J Francho

You should see them after they sit in the bottom of Lake Ontario for a week.... Like new again. Well, almost:

I JUST got them, they are Chronarch 200 and 201 e7's. I have had SEVERAL G series Curados and Citicas on my bench for Carbontex drag upgrades, and while they aren't what the E series was (keep in mind, they're less expensive), they are built every bit as fine as any other Shimano. In fact, the G series reminds me of another Shimano classic that people still swear by: the Green B series. No one squawked about composite side plates or plastic gears on those, lol. Keep in mind, 90% of my reels are Daiwa, and I don't shill for either company. But I do work on 300+ reels a year, and I have an idea of what designs and models work, and what doesn't.

Nope. My Shimano Chronarchs all say Japan on them too.

That quality has somehow "suffered" with some Shimano reels being made in Malaysia is internet hogwash. I am VERY surprised that the W&M reel performed as well as it did. I've been lucky enough to have a couple on my bench. I would not spend my money on them. I'd rather a lower priced Daiwa or Shimano. As far as the KVD combo went, balance is very subjective. You mentioned several testers didn't want to handle the Falcon/Curado combo. Perhaps they are used to a different standard of refinement? Here's what I know, Shimano make reels because they have for decades. They're good at it. W&M is a brand marketed to you specifically because Eagle Claw is associated with cheap gear. They signed a well known pro, and made rods and reels with his name on it. I mean, KVD has rods and reels, why not Skeet Reese? I just wish there was a Daiwa in the mix to spank all those reels behinds, lol.

Absolutely, plus it shields you from harmful UV rays.

Someone will ALWAYS offer a replacement policy of some sort. As long as one doesn't do it, it will become a selling point for another. My friend owns a rod and reel company. He has a lifetime warranty. Yes, warranty. You break it, he replaces it, no questions asked. He says it really doesn't cost that much, and companies make a bigger deal out of it than it really is. His stuff is not that pricey either.

Yep. They guy in the jon boat would need emergency dental work.

OK, I looked them up, they are the "Handbook of Stratgies" series. Big books from the early 90s that pretty much covered all the bases. Some of the info is dated, and there are some fantastic mullets in the photos, but it's still excellent info. Both my tattered copies were recently replaced with shiny new ones that sit on the back of the toilet.

The consensus is leaning toward it being a fake.

There's just two that I know of: Largemouth and Smallmouth. If you're specifically interested in structure fishing, then the Buck Perry books would be very valuable.

http://bit.ly/IGiCfw I agree that getting a book is important, too. It can shorten the learning curve. However, everything you read in the book can be learned simply by spending time on the water. Spoonplugging books was not as much as a real immediate eye opener, nor did reading it immediately improve my catch rates. What it did was teach a mindset, a methodology of reading structure and how fish relate. Good stuff, a must read, but certainly not critical. The In-Fisherman books on largemouth and smallmouth would be a better start, if we're looking at reading material.

Yeah, it looks pretty big. This one was over 5, so yours is at least that, if not more.

That makes sense, it was a tympanic membrane injury. When I "hear it" it's like when you put ear plugs in for shooting. All of a sudden you hear every joint creak as you move, and every gurgle in belly, lol.

It's always going to be time on the water. There's no other place to put what you read, was told, or discovered yourself into play.

Every pond I've ever fished has kicked out a ten, lol.

There's a good discussion of it here: http://www.kayakbassfishing.com/kbfbb3/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=16781 I know I would not have been so calm about it.

Nice fish. That other guy looks familiar. Glad you got out and stuck some good ones.

I mistyped, lmbo. Should've typed, "Am I crazy..." Which opens just as many doors.

They're usually those bites that you wouldn't need any "extra help" detecting. Like a bite on the drop. I don't know if it makes a difference, but I am more than 40% loss in my right ear.

I'm tempted to say #2 as well. The fact that's a Quantum aside, it's a quality matched rig, and brand new should feel pretty spiffy.

I am crazy, or do I "hear" the bite? I don't mean hear the fish biting, but hear the tap through the inside, like through my bones to my ear. Anyone else get this? I'm probably not describing it right.

LOL, they were still using cut bait in the 11th century?

Well, yes. A lot will hinge on your boater. You've got to be able to get a limit to compete.

I'm investigating some possible new favorites, but my tried and true were Outkast RT jigs.

They are displacing bass in several local lakes, one of which happens to be Oneida. Populations are so out of check, that their size has been diminished as well. Yes, you can catch a few 24-30" fish, but for the most part, it's snot rockets. This is BassResource after all, and I generally target bass, not pickerel. Yeah they're fun, but not when catches outnumber bass 10:1 on a lake that is supposed to be a trophy bass fishery. We're not talking about some little pond - Oneida Lake.