Scott C

haha....thats really cool. thanks for the tip man!! I am headed out to get some Zara Spooks tonight!

Hummm.....I seem to remember that the Gold Medalist was about $30, and the Trion was $40. But it was a few years ago, so the natural progression of prices could be the difference....

Hi Guys, I just picked up a new Pflueger Trion and BPS XPS Extreme rod this weekend. I have had a Plfueger "Gold Medalist Pro" for a few years now, picked it up from Dick's Sporting Goods. Now when I set both reels next to each other, they look IDENTICAL, with the expection of the printing. The Gold Medalist Pro says it has 8 bearings too, where the Trion says 7. So what I'm wondering is....How long has the Trion been out? Could the Gold Medalist Pro be the same reel, just made with a different name for Dick's? Help me oh Pflueger masters! Thanks!! Gold Medalist Pro is on the left, Trion/BPS XPS Extreme is on the right.

ah, yeah, i didn't even think of topwater!! now when you say balloon, do you mean an actual baloon?? or some sort of bobber to keep the bait elevated? Hook through the back of the baitfish, or through the mouth? thanks man!!

My parents recently retired to Wilson Lake, AL (Tennessee River). I guess my dad has been talking to locals about the stripe fishing, and he said that its going to be at its peak in the next few weeks!!! And we are headed down there next Friday!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!! This is the first time I have made it down there for peak stripe time. Usually, the only thing I catch it freakin Drum. Although a fish is a fish.... <----12 lb drum last time. So we are going to be fishing where they let the water out of the turbines at the dam, and maybe Hog Island. Anybody have any tips they might like to share? My big game setup is SUPPOSED to be here this week, but it hasn't showed yet!! Thanks!!! Scott

I'm not much of a largey fisherman (mostly stripe and crappie), but here are some spots that we normally get largemouth. most of this, im sure you already know.....but: water discharge = 40.171233,-88.771355 so i would stick to that side of the lake this early. there is a submerged roadbed near there with a bridge over the original creek channel at about 40.160706,-88.783607. That make some nice cover. if the whole water temp is up, the point and cove around 40.138859,-88.867571 has yeilded some fish before. also, this is the entrance to a cove that goes quite a ways back. 40.142078,-88.858463 there are a lot of trees, etc in there that will probably be holding fish. We have also had some success fishing the rocks north of the discharge where it goes to no wake. good luck to ya!! and don't be mad if my suggestions didn't pan out!!! ;D

ouch...tough break on the gear. Sorry man! we like mid-south super jigs....typically pink(head) and white(tube) or orange(h) and white(t). Sometimes other(darker) colors depending on clarity, etc. You know the rest. Then we will slide a waxie over the hook, under the tube, and put the barb through the head. then a shot of Bang! spray for good meausre.

looks like you guys are getting the snow afterall, JT. BUMMER!! I just hope the plows are out in force. we are headed to Bass Pro in Gurnee tomorrow morning. BTW...Bloomington area ponds and lakes are all open. Water temp is still pretty low though, except for Clinton (powerplant lake).