The_Natural

ISG's Intimidator Tube. Best cut tails of any tube I've used...every strand uniformly cut and not stuck together. http://www.isgfishing.com/acatalog/intimidatortubes.htm I do like to flip a big tube a lot as well, and since ISG doesn't make a 5" tube, I go with the 5" Right Bite magnum tube. I'm a big fan of the 'green squash' color that looks like baby poo yellow or puke.

One of my go-to flippin' baits. Yep...flippin' and pitchin'. I never really saw a frog or toad when I looked at it...it just looked like a gigantic craw. I'll pitch it with either a screw-lock jighead or pegged sinker and 5/0 hook. The action is like a Paca craw on steroids. Caught my best fish of '07 pitchin' the Paca Toad...a 7-4.

Just spray some garlic oil in there...

You might check now...the BPS here in Grapevine had them yesterday. That and a hard hit supply of the Luck E Strike Paddle Tail Tubes. I'm not in a position to buy a supply of these at the moment, but when you see it in person...it's just one of those baits you go ahead a buy a half dozen of. A bait that you just 'know' will work...it looks stellar. The bait actually looks ticked off!

Who knew? Paris is a Fila Bich ;D

I have a rod and reel for every type of fishing I do, but don't carry them all. I base it on the season and weather.

About the only post in this thread with multiple products that I agree with 95%. 95% because I've only used the Yellow Magic, and not the Rico...so I can't lend an opioion. I'm not stroking anyone's ego here...Avid has given me a hard time more than once on this forum

Just for fun...best deals of all time for me are: $1.38 on ALL bandits at Academy (About 2.5 years ago; misprint in the Ad...they honored it)...I purchased probably 150 or so. Pline CXX Clear 1/4lb spools for $1.44 a spool at Academy. All line sizes...they clearanced out the clear, and had the 1/4lb spools for $2.88. All clearance items that weekend were 1/2 off. Again, I cleaned them out of 30+ spools. I have several other deals that come to mind on reels and baits, but I sold them to members and that wouldn't be Kosher. Tru-Tungsten Jigs @ Cabelas for .96 cents (I think...under a buck). Black and purple only...bought a bunch.

I like the white one... http://www.***.com/viewlarge.html?PCODE=DSSW

We'll just go with 2008 deals. Two 'Croix Legend Tournament 7'ers for $116 each (normally $220) and 4 L/C Pointers for $1.99 each (Cabelas bargain bin; all new items). About 40 packs of Bush Bugs for .88 cents at Academy (normally $1.99).

Correct. There is no debate. Don't make me grab one and take a pic...I've got several. Front hook is stock; the back is an Eagle Claw red hook.

You probably got the TD-Z's for $199 didn't you . Stellar deal, but not really fair for even the $250 Chronarch. I really liked my Chronarch 50mg's and would recommend them, but obviously not over a TDZ. There's only a few that won that lottery.

I used Compre's before I went with Loomis (the older brown blanked version), and they performed excellently. Congrats...should be very versatile.

I dont have time to rob a bank to buy those....LOL You're safe... Megabass spinners lose their paint after one outing of throwing them on rocky points (where I throw most of my spinnerbaits). The 'fish head' profile and finish made me shell out for them, but they don't look like that for long. I like the looks of that river2sea bait (very similar to the Megabass), but I'm not sure if the fact a spinnerbait is a reaction bait that it really matters. I throw War Eagles and Leverages mostly...been wanting to try Nichols. Back when KVD actually had to pay for his spinnerbaits, he threw the Nichols baits. Does the River2sea hold its paint?!

That's a steal. I really like the bleeding tubes...especially the copper color. I bought quite a few bags on sale at Academy for $1.88, but even at that price I didn't go crazy; there are only 6 per bag. At .75 cents...I would have bought them out! My favorite tubes are still ISG's.

Waiting for the Spring Classic is good advice, being winter and all. All BPS and Browning reels are made by Silstar, and I'd rather own a Daiwa (I'm sure it doesn't have anything to do with the fact I own all Daiwa's ). I know Raul always recommends the Procaster as a great cheaper priced reel, so I'm sure he will chime in. So I'll say Procaster 8-)

'Parobolic' in fishing rod terms generally refers to a moderate action rod. Rods deemed parabolic are generally used for crankbaits; the opposite of what is desired in a worm and jig fishing rod. Someone may chime in and say all rods are parabolic, aka have a parabol, so for that crowd the parabol is more towards the middle

Pline- I'm a CXX man

I think you are right on with the medium action in the 'Croix lineup...notice the Loomis guys are saying MH, which is the 'Croix medium equivalent.

I've got a few of those too. Just messin' with ya. I think reels have the least amount of influence on one's fishing. Correct though you may be..., it's like the difference between the $15 Timex or the $300 Seiko (or perhaps the $10,00???Rolex) For most of our purposes, the $15 Timex serves the same purpose with similar functionality. But the Seiko/Rolex is so much nicer to look at. Although a lot of fish that most of us catch could be caught with a Zebco 33, it's all those casts in between and the feeling of satisfaction in worksmanship that make it feel good and worth owning the good stuff sometimes. (Maybe a bit of a stretch...but not by a lot) And in the off-season, makes a nice decoration in the beloved "fishing quadrant" of the house. A lot of us, when we see the pictures and read the reviews, are unbelievers. We have to buy it and see for ourselves....and then say...."Yep, they were right about this one!!!" Nice reel...Enjoy. You're preaching to the choir my friend

I've got a few of those too. Just messin' with ya. I think reels have the least amount of influence on one's fishing.

I've got one, but it hasn't had any water time other than testing its action (which is nice I might add).

Online....Tackle Warehouse, Peepers Baits, and Backwaters. Stores....Academy and Cabelas rule...period. It's all about the return policy. They will take anything back no matter what. If you aren't satisfied...they will take it back even if you have owned it a year (which is B.S. IMHO). Cabelas 'Bargain Cave' is a fine example of anglers abusing the return policy...you see rods in there that have apparently been used for a long period of time, and then returned. The same with reels. Academy and Cabelas are both this forgiving in their return policy. Just the Notion they will do this means they get my money.

Just don't try a Daiwa and you'll be very satisfied with your purchase ;D 8-)

Yeah...NXT is a great synthetic wax, but it has little to no abrasives. You need a polish. Just go to AutoZone or Oreilly's and pick up some polish and a couple of microfibers. I did one with a dremel tool and it was working great, and then I slipped and marred the crap out of my reel >. I did the rest by hand...and it was quite time consuming! I think if you aren't fishing, why not play with your fishing stuff?!