Ballpark Frank

I think he won the last elite series tournament in NY last year on a spinnerbait. He didn't win in NY last year(Lake Oneida or Lake Erie), he did win the Angler of the Year. I am sure spinnerbaits played a part in his consistency during the year, but the crank was his go to bait.

Ike, more personality than anyone. Skeet, I have met him twice and he just seems fun and real. Velvick, I know, I know, I just like the guy.

WOW that is nice. I would have to get two; one to use and one to admire.

I got a little bored today after coming back from a bank walking/fishing outing. I started thinking about all of that gear that I hauled around for a couple of miles and didn't use. My fishing time is limited right now, maybe 2-3 hours, so I am strictly bank walking for the time being. I wanted to get down to MY essentials. The baits and gear that always produce for ME. Here it is all in one box with one rod and reel. G.Loomis CR723 w/Citica 200E Zoom plastics(6' Lizards, Ole Monsters, Super Chuncks, and Trick Worms) w/ a decent selection of hooks and lead Cranks(Jackall Aragon SSRs and SRs, BPS Rattle Shads) Swims(Jackall Mickey Jr.s and Girons) Buzzbaits and Spinnerbaits( Booyah 3 of each:White,Char,Black) Jigs( Spot Removers and Booyah 1/4oz and 1/2oz, Black/Blue and Green Pumpkin) Pliers, Swiss Army knife, Spool of Berkley Big Game, Reel Oil When it is all like this, it is hard to believe there is more than $500 laying there.

I know your fear and I have been infected. I just got my fourth Carrot a couple of days ago. I love them, but I still use my Loomis rods alot. The Carrots are sensitive and light, the split grip is the best. My only problem is they don't offer(or didn't until after I got mine) any shorter rods in the MH range. I guess that means I'll have to get another one or two.

I fish lizards more than any other plastic. One of my best producers is a black lizard on a 3/8oz blue/black football jig head with the skirt trimmed to around 1'.

I haven't been to Guntersville in a few years, but I have several friends that live and fish there. Your best bet would be to check in at local tackle shops around the lake. For several years, TVA has tried to kill the water vegetation in several areas which has affected certain areas of the fishery alot. Some of the great old fishing holes are no longer there, because a lakefront subdivision was built close by and the grass was ugly and harmed their Seedoos. Don't get me wrong, the fishery has survived, but the fish are in different areas. Lucky for the fish, TVA has decided to stop it's herbicide program. Oh, by the way, I work for TVA :

I agree with you 100%. I have no problems with most snakes. The one exception is the Water Moccasin/Cottonmouth. I will kill every single one that I see, whether it is close to me or 100' downstream. I love to shore/bank fish and these &*%^#$@!!! are always around. I have have had too many close calls with them. Most snakes scurry away at the first hint of a human or make some kind of noise to warn. The first thing you see from the WM is the white mouth, and that could be too late. I have actually had them come straight at me from across a stream and in the lake. Those that do come across my path are greeted and subsequently killed by my own custom .38 Special shotshells that are blessed in the name of St. Patrick

My 8 year old daughter(9 now) started off with an Abu Garcia Revo S and has had no problems. To me, centrifugal brakes are much easier for a child to learn with. She tried one of my Citicas, but found it to be too large for her hands. There are some great Revo S deals on Ebay right now.

I have a couple of the 2" that I have used with limited success. It could be that I end using my Jackall Aragon SSRs more often, because of the color selections I have.

I am no expert, but do have a decent collection of Abu Reels. Your's looks to be an early 70's 5000 4-screw. I am at work so I can't look at mine. The odd thing is the Ambassaduer script on the non-crank side, but with a "power" crank handle. A good site that may be able to help you is below. www.realsreels.com

WOW, can't fix stupid.

Yes, if you can get the Accurist CX for $40, that is an excellent deal. You will not be disappointed.

I have 2 of these and love them both. They are excellent reels for the money, and the external centrifugal adjustment is the best. I can't comment on the BPS reel, I have never owned one. Their are alot of guys on here that praise the BPS Extreme. I think you would be happy with either one, but my vote goes for the Accurist CX.

Have had alot, still have a few. Never had a problem with any of them. Actually sold a few that I wish I still had before I joined the Shimano Possee.

Although most of my rods are G.Loomis and E21, I have one Ugly Stick Lite Pro Combo(7' Medium spinning, gift from my Mom) that I love. It does have a slow tip, but I haven't had any serious issues with sensitivity. I has alot more backbone and is a little stiffer than the standard Ugly. I use this combo when I am "just going fishing", when all fish are on the agenda; channel cats, bluegill, bass, even carp.

If you are in a management position or a non-union company, the answer is yes; you bend over and take it. Good Luck, hope you can find something better with more money.

From my Ipod Amon Amarth As I Lay Dying August Burns Red Bob Marley Bornknagar Colbie Caillat Dream Theater Dropkick Murphys Eluveitie Ensiferum Enslaved Evanescence Falkenbach Flogging Molly Godsmack Gordon Lightfoot Holy Blood Iron Maiden J.D. Crowe and the New South Living Sacrifice Kenny Chesney Metallica(pre black album) Moonsorrow Nevermore Opeth Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra Pantokrator Pink Floyd Police Rosenberg Trio Rush Tony Rice Unit and with Ricky Skaggs Turisas Tyr War of Ages Within Temptation Yes Yo Yo Ma

I started listening to Metallica in 1984 by way of a bootleg cassette that was given to me in New Orleans. Of course that was when the bootlegs and "word of mouth" got them around. I traveled many miles and spent alot of money to see them. I thought they WERE the greatest metal band ever and that would ever be. Then the black album came out, I thought it was good but not great. Then that atrocity Load signaled the end to Metallica(they should have removed the metal from their name). That and the napster issues made me sick. I have been waiting for the return of the real Metallica ever since. I listened to the song posted above, I am still waiting!!!!!!!

5'6" Fenwick pistol grip with an Abu 5000C when I was 13(23 years ago), she weighed 12#8oz.

I loved Pantera from the start until G.S.Tk. They changed with that album. I still listen to the old stuff, but have others now. As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red, War of Ages, Lamb of God are the ones on my Ipod right now, right next to my Viking/ Folk Metal favorites(Amon Amarth, Borknagar, Ensiferum, Finntroll, Waylander).

Very interesting, I would like to hear T-rigs take on this.

I was wondering if anyone knows of a small boat/electric only Bass club in North Alabama. When I was in high school, we had a small boat club(oars only) and had little tournaments every other weekend. I think it would be fun to participate in a club like that again.

A short rod will be fine. Some of the guys on the forum can remember when a long rod was 6'. I used 7' rods for awhile, but they were too cumbersome for the waters I fish. As for casting, yeah you lose a little distance, but gain in accuracy. I now use three 6' rods and they work just fine. My ALL-PURPOSE is a G.Loomis 6' MH fast casting that I use for cranks, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, t-rigs, and lighter jigs. My other 2 are a 6' H casting(frogs and heavy jigs) and a 6' M spinning. The spinning handles almost all of my plastics work and performs this very well. There are a few guys here that are very happy with their short rods and are never disappointed with them ;D.

I have one Cruxis and really like it. I did replace the graphite/plastic cast control knob with a metal one from a Citica though. For $50, I would get it.