BUCKEYEone

I just started bass fishing within the past year, and am definitely becoming addicted. I mostly fish small lakes/ponds, and even plan on hitting some local rivers for smallmouth. Money is tight, so all i have purchased so far is a light rod with a quantum spinning reel loaded with 8lb mono. (I had no idea there were different Rod powers when I made the purchase) I have accumulated a decent start-up supply of cranks, topwaters, jigs, a couple spnners and buzzbaits, and some worms. I am now ready to spend a measly $70 or so on a new rod/reel combo to improve my abilities. I like the abu cardinal spinning reel combos from bps and cabelas, but what rod length/power should I get to enable to fish more of my baits more effectively?

sounds perfect for me, thanks!

I'm looking to buy my first handheld GPS. I want something I can use for driving (turn by turn), some hiking, and of course on the boat. I know that Magellan makes a "crossover" model, but I havent found anyone but a salesman who knows anything about it, or any others like it. Anyone used something similar?

Anyone actually seen the new tube/waterdog "tubo" from mister twister in action, or in hand even? Any opinions?

Matt Fly- I saw a mention of that on Google news, sounds like Georgia started grumbling about who should have been playing for a championship before Ohio State had even left the big easy. I've always liked the idea of a playoff, but at the same time I think eveyone will always have some complaint, no matter what system they use. link: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2008/01/09/2008-01-09_georgia_wants_playoff_to_eliminate_doubt.html

LSU played well, but not so amazingly well that I was overly-impressed. The bottom line out of this championship game is that OSU beat themselves. OSU fans didnt expect a championship year, we were hoping for a Rose Bowl run, nothing more. We knew Beckman was hit or miss, and we had a lot of guys who just lost focus after the blocked field goal. Definitely Congrats to LSU, but I think we all know that this year was one where a championship game didnt even need to be played, nobody was SUPERB this year.

Right now I'd trade beckman for a new coffee maker. I dont really like coffee

Wait a minute....the Bait Monkey has a cage? Thats the first I have heard about this! I wish I would have known, could have saved some money and maybe bought my wife something for Christmas!

The site is looking better than ever, you guys are doing a great job...now take a well deserved break for the Holidays! Merry Christmas fellas!

michbass- That sounds like a pretty good show. I might have to step foot in enemy territory for the first time in my life for that one! Thanks

it may not be till feb. and clear in indy, but that gives me time to put it on the calendar and clear it with the wife...that means I'm half way there! thanks

I know the feeling man! After having my son I knew it was time for me to say goodbye to the Army life. I wouldnt be able to tell my little man goodbye again, so now I'm back in Ohio hoping I dont get a phone call from IRR call-ups to head back out! Keep at it man, and I promise I wont catch your fish.

I'd love to get out to a fishing expo in ohio/indiana sometime this winter, anyone know of a good way or website that shows when/where the big fishing expos will be held?

Thanks a lot guys! Well atleast now its down to citica and the revo, just have to get my hands on them one last time and go with what feels best

I am able to spend about $100 on a baitcasting reel, I will hold off a month or so in hopes of finding what I want on sale, but I want to know this: You have a hundred bucks in hand, what b/c reel would you go for? I'm a fan of the quality of daiwa, so thats where my eyes go first, but in all honesty...what would you pick?

Although I'm far from having anything resembling an "arsenal" of gear, I definately plan on keeping one spinning rod around for those situations when a baitcaster just doesnt get the job done the way I'd like it to. Recall Mike Ike's 2003 bassmaster classic day three when he broke out his light spinning gear to follow-up on bass that wouldnt hit his baitcasting gear. It did the trick, saved his day, and he later found out that he had the only baitcaster out of the 400+ rods the pros had on the water that day! The whole point of having multiples of this and that is to have something for every situation, so having a baitcaster and spinning rig is a most for any serious angler!

You knew money would be a huge factor in his decision, as it almost always is. I'm sure there is a big part of him that would love to come back to Michigan, but he knew it would be a huge uphill battle to gain the confidence of the University, the players, and the many fans. I am sure that money just gave him good reason to stay where he is currently rather than taking on the monumental task ahead of him at Michigan. I dont blame him one bit for staying put, but I dont blame anyone for cursing him for not coming home to Michigan either. I dont think this is a said and done deal at this point, there is assuredly more string-pulling and number crunching to come from the maize an blue.

Even as a buckeyes fan, whose team is about 20 hours from being number 1, I have to say the BCS is bogus, and there should absolutely be a playoff. I dont think we need the top 64 teams or anything, but definitely a top 12-18. Mizzou proved how a team can not even show up to play no matter what the computers think they are capable of. BCS needs to go, without a doubt!

windy lakes, yes...but I have no boat and after finding my pond frozen today I drove to the lake, and found that the shores/docks are frozen there already too. That lake (Indian Lake, Oh) is also the start of the Great Miami River, which is a decent sized river full of saugeye, cats, and smallmouth...but I know even less about fishing rivers than I do lakes...which almost puts me in the negative knowledge catagory! The only rod/reel I have is a light rod/spinning reel with 6 # line...I dont know how well I would fare on a river.

Ohio state vs. "the myth that we cant BEAT an SEC" team. I know, I know we made a poor statement last year, but to be fair, Jim Tressel didnt even ask me before he put together that game plan. I'm still convinced that had we stuck with our usual gameplan we would have beat Florida! We dont recruit for an SEC style team, we dont practice an SEC style of play, yet we tried to pretend to be able to play SEC football, and came out looking like fools...and deserved it. Not that I'm still bitter, that would be silly.

I went out to my favorite pond to fish for some late fall LMB this morning, only to drive up and find a thin layer of ice over the water. My first year actually trying to become a proficient bass-fisherman, and it has come to a close! I'm in central Ohio and am not quite ready to give up my new found fishing addiction because of winter, so do any of you seasoned veterans of the bass world have any winter time tips for keeping my drive toward a bass fishing associates degree alive?

I'm about half way through Ike's book right now, and it is definitely a good read! Little bits of good fishing info, but more great BASS stories and funny memories of his. Good stuff

I'm wanting to find a good spot in west-central ohio to head out for some river smallies this weekend. I usually fish lakes for LM, but want to change things up a little bit, so if you have some advice, send it my way, thanks!

I've been wanting to find a good spot in west-central Ohio to find some river smallies this fall. Anyone heard of any good places to head out to this weekend? I'm in Logan County, and dont mind an hour or less drive. Thanks!

First off I have to believe that this question is one that has been asked a few times before. However, I searched and didnt come up with much from previous posts. Do any of you actually use a lure retriever? I'm rather new to bass fishing, so I've lost a few nice new lures shortly after purchase. The vast majority of previous fishing experience I have is walleye fishing on lake erie, so we didnt lose much out there. Anyone swear by products like the E-Z lure retriever or anyone swear off retreivers in general?