5bass

I guess it all depends on how much confidence you have in those spots you already know and also how much confidence you have in your own decision making to be able to adjust and find fish if your spots dont pan out. I would definitely go as boater, I've been a boat owner for so long now that I am as uncomfortable as one can be fishing from the back deck. But thats just me. I trust my instincts and will immediately move if I'm not getting bit. If I fish boater and fail, I know that its all on me. And if I fished non-boater and my boater and I dont do very well, I dont want to be left wondering "Could I have done better if I had fished as boater?"

No kidding? I have a Hutch Trick Star in my dad's storage building from WAY BACK! Oh and back on topic....the baitmonkey and I usually hang out a whole lot during the offseason.

;D Hey Ricky....puff...puff...give, you're messin' up the rotation! ;D

Thanks Raul, I see a little light now....not enough to make me buy a JDM reel but I understand things a little better. Oh, and QC = Quality Control

So you're telling me that the JDM reels are of higher quality than the same reels made elsewhere? Does Shimano have 2 different sets of the same parts to build reels in two different countries? Is Japan the QC capitol of the world? I can plainly see that the reels LOOK different but is the difference in quality and performance THAT BIG to warrant all the attention and demand? There's no offense meant to anybody that owns the Japanese reels or rods, I'm just poking around for information and opinions.

The Dolphins season is pretty much up in smoke....might as well make it official!

The horse has been beat enough. Thread locked.

So whats the big difference in something made in China and something made in Japan? Please explain......I'd really like to know why the Japanese reels warrant so much attention.

The Tuesday night tournaments in my area are 4 hours....gotta get on 'em quick! 5 bass limit, all 14"'s or better.

Thats funny. So Shimano never has any problems with their reels? I doubt it. I wouldnt throw a blanket across all Revo S models and say they are junk. ALL reel companies have problems, you were just unlucky and got a bad one. But maybe it's not bad and it can be fixed rather easily. Maybe Reel Mech will see this thread and shed some light on whats happening.

Yep, I hate hearing about those teams too....especially the Cowgirls. Cant stand 'em. Now New England, they are GOOD, there really isnt any need to deny that, its just so obvious that they are better than everybody else. And speaking of west coast teams, my Raiders are just sand-bagging this year so they can get a couple more O-linemen early in the draft next year. After the draft they'll break out JaMarcus Russell and the new O-line and storm right into the playoffs.....so dont worry, next year you'll be hearing about the Raiders on a daily basis.

Fall is a purty time of year but all the leaves laying on the water sure does make the fishing tough sometimes! ;D

Dang Glenn, thats a good smallmouth! What did you catch it on? Details!

Hmmm, I thought my eyes were messed up or something... Nope, your eyes are good. It IS a piece of crap. Did you notice the Gator Mount adjustment was stripped out too? I gotta take it into the Motorguide service dept next week, it has several issues that need to be fixed. My guess is they'll just give me a new one. I hope its not a piece of junk like the current one has turned into.

In Open tournaments where you can pick your partner, you and your partner should make the arrangements before the tournament starts to avoid any awkwardness or hard feelings afterward, should you guys get in the money. In a draw tournament where you possibly get paired with someone you dont know, do the same thing.....work it out beforehand, not when they are handing the checks out. The second club I ever joined was strictly a team draw format and everyone in the club during our preseason meetings agreed that the boaters got 60% and the co's got 40% of winnings during all club tournaments. I went along with it although I didnt like it much....especially when we split the entry fees and gas/oil down the middle. I didnt stay in that club too long....I was a non boater back then.

Yeah, just spin it with your hand....and that works best when your trolling motor is on deck, not in the water. I have the same Motorguide and I have to do that at least once every trip. :

Zel, I'll take a look at it, it sounds like a real relic and I'm fond of fiberglass crankin' rods. That handle sounds very interesting too.

Ha! No, I have a couple pistols but I want a short straight handle like the one I just broke....I think its handle was 6.5"....perfect for what I do. I still use the pistols but I like the short straight handle when fighting bigger fish. I may just have to buy a longer handle and saw it off....that will make it a custom rod.

Whenever you're ready, just let me know. Be sure to have plenty of time, Burley and I had no time to figure anything out....when the time changed it really cut into the afternoon/evening fishing.

7" would be a stretch and I wouldnt want a handle longer than that.....6" would be more like it. Too much handle just gets in the way with the casting I do. I underhand and roll because I'm constantly throwing under docks and tree limbs.

Thanks Jimzee, I really hate to sell it and I may not, depends on what my mood is when February rolls around. And what do you mean by getting in trouble fishing around docks on your lake? Are those people crazy? They dont own the water.....they'd have to be packing heat to run me away from fishing THEIR dock. That picture just shows a few docks in the back of a creek.....Burley can tell you how many docks we passed while going up the lake, Smith Mtn is full of docks and they build more every day. Come on down sometime, seriously.

I've had good luck with Pinnacle reels over the past few years. Specifically with the Pinnacle Matrix reels (the first generation Matrix w/ 10BB's) Those reels were great. Cast a mile, silky smooth drag, easy to access brakes, etc...excellent reel for the money.

I finally broke my old Browning Spiral crankin' rod that I've had for about 20 years.....I'm sad to see it go. The upside is that I get to buy another rod! I'm wondering what others use for shallow and medium cranks. I may try one of the composite rods since everyone is raving about them but I'd like to know what you're currently using and maybe some others I should look at. I do alot of underhanded and roll casting so a short handle is a 'must have'.

Thanks, there's a 3 liter Evinrude on the back. Yeah, my last club tournament of the year is this Sunday.....it's going to be freezing cold screaming across Leesville Lake at 7am, you can bet on that. I'm running all the way up in the river so it'll be a decent ride.

Its a shame that Ranger Bob doesnt know what a paragraph is. Its probably an informative article but I cant read anything so jumbled together like that. Hit enter once in a while people!