Bass_Fanatic

Have caught over 100 three times and had countless trips of 75 or so. When the schoolies move to points, you can catch em as fast as you can all day long. Not much size to em though. My best day this year was about 50 bass with my top 5 weighing in at 21.43lbs! Last year, the weekend before a tournament I had 31 lbs with a 10.1 and a 8.14 as kickers!

To be honest...I cant even tell the difference when Im fishing, so I dont really care. As long as the rod fits my technique and is sensitive I could care less about the grip.

Dang...I just saved enough for and Extreme, but now I gotta keep saving for this one!

Yup...this!!

Sorry to hear about the early 80's, but that is an awesome testimony and sounds like you have made the best of it since then. I am a Baptist Minister, so I get excited every time I hear someone like yours story!! P.S. I love Spurgeon!

Seems pretty stupid to me to pay money on things that will negativly affect you and cause you to pay more money on medical bills later. Never dipped, smoked, tasted alcohol, drugs, any of it and Im darn proud!!

Pirates Cove is still good, I launched there last week.

It was on Toledo Bend. He caught fish on a spro pop-r and the warmouth.

Skeet Reese rod with the BPS cranking stick a distant second.

Three baits is plenty...after all you can only fish one at a time. Especially if one of the three is a jig!!

Actually, IMO the rate of fall is the most important aspect when flipping. I flip ALOT and I have seen days were going down a weight size or up a weight size produces more bites. Generally speaking, I flip Rage Craws the most, but will reach for a beaver when I want a more subtle approach and a big worm in the hot summer months.

Its all according to your money situation. You could probably sell your motor for $3,000 or so, but then a new 200 will cost you at least $13,000, so how will you pay for the new motor. I wouldn't recommend taking out a loan for a new motor, especially if you are still paying on the boat, but then again, I dont ever recommend taking a loan. Another option would be to buy a used motor. You can get a 2003-2005 Opti for about 5k-6.5k. Four strokes are going to be more expensive and not really offer any advantages except no oil. The reason your GT has such a hard time starting is because its a carb motor. An Optimax is a EFI which will start super easy. Last recommendation would be to buy a 200. Dont settle for anything less or you will regret it in the long run.

Mono for all topwater and cranks...

Used to be Trilene XL until I used Suffix Seige!

Your missing out. Mono is still the premiere line for some applications.

Agreed...any other argument is fallacy!!

Try a frog...

Sounds like you found the right place...

A 7' M/M BPS Carbonlite would suite you well. IMO, the best cranking rod for the money. Heck, I like it better than the Powell and Avid I have used.

When tieing the Palomar knot with floro make sure you do NOT double the line before threading it through the hook eye. It will create a crimp in the line and you will break off every hookset. Instead, run the line through the hook eye and then back through to keep from crimping the line. Hope that makes sense, it did in my head!

That rod should work well for that technique. I prefer a 7'6" rod, but that is personal preference. The St. Croix rods are top notch and the "Big Gulp" should be a work horse for you for years to come. Go fishing with it and see.

I have a Supreme casting model that is pretty nice for the $ I paid for it, but I have a feeling your talking about the spinning model. Personally, I love Pfluegers and about 75% of my reels are Pflueger and I have not got a bad one yet.

Wow Catt, pullin out some Spurgeon...didnt know you had that in you . Sometimes life can get busy and we have to sacrafice some things we love for periods of time. College and finances should be your top priorities right now. Fishing will come. I dont know the statistics, but I would bet that most Elite Series guys have some sort of college education. If you go to college and get a better job, you will have much more time and money for fishing later on down the road, plus tournament fees. And believe me, there is plenty of fishing to be done in college. You gonna have Darbonne, Claboirne, and Oachita River all pretty close to ya up there.

Agreed...the Veritas are light, but I have personally broken one setting the hook on a 2lb fish. But, there customer service is great, I just wish their rods where also.

RI Skinny Dipper, Rage Craw, Single tail grubs, Ribbon tail worms, LFT Live Magic Shad...ect. But most commonly, the Skinny Dipper.