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I had a good laugh at it.

I like to cast them and fish them like I would a jig, swim jig, or slow-rolled spinnerbait. They fall horizontally with a keel weighted hook and don't seem to penetrate weedcover very well, and that's normally what I flip. I prefer to rig them with bullet weight when flipping, but that's just my experience. It can't hurt to give it a try around the woody cover that you've posted pics of.

Does anyone have any experiences with HP Reel Bearings? How do their ceramic hybrids compare to Boca Orange Seals? They have an April special going on for another day, and ABEC 7 unshielded ceramic hybrid bearings for Shimanos are on sale for $25 shipped. They also have ABEC 7 stainless steel bearing for $15. They claim the steel bearing are "way better...smoother and faster" than the stock ABEC 3 bearings in the Curado. Experiences? Opinions? http://hpreelbearings.com/JulySpecial.aspx

I never hear people say pop around here. I'll either use the brand name or call it soda, as do most of the locals.

I like the Snag Proof Phat Frog the best. They're heavy and easy to cast, and they don't fill with water. I like how they displace more water and make more commotion than any other hollow bodies frog I've tried. You have to bend the hooks out a little or you'll miss strikes. When I'm fishing pads and other cover than can move a little, they seem to want to stay in the water and move around the pad or clump rather than hop over the it like some lighter frogs do. I seem to have fewer missed blowups with Phat Frogs, and I think it's because they spend more time in the strikezone rather than on top of the cover. The Snag Proof Bleeding Frog has outstanding hookup ratios. You can't miss with those things. The body is super soft and the hooks are large. They're pretty light and they don't make much of a splash. They're a subtle alternative to the Phat Frog. Durability is very poor. They tear easily and the red hooks get chipped up and turn gold within a month. The weight is external and like to fall off if not superglued. They're a pain in the butt to deal with, but they're cheaper than most and they catch fish like crazy. Spros are good, too. A lot of people swear by them. I've had good days with both sizes. I use these all of these frogs just about equally, with a slight edge going to the Phat Frog, especially later in the season. They each have different characteristics and have their time and place.

If the motor's compression test is good, then it's a steal. I would have it tested if I were you.

Good review. It looks like a nice tool and I might end up getting one because I like my Revos. But personally, I think that a reel manufacturer should make an affordable tool that is widely available if their reel requires it for maintenance. I'd gladly give Abu $20 for this tool, but $40 is a little steep.

I haven't seen a flouro yet that could be mistaken for mono. Even stiff mono is more supple than the most castable fluoro, IMO.

They do take up a little more room, but the glove box on the second console is worth it's weight in gold. At least for me. That's one thing I really miss with a single console boat, simple storage for little things like phones, wallets, sunglasses, etc.

No, they are cool to the touch. I have found that they are very susceptible to flickering if you have a dirty or rusty ground connection. It's need to be cleaned every year, or else you'll have headaches. At least I did when I was trying to figure out why my lights were flickering. That's the only problem I've had with LEDs, otherwise I love them and probably won't ever use incandescent bulbs again on trailers.

When I was about 12, I watched somebody spit a sliver of tooth into their palm after doing this, so I thankfully never developed the habit. I still cringe when I see people doing this.

Good review. Thanks

I think they're gaining popularity at a pretty good clip. Better than I thought they would actually, because many people, including myself sometimes, are really set in their ways when it comes to tackle choices. Also, it's hard to get people to buy an expensive rod based on internet spew when many of them can't actually go pick one up, put a reel on it, and swing it around a bit. That's about all it would take. Working out a deal with Cabela's sounds like just about the best thing that ever happened to the company because of the store's wide distribution. Sometimes you have to just go out on a limb to find what you like. I'm really glad I did, they're the best feeling rods I've ever used. I used to be a Loomis/St. Croix guy until I picked up a used 766 for $150 in 2009. 8 more Dobyns followed soon after. The Champion 734 and 735 are especially hard to beat. I can fish 3/4 of my main presentations with these two rods. Spinnerbaits are my favorite lures to fish, and the 734 is so sweet of a rod to fish them with that I'm tempted to fish spinnerbaits more than I probably should.

Pro's Soft Bait Glue, Mend-It, or a battery powered solder iron.

Part of me would love to see a Silva/GSP fight, but I don't know if it will ever happen. I think GSP would get wrecked, and I don't really want to see that. What would it prove? The bigger man would likely win, and the UFC's golden boy would get his reputation tarnished. That's the point of weight classes to begin with, to limit size advantages. There have been a lot of reports that they're working it out, but Dana White says it's not so. Who knows? If it were to happen, I think it would have to be at a 180 lb catch weight. I don't know if Silva can drop to 170. They say he already cuts a ton of weight to make middleweight at 185, and that he walks around at about 205-210, so he's a natural light heavy weight. GSP is a natural welterweight and apparently doesn't cut much weight at all. I think it's more likely that Silva will go UP in weight that go down. There are a lot more appealing fights if Silva goes up than if he goes down in weight. Machida, Shogun, Rampage, Rashad, Bones Jones, etc. Silva/Bones. Now THAT would be a great fight!

I get angry, but I keep my mouth shut when people crowd me on the water. I'd feel like an idiot if I ended up going to jail for fighting or got my tires slashed at some remote landing over a fishing spot. I'll just move, or keep doing what I was doing.

Welcome.

I like the Curado and STX equally. I think they're both great reels and a good value. Choose the one that feels best on your rod and in your hand. Either way, you can't go wrong.

I was thinking that Koscheck was gonna upset GSP. Stylistically, he had a great chance to do it if he could get GSP to the ground, becasue I think he could have kept him on the ground. Instead his orbital bone was broken in the first 3 minutes of the fight and he ended up looking like Rocky. That clearly made him throw out his game plan. I think it would have been closer otherwise. Personally, I think it's a crock that nobody stopped that fight, even though Kos clearly wanted to keep going. Even if it was a title fight, they have to take the fighter's safety into account, first and foremost. His corner could have thrown in the towel or the athletic commission in Montreal could have stopped the fight at any time. It was pretty clear from the mid-point that Josh wasn't gonna take that fight. Look at the guy.

I've heard a few people say it can get brittle after a couple years of sitting on the shelf. Has anybody experienced this? I'm considering buying a bulk spool.

This thread makes me think of one of my favorite observations/jokes from George Carlin. I think it describes a lot of people, including myself at times. "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone driving faster than you is a maniac?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkxaF5Pq5D8

Good ones, especially with the beer. You're right, I never gave it much thought. It's usually "Skunk Urine" like Natural Ice, Schlitz, Gluek (the local rotgut brew), or Busch Light

PM sent.

What is the shelf life of fluorocarbon line when stored properly in a cool, dark, dry place?

Recreational boaters and anglers who live on the lake and think they own it, so the give you NO space at all. People on jetskis who do circles in the middle of the lake for hours, causing the bite to end. Huge bassboats that do holeshots 50 yards away from other boats that are fishing because they're "serious" fisherman, and their time is more valuable than yours. They do this rather than idle away for 20-30 seconds before taking off like any sensible, considerate person would do. Property owners who try to scare people away from their docks while they're fishing them. Breaking off snags on people docks, because it gives a bad rap to all fisherman. (see previous) People who take up two parking spots at busy landings because they haven't yet figured out how to park with a trailer. People who break glass or let their dogs crap at the landing where folks may be walking barefoot. Throwing fishing line in the lake. Territorial beavers. People who are fishing from the dock of a public access and knock lures off your boat or snag the carpet while it's tied up for the 90 seconds it takes to get your trailer in the water. Seems obvious not to cast OVER a shiny fiberglass boat with a lure covered in hooks, but you'd be surprised. Litter bugs, especially chain smokers who throw every butt in the lake. That's about it...