Paul Roberts

Depth and speed are first. Then comes size, action, and ....finish/color somewhere down on the list. This is all AFTER location and position are worked out. Great quote from Mike McClelland: It's like the trunk of a tree. Magic baits, secret lure colors, stuff like that are the tiny outside branches of the tree. Most fishermen dance on branches." I've heard a similar one attributed to Al Lindner, (possibly this is the origin), describing presentation as a tree, in terms of levels of importance: Speed and depth control are the trunk, color is out at the very tips of the twigs. Unless you have the trunk understood, and in control, the tips don't weigh in. And hook color is hangin' out at the very-most tip of those branches. I've tried hard over the years to rid myself of superstitions -a waste of energy and simply confusing the issues. I try my best to focus on what's really important in a given scenario. As to the red marketing gimmick presently out there (or has it passed yet?), I got bored last winter and posted this poem on another fishing site. Interestingly, my poem ended up on a poetry site from Japan. Thought that was cool. Seeing Red...a poem...Ahem... Red is an apple ripe on the vine. Red is of Kool-Aide, grapes, and wine. Red is of tumescence, lipstick, lingerie, and high, high heels. Red's pretty important to people. Tackle manufacturer's see Green when they offer Red! Makes me see Red.

Last I was in Dick's they had a bunch of Matzuo mini-cranks on special.

Interesting how things develop. I remember when "Made in Japan" was a joke. By the 80s, when I was working at a big tackle shop, Japan was making the high end stuff, Korea made the cheap stuff, and China was not playing yet. I also tried to get a lure produced in China, and the agent came back saying they did not have the capability of producing the high quality steel in my prototype. It must be pretty cool to be able to peruse the tackle manufacturing districts in Korea.

It may be more about finding them, then changing lure size. Unless clarity changes.

It was my understanding that Ray Scott was sick of seeing the trollers win all the tournaments, so he banned it. Same with jigger-poling. Interesting that such an effective option should fall to the wayside for apparent "cultural" reasons. I think power fishing with a big TM is the tournament fisher's answer to that ban.

Hey bizz, Isn't that third pic a cutt, or cuttbow?

Now this is talkin' fishin' -gettin' down to the nitty gritty. Good stuff. 8-)

My favorite has been the Jewel Finesse Head. GREAT head. As weedless as they come, and holds a creature at a great angle -up off bottom. But...it seems the site does not list the 5/16oz anymore. If it's discontinued, that would be a bummer. The 3/16 is fine for 4" baits down to about 6 feet or so. Deeper and the 5/16 is needed. Might be worth calling 'em. https://jewelbait.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code= JBC&Product_Code=J4316&Category_Code=JH0 (paste the above together) Another couple are the RedShad Hula and the Little Peck. http://tackle.redshad.com/products.php?cat=24

Pretty fish. Good story too. Is this your lunker pond?

Tackle Tour did a review of the e21. Interesting. Whether it's made out of carrot extracts anymore or not, it appears to be one of the lightest rod going -under 4oz for a 7-footer -that IS something different.

It does seem the Pure Fishing conglomerate rods are similar in ratings -that includes several of big name companies. Prices are not the same though. Just wondering as I hem and haw over year end rod close-outs.

Most of the magic in any lure is in how you apply it. Get creative and don't shy away from trying stuff. Cranks are great for trout. I used them mostly to hang downstream into the basin of a pool, or under undercut banks and shrubbery. Sometimes that's the only way in.

Powell's a GREAT company. I don't know their conventioanl stuff, but they are top notch in the fly-fishing industry.

Thanks Mud. I heard 72 too. Dont know where I heard that. OK, to clarify, could the Quantum Energy be the same blank as a Series One (or pick another pair to compare) -despite the $20 price diff? I ask bc I know there are large manufacturers that make stuff for everyone. Just curious how common it is for some blanks to be used by several companies -pricing varying bc of volume or price target. I know this happens somewhat in the fly-rod business, at least in the lower lines, where Loomis sells blanks to many smaller outfits.

The rod monkey got me too. With year end close-outs, how can I resist. I just bought two: a Fenwick Tecnha for $130, and a Berkley Series One for 49.95 (always curious about them). Both from Cabela's.

Backpack. Get one with lotsa smaller pockets up front for the little stuff. I haven't found a "fishing backpack" I liked so I went to a backpack store with a big selection and found some nice ones.

I'm wondering how many rod manufacturers actually exist out there. I mean the mass produced rods, presumably Chinese or Korean: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Fenwick, Quantums, ... . Are these made from the same factories? Same blanks in some cases? I notice the BErkley Series One and Quantum Energy lines have a lot of the same specs, and they look a lot alike. How about the Japanese brands: Daiwa, Shimano? Different factories? Anyone know?

What about hooks? What do you like?

I actually can't read the type. It's too small, and also disappears in the black background. Nice mugshot though.

Depth and speed are first. Then comes size, action, and ....finish/color somewhere down on the list. This is all AFTER location and position are worked out. Where does scent/taste come in? About 2 inches from a fish's nose, or possibly even after it's in the fish's mouth.

BassChump, will be very interested to hear a follow u pon this.

Lure type matters way more than paint. If you are doing fine on cranks, then a BB finish will be fun but not likely to add much beyond what other basic two-tone baitfish colors would do. If you are not catching then you should switch lure types entirely. I have experienced years with big bass hatches that affected the feeding habits of the larger bass. Downsized lures made a huge difference in catch rate. I've done well under this scenario with 1-1/2" jigs on UL tackle and 3" streamer flies with fly-tackle. These lures out-fished conventional sized stuff enormously.

Roger, what do you mean "centrally (not in ht nose)"?

I just can't sort out the effects of color from other variables. The one thing I've felt makes a diff is translucents in high vis conditions.

Real nice!