volzfan59

Brother, I'm not being argumentative, but I don't follow you're logic. Your a Loomis guy, and that's fine, they make a great product! If you pay $300.00 for a rod and break it, it's gone. Loomis used to require you to send it back (either in two pieces or four) along with $100.00 replacement fee. That's $400.00 with one rod to show? That and them dropping the "over the counter replacement" why the bottom fell out of our Loomis sales.

Well, it's happened. The wife is complaining that it's cold in the house. I predict the heat coming on at some point this weekend. She's turned on the gas logs a couple of times as a hint.

I'm retired law enforcement. I don't miss it even a little bit. I miss my guys and gals, but I do not miss the work or the sacrifice. I'm down to one blood pressure pill and one stomach pill per day.

I never understood this. You pay, let's say $300.00 for a rod and break it. You mail it back, with another $100.00 to get a replacement. Now you've got $400.00, in a $300.00 rod? Doesn't make sense to me. After Loomis/ Shimano changed to this warranty, we couldn't give their rods away at BPS. One day a customer brought in a broken Loomis rod wanting an over the counter replacement. I thought to myself, "here we go" expecting an argument. I explained the warranty and told him that i couldn't help him. I did give him a rod tube to send it back in. Instead of arguing, he said "They told me you would say that." Turns out he bought it a a local mom and pop. When he broke the rod, he took it back and they refused him, telling him the warranty. He got mad, said he was going to BPS. They told him that we wouldn't take it back either.

Well heck, this news is not good! Next thing I'm going to hear is that Santa isn't real. Guess I'll be at Academy in the morning.

I've never eaten a honeycrisp. With all the votes, I'm going to pick some up next grocery day. I'll let you know what I think. I'm still eating my free golden!

I am an apple junkie too. Seriously, I eat two to four apples everyday! My favorites are Red Delicious, Gala and Golden Delicious, pretty much in that order. A coworker of my wife's brought her a huge bag full of farm fresh Goldens. I'm in apple-nirvana!

Warner has the contract to haul all BPS merchandise and Tracker Boats. Sometimes they hire out jobs to subcontractors, but it's pretty rare. Not that it matters.

Cabela's in Bristol, VA is going strong. Well stocked, plenty of boats.

If you take the boat, get it in writing that the repairs (including the deck and carpeting/ vinyl) are covered under the factory warranty. Those boats have a lifetime warranty on the deck if I remember correctly. I agree with "Toxic" however.

Congratulations Sam! I currently not in love with AL or Roll Tide right now. Your Tigers beat my wife's favorite team last night. Rough time at our place last night.

I agree, I have lipless cranks from several manufacturers. The RES is a great one! In addition, Spro's version, Arku Shad?, seems to work very well for me. It has a shimmy on the fall also.

Good luck brother! Go get 'em.

Good to know! Thanks

St. Croix is a quality company with excellent customer service.

I second GReb's suggestion. Quality all the way around and at a bargain price! Quality hooks (although I don't know which brand), oval split rigs, good finish and I've never had one that didn't run 100% true out of the box. Can't go wrong with Strike King or Zoom either. Most of the Academy H2O baits go for around $3.99 everyday, they run them on sale for $2.50 several times a year. That's when you load the buggy.....when your wife's not looking.

We haven't turned our heat on yet. Gonna try and milk this time between a/c and heat for as long as I can.......or until my wife says she's cold.

I used to fish those tournaments! Had a great time. I grew up on Bull Run Creek, near the park. I haven't fished "The Hill" in years, heard it has really started coming on strong.

Working at BPS had it's privileges, as in a great employee discount. Casting; 5 BPS Platinum rods and reels for everything except cranking. I have 6 BPS Crankin' Sticks with Pro Qualifier reels (all 5.3:1 with one 4.7:1). Spinning; 4 BPS Patriot rods, 6 BPS Carbonlite rods. The Carbonlite rods have Carbonlite reels. The Patriots have Pflueger President reels I do own one St. Croix Panfish Series rod with a Shimano Sahara reel.

I agree with him! I've fished a tournament in a ChampioN fish and ski. Fished in plenty of other tournaments against guys in fish and ski's. It just doesn't matter.

Good work!

I agree with A-Jay, USCG is the way to go! My youngest is making a career in the CG, he loves it. I truly wish that I had gone that route. It does sound like the Military Police, Maritime Enforcement, etc. is the path that sounds right. I'm a Veteran of the US Army, Military Police. After getting out, I had a 33 year in law enforcement with the state of TN and one of the local county's. Several of my close, close friends are Marines. Two retired, several got out at various points. Only one wishes that he went another route. One of the retirees was a MP, making it all the way up to CID (Criminal Investigations). My friend in Angling, good luck with your decision and your career, whatever the path you decide. If law enforcement, learn, train and be careful. Start your physical training now, you'll need it!

"1simplemann", thanks buddy.

While I think that Wal-Mart is an American success story, old Sam's family has done everything possible to this point to ruin the shopping experience. I pretty much refuse to darken the door with the following exceptions. 1. The Gulf Shores, AL store. It's a great store, well ran, great (helpful) associate's, always clean, always well staffed (read shorter lines). 2. My wife and I have recently discovered Wal-Mart online ordering. Order our stuff, pay online, pull up and they load it for you and it's free. Kroger has it too, but they charge for it. Don't have to go in the store at all. If there's an issue, it's always decided in the customers favour. I'm an apple-aholic. I ordered a dozen red delicious apples. The guy filling the order said "I'm sorry, but the non-organic apples did not look very good. I filled your order with organic apples at the regular price." I still buy fresh meat at the local butcher, refuse to buy prepackaged Wal-Mart meats.

Several have mentioned "faster boats". What have I missed?