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.

"That's a big one!" - regardless of size, and "We're fishing now", and "Come on baby", and the obligatory... "Come to Papa." Nothing original here unfortunately. If it's over 6lbs, I usually have to take a few minutes off and sit down to get back under control.

The Big Girl and I have been married for 37 years as of yesterday. Neither one of us asks for permission to do whatever we want to do, but we always tell each other what we are planning and where we are going. More a matter of courtesy to each other than anything else. Last year, she insisted we buy a cabin on a lake so we can both fish whenever we feel like it. The dock and the boat lift go in sometime in late March or early April. Can't wait for fishing season to begin.

KB, sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. I have been out of town and just returned. Anyhoo... Yes, you can put the porta-bote on the roof of a sedan. With the seats out and the transom removed, the thing folds up to about 4 or 5 inches thick and looks a little bit like a surfboard. I brought mine home from a local fishing expo, folded up and inside my Explorer. Once of the reasons I decided on the bote was it's ease of transportation. I agree with the other posters that this boat, like any boat, has pluses and minuses. This bote is not made for Lake Erie or water that has exceptionally high traffic and wake activity. However, if you are in smaller and quieter waters, this may be the thing you are looking for. We are loaded with small lakes in my area, and especially during the week, I am often the only person out on the water. My porta-bote has gotten me into a lot of good fishing holes during these times. Good luck with your decision.

When I retired from everything a couple of years ago, I went out fishing on a little pond behind the house and caught a 5 lb lmb. That was it for me - that fish gave me a new reason to live. This year The Big Girl and I bought a lakeside cabin a few miles north of where we live on Oxbow Lake. Since I only fish for bass, the lake and the fish combo seemed appropriate.

As a long-time (as in 48 years!) Skins fan, I am absolutely dee-lighted to have my boys back in the playoffs. They overcame some absolutely terrible situations this year (RIP 21) and have found a way to squeak into post season. Having said all that, I am scared to death of the Seahawks. They have a solid lineup, great fans, and have a killer home record. All in all, this should be one helluva game

I got my wife a new Stradic 3000 married to a Compre for Christmas. IMO, the new reel's action seems a little more stiff than the old series of reel. On the other hand, it looks and feels as though it is made to a somewhat higher standard. It feels like it might have a little more cranking power (?)

I have been told they are made by Okuma.

Hello Korea-Bassin. I am new to this board (as of today!) and was tooling around when I noticed your post. Since I have a Porta-Bote, I thought I would chime right in. First of all, I have a 16.5 ft SmokerCraft I use for much of my fishing. I also do a lot of small pond and still water fishing and the Porta-Bote really fills the bill. I have the 9 ft model I bought at a local fishing show, and I got the detachable wheel kit so I can pull the boat down the street and out to the pond. This small boat only weighs slightly more than 65 lbs and can take a small outboard although it gets up on plane with a decent sized trolling motor. The boats are designed to be taken apart by removing just a few bolts holding the transom in place, and then taking out the seats. The boat folds up to a thickness of about 4 or 5 inches, allowing you to put it on the roof of your truck or whatever. The who thing is extremely mobile and user-friendly. I love that little boat and have had hundreds of hours of fishing fun in the thing. I cannot recommend it more highly. If you get one, you will not be disappointed.