shootermcbob

I agree about Lance's comments that he doesn't think he cheated, he just leveled the playing field. If you follow the Tour de France, you know that EVERYONE who is anyone in the sport has been busted for doping in the last 15-20 years. I could name names, but we probably don't have enough bandwidth. The Tour has sent ENTIRE TEAMS home for doping...the sport is absolutely filled with dopers. That being said, it is not the cheating or the "leveling the playing field" that sticks in my craw. It is the way he destroyed people's personal lives..ruined them publicly, personally, and financially to cover his cheating. People who were truthful and lived their lives with morals and values. That is what makes him a despicable human being.

I too really think the citica is a great reel ...in the 200E7...which is what I own. If you really want to soop? it up, send it to Mike at DVT, have him replace the drive shaft bushing with the bearing and do a thorough cleaning on it. I am AMAZED at how good these reels perform. That said, I also had really good luck with the pro qualifier and really liked the way they performed. Again, I sent a couple to Mike at DVT and the improvement in performance after his servicing them is astounding.

I like the yo-zuri hybrid in either #10 or #12 for baitcasting applications and yo-zuri hybrid ultrasoft in #6 for spinning gear. I use trilene big game mono for topwater applications.

Might want to add a good supply of ammo as well...just sayin.

Great to hear. If you are happy, then I am happy for you. Also, thankful that the incident that night with the light did not turn out much worse.

Fantastic shots. You are certainly talented. Thanks for sharing.

I didn't really SEE them, at least not at first...but I sure heard them. I like to fish at night, but I still "sneak" up to the water for my first cast, and I stand back from the bank and slowly work my way closer so that I may catch any bass close to shore before it sees me. One time a blue heron was standing in the water about 10 feet from me, and as I inched closer, the bird let out an awful sasquatch sound that nearly scared the crap right out of me. I screamed a little bit....like a man, of course. Second time, I was standing back from the shoreline a bit, resting and observing, and appreciating the coolness and calmness of the summer night. Upon my first cast, the beaver that had gone unnoticed in the dark smacked its' tail on water, again scaring the bejeezuz right out of me.

Yikes. Just the thought of that makes me want to puke. You are a braver man than I. Yuck, I hate snakes.

Bigfoot...and whether you believe it or not, he was actually eating Jack Links beef jerky. Honest.

Hi Rick. Mike at DVT does excellent rod work as well as servicing reels. Have you tried contacting him? Even if you don't send the rod to him, he is really good about offering his suggestions to help you fix the rod in the best possible manner.

May I suggest that you contact Mike at DVT to see if he can work with you on turnaround times? Mike is a board sponsor here, does outstanding work at a really fair price, including 10% discount for members here, and freely offers his help here to anyone who asks. Either way, good luck to you. PS I do speak from experience here, having sent Mike a several reels and a couple rods to be "fixed".

Prayers for him ...and you.

I don't know what makes one rod more sensitive than another. I do know that, after fishing with Kistler, powell max and endurance rods, shimano compre, crucial, and cumara rods, cabelas brands, and bass pro brands that without a doubt...FOR ME... the cumaras are CLEARLY more sensitive than the other rods. At least, they are in my hands. However, I had no issues detecting bites with any of them. I am able to feel bites on the cabelas xml rods I still have without problem. I have a powell max 703c and a cabelas xml ...same rods, same line and lure ratings, only difference is powell is an extra fast action while the cabelas is a fast action. cabelas is full cork grip and powell is split grip...and I am selling the powell because ...IMO...in my hands, the XML is a more sensitive stick. WHY? I do not know, but I can feel it. NOT to be taken as a knock on powell rods at all, I have a few others I really, really like. I fish mostly yozuri hybrid ultrasoft, but also some cabelas flourocarbon line, and some big game mono. I also fish some braid, and again...FOR ME,...fishing with the braid enables even more "feel"...but I don't think it is the rod, rather the braid that is responsible for this. As for where I feel the bites, I am not sure. I will have to pay more attention...but at times I feel a tick, at times I feel pressure, and at times i feel a thump. Final take...maybe sensitivity is more a personal, individual thing rather than a marketing ploy???

For small swimbaits, I have had the best luck with the Lake Fork Tackle live magic shad. My best producer has been the 3.5 inch pearl fished on a gamakatsu round ball jighead (1/4 oz) that i buy at Walmart. Looking forward to spring to try some of the others suggested in this and other threads.

John, hope you caught that monster on your heavy-duty swimbait rod n reel

Just sent 3 reels to Mike. This is the 4th or 5th time now I have used Mike's services. Have been more than satisfied each time. Not to mention the fact he is an active member who is quick to offer help/suggestions to all who ask for it.. Never met Mike in person, but he is a quality person and valuable sponsor.

For under a 100 bucks, a Pro Qualifier in 5.2:1 gear ratio or even the 4.7:1 if deep cranking would be hard to beat. Can be had new for 79.99 several times throughout the year. I have seen them used for 60.00.

Not sure about email, I sent Mike at DVT a private message here on BassResource, and he got back to me the same day.

I would be VERY, VERY leery about the "partners"...I understand the financial backing as being necessary. I would want a "buyout" clause spelled out for EACH partner, including the financier. People can change, and often do, when money is involved. My opinion, fwiw, would be to go alone, using the financial backing with a plan/contract to pay off/back money in certain, defined terms. The legal document would state the financier has ZERO say in the running of the business...that is for you and your wife. Whatever you decide, best of luck to you.

Speedbead, why do you like the 3:16 glue better than Mend-it???

Wow, That looks awesome. Great job.

Loved the show as well. Didn't care for what A-Jay has so aptly named the "TommyToe" I thought it was really funny when Hackney said "if that was my kid, He would be getting a whipping right now" after Ike went Ike. Glad for the folks who made it. Sorry that Timmy Horton did not make it. I am a fan of his. I remember a few years ago, when he had really long hair and I thought to myself, that man needs a haircut in the worst way. Then I read he was growing it long to donate it to "Locks of Love". Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Kinda hard not to be a fan of his after reading about that. Can't wait for the next episode.

I think Alabama, like the original prediction of 28-16. I think Bama runs ball with success in the second half to take control of the game. However, if Notre Dame scores more points...they will win

I checked out the Huddleston weedless shads. How do they hold up for you? I too have some "hard-bodied" swimbaits...a couple sebile magic swimmers and a strike king sexy swimmer, but have not had any real luck with either. I have had a couple hits one the strike king.

I have just started fishing with jerkbaits. That said, I caught the most fish on a pearl Rick Clunn lucky strike jerkbait, closely followed by a bone colored Eeratic shad jerkbait.