islandbass

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.

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.

As one who has both, the answer is yes. This doesn't mean that the Clarus is lousy, because it isn't. It is definitely sufficient. If the clarus is a slice of pumpkin pie, then the crucial is that with some whip cream, a triple ripple dipple mocha and a beautiful hooters waitress standing by with a napkin to wipe your mouth clear of crumbs.

I think it was a floating rapala minnow (size 5) for bass a dardevle eppinger spoon, also red and white for trout.

Wow! That says a lot if the 100A smokes a curado E. Dangit! I shouldn't have declined a nice offer on one a while back, but then again it was pretty beat up.

Take that cost plus whatever the expeditor service fee is (used to be $50, could be more now) and factor in the shipping cost for you to get it home. If that sum is still less than the MSRP, then it would be a decent deal. If not, I'd pass.

That is an incredible looking rod. Looks like Christmas came early for you. Congrats on your latest acquisition. 8-)

Wow, glad to see I am not alone. What I list here have been 100% non-productive, as in never even a fart near the hook. It doesn't mean that I've signed off on these lures nor have I given up. It just means that I have yet to find the time and condition for them to produce: 1) Spinnerbait - Any brand, size, or color 2) Buzzbait - Any brand, size, or color 3) Rattle Trap - Any size or color - However, Rattlin' Raps work for me... Go figure. 4) Lucky Craft Sammy - Zero, Zip, Nada - However, I absolutely love how easy it is to work this bait. I hope there is a smaller sized sammy about the size of a Rapala Skitter walk. It seems the bass in my waters prefer this size for walk the dog lures. I bet a Sammy in that size would also work.

My Daughter's First Salmon 11-11-10 Today was the day! After a long while, I finally had a chance to go fishing. To make things even better, my daughter accompanied me and was excited to catch her first salmon. Honestly, as amped as was, I think I might have been more excited than she. My primary goal today was to help her catch her first salmon and my secondary goal was to catch a chum or two with just a jig. Smiling and getting ready. We arrived at about 9:30 a.m., and had the pleasure of bumping into fellow members of a local fishing forum. I got my daughter rigged and ready to fish shortly afterward and filled her in on the etiquette and on how to attack the water. Yeah, right! I have not yet tried the float, jig, and shrimp rig yet and all of my knowledge of it was gained through local fishing forums and other research. I have to give a huge thanks to those members for helping us out. Chasing the chums. It was on about my daughter's fourth cast that her bobber went down. Yes! Alright! I thought to myself. For those that don't know, my daughter has the knack of catching her first fish on just about every outing when I am preparing my rig. She certainly lived up to her reputation again. My daughter was very impressed with the fight the chum was giving her and I told that is why everyone else is also here. She brought the salmon in as close as she could to the bank and I did the rest. I have say thanks to the gentleman who took our photograph with the chum. Daughter's first salmon, caught with a float and homemade jig, and a piece of shrimp. I didn't do half as well. I went 0 for 2. The first salmon was foul hooked in the tail (bummer!). The second one was hooked fair and square in the kisser but got away. Still, this was a great outing. I suppose that my daughter's success will have to carry the day. I dedicate this to our veterans. If it weren't for them and the sacrifices they made, we would not have the liberties that we possess. Take care, and God bless them. -ib Conditions: Partly Sunny, Cool. Location: Green River, WA Gear: Daughter: 6'6 Rapala Spinning Rod and Reel -- Float, Shrimp, and homemade marabou jig. Dad: 8'6 Lamiglas Norwest Special and Shimano Curado 201, homemade marabou jigs.

Long time, no see the other ib!! :)He is definitely ready for a spinning set up, but I can tell you with good confidence that he can definitely learn how to use a casting reel. My daughter learned to use a casting set at 6 1/2 and she liked it better than a spinning reel until now. She has become a drop shot fanatic and insists that the better tool is a spinning setup. The advantage of teaching him to use a casting set up is that you will probably not have to spend any extra $$ on another reel and let him use one of yours. As for the rod, I found a 6' rod for very cheap. I think it was like a Daiwa Strike force and it was only $12.00 or so. If you go spinning any reel in the $30-40 range like an abu garcia cardinal and rod like a lightning, cherrywood or amp, basically in the same $30-40 range should be more than sufficient. $30 abu g spinning reel, $18 cherry wood = happy daughter and simple drop shot rig. This was her first time trying a casting rig at 6 1/2. The first words out of here mouth were, and I kid you not, "Papi. This is so much easier to use than the other (ie, spinning reel) kind of reel." The only thing I can say about her comment is, "That's my little girl." ;D She's 11 now.

I saw this on other local forums and was about to post about this but you beat me to it. I agree with you 100%. We need to remain vigilant and represent our love for bassin' in a positive way.

Of all the walk the dog lures I have, it is the only one that has caught bass for me. I love my sammies and spooks, but only the skitter walk has produced on my waters. This is a lure worthy of anyone's arsenal.

Thanks! I am seriously considering using this material, after I use up my balsa supply. Need some winter time projects anyway.

Sounds like you have a good plan. Keep in mind that the drop shot will also catch trout. I would be surprised if you don't catch any incidental trout. Grab a popper or two also.

It looks great! It looks ghostly. 8-) Where did you purchase the PVC?

I use both. I'll start with say a nose hooked bait and if that doesn't work, then I rig the same bait wacky. This season, they have definitely prefer wacky over nose and it's probably because I had been killing them (figuratively, folks!) for nose hooked that they probably started to catch on. I have noted how such a small change in the bait's configuration has been the difference between catching and not catching. For every nose hooked catch, there have been at least 5 caught wacky, and it was the other way last season. : I reckon the lesson here is to learn to be flexible in using both methods vs. debating which is preferred by the angler.

I do not think this rod can be beat at its regular price. No way, not by anybody. The blank used is the same blank as their certified pro series, which is in the $180.00 range. I even called Lamiglas to confirm this. As someone who is has a certified pro rod in his arsenal, I can tell you you can feel the fish burp. Don't delay. Get the rod whose traits will fit the applications you plan to use it for and I will tell you that you will not regret it. You can thank me later. 8-)

If I were drinking coffee or something else, my monitor would be covered and probably ruined. At least you guys got a polaroid. Doh! ;D

There is a part of me that wants to try, beckoning me from time to time. But I am very afraid to try it for fear that I will be even more hooked on fishing than I already am and I need a need baitmonkey like a hole in my head. ;D Fly fishing seems awesome to me and talk about ultra stealth. My other fear is that my regular gear might become glorified dust collectors as a result. ;D

That has to be the UGLIEST lp reel I have ever seen. I'll tell you what and do you a favor. Just send it to me and I'll make sure you won't be seen with it by anyone you know. ;D J/K That is one bad lookin' mamma jamma. congrats.

I bought my son a Zebco 33, and he just turned 6. He really likes it and you can switch the handle. If only he didn't throw half on the his Batman rod into the lake. > :-[ ;D

That is awesome. Oh the irony. I live about 2hrs from their HQ and no local dealer carries them. So if O ordered one from TW, it would be shipped to their depot and mailed back to WA State. Sheesh!!! If I am not mistaken, Lami does sell rods from their HQ but at their MSRP so it would be cheaper to get it from TW. I am blown away at what is offered in an Excel rod.

That's terrible! I would have been tempted to jump in sans wallet and cell phone. ;D You might be kidding about the tether thing, but it is not a bad idea at all. I devised what I called a leash for my kids, espcially my daughter who is capable of using my gear that prevents them from accidentally dropping the rig into the lake. I also had to do the same for my son who has already lost 3 of his rigs because of letting his gear go. He's only 6, but those superhero combos are starting to add up. ;D Anyway, I took these items: Velcro, Shoe Lace and Caribeaner And put them together. The lace is attached to the hand that holds the rod. It does not get in the way of casting and the leash is easily removeable. I have since learned that with a longer string, the leash can be attached to a loop on your pants and that is where my son prefers it to be. It's definitely a peace of mind and money saver.

Given your choices, another vote for 12# yozuri. The stuff is awesome. I reserve cxx for pulling brush and trees out of the water. ;D

Another subscriber to the minimalist approach. I too have arrived at similar conclusions. I might take 1-3 rods, and all can be carried with one hand, and it is either my backpack or bass bag (the one that came when I joined). I am also shorebound.