ww2farmer

One of the reason I have never joined a club.......... I can't afford, nor do I have the freedom from my job, to commit to turning multiple weekends into a 4 day affair, pay for gas, lodging, tournament fees, and other associated expenses. I get my tournament fix by fishing the local open's. There is often one, or more, per weekend on any of the decent local lakes within an hour or so drive in any direction. I can pick and choose my spots, based on how busy I am, or if I can/can't afford it that week. Most all of them are team tournaments, so the costs split up nicely, and I have a group of buddies who are good fisherman, and often fish the same tournaments. I also find the open circut to be very challanging, yes every club has there top guys, but ususally the field for the opens is very competitive. Not only will a good number of the best local sticks turn out, but even touring (or former touring) pros will show up. Turn outs are generally very good, which on some of the smaller lakes provides a whole new set of challanges.

I took advantage of the first deal because I had a nice xmas bonus from work, now that I have a healthy tax return, I might have to think about it agan................it's like St Croix knows when I have extra money to spend.

I have done pretty well with the 6" before.

Yes. Both......largemouth (and pike) don't mind them either.

I have gotten original formula at Dicks many times, and the last time I was there.........about a week ago they had it. I don't know if every Dicks has it but the 2-3 that I go to most often here in WNY do.

I like them, after good results with the spinshots last year I branched out to try more of there stuff. I just got a bunch of there heavy duty flipping hooks, EWG spinshot hooks, weighted swimbait hooks.

I am terrible hard on glasses, you name it I have doen it to them............in the lake, steped/sat on, left who knows where. I have been using $20 SK glasses for years and they work great for me. This year I am going "high end" and step up to SK's $40 ones. LOL

3/8 is my go to size, I will fish lighter or heavier, but 3/8's is the most used. Personally I like a bluegill color in the waters I fish if it's clear water, and a chart. sexy shad type color in stained water, haven't seen much need for anything else. Pick any of the better brands, Strike king, Outkast, etc.....they all work and work well.

Weighed and tagged with the ardent smart cull tags. Beam the close ones...............of course I usually have to borrow Wnybassman's beam. When we are fishing together, I bring the scale and my cull balls, I do the weighing and tagging, his 80 year old tags are too confusing to a dummy like me. Light blue, dark blue, funky color..............bahhhhh..............2lbs 2 oz vs 2lbs 12 oz is much easier.

Used Citica 200D (201D if your want LH). They are tanks, cast as good as anything, have the HEG gearing so winding big deep diving cranks feels effortless compaired to 6.whatever:1 ratios of other brands, and hold alot of line which is great for cranking. They are 6.2:1, which IMHO is just right for shallow cranks, not too fast, not to slow, I always like a middle of the road ratio and IPT, for all but the bigest deep diving cranks, I just reel faster or slower as needed. And they can be found used on ebay or here for less than $75.

I actually find the opposite to be true......for me. I am not saying I am right and your wrong, or I am wrong or your right, because stuff like this is subjective. But the Avids I have in the same length/power/action as rods from the other series I have or have had, from the Mojo, Triumph, Premier, and LTB all seem "stiffer" and faster in action than the rest.

I have always liked 7' MH/Fast St croix's to do most of my frogging. I have used my Avid, and LTB in that length/power in the past, this year I will be using my new 7'1" MH/F Rage as a frog rod (have not had a chance to fish it yet), and expect the similar great results as with my other two. A rod I used alot for frogging and liked, was the $50 Berkley Lightning Rod Shock, even though I "upgraded" my frog rod to the Rage, I am keeping the Shock around. I would advise against a H powered St Croix, at least in the Premier/Mojo/ScII rods............they are broom sticks.

These bait's have fallen off my radar............for no real good reason either, I used to catch TONS of fish on them, but rarely if ever use them anymore. A 3"-4" single tail grub slow rolled on a ball jig head A 7.5" texas rigged ribbon tail worm A Johnson's Silver minnow weedless spoon with a double tail grub trailer, worked over the top of thick grass like a frog/toad A super shallow running crankbait like a subwart or Mann's baby 1- And floating stick/jerkbaits like an original Rapala. In fact, add a 3/8 oz black/blue jig, a green or brown 4" finesse worm, and a 3/8 oz chart/white colorado/willow tandem spinner bait (all of which I do still use often) to that list, and that WAS my arsenal for about 20 years.

I cast and hold the rod in my right jand, reel with my left. Both casting and spinning. It feels very very strange to me to use a RH reel. I have been using LH casting reels since my teenage years in the mid/late 80's starting with the Old Shimano B-mag 1001's, and Abu 5501's been doing it too long to switch now.

I hope they only send me ONE flyer, insted of the usual 283.

I have a facebook page, but rarely if ever use it........just not my thing. As for twitter, I don't feel the need to let the whole world know every time I take a wiz , scratch myself, or discover a new use for used fabric softener sheets...........so thats a NO on twitter.

I have fished frogs on my 7' M power, fast action St croix Legend Tournament with 20lb braid many times. unless your dragging the frog across a very thick mat or fishing around super thick cover it will work great, especially for smaller frogs like the 60 size Spro, or the spro baby popper. But what do I know, I mean I actually have used it, and can offer some tips based on expierance........we all know you have to check that at the door here.

Make sure it floats, and the motor runs good. Your getting it cheap enough where some upgrades/repairs won't break you. A nice fishing boat doesn't have to put you in debt for 10 years, have fun, and enjoy.

I have been very pleased with my $50 Shimano Sonora 2500's (the orange ones) I bought them to replace, slightly higher priced reels from other brands that just did not hold up. Not only were the Sonora's cheaper, but they have outlasted the "others" as far as usage time goes. In fact they have gotten smoother and better with age, and with ZERO maint.

I like them, and they suspend just fine for me. But I use the stock hooks untill they need to be changed, and stock split rings. Putting too hevy of a hook on it will make it sink. When I change them I put lighter wire hooks on the bait then what come with it, and it actually rises. Suspend dots or another split ring fix that.

I fish the 3",4",5" and 6"............the 3" and 6" are more of a nich, special situation type bait for me. Day in day out, I use the 5" the most, with the 4" a close second.

I use cheapo wal mart Zebco omni flex 10lb test, connected to my braid main line with an alberto knot. I have never had a big bass, pike or even a 30lb plus carp spool me to the backing. I have even been caught with my pants down a time or two, and been low on braid and got down to, and even casted out some backing with no issues, but I don't fish like that for long. I tend to, if I have it it the boat, but more braid on right away, or finish the day out, and change it before I hit the water again.

I have not used it in a few years, but IIRC, the line I used.........Trilene Sensation, floated.

Depends............most of the time it's 30 lb braid with a 17, or 20 lb fluoro leader. Shallow heavy weeds, straight 50lb braid, clear water with light cover 20lb braid with a 12 or 15 lb fluoro leader. I will use a 20 or 25lb fluoro leader with the 50lb braid in heavy weeds if there is clear water and some depth under them.

I like the 1.5 in spring and fall or when the bite is a little slow, and the 2.5 in summer, or when ever I am looking for a bigger bite. I have a good supply of 1.0's too, but have yet to really find a time/place for them