Hooligan

Yeah, JF, the brownies up there are just ridiculous. The reason I typically fish a 6wt is that it's a Winston XTR which is more akin to an actual 8wt. It's wicked fast, and wicked powerful. Like I said, an 8wt isn't really a typical trout rod, but for the tribs, it's about right on. Second page didn't show for some reason; only after I posted did I see this: You couldn't get a better piece of advice. Slinging an indie rig with lots of lead and/or GL Trib flies, roll casting is usually the best way to go. 'Nother edit, forgot to post it: Strike indicators for what you're going to be doing: http://westwaterproducts.com/thingamabobber.html SUPER indicator for big flies and fast water. Perfect for up there.

Good question. The last tournament I fished on Kentucky (which was this year) the regulation states that you must abide by the laws of the state you're fishing in. It doesn't state that you have to abide by the laws of the state in which you hold a valid permit, but you can fish the entire lake with either state's permit. That's my understanding of it.

Encroachment- I'll flat tell them to move along. If it's a tournament there is a measure of distance they cannot move within without your agreement. They won't get my agreement in that situation; almost without exception. Docks- No, I won't pull in several docks, or even a hundred and fifty yards in front of them. I'll fish directly behind them and catch fish they've missed. I've won quite a few tournaments from doing just that, that they not only donated their entry fee and then I caught my limits behind them makes it that much more enjoyable. I particularly love doing it when someone pushes in on me. Yes, I'm being cocky about it, because on the vast vast majority of the tournament lakes that I fish the greatest majority of anglers have no idea how to attack and approach the docks. Do it right and the rewards are there. Do it wrong and I'm gonna wax the floor with you by fishing behind you and catching everything you missed.

I've had good luck with them on a swim jig after trimming a portion of the leg away to make them more flexible. Still like a Rage Craw or a LFT Creature better.

I very much disagree that it's a regional thing. If you fish a bait, have confidence in it and are putting it in the right places you'll catch fish. That can range from craws, to beavers, to swimbaits, to jigs, and spinnerbaits. The key to it is having the confidence in it and fishing it every bit as methodical as you would on any other body of water. It's been proven time and time again that a straight T-Rig is one of the most fish catching lures of all time. I don't believe for a second that fish are conditioned to the worm, not at all. I'd start with a T-Tig Robo or other finesse and give it everything I've got. My second choice would be a hair jig with a Rage Craw; I'm a believer in high action large profile trailers regardless of water temps. The more they look alive with the least amount of forward movement of the jig, it's money. Jerkbaits would also be in my arsenal, as well as a couple other lures. Typically with cold water, sub 60 degree range, I have five major baits I fish; I've yet to blank this fall and the water temps are from 33 to 37 right now.

I will say this: I've had several in my hadns and have no issues with those. For that matter, I'll own a couple of the crank rods.

Not a joke at all, and quite understandable when you have elementary understanding of their supply system. Very, very often the stores are the absolute last to know about things. Many items are catalog only for a period of time and it's near impossible to buy them in the store. If you have someone in the store that is willing to take it upon themselves to do more research and be more informed than what they're told in meetings/trainings great. Bemoaning it as a "joke" is less than the truth of the story at best. Very often, things like this occur and the public finds out before the vast majority of employees.

I've got several hundred SK cranks, and it does happen from time to time. I know firsthand there was a run of them that have the exact problem you describe. Any that I've had were in the 6XD and you could see the cracks were visible from the outside. I contacted Strike King directly and had no issue with getting them replaced.

One of my favorite reels is still the venerable Castaic 201.

There are different grades of alloy, some heavier, some lighter. Just a thought...

I really like the feel of the rods and the lengths and actions. I dislike the final product inconsistencies.

I'm with you, love the original Fat Rap for finesse cranking. I also like the Risto Rap a lot. I buy those whenever I see them. Another that I buy on sight is Clear Spooks. They're getting hard to find for some reason. The other thing that I buy without abandon is a Lake Fork Baby Ring Fry in Bull Bream. I bought two thousand when they DC'd them, and have bought another thousand here and there, I'm down under a three hundred of them now.

Well done, sir. Well done. I love that in some of the Caribbean you can trade catch for other goods. It's almost like it's a currency; when we get into Wahoo and dolphin, we pretty regularly trade for items or services and it's great.

The vast majority of my dog walkin' is done with either a Cumara 6-9 MXF or a Loomis TWR773C, with the majority going to the Loomis.

Favorite in the sub $200 range is the Stradic CI4 followed by the Certate, and then the Stradic.

See this: Having a repaired EXO in my hands, I've had the same issues with the drag and with the clutch. It's done it multiple times now, and I understand that it is not an isolated issue. Two of the people that I regularly fish with have had the exact issue with their reels. Quantum, at this point, has not addressed the issue, that I know of, and I've sent multiple emails and a couple phone calls. I've had the reel in my hands for a touch over a month, and have been quite unhappy with it. I wouldn't, in good conscience, be able to sell the reel to someone either. For the time being it's back in its box and not being fished.

Unless there's been a change to the rod, you're correct, it is built to handle the Winch specifically, but I'm not aware that other brands of reels will not sit on the seat properly. I've fished a Zillion on the Veritas Crank stick with no issue, would assume that most other reels will fit. Pretty sure I had a Calais on one at some point, too.

I fish four or five different square bills, different conditions get a different bait. When there's wood, I'm almost always throwing one of two baits: a Little John or KVD. In rock, I'm usually throwing a RC or Bandit. In weeds, I'm throwing a KVD or Xcalibur. I will throw a Jackall or Norman from time to time as well. The baits above are my staples, however. I have a great affinity for the Little John, I'd say that it's my most productive crank by far, particularly if you take into account the DD and MD.

Yeah, there were a ton of negative nancies that hated the color scheme. I remember that whole hubbub.

I'll disagree and say that the Avid 7' Heavy is a superb spinnerbait rod; albeit I really don't fish anything under 3/4 ounce spinnerbaits. If you're fishing 1/2 ounce and heavier baits in heavy grass and vegetation, the heavy is a great rod for it. It doubles as a SUPERB spoon rod for 4-3/4 inch and 5-1/2 inch flutter spoons as well as for 5/8 and 3/4 ounce Shorties.

We got taken for a little over $30 grand in October. Still recovering from it, the bank locked down our accounts and didn't allow us access to the funds. Still going through some stuff trying to get it taken care of and it's a huge pain. Not at all happy with the way it's been handled.

I'm stumped. I've heard so many different stories on this now that I don't know what's true. All I know for certain is that I like my NRX the way they are and won't be green with anything for not having green rods.

It might be a bit overkill for typical trout fisheries, yet for the Great Lakes tribs, it isn't too bad. I typically fish a 6 weight up there for winter runs. It's a good bass setup. As you're starting out, don't try to throw too large a fly. Get comfortable with your casting stroke and learn what you can and can't do.

I hate braid with a passion and use it only for very specific things. When I find myself forced to use braid, there's only one I'll ever again use and that's Seaguar Kanzen.

The vast majority of my jig fishing is done with either 12 or 15 pound fluorocarbon. I refuse to use braid, having lost far too many fish to bites on the fall; can't see them and can't feel them until it's too late to set the hook. Fishing jigs on braid in deep water leads to the line acting like a sail and moving the jig, requiring me to upsize jigs. I use braid for a few very specific things, casting jigs is not one of them. Some will say that fishing jigs on braid have improved their rates tremendously. I say the same thing of high quality fluorocarbon.