SoFlaBassAddict

You need to watch some EPL matches next season, Sam. That truly is the best soccer. Yes, the World Cup is great, it's really something special. But the Premiership is leaps and bounds beyond what the Cup is as far as competition goes. There are teams in the world cup that will be lucky to get a single point. In the EPL though, you really never know what the heck is going to happen.

Fish braid in and around rocks and see what happens.

How do you figure? try using a 5'6"ul rod for punching mats with 11/4oz weights and tell me you will do just fine. there are many more techniques for fishing than just worms and spinner baits, friend. You've got to remember, he said for the fishing he does. He may not need a rod that can hurl huge weights out to matted vegetation. He was just stating what he used for the fishing he does.

Almost anything inherently "dangerous" in fishing is preventable. If the sun is out, wear sun block and appropriate clothing. If you're worried about falling over the boat and drowning, wear a PFD. If you're out in weather that you shouldn't be in, get the heck off the lake. Unfortunately accidents happen, and common sense isn't common. There have already been multiple stories this year about people running into other boats and killing several other boaters. Who can say who's fault it is. Alcohol, lack of proper lighting, etc etc all play a part. Just take the time to prepare yourself accordingly. Check your equipment, go out and have fun. Just make sure you stay aware and pay attention while you're doing it. As far as what those morons at places like PETA have to say, forget them. I'd like to harm or torture some of those goobers from time to time.

One week to go! I can't wait for it to finally get here. Obviously I want the US to win. After the run they made at the Confederations Cup, I'd say they've got a decent chance. They should move out of their group fairly easily, but you never know. Who do I "think" will win? Brazil, Spain, Italy, Netherlands. Germany could be an interesting team to watch as well. Argentina has a shot, but the crappy coaching of Maradona will cost them a win in the end. Portugal will struggle, even with great players like Ronaldo and Nani. I'd love to see France play good, but after how much they struggled to qualify who knows. Thats another loaded team with really poor coaching. Mexico may be the sleeper team of the tournament. They have a very well rounded team, and Javier Aguirre has done a great job with them. All in all it should be a very, very entertaining month. If I were a betting man, I'd expect to see the "big" teams make it through the first and second rounds. Don't look for any Cinderella stories to happen.

x2 I absolutely love the sensitivity of braided line.

Those DOA shrimp are grossly popular down here. I used to use them all the time for snook and snapper. I think they changed how they made them after a while though. It seems like they aren't nearly as detailed or as much of a quality bait as they used to be. I've still got a few of the older ones here in my saltwater stuff, and some of the new ones I've seen look like garbage compared to them. Still a great lure no matter what though.

Appreciate the info guys. Hopefully I'll have a chance to go out tomorrow and use them some more.

Love the couple I have. I'll probably pick some more of them up at some point. Lighter than the Vendetta, feels more comfortable in my hand. I didn't like the Mojo at all. Other people love them, some don't. You've got to use what you feel comfortable with.

So, lately I've been trying out some tubes for largemouth but can't catch one for the life of me. I've had them follow them left and right, no matter what color I use. I realize this type of bait is used far more often for smallmouth, but I've got to imagine that a largemouth would eat them. Tried swapping colors, tipping them with JJ's to add some color, etc etc. I just can't get bit on them... Any tips for retrieves and whatnot for tubes for largemouth?

Sad story right there. You definitely need to pay attention no matter what water you're on. There are some seriously crazy people that have boats now.

I couldn't agree more with what Uncle Leo and Big Tom stated. Buy what you want to buy and enjoy it. Some stuff works for some people, other stuff works just as well for other people. It's not about what you fish with, but how much you enjoy what you fish with.

I use white jigs as a swimmin jig to mimic baitfish. Works great when bass are feeding on schooled baitfish.

Unless the weather's bad, I get out for at least two hours every day. Generally longer.

Sounds good. I may swap out a single hook on some of the smaller baits. The trebles are getting caught together which really irritates me. The larger lures have no issues. My only complaint is that some of them need serious tuning right out of the package. A couple of them were so bad they wouldn't even dive, just dig some water then flip right up onto the surface.

Agreed, we can't stop them from drilling. We are FAR to dependent on oil. What needs to happen is the regulations that are in place actually need to be enforced. The inspections can't be filled out in pencil by some dude on the rig only to be written over in pen back in Washington by the inspector. BP had warning this was going to happen and did nothing about it. The department handling oil related stuff (I forgot the name inside the Interior), needs to be overhauled big time. There are people that worked for the oil companies in government positions that decide how to help out the oil companies. Too much bribery and corruption in the senior members of a department that really can't have that anywhere inside of it.

One easy thing to fix if you haven't checked, make sure you haven't over spooled the reel. If you've got too much line on the spool it becomes very easy to backlash. I'm assuming you've read how to properly set it up after you made the first post.

So I decided to increase my crankbaits a good bit and bought a few Norman Cranks. The company website says every one of the comes with Gammys on the lure. Today while fishing, I was catching a few peacocks on the smaller lures when one came back with a hook slightly bent. Figured I may have hit a rock. Changed lures later in the day, landed another couple of fish and had another bent hook. Now, it was just one single shank on the rear treble. The fish were just barely grabbing it. Should I worry about replacing them right out of the box with something like triple grips, or should I be alright for a while? I've never been much of a crankbait user, but lately I've been having a lot of fun using them on the really active fish we've had down here lately. The peacocks just love the small 1/4oz cranks.

Thanks again to all of you guys at Pinnacle, once I receive the rod, I'll be sure to give it a thorough workout and post up a solid review of it. Pictures included. I may just end up having to buy another new reel to add to the collection now....

Nom nom nom! Cobia = gooood food Nice fish, love catching them when they're around.

So um, yeah. How's about you come down to southern Florida and teach me a trick or six? HMMMMMM? Keep at it NewAngler. Eventually you'll get bit with a Rage product. Like other people said, it's not a replacement for other plastics. They flat out work if they're presented in the right place and right time. Apparently shoestrings do also though......

Yes. Specifically Section 2.4-1 yet I've had zippy success. Tried the Toad again Saturday night and people were missing fish on frogs left and right. "I'll prove myself wrong! I'll try my RageToad!" Nothing. Tied on my 8" swimbait and got 6 hits in a row in the same spot. Swimbait, please. Big- O- thanks for the words of inspiration. I may not count them out completely, but I will keep them in my bag for when I'm just catching too many fish and will try to gain confidence in something else. Josh, You just have to try a Craw T-Rigged with 1/4 oz tungsten and 4/0 Gammie EWG. I telling you my friend it is the bomb when the bite is tough. Good job with the swimbaits. Same basic way I rig mine. Works great.

Yeah, there are some ridiculously big carp in that lake. Theres gotta be some that are easily 40 pounds or more.

Down here, at least on my lake, the fish get really active at night. The water cools back off, stuff starts happening. I've caught most of my largest fish on glow in the dark baits. The hard part is finding quality lures that really glow, and glow for a long time. I've had some custom poured plastics made that are just outstanding.

Probably the second I see the head come out of the water. Thats when my heart really starts going and I start saying stuff like "Oh god, stay on...stay on...."