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Amen, Stasher!! Well said. It's even worse when people make strong comments on products they don't even own or have experience with, thinking that they have it figured out after playing with one in a store, e.g., Loomis vs. Dobyns threads. When it's comes to reels, it's not always easy or accurate to compare reel quality from first impressions in the store. Many of them are over lubed from the factory, sometimes with low quality grease and oil. These would benefit from being cleaned and lubed right away, e.g., the Revo STX. Others benefit from a short break-in period. But after a few years of heavy use and repeated cleanings it becomes much easier to separate the wheat from the chaff. You can see which reels maintain their quality and which ones don't. I use both Shimano and Abu reels, numerous of each. They're my two favorite reel manufacturers, but I think you get a little more bang for your buck from Shimano.

Yes, a lot of people do that, including myself. I use Berkley Fireline Tracer braid on my flipping/pitching rods. I bought a bunch of it for $5 a spool and I like it.

I either try to sell the stuff if it's worth selling, or give it away to friends or their kids.

Check this out: http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/board/showthread.php/75467-8-weight-combo-for-sale This is almost exactly what I use for bass, but this one for sale is a little nicer. It's a perfect setup for bass bugs, deerhair divers, and mid-sized to large streamers, and would work fine with anything smaller, like nymphs.

What is generally the first technique you use with when you hit the water?

Fantastic deal!

Out of those two, I prefer the Rattlin' Rapala. They work very well for river smallies up here. Lipless cranks are one of my favorite lures, and out of all of them that I've tried, I like the Xcaliber XR50 and XR75 the best, either the standard or the One Knocker version. The standard ones can be had for around $5 on sale and at that price are a very good value. Check them out.

You should host the first one, BASSclary. Tell us how it goes. ;D

That's a really nice looking reel and a great price. I just picked up two Stradic 2500 CI4 yesterday for $300 or else I would consider getting one.

I'd consider the AVC70MHF a good multipurpose rod with backbone. It'll handles jigs and worms very well. You can toss toads and hollow body frogs with it, too. I used mine for a few years as a 1/2-3/4 oz spinnerbait rod, and occasionally for ripping large lipless cranks around grass. Now I gave it to my Dad and he loves it for heavy spinners and frogging.

WOW! I've see little tumors like that, but nothing even close to that size.

BassInsider is done. It was a waste of money anyway. Here's what the email to members says: "We want to make you aware of some changes related to your B.A.S.S. Insider membership. Effective February 1, 2011, certain digital contents of the B.A.S.S. Insider website will be made available to all visitors on Bassmaster.com. To ensure that you will continue to have access to the latest tips and techniques to catch more and bigger bass, the remainder of your subscription will be honored with B.A.S.S. Times magazine. You will receive 1 issue of B.A.S.S. Times for every $1 dollar remaining on your B.A.S.S. Insider subscription. If you are already a B.A.S.S. Times subscriber, your subscription will be extended."

I've seen so much good advice on here, it's hard to break it down like that. But I can say that the info on this site has turned me into an avid jig fisherman, and greatly diversified the types of baits that I'm confident using.

The Dirt Dog looks like a winner.

Netbait Paca Chunks are a good place to start. They come in countless colors, are widely available, and won't break the bank.

I'm a huge music buff and collector, but I never bring music with me on the boat. I listen to music all the time it seems, including to and from the lake. I need a break when I'm on the water, and I like the calm of being on the water. The only exception on the boat is Twins baseball, but only with the bass turned off and the volume at a whisper. For those who say it doesn't matter to the fish, it does. All you have to do to figure this out is go lake swimming next to your boat and put your head underwater and listen. I was surprised at what I heard from my boat. Livewell pumps, bilge pumps, radios, trollers, etc. They all make noise that can easily be heard underwater by human ears.

28.

Here's a thread I made that pertains to this. I don't bother to actually remove the pin so that I can take the spool bearing off, I just dunk the whole spool in lighter fluid. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1277522242

x2 on the Revos responding to a proper cleaning and lube X3, big time. Many reels, including Abu Revos are severely over-lubed right out of the package. After a good bearing cleaning with lighter fluid and a lube with 1 drop of Hot Sauce, you'll swear those bearings ARE upgrades.

I'm right handed, and I use lefty reels for flipping and pitching. I very much prefer it and I won't be going back. No more missed strikes while switching hands. Pick up a lefty reel and try it, for instance, a lefty Curado for $150 online. Take good care to keep it free of boat rash, and use it for a season and figure out what works for you. Next winter, sell it on the flea market here for $125 shipped if you don't like it.

For once a big winter storm actually missed us in MN. ;D Only a few inches of snow fell, bringing us to a little over 60" this winter in St. Cloud. Hopefully nobody here had to deal with the Lake Shore Drive fiasco in Chicago.

This ailing economy has been really hard on bookstores. They're closing left and right, and library use is booming. Failing stores can do some odd things. That's the only way I can get my head around it.

I don't hate the bait for this, I hate the litter bugs that toss them into the lake. It's not uncommon for fish to spit up these discarded gray turds during the fight. I wonder how many bass get poisoned by Senko-style baits that end up on the bottom of the lake, either by negligent anglers or when they accidentally tear off?

Shimano Curado E-Series or Abu Revo STX.

Jigs seem to coax bites from big fish during hard times when no other lure would do so.