BigAngus752

@Dens228 gives you good advice. If you want to simplify the crankbait idea just get some natural-colored lipless cranks. You can fish them at any depth and when you can see so far down there's no guesswork. I'm assuming the fish are holding in the weeds/grass and with water that clear it's ideal for running a lipless right above the very tips of the weeds. Let it tick the tops of the vegetation like a bait fish swimming through the weeds. If you get hung just rip it through (which might get you bit) and then slow it down again. It's really cool to be quietly watching that lipless as you reel it along and then see a LM fly out of the weeds and hit it like a freight train. Gives me a jolt every time. My #1 producer in 2018 was a shad-colored lipless crank. There just isn't a wrong way to fish it.

Agreed. I’ve gotten some spectacular deals there by combining discounts on clearance items in the store but those are rare. Their everyday prices and exclusions are beyond ridiculous. Their name says it all.

TODAY ONLY: DSG 20% off anything (max of $30). I picked up an Onyx A/M-24 vest for less than $90.

All yours.

This can be THE thing at the right time of year. Makes the electronics worth it...unless there's birds...then the birds are just as good as the electronics...

I’m working a 15hr shift right now but I’ll PM you right after I grab one...

@fishballer06 @new2BC4bass Well, we have a winner. Turns out our local F&S just started carrying the Dobyns Fury so we were able to go let her handle a Fury and HMG side by side. I was shocked but the Fury wins hands down. The comfort/quality of the handle/reel seat plus (just testing in the store) what seems to be a slight edge in sensitivity made the Dobyns the winner. I'm kind of disappointed in the HMG. It didn't really seem too much above their lower quality rods. Only improvement I could see was the guides. And my Elite Tech just blows the HMG out of the water. With these results I'm going to buy her a Fury unless I can find an Elite Tech on a big sale somewhere. Thanks to all for the help. I still love Fenwick but I can see that Dobyns is building a fine rod too.

I don't think it's really a tough decision. Which is cheaper to replace? The boat or the accessories? Buy the best boat you can buy (Ranger) and upgrade the accessories. You'll be happier in the long run.

Yup. Just as I figured. Oh well, at least it's a win-win! I've got an HMX and an Elite Tech and I love them both so I'm leaning Fenwick. Wish I could handle a Dobyns but there's no place close.

I picked up a Lady President for my wife during Pflueger's ridiculous sale. I want her to have a nice, sensitive rod to go with it. I need help deciding between a Dobyns Fury or Fenwick HMG (both in medium). She already fishes with my finesse set-up so this will be a Texas-rig rod. I'll tell you in advance I love Fenwick rods (and the warranty) so I'm leaning that way but I've never handled a Dobyns Fury and I hear great things about them. Plus I can get one for about $100 right now which is the same price as the HMG. If you have some experience with these rods please let me know what you think.

Went to Meijer for stuff not even remotely related to fishing and found a fishing clearance aisle cap at the back of the automotive section. WTH? Rapala jerks, KVD jerks, and Sizmic Shad all for less than $3 each (I bought all of them). They had a full peg of smoke/purple Senkos for $3.59 so I bought one to give them a try. Not too sure about that color around here.

I am a big fan of the Daiwa Fuego as a great reel for the price. My Ned rig rod has a KastKing Sharky II size 2000 on it and it's very nice for being so inexpensive. I will probably give the new Sharky III a try.

Ok, new rule on the boards. Guys from Florida are no longer allowed to post pics wearing shorts when I am chipping ice off everything that I own.

The decision is easy for all my reels with braid. Every two years I buy a new 150yd roll of Sufix 832. Year one I put it on my reel with no backer. Turns out I can't yet cast 150 yards so year two I pull it off the spool and reverse it. I haven't gotten into fluoro yet so all of my other reels are Yo-Zuri hybrid or Big Game (with Trilene on two spinning reels). All those are so cheap that replacing it causes no stress. @J Francho is giving good advice again. I use electrical tape under the braid on a couple spools and it works beautifully to prevent slipping, but my Daiwa spools don't need it because they have holes in them so you can tie the braid through the middle of the spool = no slipping.

Yup, I have this exact one. Works just fine. You are correct that it tends to run a tad tight for larger spinners but nothing troublesome. I can tell you, however. that the ad photo you've posted definitely had someone paid to use a comb on the skirts! LOL My box looks like it's full of chartruese and white hairballs.

Three words for you, brother...Betty Ford Center.

I stock my box just like @J Francho . But a 4/0 EWG rarely lets me down. In fact, if it's a smallish worm I will just switch to a 4/0 offset shank round bend hook.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast!

The only thing that aggravates me is stupid people (in or out of a kayak). If you aren't one of them, then enjoy! I only have two issues: 1. I've only been a boater for two years. I worry about hitting or swamping a kayaker that I don't see in time, but that just makes me more careful which is a good thing. 2. I run a Ranger aluminum that drafts very shallow and yet YOU can get into a million places that I cannot...so I'm jealous. P.S. Thanks for the info about the "throttling down". I'll remember that it's better for you if I stay up on plane.

Ohio Pro Lure Company of Medina, OH. Chris Verbosky and David Moss are the owners and merged their businesses in 2014. No ratings on Better Business Bureau but there's a few online retailers that sell their stuff. Looks like you will be our guinea pig! Let us know!

Keep in mind that each rod model (not just manufacturer) will determine what a "medium" or "medium-light" feels like in real life. I use a medium/extra fast Powell rod for Ned Rigs and really small stuff and I absolutely love it. It's 1/8-1/2oz but it fishes much more like a ML than a M. It's quite a learning curve to learn to throw a 1/15 Shroomz with a TRD using an XF tip, but the sensitivity and feel was worth the practice. The odd thing is, I have a Powell MH/F that is in no way, shape, or form a MH. That sucker is a H or Mag H but it's spectacular for frogs. So one Powell fishes a little lighter than it's rating and the other Powell fishes much heavier.

I could see how this would change my mind also. Very interesting.

It's because it's the topic of the day. Just look through these responses. There is even someone comparing his wife to a bass! It's popular now to anthropomorphize animals, that is to attribute human characteristics to them. Cruelty to animals is one thing but trying to attribute emotion, intellect, and/or a "soul" to lower life forms is inappropriate and, to be honest, I believe it is blasphemy. I don't believe in hurting any living creature for no purpose, but if you believe it's cruel to pull a bass briefly off of a bed then you had better be a vegan living off the grid and eating only the food that you grow yourself. The world is a hard place. Nature is cruel. Man is the ONLY creature on the planet that has the ability to show mercy. If you want to show mercy to the bedding bass then that is your right and I applaud you for it. I applaud (and defend) anyone who will stand up for what they believe in, whether I agree or not. In this case, I will bed fish (and release). My personal choice.

The attention span of young people has shortened dramatically since any of us were young. There are a number of factors that play into this and I'm sure we can all list them. My son is almost 16yrs old and I've been taking him fishing a few times a year since he was about 5yrs old. I bought my first boat two years ago and he has less interest in going fishing on the boat with me than going to a nearby pond to bank fish. Why? Because the bank fishing will be much less time investment. The closest lake for the boat is a very small one that's 30 minutes away. I'm willing to drive there for only an hour on the water. My main lakes are a hour away and I never drive there for less then four hours on the water. Usually six or eight. He gets bored. We can drive somewhere and bank fish and be back in less than an hour. Is it because of TV/smartphones/video games? I know that has something to do with the shortened attention span, but I also know he's 15yrs old so his life revolves around high school basketball, friends, girls, driving, etc. I don't push him. That will just make it less appealing to him. But it's like an Xmas gift for me when he wants to go!