Chaz Hickcox

#66 is actually the joint where the shaft is supposed to be anchored at, its not supposed to pop out. I would call minn lota and see what they're willing to help with or if they can refer you to a repair shop near you. Usually their warrantees are really good. If that piece is popping out, I'm guessing up above the mount, then its probably severely worn. The part should be fairly inexpensive, but if you don't do your own work then the labor would likely be a bit pricey. Sorry I can't be more of a help.

Good for you. Wish I could have found one like that, I had to settle for a 93 Javelin 379DC that is pretty beat up. I would love to find a good old Ranger like that. Sweet deal dude.

I've got a maxxum and could probably help, but pictures would help to identify exactly what you're talking about. To me with the all terrain ball thing I sometimes have to go back and forth for it to work. But yeah give a pic of what your stuff looks like and it would be easier to help.

07 avelanche and my silverado have been working real well for me. V8 is a must otherwise you will actually burn more gas because of way higher rpms. When I was a kid we had fords and they worked well too, but trannys would go out too soon. They may have fixed that since I started buying gm, but I dunno. I got my silverado while I was in Afghan in 08. Look for dealerships online that are close to your house and if you have access to an iridium or something like that call and let them know where you are, obviuosly not specifics. If they're worth anything as Americans they should be able to help you find what you're looking for. Semper Fi.

So I am at a tournament last week and when I was coming in on the intracoastal I got stuck behind a yacht and had to slow down. When I did my bow went high, as they do at low speeds. Once we got into the no wake zone I checked on my fish and they were flopping on the bottom of the livewell. Now, usually I let it fill up and then close the valve because this has happened before. Is this normal or is there something wrong with my system?

Game Hawg in Amistad Special

My problem is that I end up setting the hook on a lot of wood. I switched to pitchin hawgs t-rigged because they don't snag as much, but I would like to be able to figure out the jig. Now I have been looking for more line than depth, less line than depth, subtle movements, so on and so forth. However it seems that most of the time I set the hook on wood a lot. how do you get around that?

Out here in va I use a firetiger strike king spinner to mimic the bream. I don't know what the deal is but they won't touch a white one but they love that firetiger. Is it because it looks like bream or because its easier to see? I dunno, but it works for me.

Game Hawg, Brush Hawg, anything that is similar. T-rigged with a pegged 1/4 Oz weight. Just seems to work better that anything else. When it hits the bottom there's an abrupt sprawl of all the legs that seems to get their attention real well. Besides that the action of all those arms seems to induce a strike on occasion as I bring it back to the boat.

I have used them in the past. They're great when burned and the fish are active. As far as their durability, well that depends. I know that the bass I've caught with them didn't tear them up too much, but they were torn apart by gar. With that being said though, all I had to do was call Castaic and they sent me out two new ones with no questions. Their customer service has been excellent. I would say if you have a lot of gar or dirty water get the rock hard series. I know the trout may discourage some, but really it's the same concept as the brush hawg. I know they aren't living in my waters but the fish love em. Also with the rock hards they will click against themselves adding another dimension to the bait, noise. Personally I have had the best luck with the Hard Headed Originals, and they're cheaper. Durability with those are awesome. The one I bought in 1999 has been used a lot and finally broke a few weeks ago. That was only because I nailed the trolling motor with it.

I've snagged a channel cat in the meaty portion of the tail using a jointed rapala, but nothing they have purposely tried to eat (other than live minnows).

Ok now that's more disgusting than a slime coated bowfin covered in leeches and cysts!

So most of the users on this site are clowns huh? That should sell a few more baits... Dude calm down, Bobby is making a point. A lot of people like to make assumptions without knowing what's up. If that's not you then don't worry about it. Megastrike is doing just fine without having to add anything new. If they do, then they probably have their ducks in a row. Keep kickin @$$ Bobby! And when are these due out? Within the next month will be cool as I am out of fishing until then, but heck I can't wait to try this texas rigged. If you can make em black with chart tips!

Oh good now we're going to have to worry about the phenomina in Bee Movie. Good job Slone for bringing that up. Now, whoever finds the talking crawdad, USE HIM FOR BAIT!!!!

X2 I would get the larger sizes, like 1/2 oz. In addition, topwaters around the grass in the morning should work. I have a part of one of my rivers that is a lot like what you explain and I use a lot of Scum Frog Bigfoots to bring up the bass around the weeds. Here's a small example, look in the background at the reeds. It seems to match what you are describing. Late summer is awesome up there when the shiners are spawning and the bass a busting them on the surface.

I have one, but it's starting to tarnish really bad. I got it and a couple of tandem colorado bladed spinners for the murky water I fish, but oddly enough I have found that tandem willow leafs work best in my waters. It's really odd how that works. My water is brackish and heavily stained, if not muddy. I know it goes against the rules, but heck, the bass will get what the bass want. My best spinners are the Strike King Tandem Willow Leafs with one being bronze and one being silver. Again, I don't know WHY it is, but I know THAT it is.

Weird when they do stuff unexpected like that. My partner had his spinner get caught up on a stump and when we went to get it I had a spinner in the water, maybe 2 in deep, and nice LMB came and tried to take my rod from me. This was within inches of the cypress tree he was holding on.

At that point if the water temp is right (Air temp is only an indication of water temp may be), you should be able to do well with a popper. Experiment with it and see what they want. Try a pop, pop, pop, pause retrieve, then a pop, pause, pop, pop, pause, or a sustained popping all the way back to ya. The best place to pause is near any kind of structure. If you know of any submerged structure this is cool. Also, If you can bounce it off a log into the water, pop it, then wait. I have had a lot of bass hit at that point. When I say pause, let the rings on the water get about 5-7 ft away from your lure.

Been fishing braid for a long time and out of options on the water I had to switch to flouro. I have been impressed and will still keep some braid for spinners or other expensive baits I put in some real hairy spots, and at least one rod with mono for spooks and such, but everything else is going to flouro.

From the looks of it I think I will be the first here on the site to use em. Unfortunately I won't be able to give you an answer on that until mid June. No fishing till then :'(. Work calls.

So I used my winnings from yesterday's tournament to get a good flip/pitch rod and reel. It was a little local tournament so I only had about 115 to play with. I picked up a 7'6" Field and Stream Telescopic Tec Spec rod and married it with an Abu Garcia Black Max. The reel I know is not the best Abu out there, but budget... I know nothing of this rod. I know it fit the budget and the telescopic feature is nice because it shortens the rod by about 6-8 in and my rod storage on my boat is only 7ft long. Does anyone have any thoughts or comments on this rod? In the end its a stick that will work for getting some reach. If you want to see it, it's sold at Dick's http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3986143. I actually am kind of worried since it's a Dick's exclusive. Does that mean no one else will market it?

Amazingly so. I've seen shrapnel deflect off the side of them. It scratched up the lenses real bad, but not a scratch on my buddy's face. He was wearing some ballistic M-Frames.

x2..good info..also one more HUGE IMPORTANT factor when you fish (if your a new angler and just starting out) PAY ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER...thats one of the most important factors to fishing that new guys dont think of. warm/cold fronts,storms,hot-cold,day after heavy rains,wind,moon phases.it all has to do and effects the lakes and the fish (how they feed,theyre moods) and try fishing at duck right b4 night thats some of the best fishing ever,ON ANY LAKE!!! i prefer early dawn sunrise and just b4 nightfall.nightfall topwater strikes,theres nuttin like it.but most importantly dont give up.also if you dont use them try using fish attractant sprays i.e gulp,megastrike,jj's magic and so on.and if anything next time SLOW down,most new guys tend to fish to fast,i know i did when i started out.so with that said...good luck and have at it again X3 I've gotten most of my best advice from a Catfisherman who fishes for food out of a little jon boat. He see's stuff and goes places I would never think of because I am racing by it in my Javelin. He's been fishing my water for food for about 20 yrs. When he says 'go here' or 'try this' I usually do extremely well (when I am smart enough to listen, still bull headed sometimes).

Been using them a lot lately. Most of my fish today came from t-rigged, pegged with a bobber stop, and pitched tight to cover. For me, they usually take it before, or right when it hits the bottom. If not I bounce it towards me a few times, then restart. I had a lot of fish today take it while it was basically swimming as I brought it back for another cast. I think it all depends on the fish's mood.

Growing up in Az I learned that top water is always a good way to go. With those gin clear waters they will sit deep in the thermocline and will come up 15-20ft to hit a top water if it gets their attention. However, there are much better ways to get to the fish than to hope to call em up. It works, but isn't necessarily the best. In skinny water, all you fish is topwater. Here in Va the deepest part of the fish holding parts of the river are rarely deeper than 8 ft. With that being said, top water is right on top of them compared to the aforementioned conditions in deep Az reservoirs. Most of the fish here will be in 1-4 ft of water. If you make enough noise under some shade there should be some good fish coming out to say hello.