The_Natural

Ed Chambers has never had a website to my knowledge. WEC baits, a.k.a William Edward Chambers, is the founder of Zoom, and also known as one of the best crankbait painters of all time (and builder). He has no schedule of what baits he will produce or what models he will continue. My favorite bait is a shallow crankbait, and my favorite shallow crank is the WEC Wobbler. These baits were made in '06. Some say they are discontinued, but you never know if he will produce another batch. There have always been only two websites that carry WEC's, and the are www.peepersbaits.com and www.bubbajackstackle.com He does have a new bait out...called the 'Sand Flea' that Bubba Jack's has (if it isn't sold out already). Each WEC bait is hand signed by Ed Chambers and engraved with the build date on the bill. They have the hardest clear coat of any crank I have every fished, but the action and quality is why I buy them. Ed can seriously paint...he builds a mean crank. I'm posting a pic of my favorite...the 'Wobbler'. These are fetching a lot of money ($24-$80) on ebay. I wouldn't sell my chocolate shad Wobbler for $100. This 6lb guy fell to the chololate shad two years ago out of a small pond I fish...I haven't caught him since. I save them for when I need to catch a bass...

I agree. I don't own a single Shimano anymore . I have 6 TD-Z's, 2 modified Alphas, two Sols (newly aquired), and an airy red pixy. The Daiwas just feel more precise/tighter/more advanced. I think the higher-end Daiwas are tackle-junky reels . I still want to buy two regular Scorpions for cranking reels before they are discontinued though...they cast light baits better than the Sol, and hold more line. Other than that...I'm all Daiwa. The Daiwa paint jobs are incredible...I can't believe someone would buy a Curado over an Alphas.... Daiwa's have sex appeal!

I've never considered a different deflection property, but generally circuit boards lips reach depth quicker (thinner), and are more flexible/don't break off as easy. With the induction of the newer, super thin lexan lips such as the Lucky Craft BDS/RC, Daiwa thin Lip, etc...pretty much have all the benefits of quick diving depth, and I suppose the hard lexan may deflect a little better, but I really haven't noticed a negligable difference...I think the lip's shape has more of an impact on deflection.

A nice, fairly slow retrieve has always produced the best buzzbait bite for me. There is nothing like having a nice slow, squeeky/clacking buzzbait pass by a stump/log/laydown etc. and just getting it NAILED! The Cavitrons look nice, but I just bought about 14 Leverage buzzbaits from Sportsmans Warehouse for half price...and I didn't really need and buzzbaits. I'm stocked.

I think even the regular Yozuri is pretty limp and has low memory compared to most lines. Line twisting has absolutely nothing to do with the line, but the mechanism you are using to cast it (i.e. your spinning reel ).

I think they are about as opposite as you can get. Traps are open water search baits for me...fan-casting points, etc. I throw shallow runners around cover...where most would break out their pitching rod.

Discontinued yes, vintage, no. You definitely can get some good change for a vintage devils horse though. You're not going to let this go are you

I like it. The only two I like better are the Trilene fluoro and the XPS fluoro. If you like Inviz-X...try the Trilene fluoro...it's even more limp.

Not balsa...I'm not game. I've found some good deals in the Pradco Promo bins though...never seen a smithwick in there. Shame on you Avid ...I'd have know pretty quick if they weren't vintage...similar to wiggle warts .

Just did some research and called my uncle. I'll pay you $6 plus shipping for 10 or so Bo-jacks...that's 100% profit for you! The bo-jack hasn't been made in years. You must have an old school non-supercenter walmart that has some REALLY old stock. I'm all over it...shoot me a PM. I'm excited...this is great!

Where do you live? My walmart doesn't carry any Smithwick stuff, and I've never seen a Smithwick crank. I was assuming it is Balsa...I'd still pay more than $3 if it is Balsa and I can't buy one locally. I've got a shallow crank fetish...

These rods have been around a long time. They are good rods...lighter than any IM6 rod made at this time that I know of, but IM6 can only be so sensitive, no matter how it is rolled. I'd go with something higher modulous/strain...Croix Avids can be found right now for $100-$120 depending on model (due to coming revamp), and I think the majority on here would rather fish an Avid versus a Light and Tough.

I'll give you $15 for it plus shipping if you are wanting to ditch it ...I really like that color.

The high end Quantum rods use Lamiglas blanks. I had the first Quantum Tour Edition rods about 15 years ago, and they said 'blank by Lamiglass' (HSX 54 I think?) right on the rod. They blew away my lightning rods I had before the Quantums. I would say the PT's are a pretty good rod assuming they are still using Lamiglas as their blank supplier. As for the reels...their spinning reels seem to hold a lot better reputation than their casting, but I'm still a Shimano/Daiwa guy.

I've been doing it for a couple of years now. I like clear line (CXX in Crystal), and will color it according to the water I fish, or sometimes not at all (I obviously don't color my fluoro). Anything I think will give me an edge I'm willing to do. I use Berol Prismacolor markers, which are fairly expensive for a marker, but the Prismacolors are the gold standard in colored pencils and markers (I used to take several art classes), and they have an awesome selection of colors...a TON of green and brown shades. I have 3 I use; a light green, an algae colored green, and a light brown. I'll get a pic up later; I'm on lunch. The Prismacolors have two tips, and I just take the fat end and slice it with a thin fillet knife about halfway down. Your line will go right in the notch, and I just run it up several feet above my bait.

We only have one Sportsmans Warehouse here locally...and it's a 30min haul from me. After reading about some deals on another forum, I headed down and found the IMX SJR's on sale for $120 (783). They had two, and only one GL3 784 left (the guy said they had others, but sold them). I'm a big-time bargain hunter...and this eclipses about every bargain I've received all year. I'm definitely stoked...

Did you sell off some Heliums L-rod? I knew you had a several MB's, but I thought you had 5 or 6 Heliums. Nothing wrong with upgrading...just wondering. Every time I replace a rod with a better one, I sell as well...I don't need 20 rods, although I have 12 at the moment, which is more than I need. I only have 10 reels currently.

It's the tournament fisherman in Cali that are willing to pay $50 a pack...they have been key in several tournaments wins there over the past year. If you are fishing for several grand...what's a measly $50 if it could mean the difference in a win?

I've always used spray as a masking agent...I buy the cheapest areosol I can find. I've always thought 'attractant' was not an accurate definition of bait scents. There was a study done a couple of years ago with cotton pellets...fish were fed in a tank with pellets, and then after a while they went to cotton pellets enhanced with anise, garlic, salt, and a couple of other things. Anise bought you almost no extra time. Garlic was several seconds. Salt solution was around 10 seconds. There were a couple of others tested as well. I just gave a feeble attempt at googling it...I'm on my lunch break. So I wouldn't say salt impregnated lures wouldn't buy you extra time...

I'll add that all the Shimano Clarus rods were $29.99...a steal in that price range.

I purchased a bunch when Bass Pro put them on sale. Great idea, and they do stand up, I just wish they were tungsten instead of tin for $10 a two-pack. I haven't fished them enough to comment on their effectiveness versus my other jigs.

We have a Bass Pro and several Academys here in OKC, and Sportsmans Warehouse carries everything they don't. Some things they carry that Bass Pro and Academy don't are, Roboworm, Reaction Innovations (the FULL line), Yamamoto (the FULL line...even the 8" and 10" grubs, 7" Senkos, Slim Senkos, and ALL the colors, etc. A full two walls worth!), Lucky Crafts for about $2 cheaper than Bass Pro (normal price). Maybe they just have a good fishing manager, but it's almost like a fishing specialty store compared to bass pro and academy...I love visiting. They even carry specialy stuff like those persuader baby ducks, Castaic baby bass baits, and I saw the new spot-remover jigs there today (which look killer). They are having an end of year clearance right now...all Legend Tournaments are $150 (not all Sportsmans carry them), all Avid are $99-$119, and discountinued Loomis rods are knocked in the dirt! I put two IMX SJR783's on hold today ($120 a pop), and an MBR784c GL3 for $100. I about crapped my pants. Also, all Rapala SSR's were $1.99, as well as select husky jerks, fat raps, etc. It was a good day, except for the hook in my finger (another story).

I see Gerald Swindle choose the Gunfish 90% of the time over Lucky Crafts other offerings. It kind of works like a chug bug that walks better.

PLine CX Premium...as limp as it gets.

In the heat of the summer around cover, a heavy 5/8oz finesse jig and paca chunk senior gets a great reaction bite. However, lately, the bass have just pounded the jig/Flappin' Hog like I've never seen. I don't know what it is...it doesn't have the action of the Paca, but it just looks so good in the water. Sitting on the bottom you can't tell if it is real or not. I caught two good fish in a local pond that gets a lot of pressure that had a fresh hole in their lip from a very recent catch...that told me somthing. I just sent RW some...I'm waiting to hear what he has to say with them (dude...put them on a jig!)