J Francho

Done right, they can be a huge improvement. I have a custom spiral wrapped swim bait rod with micros. It uses fewer guides and is very light, responsive and tip light in balance, which is helpful with bigger baits. On production rods it isn't as much a difference, though the Pinnacle micro I have is VERY light.

It's old, dried up grease. I've serviced plenty of reels from this era. Definitely worth a trip to Mike at DVT if basically new.

Good luck if you even find it, it's not too hard to find. You want get access. It doesn't matter though, it's a run off pond in a private community. I think once some of the Westchester county ressies cycle back into prime fisheries, that's where the record could be caught. They're churning out near 8's, even in bad years.

That's the same tool we use for spammers.

The current NY record bass is not from public water. Why it's in the books is beyond me. I'd like it to see it knocked off by a public water fish.

Oh, and all viruses are anti biotic resistant.

You mean like resistant syphyllis? Apparently we're not far off. Scary stuff. Yucky, too.

MLF is a television product, so I imagine they are contracted to fish.

I'll just say, I catch a NY record fish, it's going on ice.

No, but the hook is.

It's not really something I worry about.

Bang for the buck? Invisx. I have some 6# on a reel as part of a long term test. It's pushing four years old.

Those knobs really complement the lines on the reel. Looks space age. Like it.

Do they come in bubble gum? You could name that one "Fluffy" in honor of Kent. Now that I know, I'll never let that go, Kent. Lol.

I'm pretty sure he caught it with a 3" senko. Gander house brand, of course.

How did I miss this? Lol, that's great. Looks good too.

Line doesn't make as much a difference as people say. Neither does the reel. The important thing is to have a reliable reel, a rod that matches the lure weight well, and a line that isn't too far outside the norm. That means don't try to throw a 1/8 oz bait on a heavy/fast rod and Calcutta 300 with 30 lb mono. Everything else comes down to practice and getting your thumb educated. I still back lash occasionally, and I've been using bait casters for nearly 30 years.

I use everything from a slow 23 IPT reel on up to a fast 33 IPT reel for those types of baits. Something in the middle ranges is probably the most versatile.

Monte Christo Robusto.

PFD, some kind of blade, cordage, cell phone, dry bag, and a float plan that you can leave with a wife, parent, friend, etc. Call in if you change your plans. Those are my basics. Cold water or air temps - when the two don't add up to 120, that adds a whole other angle.

On a side note, the shimmy stamp hurts like hell the first few days.

Man, that's a fish. Nice work, brother!

Those are slobs, shimmy. Good work man.

Irene gave herself a lobotomy days ago. Unless anyone has something they have to say, this one is pretty much done. Get back to fishing, ladies.

Same rod I'd use for a spinner bait. It has to be x-fast to quickly load and drive a relatively gig hook home. A slower crank bait rod does not work great for me.