J Francho

I have a bunch of these, let me get some photos up in the flea market.

That Sierra is an artists rendition. None such exists.

Yeah, those hooks suck. Ken fishes his frogs with a softer, slower, longer rod than most. He doesn't have to contend with setting the hook through the plastic body of a typical frog. Most guys will tie this frog on their "frog rod" and break the hook. I'm not fixing the rod, so I'll just upgrade the hook. Don't go crazy though, you'll sink the frog's cute face. But, I'll be totally honest, I haven't used these a ton - just enough to catch 20 or so fish, tear one frog up, and see that they work.

The clones are kind of well known secret in kayak fishing circles, if you catch my drift. I don't care for his hooks, you can find similar hooks from gam. or Owner. Interesting sidebar....Ken invented the Banjo Minnow. Don't let that stop you from trying out the frogs though.

Anyway, I caught the fish in my avatar under most southerner's "winter conditions." Air temps were below freezing in the AM, and water temps were in the low 40s. I caught it on a 4" plastic, drop shotted, but we were also catching on jigging spoons too. That is not a slow or small presentation, ripping them 6' off the bottom and letting them drop. I'd say there were flurries of activity where I think I could have gotten bit on anything I could get down to the fish. Those were two of the more efficient rigs to go with.

These "tournament fish" you speak of.... are they fish like this Or this Maybe closer to this, then You must have fished in a weird tournament - ours take big fosh to win, LOL. Man Kent, I thought winter was YOUR season.

won a spinning reel at the seminar.gotta save some bucks to get an avid for it. Man, that was a nice score. Burnie always brings something to the get togethers, but he gave out over $1000 in SuperCasters!

Bah, too much to digest that day to argue over reels, both food and info. My buddy Burnie did a talk on coldwater jerkbaits. The father son "Team Thomasini" talked about how they went about dominating the open circuit. There was a night fishing talk. The big hit was Jim's graph talk. He had pictures of the reservior at draw down showing all the roadbeds, stone walls, and foundations, and aligned them with traditional sonar, downscan, and side scan images - a ton of work. He even spent some time on how to "graph a lake" using boating patterns over usual structures. Really good stuff. I also had to sit and talk to DVT Mike - a real nice guy that I'd trust with my reels. He was good enough to bring me some "unavailable" in NY bb shot for trout fishing. It was a good time. A few guys from here were there as well, like Maico. MikeD from Lunkerville was one of the cohosts. I got to chat with him for a few minutes.

No braid?

You need a short handle, and you don't want to be slapping the water with your tip. I like a fast taper for quick recovery after twitching. A medium power rod has enough flex in the backbone to protec the line and trebles. I use an Avid AVC62MXF. Reel speed doesn't matter, its just something to hold the line, fight the fish. Make sure its comfortable.

You guys can have your carp, drum, suckers, or whatever. They are rough fish. I pursue gamefish - bass, pike, trout. Pulling <> fight. All three game fish I listed are either cunning, aerobatic, belligerent, or some combination of those qualities. They all also will take artificials on a hook.

Anyone that doesn't see the difference in spinning reels has been under a rock. I have a high end DAM Quick from the early 80s. Its a true worm drive, very strong, simple to maintain. State of the art asbestos drag. Between my father and I, I couldn't begin to count the fish caught on it. Pick it up, give it a spin. Then pick up my CI4 and give it a spin. No comparison. Period.

I'm gonna post this link once. i hate blowing the lid off these, and I'm not joking. http://www.***.com/Keitech_Swing_Impact_FAT/descpage-KSIF.html Use their 3/0 ballheads: http://www.***.com/Keitech_Super_Round_Tungsten_Jig_Heads/descpage-KSR.html Very simple - cast out, reel in slowly.

No, but his socks looked like they were knitted from 80# tracer......

Wow, thanks man - it was nothing. In case you haven't followed this forum, Dodge and I don't agree on much. It looks like we fight like hell from the outside, but its more about passion for fishing, than making enemies. I extended an open seat to dodge a long time ago, before meeting him because I knew if we were on the water, differences would would melt with the 1st bass in the boat. That's the funny thing about fishing, how we do it is as varied as ourselves, but that we do it is something we all share. I'm no gentleman, dodge...just another jerk that has a big mouth, loves to fish, and has a log on here at BassResource.com, LOL. I'm happy to show gear off, and let guys decide if its crap or gold. My gear gets used, both my me and students that take my class and go fishing. It gets beat up. Dodge got to see gear that has been used about 120 days out of the year. Anyway, I met dodgeguy - a father of two just like me and a fisherman -this weekend, along with a great many other guys I only know online, including some members here, including a sponsor. Delaware Valley Tackle "Mike" was there. I called Mike up just a few days before the seminars...dude hooked me up with more terminal tackle that I can't get here, that will last me two seasons of trout fishing. So,anyone that thinks that these forums are only good for fleing your "internet muscles"you are wrong. Its a place to meet up and talk shop.

Family members (kids or wife) can fish if the boater doesn't draw a non. Anyone that participates in the draw has to join or leave after three events. All guests must be declared on the Thursday before the tournament, and are subject to the TD's approval. No vote required.

You got some nice gear. Doesn't take the sting away, though. Fish it like you stole it - you did!

Balls, man. That sucks. Sorry.

My buddy has a vintage one that he got from a vintage clothing place. He also has a "Fishing Instructor" button down. The latter is funny as heck, cos he can't fish. ;D ;D ;D ;D (Sorry Kase)

Justlooked at them... 1107 and 1106 are the models. Same bag, just green and black, not that ugly KVD orange.

Mine were from Gander a few years ago, they're green. I have some of the big ones and little ones. $20 is too much for something like that.

$20 - Ouch! I think mine were $8. They are great when you are on the move from boat to kayak to garage.

Heavy spool tension, and zero brakes is the key to side arm skipping.

All three. Not all baits skip well with a sidearm, though.

Carp suck. Period. All they do is sit on the bottom, and barely move. My biggest common carp was around 40 lbs., caught on a drop shot worm,and 6# test. Use gear that is appropriate, but protects from tear outs of their soft lip flesh, and its the same thing. They simply sit on the bottom. Its basically an exercise in seeing how much you can pull up to the boat without any of it failing. I have a vise on my work bench that fights harder.