Dave P

Prior to that they had pre fished about 5 days and had mostly skunked. He says it's gone downhill, too. They stared in the backs of the creeks and fished their way out.

Buddy of mine went weekend before last for a two day tourney and they weighed five fish total in two days. He said they caught about thirty, but no size.

The diaper stump.

I'm torn, I hate like hell to honk them because I'd like to have about six more, but at the same time...I can't NOT let everyone know that they're really d**n good for the price!

That's the setup that we use for tournaments. Haven't had the issue with it weighing heavy, but every thing else is right on the money. It is SLOOOOW to boot up.

Mine came in the mail today so I put one on my Bionic Blade and spooled it up with 12lb PLine and went out in the back yard to try it out. HOLY CRAP. Brakes were set to off. I may find the casting plug sometime next week...Cast number two cleared the top of my shed and went into the alley. After I dialed the brake up a bit and found I could easily make 50 or 60 foot pitches. I hope there's still some left this winter :-X because I think that I'll buy some more of it's brothers and sisters to keep it company. I believe I'll keep it.

I've heard a lot of stuff about Vanish. I've used it all year and once I figured out to use 5 wraps on the knot instead of 4, I had ZERO issues with breakage. Used in weeds, wood, some rock, docks...No issues with breakage and that included yanking a five pounder out of timber in 12 foot of water with about 20 feet of line out. Diameter is a little big and it's got a little memory (not much, but some), but it's plenty tough. I've got PLine spooled up now because I wanted to try it, but I'd use Vanish again in a pinch. YMMV

Just stumbled over them (Silaflex) in the catalog today in the reading room. Thanks for answering my question!!!

Rattle trap, Norman Fat Boy, Strike King crank Series 1-5. In that order!!!

Are you all SURE that you can have a cranking rod without spending $154,972.67??? I'm not sure that's possible...LOL

A little isn't bad, but a ton of wind can be a PITA.

Yes

First of all, you don't need X, Y or Z for this fish or that fish. Someday you will WANT X, Y or Z, but you don't NEED X, Y or Z. Use what you've got. Buy what you can afford and ENJOY yourself. For me, that equates to my most expensive reel being $60 and my most expensive rod being $80 (not acquired at once). Am I missing out on something? Maybe...but it isn't worth eating your liver over...

Shallow cranks and traps.

2 new reels...I'd do more, but I must pace myself...Must pace myself...

Pfleuger Templar from Wal Mart. Smooth and casts very well.

Ordered a pair of them yesterday!

Yes, and Strike Kings and Bombers!

Yup...Got it. Love it.

I've been eyeballing that one. I take it you like it?

Buy what you can afford, not what others tell you.

I have some Vanish Floro I'm using now. I haven't noticed any issues with memory. I haven't noticed it being any stiffer than mono. I haven't had any problems with it "just breaking apart". I did have a problem with the knots breaking, but I changed the type of bullet weight I was using and went from 4 wraps on my Improved Clinch and Trilene knots to 5 wraps. Since then, no breakoffs. Just one giant backlash that was entirely my fault. I caught a 5 pound bass two weeks ago and it was a close range fist fight in cover. No problem. Line didn't break and I retied afterward just on general principles. No chafing or nicks noted when I cut it off. I use it in rocks, timber, stickups and weeds all the time. Zero problems with the line. Use it. If you don't like it, try something else. Realize that some people are going to dislike it because it says Berkley or because of the price point. I think my next spool will be BPS just to try it and see if there's any difference. If there is, I'll be the first one to post up and admit it.

OK, one more: "I fish because I love to. Because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly. Because of all the television commercials, cocktail parties, and assorted social posturing I thus escape. Because in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing what they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion. Because trout do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed, or impressed by power, but respond only to quietude and humility, and endless patience. Because I suspect that men are going this way for the last time and I for one don't want to waste the trip. Because mercifully there are no telephones on trout waters. Because in the woods I can find solitude without loneliness. ... And finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important, but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant and not nearly so much fun." Robert Traver

IN and IL. Probably (hopefully!) a MO later this year.

Go out and try really hard to catch a big one. Pretend you are having a tournament and need a kicker.