A-Jay

SWEET ~ Thank you for the pics. I don't totally hate that wrap but I'd probably go a different direction as well. Nice Looking Trailer too. Best of Luck To You and your New Rig. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Simply ask what blank he plans of using for your build and if he offers options. - $120 is a very reasonable price for a custom build. However, I'd reccomend that you you know which blank he plans on using and that your happy with it. Also in advance of the build, you'll want to find out about the other components too; handle, reel seat, guides & windings; Brand, type & material. Good Luck A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Any Pics ? A-Jay

Congrats on the New Rig Best of Luck going forward. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ The Hummingbird 386ci DI Combo | 300 Series | 409050-1 is on closeout at $299 - right here . . . http://www.humminbird.com/Products/386ci-DI-Combo/ The 386ci DI Combo is a sweet unit that features a brilliant color 240H x 320V 3.5" display with LED backlight, Down Imaging Enhance and advanced DualBeam sonar with 4000 Watts PTP power output, and GPS Chartplotting with built-in UniMap. OPTIONAL: Navionics® Gold/HotMaps© | LakeMaster®. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ These prop pitch / speed calculators may help A-Jay http://rbbi.com/folders/prop/propcalc.htm http://rcpro.org/rccalc/PitchSpeed.aspx

I fish a lot of very clear water. Long casts are essential here for any open water topwater bite. Nylon line works OK but my hook up ratio with braid & a leader is Much higher especially when fish are not eating but slashing at the bait. A secondary benefit with the braid system is that walking type hard baits, which is one of my all time favorite top water presentations, seem quite a bit more responsive; meaning that it takes less effort to work / fish the bait effectively. This allows me to fish this style longer. btw, this works for jerkbaits as well. A-Jay

I've not used any of the Cabin Creek products so I am unable to make a comparison. What I can tell you is that the PROvider tubes are durable and have a built in scent that smallies love. My favorite aspect of the baits are that they are made by a Professional angler who lives & fishes on the Big Lakes. The colors he offers work very well in these clear water conditions. A-Jay

OK - I'll play 5 crankbaits & colors 1) SK Red Eye Shad ~ Sexy Shad 2) 6th Sense Crush Flat 75X Crankbait ~ Bluegill 3) Lucky Craft LC Silent 2.5 Squarebill Crankbait ~ BE Gill 4) Bill Norman DD 22 HD Crankbait ~ Chart - Blue 5) Spro "Mike McClelland" RkCrawler 55 Crankbait ~ Phantom Brown A-Jay

My Garmin Virb has a "Loop" feature but it's kind of Funky so I don't use it. With a big card and unlimited battery life (I plug it into one of my 12v batteries) I haven't needed it. Plus the wrist remote control is handy enough to capture the action. I like it. A-Jay

Check out PROvider Tackle ~ I've been a huge fan of these baits for a long time. http://www.providertackle.com/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=66_69 Though all his gear is high quality, Art Ferguson III makes some especially killer baits right there in St Clair Shores, MI Both the 3.5 " & 4" tubes are solid producers. As for colors, the BBQ Melon, Roadkill, St Clair Tease, Great Lake Melon, & Natural Goby have all been gobbled up eagerly by North Woods Smallies. A-Jay

No Luck with the Pit Boss ? Not a magic bait but unless you're forgetting hook, it's pretty hard not to get at least a few on it. A-Jay

I'm an Amazon Prime user & abuser myself - for my situation it's a pretty good deal. If TW had a "Prime" type deal - I'd be more apt to buy more of my gear there since I'd already commited to the deal - Someone call the Bait Monkey and have them work out the details - I need stuff. A-Jay

WOW ~ LOL Well this thread has certainly taken a nose dive . . . A-Jay

LOL ~ But you do know there's something wrong with you right ? A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ It's kind of tough to pick one line that's going to be suitable as reasonable for Bass Tackle and capable for Musky tackle. Especially when a good bass is about 40 lbs smaller than a good Musky. 50 lb braid might be a happy medium. True Musky Trophy hunters almost always spool up with something a little bigger but 50 lb works fine for bass in all but the heaviest of cover. A-Jay

Good for you getting off the cigarettes. But Smoking a Pipe ? ? ? What are you going Warrent ? . . . . A-Jay

They are a decent when the fish are responding favorably to a very loud & / or fast sinking bait. If a slow fall & / or somewhat subdued or even silent lipless bait is called for, I'd reach for something else. A-Jay

Is it a good idea to buy bulk spools? I say yes. A-Jay

The Carolina Panthers are having a fantastic season. This Sunday with just under two minutes left, 15 players posed for a photo on the sidelines during their 38-0 blowout victory against the Atlanta Falcons. One can totally understand they would feel the need to snap off an in game picture like this. With six winning seasons in twenty years going 13-0 must feel like winning the Superbowl. A-Jay

Not every brand / model lipless bait has the same action, rattle sound & fall rate. Each may have it's time & place where it might shine over another. Day in & day out I have quite a bit of confidence in a 1/2 oz SK Red Eye Shad - both rattle & Silent. The 6th Sense bait is good as is a couple of the Lucky Craft models and the Xcaliber One Knock is a solid producer. Of course the industry standard will forever be the original Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap. And though I haven't tried it yet, the Duo Realis G-Fix Vibration Tungsten Lipless Crankbait looks like it has potential. A-Jay

OMG ~ you used a SNAP ! Oh the Humanity . . . . Great Pic A-Jay

6th Sense Crush 250MD Strike King 3XD & 5XD Rapala Shad Rap SR08 & SR09 Duo Realis Crankbait M65 Lucky Craft "Skeet Reese" SKT DR Rattle Lucky Craft Flat CB Crankbaits Lucky Craft LC 2.0 D10 Crankbaits And one I haven't tried but think may have potential ~ Spro "Mike McClelland" RkCrawler 55 Crankbait A-Jay

The question as to why any product is popular is almost always answered the same way. It often revolves around price, quality and availability. Ranking high in these characteristics offers a favorable reputation which can cause prospective buyers to look that way first. When one does not have experience with a particular brand, as you have admitted, it can make it tough to understand the reasons for it's popularity. As I see it, there are three basic paths to go about answering your question. You can either believe the reviews of those who do have experience using that brand. Disregard it based on preconceived judgment or opinion formed without just grounds or sufficient knowledge. Try it for yourself and form your own opinion. If you choose this route, I'd recommend becoming familiar with more than one model. A-Jay