South FLA

My buddy Justin called and said the Snook bite should be on and he was right! We had so much fun we went out the next night too, with our friend Ron! We ended up with about 20 total snook over the two nights and a few other "junk" fish (JACKS) that were also tons of fun to catch. Unfortunately, snook season is closed, but they are still great fighters! Oh, all were on lures, live bait is for CHEATERS, lol!

The frog I most use is Spro Popping, also really like the Live Target.

Rode one for a demo ride and was impressed on how easy that boat handles. You don't have to worry about weight distribution, chine walking, etc. it gets out of the hole in NO TIME and turns on a dime, NICE BOAT!

Fact: Best is subjective! Fact: The United States of America and is part of the New World GLOBAL ECONOMY, buying 100% American made is not necessarily better for the U.S.A. economy than buying X product from X company that provides X amount of Americans with jobs. Opinion: Megabass > Lake Fork Composites > St. Croix > Loomis > Dobyns > Batson I enjoy the thread and it shows the PASSION of the forum. I am glad that we live in such a great country with such a high standard of living that we can "argue" and "debate" this!

Major BUMMER!

I have just about every HIGH END rod mentioned in this thread, ask Dwight, lol. I was a HUGE Dobyns fan for a about 2 years having both the Champion and Champion extreme series. I also owned a couple of Avids that I traded or sold, prior to receiving a gift of a Legend Extreme and purchasing 2 more Legend Tournaments. Now I am slowly selling off all my Dobyns due to quality issues with the guides popping out, and it was not isolated to just one rod, rod series, or generation of rod, I love the rod's balance and feel, but Gary has to do something about the GUIDES. I own the first generation Cumara series and love it, but hated the hook keeper in the handle, so instead of adding my own, I sold all, but one of them, but for the money the Shimano Crucial is almost as good especially for moving baits. As far as rods that handle the majority of my jig/t-rig work they are G.Loomis GLXs, can't really find a fault with the factory rods and unless I have a great deal or break my GLX, I am going to keep them for a LONG TIME. So my point is that this thread can turn into a Ford vs. Chevy fight, but from my experience I can no longer recommend Dobyns Champion or Champion Extreme series as a top quality rod, due to the consistent popping off of the guides. Secondly, I would say I am very impressed with my St. Croix Legend series and up rods, so much so that I am seriously considering selling or trading all my non-Loomis rods for them. As far as top of the line American made rod blanks you may also want to consider North Fork Composites, which I have yet to try! http://www.northforkcomposites.com/

When and where are you moving to? I can take you out and show you the ropes either on the Lake or area lakes depending on where you are. In Boca its the refuge by boat, Sirsnookalot, Boca Basser, etc know that area well as far as canals go.

Clean up the Revos and list them in the Flea Market, I am sure the Revo guys will pick them up quickly.

They have in the JDM look at the 1:35 of the video below: EVA foam higher end? Don't think so all the ones I have tried have left me unimpressed especially Quantum's Smoke series EVA handles. Septon is superior to it hands down. Promotional deals work to drive demand for product, when you are Shimano and have the majority of market share, then you don't need to drive demand. In my opinion variety is the spice of life, so why limit yourself to just Shimano, but it is a good choice nevertheless.

No man shall end fishing trip prematurely for any number of reasons (e.g. wife calls, forgot to bring lunch, forgot water, etc.)

Never give up on the Florida idea! Glad you found the money train, again!

Florida from what I know have very little union workers compared to the northern states, but I know Tropical Shipping as a huge employer of welders/ironworkers https://www.tropical.com/external/en/

Or....... You could move to where the Big Bass live....CA, TX, FL! I know that construction has really picked up around here as well both commercial and residential.

Gillraker Worms, man I tore up the bass as a kid with them!

Let the fish tell you what action they are craving, whether it be crazy erratic and fast or slow and methodical or maybe somewhere in-between. Also use multiple types jerk baits, sometimes the old school Rapalas are better with no rattles, other times large jerks with rattle make them bite.

What a HAWG! Glad you achieved your goal, and I bet the fish don't think Dwight, Ajay, and Bronzeback aren't so nice...

You need to let fishing get in the way of Life! Way to go!

Crazy down here in S. FLA, its as if we are in our Summer rainy season early.

3 foot chop in a bass boat is no fun, regardless of what boat you are in, yes some boats with deep V hulls that slope in to a modified V at the back are better, but if I were you and expect to fish those conditions regularly consider a "walleye/mulitspecies boat or better yet a Bay boat. As far as fit and finish on the new Stratos Champion lines vs. the old Champion, I could not tell you since the only Stratos Elite I have seen was Skeet Reese's during a Bassmaster event. Stratos Elite 210 Link: http://www.stratosboats.com/models.cfm?name=210elite Bass Cat http://www.basscat.com/ As far as Bass Cat, if I were in the market for a 100% pure bass fishing boat, not the intracoastal type bass boats I own (Ranger/Bullet) I would say that Bass Cat would be very high if not the top on my list. They are built well, have great trailers, and have a a good reputation as a company. Take at look at the Puma, Cougar, and Jaguar if you are going to be doing some offshore fishing with the Jaguar being the BATTLESHIP model.

Champion is now owned by the same company that makes Stratos Boats.

Shimano 200E5 about $150 on Ebay plenty of listings Quantum Smoke http://www.quantumfishing.com/products/2185/Smoke-PT.aspx Abu Garcia Revo Winch http://www.abugarcia.com/products/reels/low-profile-baitcast-reels/revo/revo-winch I would get a Shimano 200E5 put some ABEC 7 Ceramic bearings, carbontex drag washers, and a Hawg Handle on it of course for all day comfort while you crank.

No problem man! Another reel that I like is the Quantum Smoke, the imposter! Its not as refined, but man it cast the farthest and is relatively light and palms well.

I am headed out out fishing in the A.M. for a little so I figured I could take some comparison pics for you guys. Top to Bottom: Metanium (2013), Curado 200E, Curado 50E, Chronarch 50MG You can figure it out the farthest reels are a Chronach D and and Older B series pic below Can you spot the imposter? Daiwas and 1 Revo are always along for the ride Chronarchs old B and the last great one until the new JDM Metanium comes State Side of course, and a Metanium MG Side by side 200e and 50e

I know someone in GA that has a pond of TIGRESS bass, basically grow to 10lbers in 4-5years so far. Dwight caught one, surprise surprise.

I have literally tried them ALL! The best all around in my opinion is......McCoy Mean Green. Hands down the BEST, everyone that I have told to try it has loved it. http://www.mccoyfishingline.com/newsite/prod_line_xtreme.html