oxbowbass

I prefer spinning rigs for drop shotting. I like 7' ML spooled with Fireline Crystal or mono if the water is a little dirtier. My preferred line strength is 10 lbs, but 12 can also do the job. You can use a fluorocarbon leader if you wish, but personally I have not found this to be a significant advantage.

Double ditto to all the guys who love the BPS Micro setups for gillies. The Big Girl and I both have one of these and sometimes we just love to drift around with these little rigs and catch these little fighters by the dozens. The micro lites do not cost a bundle but deliver mega-fun.

If the library in the bathroom consists of BPS Master Catalogs, Cabela's sales fliers, issues of BassWestUSA and Bass Master, and a note pad to jot down the the latest "got to have."

Well, as Henry Ford II used to say, "Never complain, Never explain." Some conversations are just not worth the air it takes to utter the words. However, if compelled to talk about this topic (which I confess to have had on many occasions), I usually just bore them to death. My monologue includes the beauty of nature, connecting to the natural environment, becoming one with the fish, all all that stuff. The thrill of the hunt, the anticipation of the event, the preparation and planning for the excursion. Then I like to go into the physiology of fish and how their nervous system really is not anything like humans. Most of the senses of a fish are devoted to those elemental things such as sight, smell, taste, lateral line and pressure sensation, and things like that. You know, those sensations that are used in a manner to survive, to find food, escape danger, etc. Dig deep to explain how ichthyologists have largely determined that little of a fish's nervous system is wasted in the mouth and head area, but reserved for body parts more necessary for its immediate interaction to a 360 degree environment. Accordingly, fish feel little pain - if that sensation even really exists for a fish - when hooked in the mouth. In other words, quietly bore them to death with reasoned conversation - much like I am doing with y'all right now.

OK Ku, I am convinced. I will wear the suspenders from now on. I have to disclose that my wife is watching me write this as she has been on my case for some time now to get in the game and fish safely. Especially since I fish alone so frequently, I hereby promise to use my PFD each and every time I go out. Good advice.

I am going to have to be the dissenting vote on this one. I use the standout hook almost exclusively and caught more bass (big and small) on this hook/technique last year than anything else I fished. I used to be on a newsgroup on Usenet and frequently talked to the inventor of this hook. His main beef with the hook fabricator was the length of the shank. He wanted the hook set out a little more from the main line. I believe this issue was corrected when they started making the standouts in larger bass sizes. By the way, the inventor of the hook also preferred a drop shot method where the hook was presented on a loop suspended anywhere from three to six inches from the drop line. He thought this imparted a much greater action to the bait.

Right now, as I have said before, I would sell my teeth to get a 2 lb-er. Iced up and frozen over in Michigan, I remain very envious of my Southern Brothers. Get'r Done!

Global warming sucks, eh? Got 10 degrees outside and another 15 days of forecast lows pledging to keep the ice on the lakes in SE Michigan. All I can say is it is good to be a fish right now. The weather conditions are even keeping the ice-fisher-guys off the lake. ;D

I am on your side on this one VR. I love the extra sensitivity for finesse presentations, but the big bucks you pay for the upper tier rods doesn't make a lot of difference to me for ripping baits.

You won't be disappointed in the Stella. I bought one last year on ebay - a Japanese model that requires the bail to be closed by hand. Since I do this on all my spinning reels, it is nothing out of the norm for me. Anyway, the Stella is a dream. I understand the new models are even sweeter than ever. The 1000 on a ML Avid should be a very nice handling rig. Congrats on your choice.

7.5 LMB. I have never caught a smallie in my life, a situation I hope to rectify this year.

I release them all, simply because I don't care to clean and cook fish. LMB in particular do not appeal to me. Fortunately my main lake is quite healthy. I suspect the pike are taking their share of the smaller bass and keeping the population balanced.

I didn't get bit the way JOF did, but when I got my baits I wondered who shrunk them down to itsy-bitsy baits. Not only that, the hooks are really awful. So, they will be used for panfish by the family juveniles because I don't think any self-resecting bass over 5" will bother with these toys. So, being POed at BPS, I just completed an order with another site for a bunch of stuff that was mailed out overnight. I ordered stuff two days ago and got a box of goodies on the doorstep this morning.

I feel your pain Crestliner. Here in SE Michigan, we have 8" of global warming since yesterday. Must have 6" of ice on the lakes. At this rate, we won't be on the water until April.

I have not tired them either, but I got very interested in them when I saw Charlie Ingram and Davy Hite fish a cold front with a Mop. Holy Cow, those were some good looking LARGE fish they pulled in. Hite said they were especially designed for fishing slowly with subtle action, and for cold or slow conditions. Apparently they are not designed for production (catching a limit) fishing, but rather are designed for the big mammas.