BrASSmonkey

Milton, Ontario, Canada Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Perch, Crayfish I also know that there are alewife and Creek Chub too BM

I bought the Okuma C3 (Carbon Cone Concept or something) casting rod last year. The rod is relatively light. The carbon grips are really nice. THe rods is a MH and loads up nicely with lures in the rated range. I am very happy with the rod. BM

The New Pro Qualifiers come in thw low gear ratios for deep cranking. They are also really smooth and cast well. Good reels for the money. BM

I purcahsed a Pro Qualifier last year and have been quite happy with it. It looks great, and casts and handles well. Has only an 8 pound drag too, where the Pro Qualifier has a 10 pound drag. I just put the stock Abu Garcia carbon matrix drag washers in a Pro Lite, and in a Pro Qualifier recently....HUGE difference in strength and in how smooth the drag is. Maybe not worth doing out of the box, but eventually it's a good idea to replace the drag washers. When that happens go for the carbon drag washers. Which Abu garcia model drag washers did you use to put into the Pro Qualifier? I replaced mine with Carbontex washers from smoothdrag. I have smoother and stronger drag as a result. i am curious if the Abu Garcia washers would be even better? BM

I have just recently (last summer) caught my first bass on a jig and trailer combo. This read waws insightful and educational. I hope to remember the tips included as I learn more this coming season. BrASSmonkey

Hey all, I am not sure what to write to introduce myself other than that I am an angler for Milton, Ontario, Canada. I grew up fishing. I lost interest during my teens and into my 20's, then cuaght the bug a couple years ago, and have gone crazy with fishing stuff since. I even started a blog. I think the very first post is more interesting than anything I can think of at the moment, So here it is. (The name I use in the blog is PainInTheBass, but will change it to BrASSmonkey for this forum) Genesis The water is like glass and a mist rises from its surface. It is still dark outside with rods of light just beginning to peak out from behind the horizon. It's reflection broken only by the wake as the boat silently trolls forward. The eerie silence is broken by the whiz of line flying through the guides with a cast followed by a splash in the distance. I turn the handle; the hunt is on Hello, my name is BrASSmonkey and this is my attempt to chronicle the hunt for fish in Southern Ontario. This is not a particularly difficult task as fish can be found anywhere from stormwater management ditches and ponds to well known and oft fished Ontario fisheries such as the Great Lakes, Rice Lake and Lake Simcoe. The ro***s preventing access to the water may prove a different challenge. As girlfriends, fianc és and wives (oh my), lurk behind every corner, ready to pounce at the opportunity to steer me from the course, I must retain my focus and keep my polarized glasses covered eye on the prize. As work, weather, and other commitments allow, I break water in search of my quarry. However, I am not alone in my hunt. I bring with me a reliable rag-tag crew of weekend warriors weathered from years of work in sales and hardened by the dark confines of office cubicles. Meek, mild mannered demeanours belie their true nature, as arm (and mind) blasting casts and jaw piercing hooksets emerge with dawning of each new weekend. Let me introduce you to the BASStards. For your protection and theirs, you will know them by their code names only. Codename: Sir Fusses Sir Fusses is known for his bone crunching hooksets, often yanking panfish 10 feet into the air! He has a rod for each occasion and 2 floater occasions as well, totaling 17 rods! His knack for finding fish is unparalleled, nor is his knack for unintentional overboard excursions. He fishes with reckless abandon, and signs emails with Kindest regards,. He has too many weapons to choose from (17 in total), so you may identify him by the hydrostatic lifejacket. He is my second in command and my primary fishing partner. Codename: Spam Spam is not just your favourite luncheon meat anymore. He is a relentless fisherman who is faithful to the lures that are faithful to him. His arsenal consists of a series of lures he has dubbed his Faithfuls due to their knack for hooking onto something. Sometimes that something is even a fish. Stricken by narcolepsy, do not confuse him for dead because at the sign of fish he is awake with lure in the water. Tool of choice: venti crème brulee with extra foam, 12%, not 18%, extra hot with an extra cup for insulation. Mmmmm. tasty! Codename: Musky Hunter a.k.a. Princess of Panfish Musky Hunter. Two words that strike fear into the little hearts of panfish everywhere! Do not be fooled by the name, panfish are her game! She rules the sunfish with an uglystick, catching them with machine like precision as I struggle to keep up with her furious pace, taking the fish off her hook and rebaiting. The Princess of Panfish, as she has become known, does not handle fish herself, nor does she handle live bait or soft plastics But, if you want panfish, just hand her a rod. Beware her mighty calculator, which she can often be seen dual wielding with shocking precision. Codename: Duk Noonan Duk Noonan is a sneaky angler, like a ninja, known for blinding fish (and other anglers) with his penchant for going topless, revealing his eerily pale skin, causing confusion in his prey and an uncomfortable sense of looming doom. His uncanny ability to intimidate fish may be the result of his perennial fishing partner, who we will call, codename: White Bucket. Little is known about White Bucket except for the fact that it's presence signals the end for all things fish; big or small, White Bucket does not discriminate, and terminates with extreme prejudice. I must admit that I have never really spoken with White Bucket, and in fact, have not shared 2 words with White Bucket. I myself fear White Bucket whenever I go swimming. For obvious reasons, White Bucket will be excluded from this quest. We will not speak of White Bucket again Without it that shall not be named, Duk Noonan has had some success, although he is not nearly as intimidating without it that shall not be named. He once caught a walleye without it that shall not be named. His favourite tool, aside from it that shall not be named is his protractor. Codename: Sean a.k.a. Knot'Yo Cheese Sean A.K.A. Knot'Yo Cheese is not named Sean. Codename: Sean is a master of knots, tying with precision and speed, earning him the nickname Knot'Yo Cheese. His ubiquitous knowledge of knots is surpassed only by the distance of his casts, often opting for distance in lieu of catching anything at all. With a new rod and reel, and armed with a plethora of baits, this young gun is taking aim this year. Do knot underestimate his knots. He will use any of them at anytime and without warning. Consider yourself warned. Codename: I'll Pre-Cut You! I'll Pre-Cut you! is vicious when armed with a utility knife! If you are a worm, watch out! She has no qualms about pre-cutting you! Don't be fooled by the smile, growing up on the mean streets of the M. Dot has hardened this angler, and she will stop at nothing until all of the worms are pre-cut! If she weren't concerned with dulling her blades, she would pre-cut the worms with her razor sharp figure skates! Triple axle! Codename: Pink Lightning Pink Lightning is a mystery to me. She is more likely to be seen with a book than a rod. She is named for the colour of her rod and reel, inspiring thoughts of candy and flowers and bubblegum. Fancying herself a Princess, you may find her on her camping throne, complete with canopy and ottoman, or on her mattress in her tent, note I did not say AIR mattress Believe it Now that you have been introduced to the BASStards you are about to enter into a journey with us to where we do not know. We ask that you fasten your seatbelts and stow your trays in the upright position. We are about to take off If you read through all of that, then I look forward to chatting and sharing with you in the future. BrASSmonkey