Dwight Hottle

Don't forget it's halloween. Spooks, ghosts & goblins. Many different meanings for a lot of words.

I have had good luck with both loomis & st croix. Talk to the custom rod builders for their favorite blanks and you get a different perspective of who makes the best blanks at different price points. They have a pretty good experience level compared to the average fisherman. I for one respect their opinion more than average joe or mr bass pro. They don't have a dog in the fight unless they only deal with one manufacture exclusively.

St Croix has M power M action in the legend extreme at $380, legend tournament at $250 and the avid at $190. All these rods are rated at 8-14 line & 1/4 to 5/8 lure weight. 6'6", 7' or 7'2" long. St Crois also makes legend inshore gulf coast 6'6" XL power M action 6-10 line 1/32 to 1/8 lure weight at $270. Legend inshore 6'6" L power M action 8-12 line 1/16 to 1/4 lure weight at $270 Legend inshore 7' ML power M action 8-14 line 1/8 to 3/8 lure weight at $280. Dont hesitate to look at salt water rods for freshwater if you can't find a power/action rod to meet your expectations. I have a 7' legend inshore spinning rod that is a light power moderate action and it is a gas for smallies. Perfect for light lure tossing in open water and has handled smallmouth up to 6lbs so far. I use the legend extreme MM & the MHM casting for heavier baits for smallies.

Good outing.

Well said Shimmy.

No but some of like to at least look tidy.

You cracked me up. The guy mimicking the turkey was really good. You should have labeled it turkey hunting in the dirty south.

Surface temps always cool & warm faster because the have more exposure to heat/sun and cold air temps. The core water is insulated by the mass it sits in or is surrounded by. The core water temps always move up or down more slowly than the surface. Our local paper publishes water temp daily from 12 fow down where the local water pickup for city water supply comes from. My surface water temps always exceed that temp up or down depending upon sunlight or cold wind/air temps. So yes the core gets its heat & cold from the surface but also the shoreline, current and wind/waves effect. The shallower the water the more effect the environment has on it because it has less insulation. That's my story & i'm sticking to it.

I agree with Marty. When pike fishing we never use less than 80lb floro leaders. I have had pike bite thru even 80 lb on occasion. 20lb wire or titanium is adequate. All the op can do it try a leader and determine if a loss in bites is worth saving his baits. A leader on fast moving baits or in dirty/low visibility water might not lose any bites.

Accidental damage would be an insurance claim not boat warranty. Most of the major boat companies have a lifetime warranty on hulls.

SOB offers twisted loop or r-bend on all orders. The twisted loop is supposed to offer more vibration because it is more rigid. You can take a piece of clear plastic tubing & slip it over the r-bend to close the loop.

The steelheaders love them. I have a 1300 & a 1600 model. Also a tournament ss II 2000C. Great drags & good casters with the long spool as already mentioned.

Great shots Chris.

What's even worse it looks like you are having to drink left handed. Nice slobasaurauses.

X2 Also in the fall they are on the move. You have to find them to catch them. Late fall they start to group up in anticipation of winter patterns. If you find them then it can be lights out.

A 22" smallie weighs more in the spring prespawn than in the fall. And they are easier to catch by the average angler. We have massive schools of bait in the spring some years mostly emeralds & smelt. When there is too much bait in the system spring or fall it does make the catching more difficult.

Catt nailed it as usual. I can attest from my experience on lake erie that prespawn smallies carry more weight than post spawn. It is a simple observation. Spring smallies are more fat in the spring because of egg development & chowing. If you have ever seen fully developed egg sacks removed form a female bass you would understand. Egg development combined with the need to add weight for the spawn means more feed up during prespawn.

I bought mercury opti oil this morning for $100 delivered to my door for three gallons. That's 33.33 per gallon including shipping. Domo oil. Mercury changed their recommendation for the pro xs oil a couple of years back. They have added more additives to help with carbon build up. People are running longer times at idle & slow speed because of side scan/down scan sonar contributing to the carbon build up problem.

Welcome to bass resource Trey.

Happy happy B Day. Tell the wife you want a trip to lake B as a BD present.

Yea but flukey is going to mexico to catch a grande! Better check his schedule.

Keep that 68 wet.

If you have to stay within the US this is it for me.

Sounds like a good fall trip.

Four strand weave with two gore strands like J said.