tholmes

Reel stem between my pinky and ring finger, always. Tom

The cobra head may be patented by Gamakatsu and reproducing it exactly could be patent infringement.. I guess you could buy unfinished heads and find someone to finish them for you? Tom

This is the way I've always done it. Works like a charm. I'm using a 7' MH rod and 20 lb. Trilene Big Game, To

Congrats to you and Mrs. L.! A few short years and you'll have a fishin' buddy for sure. Post some pics when you can! Tom

Timely reminder, Joedodge. Here's hoping for a quick recovery! Sun protection is something we all should take VERY seriously! In my younger years, I didn't give it much thought, but now I've paid the price. I've had three skin cancers removed in the past two years. Now, I slather on the SPF 70 sunblock and wear a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and long sleeves whenever I'm outside. This is something you can't afford to neglect. Tom

Cheapest? It was free. A Shakespeare #1920 Wondereel on a 5' 6" steel Shakespeare rod. My Grandpa gave it to me when I was 10 years old (1962). Tom

^ I completely agree. I prefer full cork grips, but it's not necessary. Tom

Just a note of caution. When removing the old tip guide, be sure to pull it STRAIGHT! you can twist it a bit, but don't pull at an angle to the rod or you might break the end of the rod. Yes, this is the voice of experience speaking. Tom

You're going to love it! My favorite line for spinning gear. Tom

Those look great! I especially like the splatterback lipless crank. I'm sure that would catch 'em where I fish! Good job! Tom

Rip-rap, trees with lures hanging from them, weeds, bushes and trash. Lots of trash. Tom

1/16 - 1/8 oz. maribou jig, pick a color. 2" twister tail grub on a 1/16 - 1/8 oz. jighead, white chartreuse, black. Tiny little Kastmaster spoon. Honorable mention goes to a small Panther Martin spinner. Tom

My method for saving is to buy used. Reels, rods and hard baits can be had for half (or less) of new price. Shop the Flea Market forum, Ebay, and other forums on a regular basis. There are bargains to be found. Tom

Yep! This stuff works like a charm and it's relatively inexpensive. Tom

The Fat Boy doesn't seem to get a lot of live here, does it? The Fat Boy has been my favorite squarebill since its introduction. I use it along with Bandit SBs, Strike King 1.5s and H2O Express SBs. They all work well at certain times. Tom

I agree. No matter how clear the lake water appears to be, there's fine silt in it. Failure to remove the gunk will result in premature wear and problems down the road. Tom

That depends on a few different factors. I usually use the lightest weight that allows me to maintain bottom contact. The size that I use most often is 3/16 oz. Lighter if I want a slower fall rate, heavier if the wind is blowing, or in deeper water. I rarely go lighter that 1/8 oz. or heavier than 1/2 oz. unless the wind is extreme. Then I'll go up to 3/4 oz. or even 1 oz. Tom

I'm not tellin'. We won't even discuss jigs or crankbaits Tom

Prayers sent for your friend, his family and friends. Tom

The white blocks are the heaviest, followed by black, then blue are the lightest. Tom

For flatheads, I use an old Ambassadeur 5000C that I've swapped out the left-hand sideplate for one from a 6000C so I'd have a clicker. It's mounted on a 6' Berkely Roughneck rod. For channel cats, It's a Ambassadeur 5500 C-3 on a 7' Ugly Stik. Tom

Congratulations, Andy! Bet you can't wait for bassin' weather to get here! Tom

Wow, after reading this thread, I'm gonna go tell my wife that I need to buy a stripper! No, wait.... Let me rethink that... Tom

This is true where is fish also. Those three colors/patterns cover 99% of the forage that bass feed on. They don't have to be photo-realistic to work, just a color thats in the ball park. Tom