The_Natural

The Bargain Cave is absolutely a hit-and-miss affair. Weeks will go by without a deal to be had, and then a bargain will surface.

That MH compre will handle any 'feel' bait in your arsenal. Jigs/T-rigs/C-rigs/frogs/etc. The Compres are nice, and probably don't get talked about as much as the Mojo's because they don't sport a contemporary, split-grip design.

The X-rap no doubt has the ability to make fish bite that aren't feeding, and I have also outfished a Pointer with an X-rap after a cold front. It seems the X-rap runs a little deeper. The Pointer came to light by outproducing the Rogue at it's own game....4'-5' range with a rolling action. Quite different than the X-rap. The Rogue seems to run the shallowest (maybe the newer one's run deeper....not sure), however one of the aforemention baits replaces the other, it's part of bass fishing to discern when to throw each bait.

Laser Lure

Sweet....now surprise everyone on signing day and buy a Daiwa Exceler *cough...cough...aluminum frame*

I'm all of the sudden trying to refrain from buying a couple of Aldabaren's. I love my Daiwas, but except for the Steez....we are seeing too much line capacity. Even the 'deep spool' TD-Z (the 103), had less line capacity than the zillion. You couple the extra line capacity with Magforce-Z, and some of my Daiwas are strait up lacking the ability to cast light weight baits. Back to the Aldabaren/Mg50....these reels represent the perfect line capacity (same goes for the core). Judging that the new Curado and Citica were released at ICAST last year, and took a month or so to hit stores....I'm not sure I can sit this season out, although I would prefer to buy the Mg50 version.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090319/D9712A381.html

Just what I was fixin' to say. MySpace seems to cater to the younger crowd. Facebook is where it's at. Exactly. Myspace caters to a young crowd, and due to everyone being able to customize their page....many are waay too busy. Facebook is great; I've found long-time friends and old friends have found me. Facebook is one of the websites that makes you really appreciate the power of the internetl. I would have never seen these people again. http://www.facebook.com/search_redirect.php?q=michael,pratt&fc=0&gc=0&cl=300&rc=549&rank=1&friends=0&sns=0&sf=i&init=s:quick&cururl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fs.php%3Finit%3Dq%26q%3Dmichael%2Bpratt%26ref%3Dts%26sid%3D30395dd8ea4de04f1392fd51ee5722a5&is_friend=&sid=30395dd8ea4de04f1392fd51ee5722a5&num_uq=1&id=1667748894&o_type=1&rid=0&ab=X&t=c:name&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fprofile.php%3Fid%3D1667748894%26hiq%3Dmichael%252Cpratt

Cool...sounds like you are set. I sold hondas for two years in college, and agree and disagree with some of the advice. Just be aware that a lot of people have a 'buddy' that works at a dealership. Every dealership pays the same amount for the cars, and your buddy as well as several others would probably be willing to do 'invoice' on the car itself. However, this doesn't cover accessories. This is how dealerships make their money. $300-$500 tint, fabric and paint coatings (TOTAL B.S.), $800-$1500 spoilers, and any other accessory you can think of is ridiculously marked up. Good luck....

Here is what I would do if I only had those rigs.... Tour PT/Triumph MH- 15lb Trilene 100% fluorocarbon. Jigs/C-rigs/buzzbait/frogs/Spinnerbaits/heavier T-rigs. Accurist/Cabelas IM7 ML- 10-12lb Trilene fluorocarbon. Cranks, finesse soft plastics (<1/8oz), topwaters, and finesse spinnerbaits (1/4oz of less...dynamite right after the fish leave their beds) M spinning setup- 10lb fluorocarbon. Most all soft plastics and jerkbaits (hard and soft)

Try and find a burgundy Scorpion 1000...not the Mg. The Scorpion 1000 can hang with the Pixy....very close.

Post'em up! Your sig lists about $12-13k worth of reels without even considering the swept handles and Mg spools! You are the man! I can't wait to see this collection!

Like any other piece of tackle, it depends on your budget. If money is no object; the Tru-tungsten jigs would be my choice. You just can't deny the tungsten difference. A tungsten jig paired with fluorocarbon and a sensitive rod is a blast to fish....I have 'feelings' my wife would be jealous of. http://www.***.com/descpageJIGTRUTUNG-TTJ.html

Generally, main line fluorocarbons stretch more and have less abrasion resistance than mono/copoly. Tackle Tour's fluorocarbon shootout is a good read. It's amazing that a lot of the lines stretched more and had less abrasion resistance than Trilene XL. Yep...Trilene XL! There are a few exceptions, like BPS XPS, Trilene 100%, and Toray that let you enjoy the decreased visibility and sinking aspect of fluorocarbon without sacrificing stretch or abrasion. d

I've been busy and feel bad for not making my post earlier....I sure meant too . When dick's has a sale like this, it is the perfect time to utilize the coaches coupon. I bought 12 Joe Thomas Flat Mini's and a couple of pointers for $7 plus tax. I use 3 coupons at a time, which entails 3 separate transactions. I think using three coupons at one time like that is probably the limit as to keep it in good taste. I hit the two dick's closest to me. I hit the morning and night crew, for a total of 12 coupons. Sorry I didn't post it sooner.... Last time I tried the coaches coupon they said I can't print off coupons or something but they'll do it this time but not anymore. I printed it on a color printer maybe it's because I didn't look like a coach? : Either way I told them it was given to me from my step-dad who coaches but anyways will I have trouble like that with this one? Should I print it on a different type of paper? I've never had a problem. However, I do print the coupons out at Kinkos with their color lazer printer. The paper Kinkos uses in their color printers doesn't feel like normal paper, and it doesn't look 'printed out'. Maybe that is why...

Yep. I use zip ties and copper wire. I like zip ties the most, but I use the copper wire on some of my smaller jigs.

The Pointer and X-rap are the two jerkbaits I throw the most, yet are very different behaving baits. The X-rap has a very erratic darting action, while the pointer is a more controlled, 'subtle' action. Both have their time and place. After a spring cold front, the X-rap has done very well well for me. I even won a tournament in '05 using an X-rap after a cold front pushed the prespawn fish back. My partner was using a pointer in a similar color and wasn't getting bit. You really need both.

I've been busy and feel bad for not making my post earlier....I sure meant too . When dick's has a sale like this, it is the perfect time to utilize the coaches coupon. I bought 12 Joe Thomas Flat Mini's and a couple of pointers for $7 plus tax. I use 3 coupons at a time, which entails 3 separate transactions. I think using three coupons at one time like that is probably the limit as to keep it in good taste. I hit the two dick's closest to me. I hit the morning and night crew, for a total of 12 coupons. Sorry I didn't post it sooner....

Seaguar is decent; it was one of the first main line fluoro's on the market. I just feel there are better fluoro's out now. After about 4 or 5 trips, the Carbon Pro will turn an opaque white. The Trilene maintains its clarity for as long as you keep it on your spool. The Trilene also has better abrasion resistance.

I'll quote homer simpson on this one... "If you don't like it....move to Russia."

KVD is the best bass fisherman out there right now....crazy consistent. However, I honestly think IKE is going to match what he has done. Ike is just getting started, and seems to be on his game like I've never seen. 2nd in the Classic, and now leading the Elite 50 on Amistad. Look out.....

Having met KVD, Ike, and couple of others; Ike is the most down to earth angler on tour. I may relate to him a little more because I don't fit the profile of your average fisherman like Ike. Ike seems like a guy who would hit the club, tear up the dance floor, and take some shots before calling it a night....only to wake up and win a tournament the next day. I love it!

I use 4 baits for deep water: a C-Rig, a Football Jig, a crankbait, and a heavy spinnerbait. I'll add that I am a crankbait nut, and this time of year with the colder water some make the mistake of fishing their crankbait too slow. I have a great article by david fritt's on how he fishes a crankbait in colder water. He believes it is a mistake to slow your bait down, and he advises to pull/sweep your crankbait...reel in the slack...and repeat all the way to the baot. It works....

Nice rod...I love me some black foam. GREAT reel choice; I think Daiwa makes the best spinning reel in the $100-$150 range. I fish the Advantages myself, but the only difference between the Advantage and the Tierra is the wet sealed drag. I fished a couple of Tierra's all last year, and they are amazing. Superior finish and overall build quality for a reel at that price point.

I have. InvizX is softer with a little less memory but has more stretch. Trilene 100% has better abrasion resistance but is not as soft. I like the Trilene 100% slightly better, but you can't go wrong with either one. I agree with this. Inviz-X is soft and stretchy; Trilene is soft, but not quite as soft as Inviz-X, but has 10x the abrasion resistance. I'm done trying fluoro's; 100% is the deal....