Jrob78

I think you're on the right track. I haven't fished any of those rods so I can't comment on them. The techniques you listed are all MH techniques for me. Flukes and Senkos weigh enough to throw on MH rods. I would also lean toward 7' over 6'6". The longer rod will help with longer casts and better hook sets.

I had the same thought. Fork gets crowded enough as it is, this is just going to make it worse. I'm glad to see it get the recognition it deserves though.

If I could go back to when TW put the Fuegos on clearance I would buy 3 or 4 of them instead of the 1 I bought. I love that reel.

Yep, today was a one hour show, next week's will be a 2 hour show. I won't spoil it if you didn't see it.

I use straight braid around vegetation and straight fluoro around everything else. I like Sunline Sniper in 16 lb for an all around pitching line. I use 50 lb Sufix 832 when I use braid.

My man, you've got a lot of reading to do. Start here http://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/

Combs wins with 110 lbs over 3 days. That's a 7.33 lb average!

Are you fishing from a boat or bank fishing? If you're bank fishing, you might just be in the wrong place. The areas you're fishing might not be holding any fish at the times you're fishing them.

I spiral all my rods the direction of the handle, so clockwise for right handed reels. It just makes it easier to lie your rods down and keep the guides off the carpet.

"Do nothing" plastics are great on c-rigs. French fry baits, centipedes, senkos, flukes, finesse worms...etc, all produce really well on c-rigs.

I like the Cavitron and the Booyah Pip Squeak.

A bass will most likely eat any bait that a panfish will eat but not the other way around.

The top 14 guys are all over 30lbs. Fork is showing out this week.

This describes me as well. I've never had trouble with fluoro breaking at the knot, you just have to be vigilant in how you tie your knots. That said, I certainly wouldn't use fluoro if it didn't work for me and I had the problems the OP is having, can't blame you for not using it.

Hite uses Evergreen rods.

I prefer straight fluorocarbon for my jig fishing.

Yep, Shimano and Daiwa build their own reels. Like Hogsticker said, some are assembled outside of Japan but they aren't outsourced.

I threw one for about 5 minutes and changed it out for a regular style bladed jig for the same reason.

I get mine from Fishing Skirts.com and Lure Parts Online.

Yep, I build my own rods too. I prefer that my rods are set up a certain way and building them myself is the only way to achieve this. You definitely don't save any money but if you aren't satisfied with off the shelf rods, it's the only way to go. I buy some stuff from Mudhole, they have a great selection but make sure you get everything you need in one order as shipping is ridiculous.

This is no secret, he's been fishing those phosphate pits for years. Think about it, he's an older fella now and probably doesn't want to spend 3 days on the water to film an episode. We get to see a load of huge fish and he gets to teach in an efficient manner. Anyone who thinks BD couldn't catch fish on public water is sadly mistaken. He doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.

Fish it almost like you would a popper. Pull it hard enough that the blades spin and it moves some water. Pull, pull, pull, pause....etc. Use the rod to move the bait, not the reel. It's not really a cast and reel bait, although it might get bit that way occasionally.

Absolutely. One rough boat ride and an unsecured 1oz tungsten weight can damage a blank enough to cause it break.

They look like Normans to me too.

Don't allow your weight to clang off the rod blank while the rod is being transported/stored.