Basseditor

Good topic. I've been weighing pros and cons too. I just retired and sold our house, so we are sitting on little cash. I want a place on a lake but I can't afford any near where we lived. That means 3-5 hours away from the grandkids, which is a no go with my wife. I may rent something on a lake for 6 months to see if we would like being far away.

They would like anglers to report all 8 lb. + bass via their app. And, send in a scale sample so they can build a database and record the program's progress. Just imagine what they would learn if we Texans did this. Sorry, I'm guilty of not reporting my 8+. On the other hand, and other than a few people, people are not going out and consistently catching DDs. There are days when you can't buy a bite, even with $30,000 of electronics on your boat.

The Chick Magnet did the trick at our last event when nothing else was working (except for one on a SK flat side). First place and big fish! This was the first time we used it.

I was given a Daiwa reel in the mid-90s. It was one of the most expensive reels at that time. It got me hooked on the brand. It took a long time after that before my circumstances changed enough to where I can afford to buy them. I've used most major brands of reels, but I have more Daiwa than any others. For the last 4 years or so, I buy Daiwa almost exclusively with Steez my preferred choice. But the latest Zillions are really nice. Having said that, none of the reels are stock anymore. I prefer longer handles and ZPI bearings.

I mostly use 6" Senkos with heavy action rods with 20- (7-6" rod) or 25-pound (7-10" rod) flouro. I pitch bushes where you normally would use a jig. Or in the holes in the grass.

Just a motel for one-two nights

I'm going to Sturgeon Bay and need a room for one or two nights. (Early June). Are there any places to avoid.

But it's the same guys with all of the luck.

Well who knows where is the best place to stay? I'll be leaving in a couple of days. Haha.

I just have broad coverage with one brand: Kistler Zbone Kistler Helium Kistler KLX Kistler Feel N Reel Kistler Magnesium Kistler Argon Kistler Classic Graphite, etc. Maybe about 50 in total (and maybe 25 - 35 of other brands). All I know is all of my rod racks are full — and so are the rod lockers in the boat. (And yes, my wife has been in my boat/tackle storage unit. She just shakes her head.)

Just came today: Daiwa Steez HLC 8.1 R from Japan. My first major purchase in 60 days or more. (I just sold my house and had to get a 14X40' storage unit for my boat and tackle. It is plumb full.) My sons bought me a new Kistler ZBone but it hasn't arrived yet. They are having it engraved with my retirement date. Dec 31, 2021.

In 10 days, this will be me. Well sorta. I need to move first. And as soon as I find them bass. Retirement on Dec 31. Then 90% fishing days. I hope. I'm trying to decide where my first trip will be. Choke Canyon or O H Ivie. (Choke because 2-3 tournaments in Jan there.) I've been watching JJ online since last Feb/Mar. Kudos to him. It's a mind set. I would prefer to hunt giant fish rather than catch a limit of tournament fish.

It's easy to quit buying tackle — I've done it a thousand times.

My favorite is a Kistler Helium 7'0 heavy/medium heavy (it is a 4.5 power rated). With the extra fast tip, it's perfect for me. (It comes in a 6-9 and 7-3 too.) I pair it with a tuned Daiwa SteezSV. I mostly use 20-pound abrazx around heavy dock cover or invizx around sparser dock pilings

I use heavy line because the next cast could be a 10 pounder in a tree, bush, or heavy, heavy grass! Some of the bass around here have rough teeth and saw through light line very quickly.

Just throwing out an option: Kistler Rods has many of the specs you are looking for and have a special this weekend. Buy a rod and get a free reel. Other discounts too. And they will donate part of the money to hurricane relief.

Depending upon cover and location, 15# Tatsu to 20 or 25# Invisx or Abrasx

I don't make promises — even to myself‚ that I can't keep. I gave away three rods (Kistlers) last month, so I'm back down to 97.

I bought some a few months ago because I couldn't find my old ones. I remembered all the big bass I caught with them, so I gave them a go again. I always used a pork chunk. Now just use a Zoom chunk.

I have many Daiwa Tatula, Steez and Zillion reels, except new Steez SV LTD, and maybe a Morethan just to say I have one

GY 6" Smoke Hologram!

Daiwa Steez Limited and Steez Boost. (I just bought Zillion Boost and Steez HLC.) I want but don't need them. I have more rods, reels and tackle then I'll ever use in my lifetime — or for my grandkids to use in their lifetime.

Ambassadeur 5000 in 1963 when I was 10

I'm in

I manage both the business and staff of a monthly outdoor magazine for a state wildlife and parks agency. My job title is "publisher" but that's a fancy way to say I know a little about every aspect of the operations but not an expert in any of them.