A-Jay

This is appropriate here but might be something that is over looked by those who share the "we're all winners" mentality. "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." ~ Booker T. Washington A-Jay

I have not - But there seems to be a difference of opinion regarding the rig on TW. (below) A-Jay Comments: a month ago a 4lb fish broke this trailer hook. then yesturday in my championship tournament a 5 pounder broke the hook during the fight. On both occassions the hook broke right where the upward bend starts. i still have both broken hooks, but lost both fish. From: Chad: Green Bay, WI Comments: These are great, half of the time I get a bass in my kayak from froggin it's hooked with one hook and that's this trailer hook. Improves hook up ratio significantly. Definitely try these any time you fish a frog. In my eyes since these came out fishing a frog without one of these is like fishing a spinnerbait without a trailer hook. From: Justin: Virginia Beach, VA Comments: These are the best thing since the frog just got to day and had to use them. My hooks sets are 100 % better didn't loose a single bite thanks lake fork!!! From: S: Fredericksburg, VA Comments: Great idea and works great but I broke both of them in the back in one day... I don't want to have to tone down my hook sets to use these so hopefully they come out with some stronger ones Comments: someone is always coming up with a better mouse trap but and most of them do not work. these are bass traps and they DO WORK! i have fished fake frogs for years starting with the original harrison hodge foam rubber/single weedless hook design up to the present day models which are great. if you have ever fished these baits, you know they miss solid hook-ups now and then. this set-up will eliminate 90% of that problem. i have tried to use an additional hook with fair success but these are inovative in design and effectiveness. if you throw frogs then buy some of these little wonders, you WILL not regret it. whoever thought this up is a genius and may i say thank you. From: Wes: Salinas, CA Comments: This is the cure for short strikes. Just slip in the rubber skirts on each side, pull up to tighter and done. Turns my spro bronze eye frog into an even better fish catching machine. From: Rich: NJ

Ah - Sports - so many similarities to life itself. Sometimes you work so very hard and you win. Some times you give twice that effort and still lose - badly. And sometimes stuff just falls in your lap. As to when do you start the lessons ? My question would be - when does one start to experience life ? I guess that's when you start . . . . A-Jay

I'm a UFC fan ~ And I'd like to see someone make Jon Bones Jones actually Fight - He's a Beast - in the truest sense of the word. A-Jay

That would be a serious heat wave here . . . . A-Jay

I hear that - Back in the day, I was a DI (8 years worth) - that mentality was just starting to surface. Needless to say, there was a bit of a wake up call for many of America's youth who were fortunate enough to end up in my Company . . . . . Mentors and Consistent Role Models are Invaluable and irreplaceable. Realistic expectations go a long way toward teaching all of us that throughout your entire life - you'll only get what you earn, there's no way around it. A-Jay

Not feeling all that spring like here this morning . . . . at minus whatever ~ Hope the little varmint is right. A-Jay

Interesting - the similarities are striking to say the least - well, except for the hair . . . . . A-Jay

I say this idea from JF is the best yet. Also makes me wonder why this isn't a standard feature of most higher end reels . . . . A-Jay

I'm rooting for Jeff Kriet - and I hope he totally hammers and Laps the whole field - Can you imagine - he won't know what the heck to do . . . . He's always on the verge of Spinning Out (to use his term) so if he some how manages to win in completely dominating fashion - I think it would go a long way to helping his confidence. Come on Squirrel - you can do it ~ A-Jay

Good to hear you guys got out on the water - That sweet ride looks like it came for a time capsule. Hope it warms up for you very soon ~ A-Jay

After providing us more info - It seems like you are hammering a square peg into a round hole and trying to use what works for other anglers. My advice is cut your losses now, sell the craft you current own and start again. For your fishing, as you have described it here, you need a whole system. One that all works together, the way you want / need it to. Do the research, check out what's out there. Then match the type of boat you purchase to suit your needs. The water and type of fishing you do, how you transport the craft, if you fish alone or with a fellow angler; these factors all come into play and if they are addressed in advance of your purchase, the entire evolution will actually be fun. Good Luck A-Jay

Nice Job Jeff . . . . And that's why we're heading back . . . . . A-Jay

I fish from an Old Town Predator square back (15 ft) myself and most of it is solo. Not knowing how committed to hoisting it on/off your vehicle you are or what your storage situation is, I highly recommend you consider a small trailer. At around 115lbs boosting this thing over my head alone is not happening. But with the trailer, Loading & unloading could not be any easier - especially alone. Mine is going on 5 years of service and has been one of the best purchases I've made. They cost quite a bit more than a "Roof rack system" (@ 1K) but in the long run (like many things) it's well worth it. I know it sounds like a lot but look at it this way - I've had this one for 5 years - my open water season is 7 months or so. I fish on average 18 days a month (I'm semi- retired). So that's 126 trips a year - for the 5 years, it cost me approx $1.50 a trip. Think about that every time you're hoisting it over your head to get it on & off your ride - or invest 6 quarters a day now and have the luxury of not having to deal with it. You can tow this with just about anything so you should be good there. You will assemble it yourself - so you'll know how it works and how to repair it if needed. I took my time and did it on the floor of the garage over a weekend. Here the link - http://www.castlecraft.com/canoe_trailer.htm A-Jay

I have not - but I fish a couple of Glass crankbait rods - and really prefer them. A Fast Action spec for a glass rod might be more of a relative term and not one that could really compare to a rod build using a different material. Interesting none the less. A-Jay

Cool ~ Once your "Project" is completed - how about posting up a photo or two - A-Jay

Very Futuristic Appearance ~ At the bottom of the page of the attached link - there seems to be two spool options for the reel. Both a shallow and a deep spool; really like having the choice. The flexibility to use the same reel for a couple of different applications is nice. Clearly I do realize that I one of the few here who are unable to read Japanese, so I'm simply going by the pictures. A-Jay

I hear that but - our Bug season might be brief - But It's INTENSE ~ ! Might be what's spread out over a year for you guys has to be jammed into like 10 weeks here - and they do not taste very good either . . . A-Jay

No - not really whatever is available locally and reasonably priced - SK & VMC mostly - I've even started to use jig paint and color coat a few - we'll see how it goes. A-Jay

That's a first for me. Pretty cool stuff. I liked the way it looked before he pulled it off . . . . . . A-Jay

OK - well what ever you do - do not fish the same technique I described using a hollow belly swim bait on a 1/2 or 3/4 oz jighead - it simply doesn't work . . . . . . A-Jay

Yes Sir - As soon as the Lobster came out, I was on it. The lobster is what I start with now almost exclusively. But there are times especially, early and late season that a "average" craw size bait does better, even on the bigger bass. Something that I'll add - it's important to match the skirt length to the plastic. Meaning, you do not want the skirt to impede the action of the plastic (especially a craw). So either use a pre-trimmed shirt or trim it if need be. When using a "gliding" type trailer, the longer skirt seems to be a good thing . . . A-Jay

Yes I do - all the time. I use this skirt and plastic rig instead of a jig. (Pictured below) What I do like about this rig over a Standard Fixed hook jig: ~ First and fore most, the fish eat it. ~The hook-up ratio is the same as a standard Jig or maybe even a bit better. ~It comes through cover better. ~I can modify / customize the rig any way I want. By switching the weight, the skirt color or type, the hook size or type and the plastic trailer of my choosing - the options are endless. With very little chance of hanging up, I Fish it through lily pad fields, milfoil patches, cabbage patches, stump/log jams, and open water ~ All on One Cast ! So, instead of carrying a ton of different color and size jigs, I can be ready for anything (including punching through the slop) with a hand full of weights, skirts, hooks and a small assortment of plastics. Beavers, Beasts, Grubs, Craws and creature baits have all taken fish. I have even recently re-homed more than half of my standard jigs as they were hardly ever getting wet. Here's the rig, from the main line to the hook: -A stopped knot (I use a double uni-knot made from left over braided line) - A small bead to keep the knot from slipping through the weight. - A 1/2 oz tungsten weight - a Boss Punch Hub - this is placed inside the skirt collar - The skirt of your choice - A parasite clip (optional, but does help prevent the plastic from sliding down the hook) - A 5/0 Owner wide gap plus EWG hook (#5139 - very stout, I love this hook) - Your favorite soft plastic - pictured is a Power Bait Beast Hope this helps A-Jay

I know these are touted as Smallmouth rods but the green bass don't really know the difference. And for the price, you really get a whole lot of rod. A-Jay http://www.fenwickfishing.com/prod.php?k=472253&sk=472009&p=PURESMC610M-F%20(1238603)#ESMC610M-F (1238603)

Me too - and there was probably some poop in my pants - I mean more than there is now . . . I had to say that before one of you guys did - and you know who you are . . . A-Jay