tholmes

Braveheart The Deer Hunter Dances With Wolves Schindler's List Full Metal Jacket Tom

For me, it would be the 870 Express. But then, my first repeating shotgun was a Wingmaster that I bought for $89.95 brand new. I've owned Winchesters, Ithicas, Mossbergs, Brownings and a Savage (yuk), all pumps, and the 870 is the pick of the litter. Tom

New Balance or Adidas, except when I think I'll be wading, then it's a cheap pair I got at Wally World for $10. Tom

1. Culprit 7.5" ribbon tail worm - Tequila Sunrise color 2. SK Red-Eye Shad - Sexy Shad or chrome/blue 3. Shaky-head jig w/ black 4" grub 3a. Storm Wiggle-Wart - brown craw Tom

X2^ Tom

I'd like to respectfully petition for membership in the OFFC. I'm 58, but it ain't the years, it's the miles. Tom

I'd like to respectfully petition for membership in the OFFC. I'm 58, but it ain't the years, it's the miles. Tom

I'd like to respectfully petition for membership in the OFFC. I'm 58, but it ain't the years, it's the miles. Tom

I'm surprised no one has mentioned a Bic lighter and a bottle opener. Tom

I loosen the drag on all of my reels after every outing. Been doing it for so long, it's pretty much automatic. I don't know if it helps or not, but it can't hurt. Tom @lightsout - nice truck!

Cool! I've got ten items from the list, so I'm in! Tom

^^ Truth. I use a chainsaw quite a bit on the job, and Stihl has been the most reliable saws we use. Great service and parts availability too. Tom

!. Water 2. Coffee (black and strong, none of that creamy, frothy junk) 3. Beer, or more specifically, ale. these days I'm partial to the products of the New Belgium Brewing Co., especially their Abbey and Tripple. 4. Bourbon. 12 yr. old Jim Beam suits me fine. Tom

Ronsonol is what you're looking for. and, yes, it will work just fine for de-greasing bearings. Tom

Wow, what a butt-whuppin'! I think the Patriots just scored again Tom

As others have said, it's all part of finding out who you are. Try lots of different things. In my case, I went through a lot of different interests when I was young, but as I got older, the ones that I was really passionate about kept coming back around. Tom

I've caught lots of walleyes on lures. Everything from crankbaits like Hellbenders, Hot'n'Tots and Shad Raps to jigs with twister tail grubs and tubes to blade baits like the Heddon Sonar. They're just like any other predator fish, they won't pass up what looks like an easy meal. Tom

Like others have said, there are differences. Sometimes the differences are subtle, but they are there. I try to carry a good assortment of Strike King Red-Eye Shad, Cordell Spots, Rattlin' Rapalas and Rat-L-Traps is various colors and sizes. You never know what the fish will want. My best results on smallies have been with smaller sizes and darker colors. Tom

Rattletraps (and other lipless cranks) are, IMHO, one of the most versatile baits around. I've caught largemouth, smallmouth, walleye, white bass, wipers, stripers, pike, drum and even a catfish or two on them. I don't believe that there's a gamefish around that won't hit them. Tom

Put 'em back in the water, they'll eventually die of old age. Tom

It was a Lazy Ike just like this one: My Grandpa gave it to me along with an old Shakespeare casting reel and steel rod. I still remember the thrill of feeling the tug on the line of the first bass that I caught on that lure, and I still feel that thrill every time. I still have the rod and reel, but the Lazy Ike is long gone :'( Tom

As far as "must-have" qualities, on the top of the list is right-hand retrieve. Then comes affordability, if it doesn't fit my budget, I ain't buying. After that it's reliability, comfort and smoothness on the cast and retrieve. I really don't care who makes it and I don't need 15 bearings and a 12:1 retrieve ratio. Tom

2011? I'll fish when I can and be thankful if I'm still lookin' down at the grass. Buy a few (or more) new baits, maybe replace a couple of reels that are on their last legs, have fun, take the grandkids fishing more often, thank God for a wife that tolerates my expensive hobbies, try to learn the drop shot technique, enjoy every day as if it's my last because it might be. Tom

2011? I'll fish when I can and be thankful if I'm still lookin' down at the grass. Buy a few (or more) new baits, maybe replace a couple of reels that are on their last legs, have fun, take the grandkids fishing more often, thank God for a wife that tolerates my expensive hobbies, try to learn the drop shot technique, enjoy every day as if it's my last because it might be. Tom

2011? I'll fish when I can and be thankful if I'm still lookin' down at the grass. Buy a few (or more) new baits, maybe replace a couple of reels that are on their last legs, have fun, take the grandkids fishing more often, thank God for a wife that tolerates my expensive hobbies, try to learn the drop shot technique, enjoy every day as if it's my last because it might be. Tom