webertime

Down south has a lot longer growing season and fewer species to compete with the bass (very few northerns/walleye/trout in the land of somewhat common 8 lbers.) That being said there are more 5-8lb Bass around than one would think up North. Grand Lake is supposed to have MONSTER Smallmouths.

Get some Armor-All wipes, they work very well. Periodically strip the line down to the backing and pull it through a rag soaked in warm water and dish soap to clean off the algae and dirt. Let it air dry, then as you reel the line back on hold a wipe in one hand and have the line run through it to give it some lube/polish/protectant. I do this about every 4 weeks.

Mine always sit nose down, regardless of hook size or line type. I was thinking it might be the eyes that make do that. Any tips? Because I WANT to like them.

Agreed that's what I did and what I've had a couple friends do. The instruction sheet that comes with it basically tells you everything you need to do in very easy to understand instructions. I'd go with a Citica or Caenon from Shimano. Set the weights to 3 in 3 out and then adjust the spool tension according to the instruction sheet and you'll be casting consistantly by the end of the day.

http://www.***.com/Sworming_Hornet_Sling_Blade_Flutter/descpage-SHSF.html You can use these with just about any fluke/swimbait. You get a bit of flash and they are very weedless. I tossed a Keitech Fat Impact with one most of the day Sunday and only got weeds (a VERY weedy pond) after I missed a hit and the hook got exposed. As for the weedless trebles I've always had them catch weeds anyway. Try twitching a floating rapala along the surface?

I have a borderline unhealthy appreciation for the fish Dwight gets into.

Hit it again yesterday, wind was blowing from the South(ish) and much brighter. Still managed 2 nice 3lber's, water was 55 at the surface and 50 6' down. Ran into a former FLW tour fisherman who said to keep an eye on the flooded woods/brush near the Sandbar/mouth of the Lamoile, "...it's warmer than you'd think." with a wink of his eye. Get in there before it recedes.

Went out today for a few hours on the Local pond. We've received a ton of rain lately, combined with the snow melt and we have some epic flooding in Vermont. Lake Champlain broke it's record level (previously set in 1869). However the lakes/ponds in the Champlain Valley have settled a bit and are completely fishable and on fire right now. 10:30am the pond was 52 degrees, the air was 45,that rain was good for getting the water temp caught up to where it should be. Anyway... Epic day, 6 Largemouth (NO PICKEREL!!!!) 6.20, 5.00, 4.78, 4.76, 2.70, and the runt 2.21. The biggest and smallest were caught on a Northstar Jig with a Whiskey River Craw as a trailer. The others were on a 6" Weedless Huddleston, my new FAVORITE bait. The hits on those Hudds were insane!!!! Heading back out tomorrow for some more!

Just got a 706 Veritas for $63... Thanks!

I'm sure Micro Guides work, I've just never had an opportunity to fish them so I really can't comment,but I love my boring old regular guided 734. Order a 734 and 735 from TW and get them for $198 shipped (Sale ends tomorrow).

Cranks, Spinnerbaits, Topwater = Lamiglas Excel 734 Jigs, Topwater (frogs) = Lamiglas Excel 705 or 735 I have a Revo S/734 combo and I LOVE it, it's great for Jerkbaits too.

HA! walk up and down the bank crop-dusting them all!!!

Trilene for most everthing, except DS (Palomar) and Flipping (Snell).

3/32 Wacky Jighead (BPS) 1/8 oz Shaky. I'm going to try and get out this week and Drop Shot them to see if they will be as good as I suspect.

Anything Nemire...

BPS extreme's are on sale for $60 now, that's the route I'd take, lots of options (Left/Right, tons of gear ratios).

Amazon has a bunch of Lamiglas Certified Pro's for $125-$170. Just a heads up.

Rig them backwards like mentioned above, or on a Football head for fishing rivers and creeks.

Perhaps I'm thinking too much... Black Dog Shellcracker wake bait, topwater or not?

Whiskey River Baits, Whip Tail in Pure Agave and Big Whiskey.

It looks and by the specs, reads to be the same as the BPS Quantum KVD Signature, minus 2 bearings...

I'm in.

Well played

Bar Raefali with a baicaster... Haven't dreamt it, but wouldn't mind...

This is like asking about a fully loaded Kia (W&M) vs. a base model Honda Accord (citica). One's got cool stuff, the other works and lasts.