Jrob78

I agree completely. Right about the same time this thread was started, another was started suggesting that live bait fishermen are "lazy." I would say that 97% of bass fisherman are good, honest, humble people but that other 3% have an awfully high opinion of themselves and what they do. This arrogance is disgusting and makes all of us look like idiots.

yeah

It has absolutely nothing to do with being lazy, in most cases. That's like saying all lure fisherman are arrogant, not all of us are.

Bass fisherman have gotten completely carried away with the whole catch and release concept. I C&R 95% of the time but it's because I don't want to come home and clean a bunch of fish. I mostly fish for fun, not for food. I don't like seeing people keep really big bass, for food or for mounting. With that said, to think that it's ok to tell other people what they can keep and what they can't is ridiculous. As long as they're playing by the rules, it's their right to bring fish home every day if they want to. Having a "holier than thou" attitude toward legal fisherman keeping fish is plain wrong. As has been said, many bodies of water would be much healthier if more people did keep some fish. Also, check your local lake's stocking report, you'll probably see a very large number of sport fish being stocked every year. Some people need to relax a little.

Part of the Megabass USA expansion includes lower pricing. There are several baits that should be in sub $20 range now. My BPS had a pretty decent selection but oddly, no 110's.

Another rod you might check out is the Falcon Bucoo. Also, if you can be patient, Academy does their rod riot sales pretty regularly. I think you can usually save $20 or so per rod.

I would use the gel or some type of 2 part epoxy. Get a good bit on the shaft, then slide the weight on, nose first. That will allow the hole to completely fill with glue, use denatured alcohol on a rag to clean the excess.

All 3 look awesome but I especially love the colors on the top one, nice work!

I hated fluoro too, until I tried some of the better brands. Sunline Super Sniper is a great line and so is Tatsu. Seaguar InvizX is also very manageable, it handles beautifully but has a lot of stretch. Tatsu is the best of the bunch but is also the most expensive. Use a backer, KVD L&L and don't get a larger diameter line than you really need. One of the better lines will be cheaper in the end because you will keep it on longer.

This is where I got my battery and charger. They have a wide selection and good prices. http://www.atbatt.com/sealed-lead-acid-batteries.asp

Congrats on the new boat. I took a long look at those when I bought my Ride 135, it's a sweet kayak.

Also, wire an inline, 3 amp fuse from the battery to the unit.

He wasn't using the weight with the frog. He was pitching the Missile Baits D-Bomb with the heavy weight and throwing the Phat Frog, not at the same time though.

It looks like there are around 20,000 people playing. I've done it for the last 3 seasons too, it's a lot of fun. 917 is really good! Too bad you won't be able to finish the season and see how well you end up.

You're not alone, the Zillion was my 1B to the Fuego's 1A.

Daiwa Fuego is the reel I always come back to.

First, E-glass is not a blend of graphite and fiberglass. E-glass is a type of fiberglass that some rods are made from. Fiberglass in rods will normally be either E-glass or S-glass. Fiberglass and graphite blended together is generally called composite. These blanks are used for crankbaits and live bait, most of the time. The technique specific rods are usually what the rod company had in mind when they designed the rod, possibly to suit their pro staff. On most of these rods, the power and action are also listed. You don't have to use the rod for the technique listed, it's just a suggestion. In my opinion, the rod companies have started doing this because it encourages people to buy a different rod for every technique. It is a subtle sales pitch. Use your brain to decide what rods you want to use for different techniques, if you go solely by what's written on the rod, you might end up disappointed. What works for one person might not work for the next.

I've always been under the impression that when a company puts 9, 10, 11 bearings in a $80 - $100 reel, it's for 2 reasons. It's intended to make people think it must be a quality reel. It appeals to the 'higher the bearing count, the better the quality' crowd. The other reason is your tolerances and fit don't have to be as precise if you slap in a bearing at critical areas.

Wayne is right, Doug V is the man when it comes to Humminbird.

I agree with you. Curado B's are everywhere and still going strong. I can walk in Southwestern Parts right now and buy any part I need for any of the B-E series Shimanos ever made. Turn on an Elite Series or FLW tournament and before it's over, you will see a Bantam Curado on someone's deck or in their hands. They hold their own with the majority of reels made today. Give me a Japanese made Shimano or Daiwa over a Korean made Lew's or Revo every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Be careful putting larger hooks on a suspending jerkbait, it will probably make it a sinking jerkbait.

At Academy?

It's worth checking out if for no other reason than to pick up some H20 baits.

It's going to be pretty tough to find a 6' casting rod with a full cork grip. These days, rods are getting longer and grips are getting smaller. If you have access to Academy, look at their All Star Classic line of rods, I believe it is an Academy exclusive. They have what you're looking for. Actually, you can probably order online. http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_705703_-1__?N=101394130+4294951525

You're tx rigging it either way. I think what you're talking about is tex-posing, that's where you push the hook point all the way through the bait. Either hook should work fine, a lot of people feel like you get better hook ups with a straight shank hook. I use more straight shanks with beaver baits now than I used to. I always bury the point in the bait, it should be weedless and allow for good hook ups. When I use a EWG hook, I like the Gammy Skip Gap hook in a 3/0. It keeps the bait up on the hook and has better hook ups than a regular EWG hook. I fish the Skip Gap tex-posed.