bobbyK

I think David is on to the right answer about bent hooks. The only hooks I bend are the ones I have used to try and land the ever popular submerged stumpfish, or the overhanging branch eel, or . . . You get the drift. Bob K ;D

Excellent!!! I was just watching some older shows yesterday lamenting on not having any fishing season left here in MN. How about WFN on DirectTV? Any action there? Thanks for the show!! Bob K

I have an S and an SX. Like the S better as it is not quite as finicky. I have 3 brakes on and set the tension knob and I am good to go. It is tough as nails, smooth and I can throw stuff a good lick. The SX on the other hand needs a bit more tweaking with the the mag brake knob and once you find a good setting, you need to leave it. I have made the mistake of loosening the tension or the mag brake a bit trying for a bit more distance and . . . you guessed it - industrial strength overrun. In its defense though, when the SX is set up right, it becomes fool proof and I can cast for hours with out an upset. Just need some patience and concentration for the first 10 casts or so with a little adjustments here and there depending on what I see during the cast. Go for it. Bob K

I lost one this morning and the response was "You have got to be kidding!!!!!" Here is the story. I was shore fishing this same spot about a month ago and hooked a nice one only it was near an old metal fence post in the water. The fish looked like it knew it was there and I ran down the shore trying to keep it away. But after a jump or two and a struggle - twang! Cut me off. This morning, the same spot, I hooked a nice one again and after one jump, it threw the hook and senko and escaped. Like I said - you have got to be kidding!!!! Inspecting the hook, the senko twisted around when it bit and impaled the senko again preventing a good penetrating hookset. Bad luck and bad karma at this spot. I am tempted to go back tomorrow and wrench a good one out of this spot to break the trend. Later, Bob K

Big Mike, If it weighed 23#, would it be a record????? Do not answer that. Bob K

Based on the DT6, I would guess the fish is a DT34 or DT35 - somewhere in that range. ;D

This is why I own Revos - But I love the look and feel of the Shimano and I would love to own them too if they would make lefties!!!!!!

Buy it just as a whip to try and keep the "monkey" in line. Hey, it could work . . . . . :-/ You won't know unless you try!!!! Just go for it.

Caught one on the very first cast of an orange craw Red Eyed Shad. Funny thing was I was on a guided trip and my guide had just suggested throwing some sort of bright colored crank. I had just got this bait for the trip. The guide asked me how the crank felt and I said I didn't know - the fish had grabbed the bait before I even started reeling. I swear that he saw it and decided to bite even before it hit the water. Since then, I have worn half the paint of that crank catching fish. Bob K

bmadd, I have the 7' MH crankbait Crucial and I love it. The TC4 construction is reasonably light but gives great feel to what is going on at the end of the line. I use 12# Gamma copoly for line and I can feel every wobble of the bait, thump of weeds and stuff I want to bang into. When you get a strike, you just feel all the wobbling stop and the moderate tip just loads up - fight on! and I have not had any come undone on this rod - probably luck but the tip has to help at least some . I also think it casts really well even below its lure rating of 3/8 oz for the MH. I throw a lot of DT's and lipless with it and they really fly. I hesitated at first getting a good quality crankbait rod when there were other "needs" on my wishlist but I do not regret the purchase one bit. In fact the positive experience has me strongly considering the Crucial drop shot rods. Good Luck, Bob K

I have a 6' 6" M paired with a Revo S and 12# Gamma Copoly which I use for close in work. I like the rod a lot. Be careful of the stainless guides though - they are delicate (bend easily). They keep the rod light and sensitive though with enough power to wack the big ones. Good Luck, Bob K

I bought the 3614 box for spinnerbaits and if you put in the skirt and the blades first I was able to get even a 1 oz Strike King bottom dweller in the compartment. When you do this about 1/2 of the wire is still out the top of the compartment and the lid hits it (bends it a touch) when the box is closed. I am not satisfied with the system and am looking for a nice binder instead. I will retire the 3614 to Jigs - which it will be great for keeping them all separated and such but not very space efficient. A standard 3600 box will hold alot more jigs. That's my experience. Bob K

I am totally ready. It is -20 deg F here right now but I am still ready. I have fed the bait monkey with all my Christmas gift certificates. My tackle is all organized. The reels have been serviced. I have even been practicing my pitching every night in the basement and detecting "bites" when the cats bat the casting weight. I am totally ready. Bob K

That is a total fishin' machine. Well done. I would love to have one like that. Good Luck - Go fill it up with fish. Bobby K

6' 6" M Berkley Series 1 w/ Revo SX (L) spooled with 12# Gamma CoPoly. My first and only baitcaster but looking for the next!

Caught an 8" gill the other day on the big Snap Bean and while it was doing the gill spiral on the way in, a big pike took a swipe at it. Now that would have been somethin' BobbyK