Micro

It's bizarre. I mean it had to go on. It's impossible to diassemble a Revo without first removing that side plate. I don't think you can't even disassemble it from the other side because there is a screw (IIRC) on the inside of the frame under the spool on the handle side that has to be removed before the reel will break down completely. Sounds like something may have broken. How close are you able to get the sideplate into this position?

I've used the King Shad. I haven't used it much, though. But I've been throwing it with a 6'8" Medium Heavy/Fast All Star American Classic. I don't know if this is the ideal rod, but it handles the bait well.

I'm at a loss.

Hmmm. The sideplate only turns about an 1/8th of a turn before you can lift it off. Are you at its limit? Have you ever had it off before? Close it back up and jiggle it and see if anything is rattling in there. Give the handle a few cranks. Then try it again.

I don't have an S and can only assume they open the same way. Are you twisting the sideplate clockwise? Try turning the brake all the way to the opposite setting. I doubt that has anything to do with it, but you never know. If there is something in it jamming it, that may dislodge it.

Jitterbugs.

I have two. I have the EXT Pros. They are Abu's latest domestic incarnation of the Morrum reel. They are fantastic reels. The magnetic brakes on mine are more effective than the brakes on my Revos. They cast light baits very well, again, better than my Revos. I have mine on BPS Pro Qualifier 7' mediums that I use for crankbaits. I haven't gotten the chance to fish them a lot, but I've been practicing with them quite a bit and they cast really, really well.

Is the screw disengaged all the way, and are you turning the side plate the right way? (I know that sounds basic, but gotta ask.)

Where's the Italian bling? Oh, there it is. Now you look like Avid.

Here you go. It will be a little tight.

Depends on where you're going to throw it. If you're fishing muck, the lipless frog would be my choice. If fishing more open water, I'd consider the lipped frog.

Actually, Lew's lures are pretty good. Their minnows and cranks (especailly the shallow runners) are very good. The hooks are too small, though, so order some larger replacements.

I haven't read all responses - but I agree. x 10 You can have quality and low price. Bomber cranks appeal to me because they have have great actions, run the way I expect, have good hooks, durable finishes and low prices. Rapala are some of the best lures available, and are priced lower than they are worth. The X-Rap's clear side bodies with reflective element inside may or may not be their innovation, but they've perfected it and it's one of the most durable and productive baits I've seen. Even some cheap Lew's from BPS are great baits, once you change the hooks. On the contrary, I've been less than impressed with the durability of the scaled finish on my shad LC DD Pointers. After several decent fish, it's all scratched up and missing scales. And LC's Real Skin lures, with the premise that "it will develope tiny tears over time releasing scent into the water" seems to me to be a way to justify the fact that they've produced another bait with a less than durable finish. LCs are great baits, but even they have their issues.

I use Norman Speed Clips. Norman Speed Clips

I have a 55# thrust Minn Kota Power Drive on my 1548 and it moves the boat with authority, even in wind.

BPS Crankin' Sticks seem to be the only BPS rod everyone really likes. I don't own one, but am impressed that everyone seems to agree they are a great cranking rod.

Ah, Green Top. I love that place. I'll be spending a wad there next month. Company bonus time

I watched a clip on CNN today that illustrated perfectly the reason for the subprime mess. There was a young woman in what appeared to be her 40's living in a 4 bedroom house (a very nice house) with manicured grounds and a backyard in-ground pool in a Las Vegas suburb. She was lamenting the fact that she and her 3 kids and disabled mother were going to be foreclosed upon. She was now unable to aford the house on her part-time salary. She hoped the government would do something. Man, how does a woman responsible for 3 kids and a disabled mother on a part-time salary even get into a house like that?

My boat is very stable. I'm 300 pounds and I've pulled myself from the water up over the side and still had a lot of free board. I have no problems standing on the edges of the floor hauling fish (or kids) over the side. Stable as can be. I don't take it on really big waters, but I've taken it into smaller tidal rivers with tug and barge traffic and it will easily handle the wake they put out. The boat would not plane on 9.9 HP. But I was restricted by law to <10 HP on some of the lakes I intended to fish. But I ended up fishing unrestricted lakes and creeks more so I decided to up to 15 HP with electric start. The boat WILL plane on 15 HP. I don't carry a GPS when I fish since I'm familiar with all the waters I fish. So I don't know how fast I'm going. But I'm guessing I'm hitting at least 20 mph. My boat has been perfectly adequate ont he waters I fish. When I fish an electric only lake, I take the motor off and throw on a trolling motor and two batteries.

Thanks, BP. What's Pony Pasture like in the spring? When is the earliest best time to hit it?

It's better than...

I know it's freezing there. It's freezing here, too. But the fish didn't high-tail it to Florida. And "Danger" is my middle name. Maybe it's "Stupid." Well, I forget. I'm just wondering about those slow stretches that are about thigh deep between the dam and the boulders at Pony Pasture. It's easily accessible from the bank.

That's a great boat. I have a Tracker Grizzly 1548 long AWL. I bought the bare boat and built my own floor, reinforced the casting deck with another carpeted deck, wired and breakered it, added lights, fish finder, trolling motor deck. I haven't had any trouble. I have had a number of offers to buy it. I live in an area where many lakes are restricted to 9.9 hp. Although, I fish several unlimted HP lakes more so I've since upgraded the motor to a 15 hp. Buy it, you'll love it. Tricking it out is a lot of fun. I plan on upgrading to a larger jon in the not too distant future.

Older pic of my yacht. Now has a 15hp motor instead of the 9.9 pictured.

For muskies or big catfish, I'd choose a C3, C4 or C5 over anything else. These reels are proven reliable. I don't think you can buy a tougher freshwater reel. I've hauled in quite a few blue cats on Abus and they handle it with ease.