flechero

You should teach her to drive the boat so she can just pick you up at the dock. Or, take her to a parking lot and teach her to back the trailer so you can be in the boat. It makes life so much easier.

Like all rods... they can be no more sensitive than the user's own hands, which is part of the reason you are going to get a wide range of responses on this thread.

The best formula involves only basic math and most of it's done by a cash register. $20-$30 buys a decent digital scale. Weighing a fish is the ONLY accurate formula.

If bass ate/swallowed with their mouths wide open while suspending at a 60 degree downward angle, that might be a problem. ;D Of course if the mouth was open would your tight line pull it out of the mouth?

I hope that's correct!! CHUM!! That made my day!!

from natural causes... it's extremely rarely. In over 25 years of bass fishing I have had one (for sure, but possibly two) defective blank snap. In fact, I've only seen a couple defective blanks ever. Breakage resulting from previous dings, nicks, damage, and other things like rod locker doors, weights, lure smacks, etc.... happens to some guys with regularity. There is an interesting relationship between how a person treats his gear and how "unlucky" he is with accidents and defects. :

Well, you couldn't actually order one from them... but have any rod custom built and that's what it would cost, if you could. Custom rod costs are pretty variable... $200-$800 depending on a bunch of things.

For obvious reasons, there are no links. I have talked with techs from Abu Garcia and been told straight up that a number of guys get the above mentioned work done to reels. Others have posted here with similar info on other brands. I've seen first hand the rodbuilding room at one of the factories, where the sponsored angler's rods are assembled and it's not the same place or people as the "factory rods" we buy. Through the rodbuilding forums, a number of very credible guys (some who wrap for the US manufacturers) have also mentioned these things. There are just not that many products that any professional athelete uses that are stock merchandise. Pick your sport or activity. Even stock components that are custom built are not what's available to the public... I don't think that the totally different stuff with "factory" markings is a widespread thing though.

Forgot to mention weather... the p-line was WAY WORSE when temps were chilly. It might be great in the summer.

Well, I haven't liked the p-line cxx (on any of the rods/reels I've used it on) because of the memory... I also use Sufix Seige and Trilene XT in #20 and both cast better, IMO. You might try one of them or just spool up something that you have to see if that cures it. Any line in a lesser diameter (or softer compound) would cast better. The problem is that when you hook a good one in the junk. It's always a trade off of some sort. Also, that reel has so little use on it that it might just need to be broken in a little...

I hope he does since he responded to your email, but even if he doesn't, what would he say... "no, I use something else" and lose his sponsorship? That's simply not true. It's been covered many times before... a percentage of the pro's use custom rods (with the factory decals and thread colors) built to match the factory rod. I can build a factory duplicate... good enough that you couldn't tell them apart if I mixed them up. Just about any rod can duplicated easily if the builder knows what he's doing. Some reels are "super tuned" before being shipped to them. Others are upgraded to the max internally. The list goes on and on. Unquestionably, some guys use the exact product that we can buy but quite often, the looks are the only things that are the same.

Casting distance is full of variables... could be the rod, reel, line, bait weight, bait shape (aerodynamics) and more. However... If that's the reel you bought from me and you think there is an issue with it- send it to ReelMech and if he finds a problem I'll pay for the repairs.

I wholeheartedly agree!! (and "education" doesn't only mean a typical 4 yr. degree... any continuing ed can be used to further and better yourself) And the beauty of FPU and the entire Ramsey plan is that it works for all people... young, old, rich, poor, the haves and have nots... and it won't make excuses for you. It's the best $100 you can spend... and if you don't have $100, you can get a scholarship!

my c-rig rods are 7' hvy, fast. (baitcast)

I believe it's like that everywhere... and at the very least, you could get arrested/ticketed for public intoxication, even if the driving statute didn't cover a boat.

I only have experience with 2 alum boats (neither of them were mine but I fished from both) that had them... both were improved significantly. One that wouldn't plane until the foil was installed and the other usually needed the passenger to move forward to get it to plane... with the foils, both boats instantly were "fixed" and could plane easily with added weight. Top end and handling also seemed to improve on both.

None of my business but maybe you should take your s-10 and the money you are about to spend on another boat, and put it towards a "new" vehicle that can tow the bass boat. That way you are in a larger, safer boat and you haven't thrown away money on a second boat that may or may not meet your needs. The used truck market is pretty ripe these days.

weekdays are great! I love fishing during the week.

Just remember that this is a case of more is not always better... don't go over the recommended amount.

Chris, Those who drink responsibly, in any setting will most likely be responsible while fishing. Those who are out to get 'trashed" don't need an excuse, like going fishing.

Thanks Matt, I appreciate the answers. One follow up if I may... Would it matter if you found a tank dam or rock pile instead? You'd still be fishing a spot you saw from another angler, regardless of whether or not he happened to sink a brush pile so it would still be cheating by the earlier definition. Just to be super clear, I'm asking for your opinions because I respect them and I'm truly curious as to how you look at these situations.

Lots of good choices out there... depends on what kind(s) of fishing you want to do. I like Central Texas... I have LM, SM spots, hybrids and more with in 10 minutes of the house. The coast is only a 4 hour drive, fork and the east texas lakes are day trippable... either direction I can go flyfish for rainbows, and I can go north for a day trip for browns. We even have landlocked stripers and redfish within an hour's drive. and in Dec. & Jan. we fish powerplant lakes... not many places where you get to fish buzzbaits in Dec. and Jan. and the added bonus for me is that the smallies like to chase baitfish up the bluffs all summer and they hunt craws shallow in the late fall, so you can easily take them on the fly rod! * edited to add: no state income tax here either!

Matt, What would be the difference if I spotted the brush pile on my graph and fished it? If it's a planted pile, is there a difference how I got to it? However, using your own statements, wouldn't planting a pile also be like cheating? Since you didn't use your skills to find fish, you had to dump brush in the lake to attract them to a spot you could find again. You also said it... planting pile in good areas is a key so if I am also fishing those areas, I might either find them on the graph or notice someone fishing the same "kind" of area... If a pile is planted on a point (as many are) and I fish the point, am I cheating? Are we now saying it's ok to fish a planted pile, ONLY if you found it by accident on your graph? That sort of takes the public out of the public lake, IMO. Should I assume that anyone I see fishing areas I normally fish are all cheaters? How do we know who explored and found vs. who checked out a spot they saw a boat near? Deep breaths... It's fishing... once you take the fun out of it, it may as well be yard work.

Most of the time... the guy hoilding it. ;D

I hesitate to even post since this is NOT aimed at you personally, but here goes... The global economy doesn't really matter to most, just the local economy and even then, your economy is all that really matters. Your economy isn't bad. You have a job and you aren't suffering. Being a pessimist and worrying about what the media reports doesn't change things. It's always wise to save, especially when things are good so that you don't have to panic when things go bad. You might look into a course called Financial Peace University, you'll learn more in 13 hours than you will in 4 years. As for saving... I follow the advice of Dave Ramsey- living on a written budget is the KEY. Every dollar is spent on paper, before the month begins. (savings is a payment to myself) And like others, I'm more careful on what I do buy... I don't buy as many steaks at the grocery store as I used to. Controlling spending is the main thing, and learning the difference between a need and a want.