tholmes

Today is my last day on the job! At age 66, and showing up for work virtually everyday for over 50 years, I've decided to retire. It's time to spend more time fishing, playing guitar, gardening and generally driving my wife crazy. Tom

Wait...I'm supposed to organize them? Who knew? Tom

Kansas - 11 lbs. 12.8 oz. caught in a private strip pit in Cherokee County on a jig'n'pig. The young man was 14 years old at the time (May 3, 2008). Tom

This^ I buy the Abus used and overhaul/hot rod them. They just fit my hands better than a low-profile reel. I've been using Shimano spinning reels for years, but a few Pfluegers are starting to creep in. Tom

Take a look at http://hookless.com/. Jerry has a lot of parts for customizing those older Ambassadeurs. The 2BB worm gear and idler/cog wheel are some of my favorites. He also has an assortment of handles. Tom

That would be close to 4/64". Tom

Bass Pro Shops Tourney Special Rattle Bait in Golden Tiger. Tom

Get a drill gauge: https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Drill-Gauge-Diameter-Metric/dp/B009I1KLY2 You should be able to find one at Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. Tips are sized in 64ths of an inch, inside diameter, so simple math can get you the right size. Tom

I fish ribbon-tail worms a LOT. 7" (or 7.5"), 3/0 or 4/0 round bend offset hook and a 3/16 bullet weight ( weight varies depending on conditions). Cast it to a target, let it sink, wait, hop or twitch it once, wait, etc. WATCH YOUR LINE! I catch many fish without ever feeling the bite, I just see the line twitch or start to move. Tom

Doc & Merle Watson, Norman Blake, Tony Rice, Dan Crary are some of the artists that come to mind right now. Search for some of their recordings and give 'em a listen! Some of the recordings are several years (or decades) old, but bluegrass is kinda timeless. Tom

10 lb. Big Game. Tom

7" (or thereabouts) ribbon-tail worm, tequila sunrise, 3/0 round bend worm hook, 3/16 bullet weight. For faster moving lures, a 1/2 oz. Strike King Red-Eye Shad in Sexy Shad. Tom

I spend more on reels than rods, but for practical reasons. I'm much more likely to break a rod than a reel. Plus, I can fix a broken reel, but a broken rod is junk. Tom

I rarely ever use just a straight retrieve. Pause, jerk, vary the speed, etc. until you find what works. As far as color, I could (but I probably won't) get by with three colors. Something resembling a shad, a bluegill and a crawfish. If I can't catch 'em on one of those, I probably ain't gonna catch 'em. Tom

I'll use a ball-bearing snap swivel for fishing spoons, but never for anything else. Tom

It's near the top of my list too! Tom

I really like the 5/8 oz. Bandit Squarebill but apparently, it's been discontinued. The Norman Fat Boy is another favorite, along with Strike King KVD series and Rapala DT Fat. The Bass Pro Shops XPS squarebills are also rgeat baits, and at $3.99 ea., are a bargain. Tom

I've bought several reels from ebay sellers, both new and used. I've got some great deals and never been burned. I limit my search to U.S. only and avoid sellers with less than about 97% positive feedback. Only once did I break my own rules and took a flyer on an Ambassadeur 5500C3. It was listed by a seller with zero feedback and the description said only "silver and black". The pictures looked good so I put in a lowball bid and ended up getting it for $10. When it arrived, it was virtually perfect. Tom

For 1/4 - 1/2 oz. baits, 7' Medium/Moderate rod, 6.3:1 reel, 10lb. Big Game. For 3/4 - 1oz. baits, 7' MH / M rod, 5.3:1 reel, 12lb. Big Game. Tom

Just leave that little plastic piece out. The reel will work just fine without it. Tom

Spinning: 6'6" ultralight 7' medium light Casting: 7' MH 7' M 6' MH Tom

For most worms, a round bend offset, 3/0 - 5/0. Big worms (culprit Fat Max, etc.), lizards and craws, EWG 3/0 - 5/0, whatever size fits the bait. Tom

Nice collection, Goose! Love those smaller Ambassadeurs! Tom

So far, this year - about $40 for some line and a few Panter Martin spinners for a trout fishing trip this summer. I've got enough bass tackle to last me for the rest of my life. That's no reason not to buy more, though. Tom

I still have several old reels, and still fish with the round Ambassadeurs, Record 40, Record 50, 4600 CI, and a 5600 CL Rocket all modded with dual ball bearing levelwind and 2 ea. 5600C4 Mags are in the starting lineup. There are about 15 more on the bench. In the "retired" collection are a Shakespeare Wondereel 1920, Shakespeare 1980 President II, Daiwa Millionaire 5H, Pflueger Supreme 511, a couple of Shimanos from the early '80s, my old Mitchell 301, 309, and 409 (yeah, I'm a lefty) and a Daiwa 1300C. Most of these are reels that I have used in the past and retired. I pick up reels at yard sales and overhaul them to give to my grandkids so there's always a fleet of old Zebco 33s laying aound. Tom