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Duane Richards. He's a Virginia custom rod builder and his rods are works of art. I don't own one, but I've had the chance to fondle his beauties in a local shops that sells them. Simply amazing: http://duanerichards.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=customrods Check out some samples: http://duanerichards.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=customrods&action=display&thread=1168610401 When I work up my nerve to get a custom, I'm going to get him to build it.

That is a cool story. My first big (for then) bass was caught on a Creme pre-rigged worm. I was a kid and a friend and I were fishing a neighborhood pond. Some of the land owners had build a walkway on the edge of the pond that stuck out over the water about 4 feet. It went for 20 or 30 yards or so. We had just wrapped up our fishing for the day and I was walking along the walkway with my rod tip a few inches above the water dragging that worm on the water. A bass exploded out from underneath that walkway and hit that worm. It scare the life out of me. It pulled out line under drag and, in my excitement, I laid my rod down and pulled that fish in by hand. I don't know how much it weighed, but it looked big to a kid.

Because there are better Abu round reels. The traditional Ambassadeur series and the D series (D5 and D6) were and still are good, reliable reels. The mack-daddy of Abu round reels sold in the US at the moment it the EXT. It's the current, and lightest, incarnation of the Morrum reel. This reel has a solid one piece aluminum frame. The reel is ultra smooth, has a great carbon matrix drag, shielded stainless steel bearings, has a more effective magnetic brake than the low-profile Revos, and will cast very light lures with ease. I have two EXT Pros. I currently have 3 5600 and 6500 C4s. The EXTs blow the C4s away in performance - and the C4s perform very well. The EXTs are more expensive, but they are truly great reels. I have mine on 7' medium rods that I like to use for crank baits. That will cast the lightest bass cranks I have with ease. I will say the D5 and D6 reels were impressive. They are out of production but can still be had. I've seen guys get amazingly long casts on the gold D5s. They looked a little unconventional with that black side plate at the reel handle base. But everyone i know that has one loves them.

I dunno if you are or not. But I've started to gravitate to longer rods myself. My last several rods, baitcasters and spinning, have been 6'8" to 7". I have a 6'6" and 7' medium/fast with the same reel and line and I used them for the same thing, but I just prefer the 7'.

Anyone else out there have a few Creme Lures in their boxes? I have a half dozen or so of the Creme worms - you know, the pre-rigged worms with the little metal spinner blade. As low-budget as these things are, I've found them effective all out of proportion to their low price. There is nothing to fishing them. Just cast and slowly retrieve. One of the greatest bass baits of all time. Creme makes a little swimbait (in various shapes and sizes), too called the Lit'l Fishie. http://www.cremelure.com/store/store_sub.cfm?Category_ID=2 Has anyone tried it? I've been reading reviews and it seems that everyone that has tried them thinks they are the bomb. I may pick some of the 3 inchers up. There's lots of emphasis these days an high-end ultra realistic looking baits. But it's hard to beat some of the low budget stuff.

My favorite crank technique is fishing crawdad colored cranks on the bottom, especially in fall. I like a craw colored crank that will absolutely get to the bottom of wherever I'm fishing. I scrape and bounce it along the botton the whole way back, leaving a trail behind it. I've lost cranks and banged even more up, but it's a very productive technique. It works very well when there is a hard sandy or gravely bottom.

I know that area where he was fishing and it can be big water in December. A lot of boats are wirelining for stripers next to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It's traditionally a time for heavy tackle. 2 lb test? While fishing an eel? In the mouth of the bay? Alone? Makes me raise an eyebrow.

If you like carrying around a brick, get the Spirex. It's a nice reel, but it is HEAVY. I had a 4000 series and it weighed over 13 ozs. I gave it away and bought a 502 ALB to put on the same rod. The ALB is very nice. It's smooth, well made and has a good drag. However, if you don't mid spending another $5-$10 the new 600 ALB is the way to go. You get upgraded bearings over the 500 ALB, and a carbon matrix drag the 500 doesn't have. The 500 is a very nice reel and seemed to do well in Tackle Tour's review: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewabugarciacardinal502alb.html

The only people I've seen say anything bad about them are people that don't own one. Those that do seem to love theirs. Browning rods are very nice. I have a Citori and it's one of the best rods that I own that cost under $100.

Wing sings AC/DC http://www.wingmusic.co.nz/player/cd10.html This chick has it going on! http://www.wingmusic.co.nz/index.html

The problem I found with this bag is that if you set in on the floor of your boat, and have anything in that front flap, the bottom box won't slide out. You have to tilt the whole bag back to get the bottom box out. Doesn't sound like much, but it was a really pain in the butt. I found myself placing a rolled up towl underneath the front edge of the bag so the front flap would fall out of the way of the bottom box. Then, the other problem arises. The front flap is where the elastic bands are to hold bottles of scents. Unless you take the bottles out, laying the flap down lays the bottles down, or lay the bottles top-down. Not a good idea if there is the slightest leak. I used to carry a bottle of Bactine in my bag for the inevitable line-cuts and hook-sticks. Half the bottle leaked out before I relalized it was leaking. I used that bag for about a year then gave it away. I replaced it with a Gander Mountain/Flambeau bag that looks like a big duffle and holds about 10 370 boxes. The top opens like that Cabelas bag. I have several in different sizes for different lures.

And if you rearrange the letters, it's Toto. Boggles the mind.

Anything is a Signature Series if they label it that way.

If the guys that run Tackle Tour know anything about reels, it's Pinnacle.

They do this all the time. Last time if came up it was about Pro Qualifier rods. The current (2007 rather) Pro Qualifier rod was a 70 million modulus rod with alconite guides. It's a very nice rod that retailed for $119. (Placed on sale for $59). Then a Pro Qualifier combo was advertised. I had the chance to look at the combo in the store and it was certainly NOT the Pro Qualifier that went for $119. The rod was an IM-6 rod with aluminum oxude guides, and a reel I didn't recognize. I liked BPS rods, but you gotta be careful ordering deeply discounted rods/reels or special combos from BPS. Often times you won't get what you think you are getting.

I think BPS is dropping Bagley. You can't find anything other than Bagley cranks at BPS (ie. no Bagley Shakey Head jigs). Now, all Bagley cranks are on clearance at BPS. Bagley isn't even included in the Master Catalog for 2008. Most Bagley cranks are $4.98 at BPS, with some as low as $2.99.

I want lite. I have A 200 Curado and it's far from lite. Nothing more tiring than flipping all day with 14-16 oz rod and reel. Yeah, but my rig will pull a Chevy out of cover.

"I Am Legend" removed from server. But "300" is playing. Bloodiest movie ever!

Yeah, when I was looking at the Shimano Chronarch Mg thet guy at Bass Pro gave me a "tip" and told me to check out that site. He told me it's the one site BPS won't do a price match with. They even sell BPS reels for less than BPS. So you got it, no problems? Was it package well? How long did it take?

Nice review. Where'd you get it?

All Star American Classic (AC FRH) 7'6" H/XF with Shimano Curado 200 DHSV. I haven't used it much at all but I've played with it a lot and it will do a great job.

Fenwick HMG (GT66MH) 6'6" MH/F. MSRP is $129 but they tackle shops near me sell them for $109. Fantastic rods. Team All Star IM10 (TAS 786C) 6'6' MH/F. Around $100. Very sensitive and well made rods. All Star American Classic (AC WR1) 6'6' MH/F. Around $90. Identical performance to the IM10, and brute strong. On top of that, they are gorgeous rods. My Shimano Curados look great on them.

If I had Fivebass' money, I'd buy the Premier, too. Whatever the problem with the drag, it seems to be spotty at most. And Abu's service is second to none.

A good, inexpensive shallow crank is the Bomber Square A. I, too, fish them near structure - blowdowns, stumps, cypress trees. They are great baits and you won't cry of you loose one.

I picked the Abu 800 series. I don't think there's a better built reel out there.