J Francho

I have a separate set of gear for my boat and for when I partner up. The only stuff that goes back and forth are rods and a few tools.

People that leave reviews are nut cases. I could sit all day and read them. Some are quite funny. Get your info from the good people here.

I haven't broke a rod in years. I broke three last week. Seriously. All my fault. Ow well. Gonna cost me $225.

Something REALLY ugly with a net pops up at 3:41, LOL. Here's what that slug was taking a pic of:

I agree. Here's the thing, I don't care if you call it a warranty, insurance policy, or the Mickey Mouse Plan.....it's pimped on the hang tag, and it's a big reason I pay the price of admission. That policy adds value to the rod, and therefore, I'll pay more.

I have a 14 year old Demo model Avid, bought 2nd, 3rd, 4th hand - who knows. I bought it in 2005, I think. No receipt. I sent it back to St. Croix with a missing tip top, couple of guide rings smashed out, and a cracked reel seat. Dan from St. Croix called me, and informed me that he'd do the repairs for $75 - same price as Gold Star Service. Got the rod back, newly wrapped guides, new tip top, and brand new from the reel seat back. Now that's pretty sweet. Especially since I love the thing. The problem I see with offering it as an "option" is making a claim. I especially see it as a problem, if it's offered through a 3rd party vendor. I've purchased so called "protection plans" for electronics in the past. Try getting reimbursed in a timely manner. Good luck. I'm ok with plans like Saint Croix's Superstar program as is.

I don't think the OP was trying to foul hook the fish either. But I don't think the rig is kosher. A weighted treble hook is pretty much illegal in our waters.

The USGS website is probably the best for that. I use it all the time for Great Lakes trib flow in realtime. Here's the Fla page: http://fl.water.usgs.gov/

They're examples why such rigs are banned in certain situations, and that support MY OPINION. That's all. A sliding treble on the tagline of a drop shot rig is impractical (a hang up machine) and is going to result in foul hooked bass. It's like a fish eating the bobber on a slip float rig - yes, it's happened to me - and getting hooked. It's not fishing, TO ME. Ask an econ officer next time you see one what they think of the rig. I'd like to know.

Sounds like Gary Loomis himself, lol.

From the NYSDEC Fishing Guidelines Book: The image I posted above is a snagging or grappling hook.

Because it's moving.

Apparently, I'm not entitled to an opinion on this.

What made you think you were dealing with this? The 3# was the male, since it was actively defending the nest - something females don't do as much. The larger, harder to catch fish was the female. They have nothing invested in the nest, so they generally take more time to coax.

Length has nothing to do with hook size or style. You want to use a hook with a gap that is double the width of the bait. I have 10" worms that only require a standard 3/0 offset worm hook, and 4" creatures that require a 5/0 extra wide gap hook. Match the hook to the bait.

I have the PERFECT bed fishing bait for you, then: Seriously, the way that he describes rigging isn't fishing. Problem solving, yes. Fishing, no. The fish should bite the bait, hooks and all. Otherwise, we might as well just use as many hook points as is legal (15 in NY) above the weight. Any econ officer up here sees the rig, you're getting cut off and written up.

Yep, 10# Cortland Toothy Critter will buy you just enough pike insurance without sacrificing too much action for and from bass.

LOL, I forgot about those things.

You want to use a longer drop line, and put the weight PAST the bed, not in it: http://www.bassresou...dding-bass.html I also find they pick up painted weights more frequently than unpainted. To me, your solution is just snagging or snatching the fish, which doesn't seem very sporting to me.

Nope, that's good info. Thanks!

That's like 30 bass a day. Do you have weight distributions?

What are you fishing for? Pretty much every species up there would destroy what you plan to bring.

I didn't do any 0-60 tests, but I did floor it every time I merged onto the highway. You've ridden with me, I'm not that guy trying to merge into 70 mph traffic doing 40.

Well, it might help if you list the baits that you already have.

So, I have some towing results. Rochester to Oneida Shores via 490 > 90 > 81 (mostly flat land), running at 72-75 mph. Stock with the towing button activated, 11.1 mpg. The ride home, with the Level 3 Towing program and a 20 mph head wind, 14.8 mpg.