Willzx225

I drag my rig horizontally all the time except when I feel the sinker digging into heavy rocks then I fish it vertically but still slow enough to drag. That way I can raise my sinker over larger rocks when it starts to hang up.

That is a good idea about the homeowners. I am going to check that today. I did have insurance for my personal belongings in the boat but not nearly enough. It will help get me a few rods after it is all said and done. Better than nothing though. M STARR- I had a few of the KVD Cranking rods (7'4") and the most unique rod was a 6'10" Quantum Tour KVD spinnerbait rod that you can only buy from Quantum's website right now. It looks just like the cranking rods but much smaller diameter blank since it is not composite. Also if you see anyone that has Shimano Crucials or an old V-Rod or rods that look to be darker than normal that might be mine since they survived my other boat fire. As far as lures, I had a bunch of custom crankbaits (Zooms, Gulp, etc.) that were all shallow diving. I will now be unloading my boat after each trip (as much of a pain in the that it is). The worst part about it is loosing baits that haven't been made in years or the new versions are definitely not as good as the old ones.

Thanks for all of the kind responses. This is why I live on this website!

Someone took a crowbar and broke open everyone of my storage boxes. They took everything that I had with the exception of hooks, weights, and shakey heads! I guess with the poor economy this will probably become a more common thing. Anyone else having this happen in their area? >

I fish the Owner Wide Gap Plus hook exclusively on my tubes ( 4.25" Yum Vibra King Tube). Last year I used the 3/0 and caught 85% of my bites but the few I did loose came at the worst times so this year I am using a 4/0 Wide Gap Plus. I do not peg my sinker even if I am flipping/skipping under docks or overhanging stuff. Pegging my sinker just eliminates too much of the spiraling action that I think triggers strikes so I will put up with the frustrations in order to get a few more bites.

Even the "rookies" are better than most of your top regional guys so you still stand a good chance to learn something. I look at it as an investment in my future.

Looks like really good quality stuff. Thanks to all who brought these to my attention! arrrhhhh!!! ;D

Does anyone know where to find the complete results for this tournament? I am trying to find out where we finished.

So basically is it just another definition of a bass' migration route from the main channel to their final spawning area?

I agree with Sanother sitebasser on this one. I use the Shimano Crucial DS rod that is 6'8" and classified as a MH but it is not a standard MH. It has a decent amount of backbone but has a VERY light tip. I love it for vertical dropshotting but wouldn't dare through a shakey head on it. I through my shakey heads on a 6'6" MH Crucial rod but would really like to try a longer rod next time for better hooksets. The only time I think you can use the same rod for both techniques would be if you are casting a dropshot in shallow water. If that is what you are doing then you might look at a 7' M

You mean there is another one other than KVD? ;D Yes I use KVD religiously.

This terminology seemed to pop into everyday lingo last year before the Classic on Hartwell and I am looking for a clearer definition of it. Can someone define what exactly a drain is? I am pretty sure it is regarding a ditch running into a spawning area but am not 100% certain. I am having a duh moment right now. :-? Thanks!

Same here for the Smith Mountain Elite. I signed up back in December and was 10th on the waiting list (now 11th after Steve Daniel dropped out) I actually think it would be a good investment but that conversation has been beaten to death!

Not to cause mass confusion but I have found that the old improved clinch knot to be a better alternative for me to the Palomar. I tie the palomar on all of my mono and braid but will not tie it on fluro. I break too many off on the hookset with the fluro/palomar combo. Bassnajr, Just experiment with your knots. I have been a diehard Palomer guy for 15 years and have had to force myself to switch knots on fluro but other guys will tell you that the Palomar knot is the best knot for fluro. I think it all boils down to what works for you and what doesn't. It isn't any different than which brand of crankbait or soft plastics work vs which ones "don't work". Hope that makes sense.

shimano Crucial 6'8" or 7'2" DS rod. I have the 6'8" and love it! Also works well for #5 Shad Raps and small, light plastics.

I do the same as FatBass does with KVD Line and Lure when spooling fresh line. It works very well. The biggest benefit from L&L for me is on my larger pound diameter mono lines (15lb up), flurocarbon (necessity here!), and anything on a spinning reel. I find that I get fewer knots and loops caused by spinning gear with line treated with L&L. Also this is a life saver when you take your wife or young kid fishing since they tend to distroy line on a spinning reel ;D I once had a squeeking spinning reel and thought I would cure it by spraying Reel Magic on the handle shaft. OOPs, it locked up within a day and I had no idea why. HAHA

I use Suffix but haven't really tried anything else. Haven't had a reason to really. I hear really good things about the Diawa braid but it is a little expensive.

I would have to disagree. I used to follow both circuits equally but in the last few years I have not had a desire to follow FLW like I do with BASS. I don't know about the comment that BASS' pros have been "testing" the waters of the FLW. I think it is exactly the opposite. Matt Herren, Mark Davis, Todd Auten, and Greg Vinson all have made the switch from FLW to BASS with the exception of Greg Pugh. I know Ike fished a Sten series even on Buggs Island but that was just for the money since he did not fish the rest of the events with hopes to qualify for the FLW tour. I agree that BASS went to a shorter schedule this year in order to cut expenses for both BASS and its customers (Elite pros) and will more than likely return to the same 11 tournament schedule once the economy rebounds. FLW may offer these "team" deals for some of their pros but the deals are not that profitable for the pros (they are very lucrative on BASS side when they land a nonendemic) and can be taken from them and given to another competitor from year to year. FLW also restricts who you promote if they do not align with 'their' sponsors. IE Skeeter Boats, Duke University (sorry had to throw that one out there for Jeff Coble), etc. These are just my opinions so sorry if I have offended anyone but I just feel more strongly towards to upper level at BASS. But I do fish BFL's ;D

I've been in Quinn's rig and it is amazing even down to the fold out bar with Evan Williams etched glass back.

I am trying to narrow down a jersey from Gemini. Any suggestions from those who have ordered them? Things you wish you knew before you ordered? I plan on getting the long sleeve. :-/

For me, anything that gets moved by the rod I use a 7.1 and anything that is moved by the reel gets the 6.4. I first started using 7.1's on my spinnerbaits and moving baits but found I was getting fewer bites because I was still reeling with the same cadence but was moving the bait a lot faster.

I just got the new KVD spinnerbait rod from Quantum (same style as the new cranking rods- maroon w/ foam split grips) and man is it awesome! They are running a test run of product to test the market before releasing them so you will have to go to their website to look at them. They have 14 new models designed by KVD, Rojas, Hackney, Klein, Biffle, Swindle, and Grigsby. They are pretty cool and unique with the blank colors. Just thought I would give everyone a heads up. Seems like Quantum is trying to make a surge to grab more market share.

I prefer the 1/2oz Jewel heavy cover finesse jig. This is the jig that Mike McClelland has done a ton of damage with in the last couple of years. Awesome jig!

This past weekend I journied to a tackle shop that I had heard about a bunch from some other friends called The Great Outdoors in Cherryville, NC. The Great Outdoors is about 50-60 miles one way from my house. Man what a great place. There were two reasons why I will be making more trips there. First, they have tackle that either I had never seen or can not find anywhere. Secondly, everytime I got to the end of an isle, someone was always asking if there was anything I needed help finding (of which I probably need help putting most of it back instead of buying more but thats my problem ;D ). Great people and great products is what brings me back. Oh and I live roughly 8 miles from BPS here in Charlotte.

x2 on what VTSpinnerb8t said with the KVD's Line & Lure I have had great luck with Trilene Sensation on my spinning reels. Just another one to try. I feel like it has less memory than most and it is a copoly so has some of the characteristics of fluro (ie less stretch = better sensitivity).