tholmes

My most productive colors are Tequila Sunrise, Red Shad and Junebug. Green Pumpkin and Watermelon work well sometimes, but they wouldn't be my first choice. Tom

No foolin'! My visibility threshold is about $150. Tom

Why would it shock you that Abu would introduce a reel in the same price range as the Steez and Calais DC, etc.? Abu is competing for the same $$$ as everyone else. It's a very competitive market. Tom

Still my favorite worm color. I need to get back to making and fishing hair jigs. I used to catch a lot of smallmouth on my home-brewed bucktails, but I've kinda drifted away from hair jigs.I need to drift back. Tom

Buy a spool of 12# Trilene Big Game. It will serve you well for learning (and fishing) and won't cost much. If you decide to step up to more advanced lines, you'll have plenty of backing line. Tom

+1. Since I fish lipless and shallow to medium cranks a lot, that rod would see a lot of use. Tom

If my local Wal-Mart had those for $20, I'd be all over it. I have an "vintage" Sonora 2000F that I've used pretty hard for 15 years or more, and it's still going strong. Great reels for the money.Fabulous reel for $20. Tom

Yep! Guitar strings work very well. Check your local music store and ask them if they will save old strings for you. You want plain (not wound) steel strings. The plain strings are the same for either electric or acoustic guitar. They're available in sizes from .008" to around .024" or so. Or, you can buy them new, http://www.juststrings.com/plainsteelguitarbulkstrings.html A dozen strings would make a bunch of weedguards. Tom

I've used Trilene Big Game 10# for years and see no reason to change. Tom

Water temp. ~ 40*F, fishing for wipers with a big ol' Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper. The lure is about 7" long and weighs 2 oz. I was ripping it in open water about 15 ft. deep over a submerged point when a bass just barely longer than the lure absolutely smashed it. They ain't always where you think they are Tom

+ 1,000 on the Magic Eraser and U-40. All you need. Tom

It's a diving Rat-L-Trap. I think I've got one or two around somewhere. Tom

I believe those were made by Ryobi. I have a Ryobi AD4000V which is essentially the same reel. It's close to (if not over) 30 years old and still casts very well. Tom

X2^ No need to weigh all the bass I catch. A shopping bag works great. Tom

Bait Monkey sez "Put more stuff in your tackle box! Tom

I like the Yum Crawbug in crawdad and green pumpkin/Texas red. The Rage line-up is excellent too, but I have trouble finding them locally. Tom

I think that it's made by CS Coatings http://www.csipaint.com/index.php Contact them and request a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the product. Tom

Yes. It works just fine when properly tied. Tom

^^ Same here. Magic eraser followed by U-40. Tom

In the summer, it's jeans, a 100% cotton t-shirt and a wide-brimmed hat. SPF 50 sunscreen applied liberally and often. In cooler weather I wear the same clothing but add a jacket appropriate for the temperature. Tom

Saw this on another forum. You youngsters have no idea what awaits you http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv1tMioGgXI?rel=0 Tom

I set the spool tension so there's a very tiny amount of side play and use my thumb to control overruns Mag brakes are used only for fine-tuning when casting in windy conditions. Tom

Wrangler u-shaped or Lee riders, relaxed fit for this old fat guy. Tom

Although I have around a dozen combos, I could probably accomplish everything I need to with 4. 1. 7' M/Mod.casting 2. 7' MH/f casting 3. 6'6" M/Fast Spinning 4. 6'6" UL spinning. Tom

Yep! I've used round head jigs for many years. Mostly because they work just fine and I have a mold to pour my own all the way from 1/80 oz. to 1/2 oz. Tom