Micro

I've been into other things. But currently, fishing is my hobby. I absolutely need it to keep my sanity. It gives me something to think about, even when I'm not doing it. It keeps me honest.

Great pics. But I'm seeing them in negative. I noticed that on another site - some pictures were inverted. Wonder if it has something to do with the new IE8.

I fish the Chick quite a bit. I don't fish as far upstream as you were, but I know the conditions you are talking about. I'd skip the hardbaits with treble hooks. The Chick is a hard lake to fish with treble-hooked hard baits unless you are in the right areas/time of year. It's just too weedy, grassy, mucky. I also only have luck with jigs in areas where there is hard bottom. The green algae gets THICK on the Chick and a jig will simply get lost in all that goo. Spinnerbaits are okay but far from my best producer. IMO, the Chick was made for soft plastics. I would try some soft plastic baits with some action. The Strike King Rage Tail Space Monkey has been a big producer for me this year on the Chick. Swim Senkos are also a historically good bait for me. Ribbontail worms, soft plastic frogs, creatures, all produce well. Due to water clarity, I wouldn't finesse these baits. They need to kick to draw attention. Swimming these baits seems to work best. And don't be afraid to cast 3 or more times to the same spot. Like I said, water clarity is an issue on the Chick and sometimes a couple of casts to about the same spot will pick up a bass you otherwise didn't think was there. For me, green pumpkin, watermelon, red shad are all good colors.

Lee Hall Reservoir is pretty decent. There aren't a huge number of bass, but it does produce some big fish. Water in Lee Hall Res comes out of the Chickahominy River. Water clarity is tea-stained with lots of grass and weeds. It is not a particularly treble-hook-friendly lake. I'd concentrate on plastics. Plastics in green pumpkin, watermelon, red shad, shad all work well here. The best place for a big fish is on the west side of the I-64 overpass. If you are putting your own boat out, travel along the right lakeside and turn right under the overpasses. Go back to were all the standing timber is. Anywhere in this area is good.

G D IT!

You really want a 35mm? Film cameras are dying. For the kind of money you are dropping, you can get a nice digital. I recommend Sony.

Too late

Thanks. What I may do is try to start taking high-res pics of the fish and see if that will work for counting scales.

It's true. I can. Here's my answer: Ask Reel Mechanic. Muddy, ain't it great how I always get it right? Seriously, other than oil on the drag stack or slipping braid (already mentioned), I don't know what it is.

Given that the Mojo is apparently a gussied-up Premier, then I think it is a no-brainer to say HMG. The 7' MH/F GT70MH model HMG makes a fine carolina-rig rod. It is extremely sensitive, sufficiently fast, has a lot of backbone, and has quality Fuji Hardloy guides. It also has a lifetime warranty. From what I've read from people that own both, the Premier is more or less equal to the HMX line of Fenwick rods, while the HMG is a more economic equivalent of the Avid.

Both have been stocked in some of my local waters. I'm sure there's a bunch of intergrades, too. Is there any way to tell them apart aside from some kind of genetic testing?

Thanks. But understand this is how the Daiwa illness begins. You buy one becasue you've heard good things about them. Next thing you know, your addicted. Zillions are the crack of the fishing world. In just a couple of months I went from zero Daiwas to this... http://bzty5q.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pYAxw8qRwSfamXTU3pgLJWR8ZhCotadAJXPJB2A4XjizKnDRuOOqNFicPiSW3OKtrtd7XkmoT61AUv3dt1KTgOw/004.jpg

;D. A veritable Wikipedia of bass knowledge.

How is All Star responsible? This is a rod BPS took back and put on the rack.

Anise oil.

Beats me. There have been 3 TAS rods on the rack for at least two years now. Those are still there. Now this one makes it 4. The other 3 are new - still have cellophane around the handles with factory tags. This "new" rod is clearly used. The cellophane is gone, the cork is stating to blacken, and the shaft has smears on it. Clearly, someone returned a used rod and BPS made up a tag for it and set it back out for sale.

I now use my Revos for my heaviest applications. My Revo STX-HS (7.1:1) is on my H/XF frog rod. I have two Revo STX (6.4:1) on MH/F spinnerbait rods that I use for fishing space monkeys and swimming senkos. I have a Revo S on my carolina rig rod, and another on my flipping rod. With their power and great drags, they excel fishing heavier lures and in slop.

Up until this last fall, I owned 10 Revos (3 STX, 2 SX, 2 SC, 2 S and 1 Winch) and no Daiwas. Now I own 5 Revos (3 STX and 2 S) and 8 Daiwas (5 Zillions, 2 Fuegos and 1 Sol). Revos are great reels, but that's how good the Daiwas are. STX versus Zillion. This is my experience: The Zillion is smoother. The STX is plenty smooth, but you have to try a Zillion to believe it. It is on a different plane. The Zillion palms better. The pawl cap doesn't strike your index finger when it's wrapped around the front of the reel. It does on the Revo. If you don't do this, it's a moot point. But I do so I like this in the Zillion better. The Zillion is finished better overall. From tolerances to polishing, the Zillion is the winner here. The Zillion's brake is more effective. The Zillion casts better overall. This one is close, but still the Zillion edges out the STX. After several months of use, I find the Zillion casts all weights better. I can get more distance out of a Zillion with exactly the same line, same rod and same lure than I can the STX. Now, this is purely acedemic if you are target fishing, but for cranking, c-rigging or just covering water it is an advantage. The STX's drag is better. No question. I have't had an issue with the Zillions, but I don't have to crank the STX's drag down as hard to pull up a 4 lb fish and 3 lbs of muck. The STX drag is just as smooth as the Zillion's, too. The STX is easier to break down and maintain. The STX feels like it could reel in a submerged Chevy. The Zillion feels powerful, but the STX is a real winch. The STX is $69 less than the Zillion and is backed by the best customer service in the industry. ---- The Zillion and the STX are very close. For all practical purposes, they will do the same job equally well. Both are so good, it comes down to splitting hairs. Where the Zillion wins, IMO, it doesn't in by much. But for another $69 it ought to win. In short, either reel is fantastic. I would have gotten rid of all my Revos if the Zillions were that much better. You can't go wrong with either. $200 for a workhorse Revo STX, of $269 for a Zillion. You get about $69 more refinement in the Zillion. But it won't help you win any tournaments. BTW, I have a Zillion High Power, too. Great reel. Compared to the Curado 200DPV, it cast heavier baits better. Compared to the Revo Winch, it casts light baits better. It is a fantastic all-round cranking reel.

Add a pegged bullet weight. Otherwise, getting them to any depth is a pain.

Yes.

If you stick with the Fenwick line, you won't be sorry. The HMG 7' M/MF (GT70M) is great for mid ized cranks. The HMG 6'6" M/MF (GT66M) is great for smaller cranks and topwaters. I have the 7'3" Elite Tech for heavy cranks. It has a Zillion High Power on it. I have the 7' HMG with a Zillion 100HA for midsized cranks and lipless. And the 6'6" HMG with a Daiwa Sol for light cranks and topwaters. The HMG is a great line of rods.

I went back this evening and they've stuck it back out on the rack. They did wipe the blood off.

Wow. That's about the size of my personal best smallmouth.

http://www.ragetail.com/ragetailproducts.html Rigged weightless the Shad, Toad, and Space Monkey are obvious choices.

You just named them.