islandbass

Right on, RW! Be sure to get them some power bait and salmon eggs if they won't bite on worms.

I feel for you. One time I couldn't contain the urge so I went ahead to a nearby pond and most of it had forzen over. Initially I was bummed, but the urge to fish trumped sanity. I found a few big rocks and started throwing them into the pond, rainbow style and a few managed to bust through the ice. Instead of casting, I skipped my bait on top of the ice to let it slide into the intended hole. Well, I did go home skunked, but it sure beat leaving a warm bed at home (sarcasm). It was an 22 degree day. Fish tough or stay home. Should have stayed home. ;D

I just won't throw a swimbait, and I could care less about ever throwing one. Swimbait, schmimbait. Give me a crankbait any day. A close second is a C-rig. Maybe I'm just too lazy to rig the whole darn thing.

Any idea what year the STX is? Many '09's were blown out for $99 or so. The '10's have yet to be in that range. Either are very good reels, but you shouldn't have trouble finding '09's used for $100 or less. Yeah, I was just about to bring this up. Check. If that's for a 2010, that's a steal of a deal.

I am seriously thinking about taking the plunge. How is the abrasion resistance of US compared to its Non US counterpart? I have used regular Yozuri at 12# test and really liked it. I might go with 6# for my finesse fishing, but it better hold a candle to my invizx.

Nope at least not for me, but you could be right about others. However, ugly is ugly, Shimano or not. That is an UGLY reel no matter who you are. At least for me, I am not brand loyal for the sake of being brand loyal. Can't speak for any one belonging to a possee.

Hmmm. I don't know why, but a green symetre is aesthetically pleasing to my eye, but that fuego looks awful. Raul's fugly is quite descript and accurate. Big NO Thank you on this. It's show-stoppin' ugly and this is coming from someone who usually considers takes function over beauty. Not in this case. :

I have a few on some rods and agree they work as advertised. The oldest one has been on for maybe 5 years without a hitch. It's a decent investment.

Those look awesome! I bet the bass wouldn't be able to stand it after watching the first twitch.

Here are some books I've read and checked out from the library. If they were worthy to purchase, then I bought them. I am such a geek that I keep basic information about each book I've read (ISBN#, Author, etc.) so that I could quickly find them in the library again: Knowing Bass Keith A. Jones, PhD ISBN: 1-59228-616-X ISBN: 1-58574-523-5 paperback IB's note: A Scientific Approach to Catching more bass. It is a wonder how few bass anglers have taken the effort to read or find books like this. Their loss. This book dispels a few myths bass anglers hold true. Want to know which ones? Read the book!! J Largemouth Bass Don Oster ISBN: 0-86573-005-9 ISBN: 0-86573-016-4 (paperback) Successful Bass Fishing Ken Schultz ISBN: 0-07-057236-4 Circle on Bass - Bass Wisdom from a Master Homer Circle ISBN: 1-55821-463-1 In Pursuit of Giant Bass Bill Murphy ISBN: 0-9633120-0-6 IB's Note: Great Read Covers the stitching technique and how to anchor your boat. Another keeper. Bass Angler's Almanac John Weiss ISBN: 1-58574-214-7 Sow Belly Monte Burke ISBN: 0-525-94863-5 ISBN: 0-452-28715-4 Paperback IB's Note: Great book about the search for big bass. Not Bass books but still well worth the reading. Title: What Fish See Author: Colin J, Kageyama, O.D., F.C.O.V.D. ISBN: 1-57188-140-9 IB's Note: Tons of information about the color shift that happens underwater. While it mainly focuses on steelhead and salmon, the knowledge Dr. Kageyama imparts is invaluable for bass anglers too. BTW, there is a bass section that I found most informative. I have become a better angler after reading this book. Make better, more educated selections in your choices for lure colors. This book is now part of my personal library.

I like to make inlines too, mostly for bass, trout and salmon. For bass, I use anywhere from 0.03x to 0.041 or so, depending on what's available, usually 0.031. 0.035 or 0.041. I know many muskie folks start at 0.051 or even higher.

You could also pail line out manually. I see a lot of people, even on tv shows do this to compensate.

That is a fair price IMHO.

It is very good and if something is under warranty, they'll take care of you per their stated warranty. They've done better than take care of me even when it was my fault.

If money were not an issue, this is something I would really consider delving into, being the curious, "how do things work" and can I build one myself (and learn as I go) kind of guy. I don't know what it is, but to me, there is something that is therapeutic in making something with your own hands and noggin that actually works. I've done so with making crank and jerkbaits from scratch, trial and error and all, but those accomplishments would pale in comparison to crafting a reel from scratch. It would definitely mean Bruce Wayne, Tony Stark, or Richie Rich cash to have at my disposal. ;D

There is only one answer to your question... Get both of them. That's the bait monkey's answer and he won't waffle on his final decision....

Oh how true!!! This a good, humorous thread. At least none of you received a pocket rocket or that flip-n-pitch game from Booyah. ;D

Oh how true!!! This a good, humorous thread. At least none of you received a pocket rocket or that flip-n-pitch game from Booyah. ;D

Oh how true!!! This a good, humorous thread. At least none of you received a pocket rocket or that flip-n-pitch game from Booyah. ;D

looks like great minds think alike on the rod. A choice of reel however can be made to mak your price point. Either a compre or an excel would be my choices at this price point for the rod.

Any way you can post pics of the fraying? I am very curious. Reading you post triggered memories of my experience using the no longer made fusion line made by spiderwire that did a very similar thing.

That popper has alot of action. I bet it's expensive. Do you know who makes it? Not sure, but I think you can only get from Japan.

This kind of popper?

FishinDaddy I think that is a nice and long list. I thought it couldn't hurt to alphabetize the list so that participants could find their names faster. A-Jay Alpster b. Lee BASSclary BassFishinMagician basslover12345 Bassn Bird dog bluebasser 86 Boca Bone-Head Jig brushhoggin Chris at Tech Dave t63 deaknh03 FD fishin cowgirl Fishindreww flippin and pitchin Glenn and Keri as 1 Gone_Phishin grimlin KYntucky Warmouth Long Mike lynyrdsky1 Nibbles Nick O H I O OO mod Red redlinrobert RW Shane J Simp -ib

Although rare, lightning. I am pretty hard core, regardless of extreme cold or heat, I could care less. Wind, Schmind... wussies stay home anyway. Water freezing in the guides while standing in an icy, cold, flowing river when it's 15 degrees F? No problem. But with lightning, even I will reluctantly throw in the towel if the hair on my skin starts to rise up. The other annoyance is having awesome weather for a few days and the fish are active and then when I finally get the chance to go, a cold front steps in and shuts them down. I still go fishing though.