senile1

i don't know about quantum but pflueger's top end reels are as good if not better than any shimano in the same price range and even up to $100 more. I was just pulling your chain, dodgeguy. I knew your were a pflueger man. I know there's a few other Quantum and Pflueger guys also. I believe they all make good reels.

Sweet!! That sounds like the best way to spend spring break.

Robert E. Lee for me.

Hmmm . . . . I've bought a few reels (including three Shimanos) at Cabelas in KCK and have yet to get a bad one. This makes me worry. Huskertko, are you sure somebody didn't take a Pflueger or a Quantum and paint the Shimano logo on it? :

Didn't Triton21 stick a new PB over 8 lbs? I thought I saw that thread somewhere before everything was consolidated.

I forgot to congratulate, Glenn. That was one awesome hawg, oh fearless leader!!!! Congratulations, Glenn.

I use heavy jigs and heavy t-rigs to get down into them. I have one location that I fish with cattails so thick, you can't work a lure down into them in most places. I look for little pockets and work the outside of them when they are this thick.

Bassmaster has an article in the latest issue starting on page 73 (which I don't have in front of me because I'm at work), but they quote somebody who says that Fluorocarbon actually stretches more than mono but is more sensitive due to its density. I've never heard this and I am a little skeptical. I know Fluoro is more sensitive than mono but I've always understood it stretched much less. Garnet's description is right in line with what I understood about fishing lines.

Great vid, LBH. The Muddy saga is classic and brings back memories. : ;D

Trailer hooks are a necessity at times. They'll turn a two or three fish day into a bonanza if they are short-striking. You'll feel them bump your bait or alter the throb of your blades, but you will hook nothing. That's the time to add your trailer. I actually rarely go without them anymore.

bassmat, Here's another thread for you regarding Carolina rig questions. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1120348381 BTW, I must have missed your initial posts. Welcome to the forum.

I discovered the lost city of Atlantis using Google Earth.

If I'm getting skunked and a boat cuts in a quarter of a mile away, then it's too close. Seriously, I prefer for other boaters to give me some room if I'm fishing some structure or a bank, and I try to do the same. It is difficult to place an exact measurement on it. If someone is moving fast down a bank, I'll give him enough room where he won't encounter me for at least 5 - 10 minutes.

Fish Chris stated: Fish Chris, you are right but the way I see it, leaving the big fish and only selectively harvesting smaller ones is helping myself and anyone else who wants to fish for a hawg in the future. Save the Hawgs!!!

6.9 lbs on a digital scale with a black t-rigged Culprit original worm.

I do both. I'm in the boat more than I'm on the bank so I chose boat.

Great movies mentioned by everyone. I love any Sergio Leonne or Clint Eastwood westerns. "Open Range" is great. My top western would have to be "Dances With Wolves."

It can be very productive to allow your lipless crankbait to tick the grass or weeds, and then rip it after you feel it touching the vegetation. Your rod needs to be sensitive enough to feel the vegetation before you are so deep into it that you pull up a wad of weeds.

If I were a bass I'd eat my children and stay away from the lures. Go with what you know.

You typically want your jerkbait to imitate injured or struggling baitfish, hence the jerks and pauses so that the bait doesn't look like a healthy fish. Everyone who fishes these on a regular basis will tell you that the pause is extremely important. Make sure the pause is long enough. I jerk sideways and down but I've performed the technique other ways as well. While the typical methods are probably best most of the time you never know what can work on a given day with any bait. Sometimes something different and odd will bring in a fish. I've enticed bass to bite these by making 3 or 4 quick turns of the reel handle after a jerk and pause.

Thanks for the info, Supermat and Raul. Sorry for any misunderstanding. I think those of us who have never used swimbaits see them as mainly big fish baits, so it's good to know that there'll be some other action as well.

Raul, are you a bit testy today or am I just taking your posts the wrong way? Just to make sure there are no hard feelings, I initially asked if you were kidding and I stated I that I hadn't fished swimbaits so I may not have a clue. I'm not attacking you or anything. You said I could catch a bunch of smaller fish on a 6 inch swimbait, so I was curious what you mean by a bunch. That's all. I wouldn't think a 6 inch worm is a good comparison to a 6 inch swimbait, IMO, due to the width and thickness of the swimbait. No offense intended.

Why did I think you were kidding? Well, here goes. You stated "You 'll get a big bunch of 2-3 pounders on a 6" hard or hybrid swimbait." I've fished some other big baits but I haven't fished swimbaits. The bigger the bait gets, the less the smaller fish bite. I can see catching a few 2 - 3 lb'ers on a swimbait., but a "bunch." Define a bunch. Supermat stated: Supermat, I've been bass fishing since the 70s. I know I have AN IDEA of what a little bass is capable of. I know that small fish can bite big baits. My question to Raul was regarding his suggestion that I would catch a bunch of 2 or 3 lb'ers. I know I'll catch some but I thought he was kidding about a bunch. I'm sure you're catching tons of 2 and 3 lb'ers on your 9 inch swimbait everyday. So take a breath guys because I was asking an honest question. Now back to it. Raul, since you aren't kidding, how many 2 - 3 lb bass do you catch when using a 6 inch swimbait on an average day?

Ice didn't break in the Kansas City area until the beginning of March. Work has been extremely busy, but I finally made it out for the first time yesterday. Numbers were good but I would've preferred larger fish and fewer numbers. I caught 34 with most being 1 - 3 lbs and a few between 3 and 4.

Hmmm . . . you're kidding, right? Our northern strain bass must not have much self-respect because I can't see catching a bunch of them on a big swimbait. But then, I've never fished a swimbait so maybe I don't have a clue.