. I'm just now looking to try some of these newer underspins. I've used the old horse head small ones back in the day but not for bass. I have been talking with Mike at Siebert Outdoors for awhile and he is currently working on his version of a underspin as we speak. I'm looking forward to being a guinnipig. I have confidence he can make a high quality one as there is not much to them and his other baits are stellar. I'll experiment all over with these. I see them as a more finesse colder water bait as I read up it seems that is their nich. I still want to run the gamut of fishing presentations and locations with them for myself. I personally don't use straight up "swim" jigs a lot. I don't even really think of them much so I can't say they do much for me. But a really clear water approach would likely be where I'd use them most.

Cool its bigger than I thought. I was thinking about 1/2 that size. That is a nice skill.

I was attempting to play along that was the sarcasm smiley face at the end (see rolled eyes)

I was going to mention this but seems you already knew about it. One other option may be to start a sanctuary lake. I mean who cares who pays for it we could just all move a bunch of non licensed fishermen out there and get the local government worry about paying the bills. No offence but count me out on vlogs. I find those vlogs less than entertaining.

Really nice. How big is that? Just curious I am guessing its not life size? Or is it?

I got it fellas. I figured out the issue. The reason for the big peacock bass and maybe the reason the are abnormally biting. Highest radiation reading since 3/11 detected at Fukushima No. 1 reactor Seriously I haven't a clue about a peacock bass but a little humor was needed. Although the Fukushima issue isn't funny the thought of the old huge weird stuff supposedly from radiation exposure in the movies came to mind.

Sweet bet your excited boats open new avenues to the ones we hunt.

No pics? I know you dont have it but a link or pic to one like it would be a start. I like pics.

Yes but was it the exact same rod or extremely comparable rod? Same line? Lots a variables to consider. Id say on average regular casts i'm casting 30ish yards on my baitcasters. Thats just a normal toss not trying to exert a lot of force.

I don't know who took any of it seriously either. But as far as justification saying well they would have won just look at the score leads me to you missed the bigger picture. It didn't matter would won or lost this was about cheating and character to me. I could win at a casino all day but if I found out they cheated would you want to go back and take your chances? If your wife or gf cheats on you what does it say about her character? Better yet what does it say about you if you take her back? Haha Now think about this a true professional a man of his trade can and does notice very slight changes or differences. For example a driver in and big time sport can tell incrimental differences in air pressure in 1 of 4 tires. I hear guys on this very board talk about such light weights I think they are full of poop but then again I see many claiming to be doing these same light weights. No it didn't probably change the game. Did it or could it give Brady a comfort. Did it or could somebody have let it slip to get in the opponent's head? There are numerous angles to playing the game and any box you can check in your favor only helps your team. Do you think that the Falcons and NFL upper staff haven't looked at every possible way to make sure they don't get a scam pulled on them today by Bill and company? Your d**n right they have and will continue to. They have shown proven they will try to win at ALL costs.

Lady Gaga

Man that isnt anything. I drive by several high schools between jobs and see literally rows of $60,000.00 and up 4X4 trucks jacked up with $20k of aftermarket parts on them getting 7-10mpg. What part time high school job can foot that gas bill? That insurance payment on the truck? It's quite disgusting to know that many kids for the most part won't learn what earning something means. My brother lives 2 hrs away they have the same thing at their high schools. Then people wonder why kids have such out of ordinary thought process. Well lets see for starters they have no clue about $ and how it works. And just where are all the wealthy people that are buying these kids this stuff because I need new parents.

Isn't that why he specified in slop and mud?

Exactly what I would have typed. Excellent value.

^^^ This is pretty much the way I am. I carry quite a few hook sizes and shapes. Mainly because what I take goes with me no matter if I am pool hopping or in my bass boat. My terminal tackle box is just one that goes no matter what and it's full of assorted styles shapes sizes etc. My terminal box has a lot of 3/0 4/0 and 5/0 as these I use more than any other sizes. But I do not finesse fish at all and rarely use a Senko. Most of my plastic craws and creature baits are 4" and up. And my worms are usually no less than about 7.5" long. I have got away from the EWG style hooks although I do occasionally have one on as I bought them and I am trying to use them up. I'm not completely brand specific. I just buy brand name hooks like Eagle, Mustad, Gammy, or Trokar. In this day and age every name brand hooks tip is more than capable of sticking that fish. As for size I wouldn't want to start a list of sizes and styles for each particular bait. I fish a lot of plastics and most are pretty obvious if you go to big or too small. They wont fit the bait or won't be able to penetrate enough to hook the fish consistently. I prefer the old school straight shank or the straight shank barbed hooks. I will use a Plastic Worm Hook like this Trokar TK100 on certain plastics mainly worms.

I noticed the ad stated " Pa title in hand for both the boat and trailer." I know different states do things different but Texas requires the motor title as well. If he was the original owner you might want to check on that title as well in the event you sell one day and someone from another state that requires it may be interested.

@Turkey sandwich I am relaxed. I wouldn't have waited and posted here to see what others dealings were like and what each of you would do. There is no doubt the entire front 1/2 of that piece will fall off in short order under any normal traveling or fishing conditions. I am going to call them. Thanks for your thoughts. @Kidflex So you have sent a rod in for this same issue to Fenwick and everything worked out? Or is this just an opinion based on a assumption that Fenwick will deliver? If you have specifically dealt with them that is great news hopefully mine will work out too. @smalljaw67 That sounds great I think I will try and give them a call. I just got in early today and have time to get into a discussion with them. I really hadn't had time or the reception while they were open until today. Your personal experience makes me feel better about the odds. @MIbassyaker Great thread I appreciate that. Seems like some good results. I usually search and find threads like that but didn't this one time. @MattMurr I personally feel the same way. But what if Fenwick sees it like Fishes in trees does. He seems to think its a "nick" I am old enough and have had things that should have been a simple deal turn out not to be such a simple matter. Seems its always better to have documentation to hold companies accountable for what the sales/service people actually say. Telephone calls with he said she said can turn out the customer loses with no recourse. But if you have mail, email, or a text from them stating something then at least you have a leg to stand on. @Angry John No I am not "in love" with that rod but yes I do like it. Like most of your response discusses its a $ vs value thing. I didn't spend $130 to use a rod 6 months to then have to decide if I want to make one of these choices. @Fishes in trees To someone else cosmetics may be nothing. I see people driving cars, trucks, and boats that are beat to crud. Me personally I pay good money for the things I buy and I try and take care of them. If the paint on my truck gets chipped or a dent gets in it, it doesn't stop it from functioning but I will still get it fixed. I try to keep it nice. Same goes for my rods and anything else I worked hard to earn. Also like RichF said it's more than a nick. The entire front 1/2 of the cork piece is barely hanging on. @RichF you are correct its the entire front 1/2 that has separated all but a small portion holding it together. I let go as soon as I felt what seemed like something crumbled. @ww2farmer That is good to hear you have had great dealings with them. Your post and others make me think they aren't the typical, "Oh there is a scratch you have no warranty. But hey we can sell you another." type. My first email I thought was polite? I wasn't in any way trying to stir the pot. I was just trying to get some sort of yes or no before I spent more money on the rod and possibly got hung over a barrel. I agree the second one as you can tell I was in a hurry and was not to happy I spent the time to gather all the information requested added multiple pictures and all just as they requested only to be told do it again as if I never did as they requested. I appreciate all the input I am off to call them and see if we can work something out.

I have a Fenwick Aetos, the previous model, I purchased a couple of them when they were on sale. The rods have been great and I have been more than pleased with them. However two days ago I removed the reel and was cleaning up one of them. As I went to snug the reel in place the piece of cork covering the nut that holds the reel in its seat crumbled. I say crumbled as it is what it felt like. It is just cosmetic damage and in no way hurts the rod other than appearance. It's actually cracked the cork and I really am not sure if it will fall off or what at this point. I gently set it aside while I debate on what to do. I knew it was under warranty as the rod was only 6 months old so I went to Fenwick website to see the process. https://www.fenwickfishing.com/Fenwick-warranty.html I did as step one says and sent a email to them with the information requested. I also included the message below, an electronic copy of the receipt, and several pictures of the damage. The next day I recieved a email back that was as generic as a automated response can be asking for me to do exactly what I had just sent them. Literally a copy of their warranty claim page. So I replied back Then I get this but it also included the step by step instructions, addresses to ship to, and my Reference number – VOC # So here I am now with a rod under warranty that has cosmetic damage that to me was a random defect in the cork or glue or whatever that will make my rod look like ____. And my options are: Keep the 6 month old rod and let it look like ____ Spend roughly $20 ship the rod to them on a chance they may warranty it and I get the nice looks back for $20 Spend the roughly $20 ship the rod to them on a chance they say I damaged the rod. In this case I will not get my rod back, nor my $20, and in their words I will "receive a generous discount towards a new comparable non-warranty replacement rod". That sounds so good knowing I will be out more money on a warrantied rod to get a rod with no warranty and I paid part of the shipping. Or I just paid $20 to give my rod away if I do not want to spend more money on another rod that will have zero warranty. Who in their right mind puts customers in this position? What would you do? I seriously don't want a ugly rod (that piece is literally hanging by a thread), but I don't want to pay to literally give them my rod and end up with nothing either. If they were to decline the warranty I sure wouldn't want to send them any more money for another one of their rods with zero warranty. So what do you do?

Good question. If it just started or ? Same here I have many Lew's reels and none make noise. But as with any company making mass produced items a lemon could possibly have got out. If it's new and nothing you have accidentally created the issue just exchange it.

A lake close to me for years has been good with a chrome blue back lipless. It doesn't have to be Rat-L-Trap brand either. I've used Cotton Cordell, Cream Lures knock offs and I am sure some others. I'm pretty sure its the flash more so than the specific rattle since different brands all produce in this color. But this lake likes them more regularly than others I've been on. If the lipless bite is to be had chrome blue back is the color 90% of the time.

Was looking forward to the SI version on this self-centering hook.

NetBait Paca Craw has been a bait I consider for all around use. It puts off a medium vibration. The hollow body allows for those who like scent to dr them up. Also it makes for a soft body easily collapsing for a great hookset. The claws are not prone to being torn off easily. If I need maximum vibration Strike King Rage Craws are up there as a strong option. If you are wanting more subtle vibration I like the Berkley Pit Boss.