BrianinMD

I used to, its decent but not very smooth. It is no longer in my rotation There are better options out there, mine got replaced with a Pflueger Supreme MGX which has been very good.

WOOHOO!!!! Black Hills opens tomorrow..... Rather depressing to see so much ice on it, even when it warms up it will take a while to thaw that place out. Probably first time I will get out this year will be to the hot side of Lake Anna at the end of March. First tourney is two weeks after that, need to get out before then at least once....

Years to late...don't care

Welcome Preetmandavia, Black Hills is solid ice at this point. Technically it reopens next Sunday but will be a couple weeks to get rid of the ice. As soon as its it should be good, but from shore not so much. From shore the best thing I can suggest is to park in one of the side lots and walk away from where the mass of people usually go trying to different things as you go. I haven't hardly touched it from shore the last couple years. I don't have a boat but fish in a local club so I hitch rides with others when I can. Wouldn't mind talking to you about photography sometime, just started trying to learn it.

The somewhat adverse conditions made it a LOT better, they are the best in the business let them prove it when conditions are tough.

I think this is the first time I have ever heard that following the rules was unsporting.

Sporting is having an even playing field, and with the rule explicitly allowing this it is completely fair. Everyone had the same opportunity to do the same thing, they chose not to. I would be concerned if it was not addressed in the rules and he alone did it. The one thing I wonder is how many others have done this and not spoke up about it.

It is well within the rules, even explicitly stated, so good for him. Everyone else had the same opportunity, if they failed to do it that is their issue not his. Just makes me wonder how many other times items got planted but they never spoke about doing it.

Think most will say Ethanol free, but only places I know which have it are marina's.

Same here, only replace when necessary. Some rods 2-3 times a year. Others haven't been down for a couple seasons. This is with Flouro and braid, mono you have to be a little more careful since it breaks down quicker when in the sun.

If keeping any metal items back there make sure to cover the battery terminals so the metal can't touch both at the same time. A sure way to have a fireworks show you really don't want to see.

As its been described to me, when figuring the cost of doing something take the hours spent and calculate its value with the per hour rate you are paid at your work. Time is money and make some things done to "save" money not such a great deal.

Inserts have a tendency to fall out or slide out of position leaving sharp edges to cut your line. Tungsten weights made without the inserts have smooth edges which do not cut thru line.

The big question will be if they have inserts, if they do run away fast....

I was exactly like irnwrkr, someone took me out 2 weeks before the tourney so I would at least been in a boat. My style of fishing was wading creeks for smallmouth, I was green as it come for tourney style fishing. But the guys in the club were great, just pay attention and listen. You will learn a ton in the first year. By the middle of my second season I was getting some wins.

Have the fuel lines been checked?

The dropshot vertically is to get the bait suspended off the bottom, basically hanging right in front of the fish. If they are in a non-eating mood this can cause them to hit it because they just can't stand seeing it. A jig would either be kept moving thru the fish or down on the bottom. At times this will work, other times it won't. This is where the dropshot comes in. One thing some people do if the fish are sometimes hitting the weight is to replace it with a small jig. Giving you two shots at getting the bite. Just another tool to keep in mind, there is nothing definite in getting fish to bite.

the unfortunate part is those most at risk are babies who are to young and kids with cancer who cannot get the shots. Being around someone who gets a preventable disease could be a death sentence to them.

All 3 on a 7ft MH Fast 6:1 reel...line 12 or 20lb flouro depending on cover

Never heard of them, so can't comment on that but the idea of a combinatino casting and spinning would make me run. The differences between those two are rather large, trying to do both probably means it does neither well.

Dean Smith passed away at 83 years old. No matter which team you follow and cheer for its a sad day. May he rest in peace.

For me, 12lb Abrazx Flouro for the abrasion resistance and slack line bite detection.

For jig/worm to me there is not an issue with to much stiffness, the answer would be different if throwing tremble baits.

I personally run straight flouro almost exclusively. I hate having the extra knot, and running into backing in the middle of a trip/tourney. Really it is just a personal preference, like most things in fishing.

I have a righty 7.6:1 at DVT....mine will end up on a Dobyns DX742