tholmes

You will be equally amazed at the difference between the Supreme and the $40 Okuma. Tom

This^ exactly. Tom

Bandit Footloose and 100 series, Bomber Square A, Norman Squarebill Wake, Bagley Honey B are all good \. Tom

I am passionately indifferent about the material on the handle. I prefer the look of cork, but I own and like several rods with EVA handles. In practical use, I don't really notice any difference. Tom

Flooded timber or rip-rap banks. Pick 'em apart with a t-rigged craw or worm, or bang a squarebill through 'em. Tom

Nice! That sure looks like a lot of fun! Tom

I guess I'm kinda OCD with my gear. I fish maybe 4 times a week and after every trip, I loosen the drag on my reels and store them (on the rods) standing upright in a rod rack that I got from Cabelas. I don't remove the lures after every trip, just at the end of the season. They are stored out of the sunlight. Reels are cleaned and lubed at least once a year and line gets replaced as needed. Tom

I predict the next world record largemouth bass will weigh more that 22.3 lbs. Tom

Look on the bright side. At least what you're doing is working, you're hooking fish. As others have said, you'll never land 'em all. Tom

AFAIK, it's illegal to release white perch in any lake in Kansas. You can't even have them alive in your posession or use them as bait. They are pretty good eatin' though. Tom

It's in Costa Rica. Tom

I do have hands about the size of coal shovels but, more important, they're about as flexible as coal shovels too. I can comfortably palm a 5600C, but most low profile reels are uncomfortable for me after a couple of hours. Tom

Yep!^ If I had only one combo and one lure, it would be a ML spinning rig with an inline spinner. I prefer Panther Martin, but a Roostertail would do the jojb too. Tom

You can get 'em right here. http://lurepartsonline.com/Online-Store/Buzz-Blades/Buzz-Blade-Rivets.html Tom

Welcome from another flatlander! Tom

You're not alone. I'm also left-handed but I do a few things righty ( bat, play guitar, etc.). I reel with my right hand on both casting and spinning gear. I never understood why baitcasting (and spincasting reels were called "right-handed" when, to me, they were clearly designed to be cast with the left hand. Tom

T-rigged Mann's Jelly Worm. Tom

Some of us guys still use 'em and find them more comfortable than low-profile reels. ​ Tom

6'6" BPS Micro-lite UL rod and a Pflueger Trion reel with 6lb. Yo-Zuri hybrid line. Tom

If I'm not mistaken, the 5500C3 will be the closest in size to the Cardiff 300. The new models of the 5500C3 have carbon fiber drags and are well-built, rugged reels. I've only owned one Cardiff and, while it was a good reel, I prefer the Abu reels because, for me, they are much easier to take down for routine cleaning, lube and maintenance. I've used a 5000C to take stripers up to 35 lbs. and flatheads up to 50 lbs. and never felt like I was over matched. Tom

I like to fish with vintage reels also. Mostly Ambassadeurs but I also have an old Daiwa Millionare 5H, a Shakespeare 1980 President II, a Ryobi AD4000V and a couple of late '80s Shimanos that all get occasional use. They're not in the starting lineup, but I break them out a couple times a year just for fun. Tom

It could be a store brand from BPS or Academy. Tom

Yep! That's the way it is out here on the prairie. Tom

It's been hot here lately and my best producer has been a Culprit Fat Max in black or watermelon. Tom

Let's not forget the Guitar and Amp Monkey. He's bada**! Tom