J Francho

I strongly disagree. Sound and sight is the 1st thing a bass uses to detect prey. The lateral line picks up the water pressure waves at the last few moments before the bait is engulfed. I can certainly agree with the sound part of it but many of the lakes I fish down here have next to no visibility and color plays next to no part of the fish striking. I can change lures and colors every 5 min and still catch fish, which leads me to believe that in those lakes sight takes a back seat to sound & feel. Now I do believe that in lakes that are clear that sight is the dominant sense. My argument isn't on which sense is dominant but rather I think many times people put too much emphasis on what color will catch fish. Sure, perhaps in extremely stained, muddy, or algae water color doesn't matter, but movement can still be detected with sight. Sound travels much faster underwater, so sound is probably first in dirty water. Sight isn't totally useless in dirty water. Your post makes it sound like the fish can "sense" your bait from a distance using its lateral line. Read Stephen Spotte or Kieth Jones - it simply doesn't work like that. Its a close range sensory apparatus use to pick up vortexes in water made from movement.

I wouldn't sweat it Chris.....it was just another square billed crankbait. You know, like the ones they made in the 70s and is BRAND NEW WOW NOW NEW bait, LOL.

I use big old salmon bait hooks, 5/0 Owner SSW or 6/0 Gamagatsu Octopus, with a heat shrink bait holder. They are relatively cheap, and easy to find. No issues with gut hooking.

Some of you guys would not get along too well up here, LOL. Tournament rules usually say something about competitors being somewhere from 50 to 100 yards apart. On some smaller, busier waters, its not unusual for to boats to pass within a few feet of each other. Especially if just rec. fishing. 99.99% of the time, its just that, and friendly chat about what's working. Once in a while someone gripes. There are isolated instances where my "fishing water" has been encroached by another boat. Its usually out of ignorance. When I am through with the offender, they are thoroughly educated, LOL.

I strongly disagree. Sound and sight is the 1st thing a bass uses to detect prey. The lateral line picks up the water pressure waves at the last few moments before the bait is engulfed.

UV baits are the rage for salmonoids the past decade. Its now creeping into the bass market. It DOES make a difference with deep water, and I'm talking really deep, and salmonoids. Time will tell. In the meantime, you'll see guys pimping stuff and hype.

Why, do the skirted legs last forever? In my experience, the legs get fried, no matter the brand or the price. I just figure its the cost of frogging.

Nothing for me, though I use an XH/Moderate action rod. No need for a fast tip on a XH rod. Hook them and hoist them from cover.

Yep, I had a few come through. Nothing remarkably different from any of the rest of the BPS reels. parts are cheap, unrefined in their mechanics, and show signs of wear after a season. Not for nothing, its not all just BPS reels. You would be surprised at what some more expensive, brand name reels are showing. Revos with worn out clutch kickplates or broken yoke posts, Steez with worn out worms and pawls, Rather than dwell on that, look for what I use and recommend. Nothing from BPS is on that list. Now, aside from the occasional stripped pinion (my own error) on my own reels. No issues Sols, Fuegos, Zillions, TD-X, TD-Z, Capricorns, Procasters, Curado D, Citica D, Calcutta B and GT, Stradic FG, XTC Spinning, CI4...... However, with the exception of just a few of those, they were all more than a Pro Qualifier. I think there's more bang for the buck finding a lightly used reel. DVT or someone else can clean them up better than new for just a few bucks. I can't tell you the deals I've gotten for "used" reels. Sols...$100. TD-X...2 for $75. TD-Z....$120. BNIB Alphas....$170. Tack on $20 or so to have them cleaned, and you have top notch reel that will last.

Better get these, too. They help with your accuracy:

I care more about getting the fish out of the cover I'm fishing, and less about how nice it is to cast a frog. For me, its simple, match the power to the cover. This could mean using something as light as a medium power rod, or as heavy as a punching rod.

Yep, a "good guy" posts a "x2" and you know its probably going to work.

I don't think a "me too" post unnaturally boosts post count. I don't care for it since it seems lazy, but for the person asking the question, the strength in numbers might help them decide what info is useful.

Its fine, the brakes need to move. Its how centrifugal brakes work.

Tried on other forums, didn't work so well. Same goes for rating threads and karma. If you want to get reliable advice, you need to participate and post both questions and answers. Pretty soon it becomes clear what is real and what is not.

OK, now this is getting silly. :

For vertical, deep water presentation, I use an Avid AVC63MLXF. ML is plenty for this. Start getting into weeds, or casting to cover, I'll move to a M. I'll even bubba shot in pads with a flipping stick. In other words, match power to cover.

Either its off limits or it isn't, no "kind of." Sorry, can't help you here.

I think they just degrade, maybe from oxidation?

Rooster I have both Extremes and PQs, and there is no comparison between the two. The PQ is a better reel in every way. As far as the PQs being disposable reels, only time will tell, but you Shimano guys who find it necessary to beat up on other brands are not really helping anything. Glenn has said over and over if you like something, tell why you like it without beating on other brands. This forum would be more helpful if that policy was actually followed. There are many of us who have put many hours on PQs reels with no problems. Shimano makes fine stuff for the most part, but do not drink the Kool Aid that they are superior to anything out there at any price point. I think a person that owns both Shimano and BPS reels is perfectly qualified to make a comparison, and its fair game. Who else's opinion would you trust? I work on over 300 reels per year. In just about ever way, Shimano and Daiwa reels are of a superior design and build quality, but you pay for that. You cannot compare an $80 BPS reel to a reel twice as much.

I usually have to replace all my skirt legged frogs every spring. I just assumed it was from the scant I smear on them all summer long.

Just send them an email requesting the lake, and if they can find the data, your lake is added. I've had quite a few lakes added.

They don't. You are thinking of Gary Loomis designed TFO rods.

Glenn, the 80s left you a message, they want their answering machine back, LOL. I hope it's at least digital! ;D ;D ;D ;D Rhino, commercials, billboards, print ads, and sales people must drive you nuts. I hear you, though. It does bug me when the phone rings during dinner. I let it roll to voice mail. Nice thing about voice mail is I can get mine (or delete them) from the web, anywhere.

I can understand getting ticked about scamming you, but to simply be rude because some schmuck is just trying to do their job? C'mon...flush the toilet over the phone? Just tell them not to call you and hang up. :