tholmes

Agree^ I'll fish slower and with a lighter weight (or weightless) in colder water, but a T-rig still catches 'em. Tom

Ask at the tackle shops in your area. Surely there's someone around the area that will do the repair. Even out here in the very rural area where I live, there's a couple of shops within a 2 hr. drive. Tom

+1. Tom

It was minus 8 degrees here this morning with a wind chill of minus 17. Not a good morning to stick your tongue on the pump handle Tom

Sounds pretty good! Try standing while singing, you'll have an easier time with breath support and phrasing. Tom

+1^ The teflon base hole pins work like a champ! Barlow's also sells a heat-resistant tube that you put over the weedguard when you powder coat and bake your jigs. http://www.barlowstackle.com/Heat-resistant-Tubing--P1200.aspx I've never used them, but it's another option. Tom

Any rod repair shop will do the job for very little money. About $10 - $15. Tom

Pegged me exactly. Central Kansas, about a hundred miles northwest of Wichita. Tom

Liftin' you up in prayers for a speedy and complete recovery! Tom

Clean, re-organize and re-stock my tackle boxes, clean and lube reels, clean and repair (if needed) rods and play guitar. Tom

I have a Black Max that I bought as a "truck reel". I've used it pretty hard for three years now and it's held up pretty well. I spooled it with 8 lb/ mono and, after a clean and lube plus a little tuning, have no problem casting 1/4 oz. crankbaits with it. It's on the bench now waiting for a new pawl to be installed. Tom

Excellent choices! I'd add Weller Special Reserve to that list also. Here's an interesting article on bourbon: http://www.gq.com/life/food/201311/bourbon-whiskey-family-tree Tom

If you want to go with lighter brake blocks, you can use part# 20209 (blue). I've swapped these on a couple of my ABU reels and it makes casting lighter baits a little easier. Tom

If it uses 2 brake blocks on the handle side of the spool, it's probably ABU part # 20211. I believe these were made in the early to mid '80s and were regular 5000 type reels with an aluminum spool. Edit - if it has the 6-pin brake system, the part # is 975043. Tom

I make my own with a Do-It mold. As far as hanging up, I put open shank double hooks (no split ring) on them with the points facing backwards. Solves a LOT of hang-up problems. Tom

For me, it's gotta be a 7" ribbon-tail worm, tequila sunrise, T-rigged on a 3/0 round bend offset hook. Tom

I'd probably survive until the Visa bill came in Tom

I throw 1/4 oz. cranks all the time with my 4600Cs and 8lb. mono. I set the brakes to 2 on and 4 off. It works like a champ Edit: If it's an older 4601C (not C3) I replace the white brake blocks with blue ones (ABU part# 20209) Tom

Yep. Much more than that ad I run into problems. Tom

1. Be patient. Stay on an area that looks like good bass habitat. Don't just toss a few casts and give up. fish the area thoroughly, and with a variety of baits and presentations. 2. Become proficient in a wide variety of techniques. 3. Try things that "shouldn't" work. Topwaters in the middle of the day, jerkbaits in the dead of summer, etc. Bass don't read the fishing magazines. Most of all, HAVE FUN! Tom

No air resistance in space! Tom

I prefer round bend offset for most worms and EWG offset for bulky baits. I'm not particular as far as brand, I usually use H2O or Eagle Claw. Tom

I don't know for sure whether they're discontinued or not, but Gillraker worms were one of my favorites. Haven't seen any for a long time. Tom

I'm so sorry, man. Losing a beloved canine pal really hurts. Tom

We got a small amount of ice Tuesday morning and we're expecting light snow off and on for the next few days. Right now, it's 16 degrees with a windchill of 5. They're forecasting lows around 5 degrees for the next couple of nights, with sub-zero windchill. Too durn cold for me! Tom