J Francho

I use these: http://www.c-tug.com/

Using KVD Line & Lure is more like keeping your bearings oiled and your gears greased. It's a maintenance product. I love my Bullet, and I think it's the best boat for me. Doesn't stop me from wiping it down with BTS.

I haven't used the ghost yet, but I have 20# hi vis yellow on one rig. I use an Alberto knot to connect some kind of leader, usually 8# fluoro or CXX.

Only with time on the water, using your favorite baits will you develop a preference. There's some basic guidelines, but everyone develops their own preferences and styles.

Here's what Rich Zaleski has to say: http://www.richz.com/fishing/articles/dropshot.html

Yes. Never Forget.

I did the canoe thing for years. They're great if you get a light one. Now when I fish sans bass boat, I use a sit on top fishing kayak. Much more stable, better storage and, laid out specifically for fishing.

Here's a couple Lake O. beauts:

This was supposed to be lunch, yesterday. The Great Chowder Catastrophe of 2012:

#6 or #8 bait holder hook, snelled. Use just enough to cover the hook bend. One of the advantages of the Powerbait is that is has some of the same stuff that is in the trout chow they were trained to eat in the hatchery.

Between the hook and the bullet weight. I love rigging with beads with a Texas Rig worm. I've gone so far as to pick up some pretty fancy ones in a bead store in Corning, NY. I'm basically after the clicking sound, so the color is really something I do for what I like. It probably means nothing to the fish, other than some flash and/or sound.

Since we're also talking trout, a nice little brown on a similarly sized $20 Quantum with Berkley Fireline Fused:

My vote would be for the 2000 series. Excess drag power is overrated. You can even handle bass and trout with 1500 series Daiwa, if you're using superline. The larger diameter of the 2500 series is well suited for difficult lines like fluoro or copoly. Here's a 5# smallie I caught from cover using a 1500 size reel spooled with 15# Power Pro. Likewise, a 4+ smallie using an even smaller and lighter 1000 series Shimano, spooled with 6# Silverthread (it's in the lower right of the frame):

Sometimes that helps. This isn't bass fishing, but demonstrates the theory to an extreme: I use up to 15' rods to fish for steelhead and salmon. Yes, they can get leverage, but they don't gain an edge. They can swing 30 feet in either direction or even charge straight at you (they often do) and you still maintain pressure on them. Less reeling, more fighting. That said, this past summer I spent a lot of time with Loomis 6-8 MH jig and worm rod, and really got to appreciate what a shorter, yet powerful stick can offer in many situations. Easier to handle, less wieldy in tight quarters, and you can really put the screws to them in the weeds when you've hooked one on a "short leash."

Hard to see but this bag, from BPS works great for wading: http://www.basspro.com/White-River-Fly-Shop-Spring-Creek-Technical-Chest-Pack/product/93606/

I used to do a couple marine, and a bunch of cichlid tanks. Liked to keep a live planted aquarium around too. Too much work with kids, and I can't seem to do with just one. here's some pics of the reef.

Put on a happy face!

Everything at Fujiya is "special." $11.95 comes with miso soup and ginger salad. Can't go wrong!

I had bacon as a midnight snack and breakfast. And that's pork, btw. Close enough!

You can still catch them.... Water temps were around 34°, air temps in the 20s.

Nice catches. I'd have chased that rainbow downstream and ate him for lunch. They're farm raised stockies, and haven't had time to naturalize, plus their jaw tissue is not nearly as durable as a bass's. Up here, they're far more durable, so long as you stay away from their gills. Keeping them in a net while you dehook them, and using barbless will help tremendously.

You southern guys are soft.....

I don't think they are available, but these little devils are perfect for adding weight to buzz baits and spinner baits. I just pinch them on, tucked under the skirt. http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-XPS-Hook-Weights/product/10201093/

Nice to see you posting here, Chuck!