Micro

Theye make "fast sink" and "slow sink" versions. The slow sink do sink slow and they rise up on retrieve. Try a fast sink version and see how that does.

I don't think it's $100 better. I think a big portion of that $100 is for the name alone.

Tackletour reviewed the Crestfire reel, the next reel UP from the Callisto and they tore it up. It wasn't even good reel for a beginner. Based on that, I'd avoid. I'd go with the card and buy a Citica.

Has anyone fished this swimbait? I fished it for a little while this morning in the pond at the end of my street (until it started raining). I didn't catch anything, but saw enough to draw some conclusions. This thing has some action! Fast or slow, it has a wonderful ungulating action. It's a slow sinking lure (the ones I bought). It swims just under the surface on a slow retrieve, and you can keep it on the surface with a faster retrieve. It makes a nice wake. The hooks are especailly good - Owners, according to their catalog. The details are very nice and the finish looks as good as on any Lucky Craft or Jackall. Best of all is the price. I got the 5" models for $12.99 and the 3.5" models for $11.99. I think that's a killer price for what I believe will be a killer lures. Give 'em a whirl. BTW, my dealer tells me they are sturdier than other jointed swim/wakebaits he sells and that they are finding some favor among striper fishermen.

Angioplasty for desert?

Whoever's decision it is, it ought not be the insurer's decision. The insurer would rather have you die than pay for life-extending treatment. There was a recent article in the news where one insurer would not pay for life extending medication, but would pay for assisted suicide. That being said, the question is deeply personal, one that should be answered primarily by the patient, his/her family, and the doctor. Those that don't want their insurance premiums subsidizing someone's decision to stay alive may do well to remember that they may be in that situation one day, having to rely on others to subsidize their tough choice.

60-70% of the time is good enough. Whether the prediction is right and the storm is in the center of the Gulf heading north, or it's wrong and its to the east or west of the center and heading north, someone's going to get hammered - 100%. That's unless the storm becomes cooperative and makes a u-turn and drives out of the Gulf into the Atlantic. I'd say there's about a, hmm, 0% chance of that. 60-70% is the chance an area from Panama City to New Orleans gets hammered. 90% is the chance an area from Tampa to Brownsville gets hammered.

I haven't fished the GL IMX to any extent. I've heard from more people than not who own both that the Techna AV is in the same class as the IMX, with many saying it's better. As for the HMG vs. Avid thing. I've only fished the Avid for a little while (I don't own one, and I don't own and AV). But I didn't notice any difference in weight between the two rods I fished (not that I was checking, but I would have noticed if it were significant). According to TackleTour, the Fenwick HMG 6'6" medium GT66M weighs 4.2 oz, while the Avid AC66MHM weighs 4.1 oz. I'd think that's hardly noticable. And for $50+ less, that's a pretty darn good compromise. The AV I fished, a 6'6" MH rod, seemed did very light and ultra sensitive. If I buy another rod, I'll probably go with an AV. The one thing I do like about the Avid is the contoured grip.

And on Sunday it will be turning north while in the center of the Gulf of Mexico - with projected sustained winds of 120 mph. Looks like somewhere on the Gulf coast is going to get hammered.

I've fished the Avid, AV and the HMG (I own quite a few HMGs). IMO, the Fenwick HMG is the equivalent of the Avid, and the Techna AV is a better rod than either. The HMG is less expensive than the Avid, representing a better value. The Techna AV is a better rod than the Avid, but costs more. The HMG and Techna AV both have lifetime warranties. The Avid's a nice rod, but costly for what you get.

The Stradic is made in Malaysia, not Japan. There is no denying that that you pay a premium for the Shimano name. And bearings are cheap. The question ought to be why don't you get a significantly better reel for 3 times the cost.

Bass-Hunter, your avatar is disturbing.

Why do you think these are lower end "Chinese reels?" Both are American companies that have their reels built there (high end Pfluegers are made in Korea). I don't know much about Pflueger's bearings, but I've never heard anything bad about them. Quantum's hybrid bearings are very highly regarded. BTW, wherea reel is made doesn't have much to do with where the bearings are made. Revos are "made in Korea" but their bearings are German made. Truth be known, Shimano and Daiwa probably get their bearings from companies that supply other reel manufacters and sewing maching companies.

Hee hee, Burley said Milf. Hee hee.

The lady-boy in the blue boots makes my brain hurt. Ow.

Try 'em with some chocolate icecream.

Chickahominy River Morris Creek James River, Richmond, Va. Also the James River in Richmond, Va. I think this one turned out well. A pond in Yorktown, Va.

I fish tidal rivers in Virginia. They are usually pretty murky. I fish them pretty much the same way I fish lakes. My tidal rivers have very little structure in the river itself. But it has lots of blown down trees on the banks and I fish the ends of those as the tide is moving. There are also quiet inlets I like to fish. I'm most successful when I fish with the tide, not against it. Bass set themselvesup to ambush baitfish as they swim in and out with the tide. For some reason, I'm most successful fishing on an outgoing tide rather than incoming, but I still don't know why that is. When I'm fishing around the ends of the blowdowns, I have a lot of luck with firetiger and craw colored crankbaits - Rapalas and Bombers. Rat-L-Traps work well, too. Black worms, like Zoom Trick worms work well for me. When the fish move out of the shallows into deeper water nearer the center of the river, I usually am successful with deep diving crankbaits. Deep diving Rapala DTs and rattling Shad Raps work well. I also get fish on heavily weighted plastics. I really like fishing my tidal rivers, with their hard, gravel bottoms.

I never owned one, but the dealers I know hate them. Because they are pressured by Kistler to administer their warranty. If a rod fails, Kistler pressures the dealer to replace it with a rod from their stock. The complaint arises because the dealer has to pay to ship it back to Kistler then Kistler takes their sweet time replacing the rods and reimbursing the dealer. Not that any of that makes much difference to the consumer.

I caught 8-9 lb'ers all the time to when I was 13. Now that I'm 41, I realized the scale was calibrated in ounces, not pounds. It's alright, you're allowed to make that mistake at 13. I've used the sabiki rig to catch blueback herring and alewife. They make great striper bait.

They did a helluva job. The opening and closing (still watching) ceremonies were amazing. And I'm glad the protests (smog, Tibet, Dafur, human rights) had a minimal impact. There's a place for those, and it ain't the Olympics. Hat's off to China. It was all very grand. London is going to have some work to do to even match them in 2012.

Here's the sig-pic I use on other forums...

The have a reflective element inside, like the newer Rapalas.

I picked up a couple of YZ 3D Flat Cranks. They look really nice. Anyone use these? Look like they might be nice smallmouth baits.

David, I've told you before, and I'm saying it again. You are destined to be a lure designer/maker. You've alredy got the righ name for some killer baits... DSAAVEDRA CUSTOM BAITS Give in to your talents.