Crookedneck

set up will depend on the depth of the water you are fishing. If the water is clear I would recommend using florocarbon line or at least a floro leader. My opinion is that Seaguar Invizx and Abrazx are some of the best out there. The lbs of the line is going to depend on the technique. Which will depend on the depth of the water. Drop shotting is a good technique for smallies. What is the water temp?

I have my first tournament of the year this weekend. I took the day off today to pre-fish and because I had to burn some vacation. A couple buddies kept pestering me today when I was on the water. Trying to find out how I was doing. Just to tease them I sent them a picture of a bass ninja. Pretty good day once I figured them out. Took me a while..I spent the first 2/3rds of the day with out a single bite. Then I got lucky and found em. First one was the biggest at 4.9. I had 4 other keepers between 3.2 and 3.9. Plus a few more in the 1 to 2lbs range. Finished strong. Looking forward to this weekend now.

If fishing with a buddy and you loan him a lure and he looses that said lure on a fish no appology needed. If he looses it in the trees or brush he has two options, replace it or go get it.

Took my 9 year old out today to chase some walleyes. I have 5 more days until bass season opens. So I had to do something.... from this.... to this..... I got my first sunburn for the year. The weather was great. Mid 70's. But, once you hit the bay you could see your breath. And had to watch for icebergs.

Finally getting a break up here. Still some ice but hopefully it is gone after this weekend. Supposed to hit 65-70* this weekend. First tournament on the 5th. Gonna be a slow bite I'm guessing.

There is a time and a place for all types of gear. First you have to fish where the fish are. Doesn't matter what gear you have, if you are fishing in a mud puddle in your drive way, no gear is going to catch fish if they aren't there. Some techniqes gear may be less important. Others gear can make a huge difference. I have found that finesse techniques is where the biggest difference is noticable. And that difference is multiplied with weather, water current, water depth and bottom make up.

1.) Legend Boats 2.) Seaguar 3.) Lews 4.) Ford Trucks 5.) Cabelas

My 2 cents is this......if you think catching a fish is fun. Wait till your buddy catches one with your help. It is one of the best feelings you'll have. Helping someone who has less experience will actually make you a better fisherman. You'll pick up on things he may be doing that isn't right, but if you pay attention and help him correct it, you'll realize that your own skills will improve. Have fun, get him set up with some Texas or Carolina rigs. It will make it easy for him. Good luck and have fun.

I've used it. But the Seaguar Invizx and Abrazx are by far a superior product. Yes you pay a little more, but the headaches will be less. You'll make the cost up on the first lure you don't break off. I'm sure there are some other floro's out there that are good too. I've had bad experiences with two floro's. Viscious and Vanish. Both start with a "V"

x2

I have actually done something similar. Except it involved a 3way swivel a 1 1/4oz sinker a Rebel pop-r with some of those tape on weights to keep it horizontal. A Zebco 33 spooled up w/ 12lb yellow Stren & a 5'6" ugly stick. I like to use it for deep water presentations for smallies. You cast it out let it sink (works best in brush or rocks) when the weight hits the bottom just do the chugging back in like normal. Great stained water presentation!

Finding a rod with a full cork grip in todays day and age is sometimes a challenge. A 6' rod maybe even harder. If you are going to be going to be doing some shopping at a store, I agree with the above posts about taking a look at the cranking rods. Also, take a look at some of the lower IM or graphite module rods out there. Concetrate on IM6 rods versus the IM7 & IM8. Typically (not always) the IM6 graphite is going to be a softer more moderate action than the higher grades of graphite. Being an IM6 has nothing to do with being a lesser grade of graphite it has more to do with other components added in the mixture, such as E glass. Which is going to inherantly slow the rod down but also making the rod more durable. If you can't find what you are looking for get a hold of Deleware Valley Tackle a sponsor here on the board explain what you are looking for I'm sure he could build up a rod custom rod that would fit the bill.

I got mine a couple weeks after I put my order in. It is sitting next to all my other gear waiting for the ice to melt....Not coming fast enough.

When Gary Loomis sold out of G. Loomis several years ago he started North Fork Composites (NFC). Initially all NFC was doing was manufacturing rod blanks for the custom rod builder. Initially the NFC blanks were limited models and grades only sold to the custom rod builders. NFC created a program called Approved Rod Builder (ARB). The ARB was created because North Fork Composites was not selling completed rods, only blanks. The program was to allow custom builders to buy a blank. Build it up, submit the completed build back to NFC for final approval. And once approved based on a set of critiera, the builder would then be certified as an approved builder. Therefore, be on an elite list of builders where a showcase would be on NFC's website essentially promoting NFC Blanks and certain builders. Although, any custom builder could buy blanks and build on them. I can say that NFC blanks are extremely nice, crisp and powerful. Based on my limited experience with these particular blanks. But, they also come with a fairly steep price tag. Now enter Edge Rods....it appears that they are now a partnership with NFC where rods are now being manufactured strictly on NFC blanks. I am unsure who the builder(s) for Edge is but, the address for North Fork Composites and Edge Rods happens to be the exact same.

Green Pumpkin, motor oil, and summer craw

If you are planning on coming up this way let me know. I will gladly take you out. I live an hour north of Green Bay and mainly fish the Menominee River and the bay for small mouth. If I can't get out because of my schedule, I can get you set up with some good hooks that love to take people out.

A couple things 1.) I agree with the over filling. 2.) A couple things you can do a.) If you fish off of a boat, remove the lure from your line. Open your bail and let all the line out as you slowly motor or troll. (hopefully in a low traffic area) I usually let all the line out until there are a half a dozen wraps or so on the spool. After all the line is out, start reeling as normal. The tension on the line in the water will allow you to reel as normal. This should remove any coils, twist or loops. b.) If you don't have a boat you can do the same thing on shore by tying a swivel on the end of the line. Attaching the swivel to something solid. Walk the line out and then reel it in as you walk back in keeping tension the whole time. This will allow any twist to be removed by the swivel The first of these methods works the best in my opinion. I find I get alot of twist if I am using floro on spinning gear for drop shotting or if I am jigging vertically with a grub, if I don't have a swivel tied in some where. Good luck!

Pretty nice looking rig. Seeing that graph mount made me wonder if Ike had that on his boat this last week I wonder what his face would have done to the graph. Pretty neat set up though.

I've done something simular for years. I use a split shot and a floating jig head though.

I don't own one but, I was looking at one last week. I handled that and a Lew's TP. I did not like the Lexa as much. It wasn't bad, it just didn't seem as smooth as the Lews. I have not fished either, I am shopping too. Do you have anywhere close you can pick one up and mess around with?

That is one way to not spook the fish with the trolling motor.

Keep working for what you want. A couple words of advice. When it comes time to put your boat together. 1.) make sure you have enough storage for what you plan on doing. If you plan on fishing tournaments and you are planning on having a partner, make sure it has room for at least one compartment for your partner. 2.) Don't skimp on the trolling motor. Get the biggest trolling motor you can afford. If you are going to go with a 17' - 17.5' I recommend at least a 65-80 # thrust. Some people will say it is over kill for an aluminum boat. One day you'll need it and it will keep you on spot when it counts. Good luck with the purchase. I too would recommend keeping your eye open for a used boat. You might get lucky and find a killer deal. If not, then buy new.

Do you have the fuel line flowing in the right direction? I did that once a long time ago. I thought I was going to throw the whole motor in the river until I figured it out.

A bit of a recommendation when it comes to landing fish, pointing your fishing rod to the sky and swinging a fish in is a very good way to break a rod. Not trying to be a negative Nancy, just saying.