J Francho

Rapala makes cranks with red bills.

Between those two, Pinnacle, simply for their customer service. The first two Smokes I handled (a 100 and a 150) were both duds, straight out of the box. Now I know every brand has some QA/defect issues occasionally, but those odds were pretty remarkable.

http://www.edgeproducts.com/?utm_source=Bassresource&utm_medium=Logo&utm_campaign=Bassresource_EAS Try these guys out for better mileage.

Tee-Hee. I took a break from fishing Santee- Cooper last April for s day on RM. That is Bama Craw, the only color I use. I just use JJ's if I think a color highlight will help.

"Balance" is relative, and comes down to preference. The only way to know if balancing the rod helps you, is for you to try it out.

Spoons.

I love those bites.

Total garbage! Those don't work one bit!!!! Anyway....Neko rigs. You might want to experiment a little with it. You MIGHT have some interesting discoveries.

So, when it's on the transom (rear of the boat), and you put in Forward, with the throttle knob pointed toward the bow (front) of the boat, the boat moves in reverse?

With that line, you should be able to tie an improved clinch knot with no trouble, and no glue necessary. Time to start practicing your knots!

There are several reports of bass on beds in downstate NY.

What's funny is every time I did a certain thing, I'd catch a pike. Why I kept doing it is a mystery. I caught about 15 northerns that day, ranging from 8-12 lbs. It was fun, probably not worth all those baits, though.

Try getting on a deep, suspending crankbait pattern, and feeding an entire 3600 box full of Slim Shad to the local pike population. Everytime I go by that spot, my wallet cries just a little bit.

Deep strip mine pits around here contain shad, some get huge.

Yep, fixed that.

Go into your tackle bag, pick out a plastic bait, rig it, and fish it. No secret knowledge. If you have access to a kiddie pool or something where you can see what the rig does to each bait, I'm sure you'll think up something that will entice fish. Here's a small bone, though: Kietech Shad Impact. Work it fast along the bottom, with long pauses in between, like a suspending jerkbait.

Drop shot, with the bail open as the boater speeds off with the TM on max power. Count to 30, close bail, reel in fish. You wouldn't believe how many I've caught like that. Boring, but deadly.

Ready for the smoker! You're into them this spring. I haven't gotten out to the creeks and ditches - too warm, too many people. Keep posting up!

Your "southern pike" (pickerel) are nothing like our northerns. Here's a dink: (not caught on firetiger, but chartreuse and black Lucky Craft Flat Mini DR. No idea how I got it back, LMAO)

I think the whole split rear grip came up in the 90's as a result of a cork shortage. maybe now, there is a functional purpose behind it, but I recall at least one manufacturer saying cost was the motivation behind it. Might even have been Daiwa, can't recall. Anyway, I just like cork tucked under my arm when cranking. One thing I hate is the EVA butt caps, like on the LTBs. They are constantly catching on my Columbia and Exofficio SPF shirts.

Compare it to what's shown in the manual.

Did you thread the cord per the instructions? 9 outta 10 times, that's the issue.

I knew a guy with malapropism. Very embarrassing for him.

I thought oxymoron made you stupid if you inhaled too much of it.