Dwight Hottle

Those two reels are basically the same reel. You might be limited with line capacity with either one. Maico1 suggestion of a conquest 300 would serve you well. Although not a dc reel the 2014 300 series feels like a 200 series in hand.

I like the Owner Hyper Welded Quick Snaps. Expensive but very durable.

Nice ones Paul. Both of those girls have black marked tails.

Maybe fish with him first before signing up.

Just a thought. Custom fees are very rare on single reel purchases with EMS shipping. Rods shipped UPS or FedEx are often held up in customs & a custom fee charged upon delivery. Multiple reels purchased would be more likely to have a custom fee than individual purchases. If I were buying three reels or four I would make two seperate buys instead of one. Just a thought . The vendor states the purchase price on the shipping docs. Larger charges would most likely fly over the radar instead of under the radar.

Custom fees are very rare with EMS shipping. You can use PayPal with a credit card option. Your credit card company typical charges a small conversion fee from yen to dollars. A couple of bucks on a single reel purchase. Some Japanese vendors charge a shipping fee and a handling fee. Most only charge the product price and shipping. All the fees show up when you place the object in your cart and proceed they checkout.

Welcome. The smallie guys on here would love to hear your Canadian perspective.

Looks like you taught your son well. Either that or he edited you out on purpose except for the toad.

WTG Hank. I think your pretty close on your smallie guess.

Interesting observation about 2015 spawn. I'm willing to bet that 2015 will go down as a banner year for DD bass caught & reported as well.

I like to fish rock structure away from everyone else but unfortunately that is becoming difficult to do.

Sent you a PM.

Happy Birthday Keri.

Sure. Just let me launch first.

I failed to mention all the research that goes into selecting the rod in the first place prior to step one. We both know that if the blanks were commercially available you would have Mr. Hovanec build it for you.

This is How Steve buys his rods. Step one-order the rod. Step two-handle the new rod & see what you don't like about it. Step three-modify the rod until it's shortcomings are corrected. Step four-fish with the new rod with a big grin on your face because it is now perfect. I think Steve has 13 NRX's so you know he loves the blanks but the handles are imperfect until he modifies them to suit his taste.

My buddy finally bought a phantom jerk bait to use for pike. He attached it to his leader & first cast it went sailing across the water. $25 down the drain when his improperly closed snap opened up. I laughed so hard I cried.

No bananas on my boat unless accompanied by a monkey.

Sorry for your luck, Brian.

Don't forget to get a suspending smithwick rogue.

I always love those pictures of Lois holding up a Florida big girl. Sounds like you had a great outing.

"Lucky Strikers" How appropriate. WTG.

A big DD congratulations. And like A-Jay said welcome to the 11 lb club.

. Have you ever seen a dying baitfish near the surface? How about a small school of minnows or bream where one fish strays from the school? All a jerkbait does is try to imitate a dying baitfish. Try to make the bait glide or swim irregular. You can practice near the bank or boat side. Watch what the bait does when you twitch it with a quick snap of the rod. Then stop & let the bait come to a stop. After a short pause try again. All you are trying to do is make the bait look like it is stunned or disoriented. The more irregular you make it swim and quiver the more lifelike it will appear. Big fish eat little fish. Just try to make your soft or hard jerkbait look like a dying fish. After your first bite you will start to gain confidence real quick. I guarantee it.

Nice bass Lou.