RichF

Going against the crowd on this one. I love my glass rod for bladed jigs. It's a 7'0 H Powell max spook and trap. I've used a regular graphite MH rod for it also. It's fine, just like the glass way better. Never used Lews, but have heard mixed reviews. Many say they're great for the price (especially the mid-range ones). Others say they don't hold up to extended use. I'm a big Shimano guy. I have a Curado 200I on my bladed jig rod. Love it. It's smooth, casts great, good line capacity (I like to use 17 - 20 lb flouro on it), and the drag (like all shimanos) is butter.

The super is even cheaper on Academy's website. I believe $39.99 for the 660 yd spools.

I'm pro-spro all the way. Pad crashers are fine. They both catch fish. I think the spros walk better, have better hooks, and are a bit more durable.

Big fan of glass/composite for bladed jigs. I use a 7' H glass Powell Max, 6.3:1 Curado I and 17lb Flouro.

I have the 7'3 H Kistler Magnesium Slop and Frog Micro. It's by far the best I've used. Super balanced, awesome soft tip that lets you skip under docks and overhanging trees with ease, and solid backbone. Pair it with some 50 lb sunline fx2 and a spro bronzeye in killer gill.

I always wanted to bring a ton of stuff when I fished as a co-angler but realized it's just a bad idea. Your boater will probably not be too happy and you'll be fighting with tangled rods all day. I cover all mine with Rod Sox pros (the ones with the rubber bottom). They fit tighter than any I've ever used. You can also get rod straps to keep them all bunched together. http://www.***.com/P-Line_Rod_Strap_2pk/descpage-PLRS.html http://www.***.com/Okuma_Neoprene_Rod_Straps_2pk/descpage-ONRS.html http://www.***.com/The_Rod_Glove_Wrapz_2_Pack/descpage-TRGW.html http://www.***.com/Rod_Sox_Casting_Pro/descpage-RSOXC.html

I think luck has a lot to do with winning a tournament. I've seen guys that do nothing but bank beat with a senko win every now and again but finish at or near the bottom most other times. Having consistently high finishes in multiple events is a much different story. You need the skills everyone has mentioned to consistently do well. As for why it's so popular...I couldn't tell you. I often ask myself what's so intriguing about catching fish with a "stick and string" just to throw them back in the drink. It's my favorite thing in the world and I can't even explain why it gives me such enjoyment. Catching bass is just an awesome feeling. Catching them during a tournament dials it up to a whole different level.

Hopefully that's the attitude of the minority.

Not a great attitude to take towards a resource all anglers should respect and strive to protect.

We all need to think this way. Too many people out there think these fish are an unlimited resource.

If you're only going to use it for leaders, you could try the new Sunline Model Flouro. A hundred yd spool for $10 doesn't seem bad. Sunline has a good rep too.

Not sure if this is 100% true but I've heard (from an elite series pro) that putting your "sunblocked" hands in a livewell full of bass can kill them. I've never done it but I think it could be possible. I know not everything said by an elite pro is true but I figure they've handled enough fish in livewells during tournaments that this could be a viable observation.

Eurasian milfoil is my favorite. Bass love it. But 99% of the time it has to be green and healthy with pockets in the beds. I agree with Yakker too. I like to look for areas where two or more different kinds of weeds mix. I also really like curly leaf pond weed early in the season. It tends to liven up a little earlier than the milfoil in most of the lakes I fish.

Most balanced rods I've ever fished. I do find them to be a little under powered compared to other brands like St Croix or Shimano. I have a 7'6 H Helium 3 that I used for 1/2 -3/4 oz jigs with 20 flouro. I think its perfect. Either way, you'll definitely like them.

I'm surprised they don't blur out the Phoenix, or Bass Cat logos on the boat decks like they do with the anglers' non-Huk branded clothing.

Anybody else notice that half of the Nitro Z-7s they use in MLF competitions aren't actually Z-7s at all? What's up with that?

Definitely bothers me...A lot.

Again, I said nothing negative about TP&W. My original comment had nothing to even do with that organization. I simply stated that it isn't ALWAYS best to just agree with your local fisheries biologists because they may not have certain species' best interest on the forefront. Like J Francho said, up here in the north, bass are second class citizens. Our fisheries folks are much for interested in managing for trout, salmon, and walleye, leaving bass as an afterthought. What's best for those species isn't necessarily best for bass. I completely agree with this within the context of growing trophy sized fish in a closely managed lake. Outside of that, I'm skeptical. That's all I'm saying. Our views on C&R are obviously going to be different given that we are from very different parts of the country. Our bass populations are a bit more fragile given our limited growing season which is why I'm a big proponent of the practice. I understand it's a much different dynamic in the south. Your bodies of water are more fit to handle steady harvesting. I certainly wasn't saying that my experience was superior to anyone's. I was just sharing my personal exposure to scientific sampling/data collection and the "not so perfect" reality of it. No need to lockdown fellas, I'll say no more.

I don't think my comments were dismissive at all. I simply said that it's not always the best idea to believe what every fisheries biologist says regarding bass management (because of NY's handling of the matter, which it sounds like you're familiar with). I also agreed that removing small fish from the system is common practice when trying to manage a trophy pond/lake. In no way, shape, or form was I trying to insult or downplay anything the TP&W has done with regards to bass management. Any organization that puts forth that kind of effort to enhance something I'm passionate about is A-OK in my book.

I've been using Simms' sun gloves for the past couple years. They're great. Been wanting to try Under Armour's glove as well.

Again, how is this relevant to any of my comments? You're obviously trying to call me out on something but I'm not sure exactly what it is.

That's great. I'm not sure how this relates to my initial comment though. I think I did say that harvesting small bass is a common practice when trying to grow trophy bass.

There may be some confusion about bass management on small/private/trophy lakes and ponds vs. large public bodies of water circulating through this thread.

According to their website, they do what most other DNR/DEC type organizations do (or claim to do).

Selective breeding of different bass strains to grow trophy sized fish.