Hooligan

Dig it. I'm in.

You can infer what you like, however that is not what I said, nor what was intended. It's very well documented that vertical holds harm fish. It's very well documented that grippers have higher rates of injuries to fish, as well. Thats what I'm saying, nothing else implied. Ajay- Thanks for your post. An example of great handling, and a tip I've used from you for as long as you'd told me about using the mat. Again, however, not an instance of what I was talking about with their use. Like I said, I under stand that aspect of it: I'll never understand landing a fish with them, horizontal holds with the grip placing pressure on the lower jaw, no using them on exceptionally small specimens...

Pardon my error, it isn't scolding, I just don't get landing fish with them, and using them on fish that are clearly not treble hook fish. I don't get it. Seems like an unnecessary extra step, as well as seeing improper use.

Odd man out, I guess. I wear them only because she who must be obeyed tells me I need to. The one I prefer is the buff.

Hard or impossible to hold improperly? Wrong. The issue that I see more than any other is people use grippers on the lower jaw, and the gripper then comes back under the fish, almost guarantees a dislocation. The reason this thread comes up, and the reason I DO take it seriously is that in the past month I've witnessed people using them improperly, and have seen a number of pictures here on the board that show them being used improperly. At a couple of lakes I fish that they're inordinately popular, I've also seen a direct correlation to 3# or better fish dead of dislocations or as a result of lacerations from fish grips to the tongue and soft tissues. I get using them as an aid with treble hooked fish, for the same reason I wear a glove when dealing with Muskie. I disagree with your assertion that it's the best for fish when weighing. A vertical, unsupported hold of any sort is not good for fish. Period. If you wish to debate that fact as well, please. Lead on.

I get that, but even in the instances I see the plastic ones used, I see them used in a manner that has, without a doubt, caused injury to the fish. And, it generally used to land, handle, weigh, photo and release fish. That's the kind of stuff that I see as completely out of line.

Really? I mean, sure, Tarpon, or redfish, I get. Even, maybe, on a Muskie or a pike if you're not familiar. Bass though? For serious? Here's my beef: they damage fish. Period. It's been proven time and again that "fish grips" like the Boga or Rapala break or dislocate fishes jaws at a severely high incidence. Why, for Pete's sake do I see people using these things on little dink green fish and brown fish? It's not like ANY bass is going to do irreparable damage, are you that afraid of them? Do yourself and the fish a favor. Learn how to handle fish properly. Stop using grippers on fish. /endrant

Popmax.

The question you answered was why you wanted a popper to walk. I get that. And the comparison doesn't stand. A popmax walking is less subtle than a Sammy or spook.

I'd say that's pretty universal, as far as results on the sizes. Whether in TX, OK, CA, OR, or anywhere else I fish, that stays pretty true. That said, if I were going to buy just one to start, it would be a 68spl ROF5.

No it's not. It's far less subtle, and sends a lot of water gurgling and splashing with the Popmax. The question was asked what a $20 popper can do that a $7 splash can't, here's your answer: It'll walk, easily, it'll spit without chugging. It'll chug and splash. It creates a great bubble trail. It will create a very subtle splash, or you can make it dance on the spot. There isn't a single popper anywhere near as versatile as the Popmax or PopX. The knock of the 1/2 ounce version is without equal, as well.

It's good to be back. Bit of a different career path, more time to fish and almost no required travel. Heck I think I've fished more this spring than I have for the past two!

PopMax. Period. I have One on at all mes of the season, as well as a Pop X. Yellow magic if you're after more of a chug.

And I'm still chucking the Loomis, though I added a St. Croix Legend Glass this year.

Green Valley is good, 12 Lake is good. Boji is excellent, Rathbun is great, Anita is rock Solid, Blue Lake is very consistent, Icaria has kicked out some 8# plus fish of late, Brushy Creek is phenomenal, big creek has a very good bass population.

I'm a guy that uses Tatsu and Shooter, for different things. The sole purpose I use Shooter for is 1oz jigs and punching in 25lb. It's stupid strong, and has better abrasion resistance than Tatsu. Tatsu is all I use on Spinning gear, and it's what I use for ever other technique that isn't top water. One thing that will help, as well, is to not overfill your spool. Reducing the volume reduces mass, but also reduces just how much line comes off with every revolution.

...I should fish these more? I've been spoiled for years. I fished GLX and NRX sticks primarily, along with a handful of other super light, stoopid fast jig and plastic sticks. I've got rods out my ears, and it never ceases to amaze me how I can accumulate more. Here lately, I find myself going back to my LTB rods and falling in love with them all over again. Not necessarily ever rod in he series, but a good portion of them. I pick up the 7-1 MHXF finesse jig rod, and it's like... well, like going home. The way it feels in hand, how ridiculously powerful it is. How it balances so well with a Chronarch or Metanium. I have CH50MG that sits on a 7-1 that is probably my all time favorite rod. I was fishing out of a building died boat, during didn't grab everything out of mine that I wanted, so grabbed a handful of rods out of my stash and had totally forgotten how much I loved them. The flip stick that is stupid powerful, does light enough to flip all day long. The big jig rod that I punch with... Ever find yourself picking up those rods that you've never let go of, only to pick it up and remember why? I just ordered another pair of rods because I realized how much I loved to fish them. Anyone else do that, or is it forever onward and upward with the latest greatest?

The original E2 Pumpkin Head, and a couple others. One I've been using a lot this year is the Chompers Ledge Hopper. The Buckeye Ledge head is a good one, too. I fish several worms on them, the Bullworm is good, Jelly Worm is good, and a Mag Swamp Crawler is good at times.

Points and setbacks, Jig and Lobster, Swimbait, C-Rigged Rooster. Find rocky points and fish the downstream side casting up. Grass will hold fish as well, but it's touchy with that much water moving. Points and setbacks, Jig and Lobster, Swimbait, C-Rigged Rooster. Find rocky points and fish the downstream side casting up. Grass will hold fish as well, but it's touchy with that much water moving. Edit: Approach it like fishing a river, not like a lake- if that makes sense. There's good weeds and bad weeds, if you find fish reliably holding in one kind anywhere on the lake, you will find them in the same stuff all the way around.

Go to technique? Dragging a jig or gtail through whatever cover or structure I can find.

20# PLine CXX. I buy 3lb spools and change it regularly. Best answer I've found.

Jeremy Omaha, NE With ten years between your Classic wins, how much did you see technology change in that time frame; and comparatively, would you say that as a result of that initial jump start, we as anglers become more and more reliant on that technology to stay ahead of the competition?

If I could even begin to count the number of fish under 2lbs I've caught on bigger baits than a 168, I would guess it's in the thousands. If a bass thinks he can fit his face around a bait, he's going to try, their instincts make them do it.

Yeah, I understand that. There's more to it than just that, but that's at the heart of it. I'm running Onix10 at the console, a 999 inset, an onyx 8 and 1199 up front. What I am curious about is your impression of the imaging. The Mega is substantially better than the old, in my opinion. I get that part of it. More specifically what I am wondering of those that are running Solix is SI speed and clarity and speed at which 2d will still reliably mark fish. I haven't played with the Bird enough to see it, but the Carbon w/ 3D was consistently marking fish in 30+ fow at better than 30mph. My units won't do that. Period.

Curious to hear your impressions of the imaging. I got to experience both Solix and Carbon and was blown away by both for a variety of reasons. I may actually run a combination of the two manufacturers next time I rig, as both excel in different ways. What say you?