WanderLust

Tackle Tour has excellent reviews as well. Certainly try the reel out for feel. I have been looking at the 2010 Premeir and just added the Curado 51E to my collection. For cranking my options were more limited since I needed lefty. I went with a Revo Winch there which is excellent for what I use it for. and not to get things really confusing but Daiwa Advantage is a serious contender here.

I've also had better luck with an exposed hook. Tubes are cheap and they produce... That spiral fall is deadly. Check out the IKE article on finesse tubing. In situations where I need totally weedless I will generally use a reverse t-rigged Fat Ika. (Thanks RW) They are pricey though. I stock piled over the winter though.

Generally speaking high speed is suitable for most applications excluding large swimbaits and deeper cranks. 6.x:1 is still considered high speed but is generally perferred for cranking... In short the reel you have is a great general purpose reel. Burning spinners and traps is harder than a 7.0:1 for instance. The only thing its not suited to would be larger cranks and swimbaits.

Of that list the Shimano Curado 200E is the top dog. Its light, smooth and has an excellent track record for performance. If you we talking STX or Premier it would be closer...

Come on now... Line choice makes up 95% of a given combo's sensitivity?? :-? I respectfully disagree.

Three peat... Three in a row has never been done.

LOL - wow New levels of dumb. He's probably afraid one of his servants will go after him.

fixed. Find a local kid that knows computers or use a service plan that covers 100% of issues.

What color and trailer did he have on his chatterbait(s)? Inquiring minds want to know. 8-) Boyd produced a serious bag as well. Green Pumpkin with a watermelon red lake fork magic shad trailer.. Cha Ching. I happen to have that exact setup.

^^^ Excellent choices. Just added a Curado 51E to my collection. My fishing partner has the Advantage... Extremely nice forn the money.

Shimano Crucial Drop Shot spinning rod is reasonably priced and gets decent reviews. I would say look for a deal and get the highest end rod you can afford.

What color and trailer did he have on his chatterbait(s)? Inquiring minds want to know. 8-) Boyd produced a serious bag as well.

Re: How to rig a Stupid Tube. http://bassinblog.richlindgren.com/2009/01/23/how-to-rig-a-stupid-tube.aspx

Worth a try I guess depending on technique. I use braid for most topwater applications but found a mono leader helpful.

Incredible work! I really like LC pointers, you made a great bait better.

You're welcome. This site is awesome. So much good information and so many great anglers. I like Yum, Strike King Coffee and GYCB tubes. I use the smaller size early in the year last year but pretty much use a 3.5" now.

Retrieve depends on conditions. I normally think of a beat to a song and vary my retreive based on that. Colors I have luck with in Vermont: Ghost Minnow Ayu Perch Sexy Shad Ghost sunfish - Smaller one is deadly

I'd rather have his boat... But hey shoes couldn't hurt.

Tubes are extremely versatile. http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/tubes.html In rocks I use a tube jig (3/16 - 1/4) normally. The fall is deadly, I use let it settle then lift rod tip and repeat. In grass, jagged rocks and heavy weeds I texas rig them with an internal weight. Some people like to put styrofoam in the tube to make it float, then use a carolina rig or similar setup for them. IKE recently talked about tube fishing. KVD did a video on them as well. http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/fishingtips/news/story?page=b_FT_MS_Iaconelli_Finesse12

You don't actually believe that's all they used do you? I may have a few Sexy Shad lures. :-[ Just sayin'

Spend an extra $40 and get the Powell Max 683C... Mine just came in, its awesome. I bought it as a backup of my Loomis GLX.

Hot pink and hot steel also produce...

28 pound bag... KVD stomped everyone.

28 even... KVD is not human.

LOL - he's terrible...