.ghoti.

Is he bringing Jimmy Hoffa with him? ;D I'll believe it when we see some pics.

Two words for ya. George Welcome

Thanks ib. I knew somebody here would have my back. ;D ;D Sounds like we're all thinking along the same lines. I got into wacky jiggin at the end of last season, and this might be just the rod for that app.

Thanks BL. That's the funniest frickin thing i've seen all year. Bounce worthy.

Right after Thanksgiving I picked up a Kistler Helium LTA from Cabelas. Got it for $120, used a free shipping coupon and a $75 gift card. So, the rod cost me $45 out of pocket. Couldn't pass it up. So, what would be a good use for a 7' Med-light power, fast action baitcast rod. I have a new Fuego mounted on it. It's been too miserable to even go out in the backyard with this new setup. I have no idea how it performs, and was hoping to hear from somebody who has one. I can tell you the rod is very light, and the grip is one the best I've had in my hands. The Fuego and HTA combo feels like they were made for each other.

For those arriving early, the Second Annual Saturday Night Wine & Cheese Soiree will be whenever we get it together Saturday evening. This is when we make Long Mike drink wine that did not come out of a box. ;D ;D ;D ;D

If there's any way at all for you to make this trip, do it. I will see some old friends, from previous trips, and make some new friends. Lots of fun, good company, fisherman from all over the country, what's not to like? And the fishing; it's the icing on the cake. See ya there.

A man walks out to the street and catches a taxi just going by. He gets into the taxi and the cabbie says, "Perfect timing. You're just like Frank." "Who?" the passenger asks. "Frank Feldman. He's a guy who did everything right all the time. Like my coming along when you needed a cab, things like that happened to Frank Feldman every single time." The passenger replies "There are always a few clouds over everybody." To which the cabbie adds "Not Frank Feldman. He was a terrific athlete. He could have won the Grand Slam at tennis. He could golf with the pros. He sang like an opera baritone and danced like a Broadway star and you should have heard him play the piano. He was an amazing guy." "Sounds like he was something really special," says the passenger. "There's more ... He had a memory like a computer. He remembered everybody's birthday. He knew all about wine, which foods to order and which fork to eat them with. He could fix anything. Not like me. I change a fuse, and the whole street blacks out. But Frank Feldman, he could do everything right." "Wow, some guy then," says the passenger. "He always knew the quickest way to go in traffic and avoid traffic jams. Not like me, I always seem to get stuck in them. But Frank, he never made a mistake, and he really knew how to treat a woman and make her feel good. He would never disagree with her even if he knew she was in the wrong; and his clothing was always immaculate; shoes highly polished too. He was the perfect man! He never made a mistake. No one could ever measure up to Frank Feldman. The passenger can't take anymore when he finally says "Sounds like an amazing fellow. How did you meet him?" The Cabbie turns around and says, "Well, I never actually met Frank. He died ... I'm married to his widow."

I've been on a mission for three years to cut down and simplify. Been trying to trim down the number of roods and reels I carry. And, the amount of tackle I carry. And, to simplify bait types and color selection. At this point in time, the mission is an abject and utter failure. But, it's part of the fun.

I'm a diesel fitter

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently, I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back-country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost; and being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play. The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished, I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full. As I was opening the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before, and I've been putting in septic tanks for over twenty years."

No problem. I'll sell you $300 a cashier's check for $350.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21404-cat21406-cat21428&id=0065251123935a&navCount=4&podId=0065251&parentId=cat21428&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=OG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

A married couple was in a terrible accident where the man's face was severely burned. The doctor told the husband that they couldn't graft any skin from his body because he was too skinny. So the wife offered to donate some of her own skin. However, the only skin on her body that the doctor felt was suitable would have to come from her buttocks. The husband and wife agreed that they would tell no one about where the skin came from, and they requested that the doctor also honor their secret. After all, this was a very delicate matter. After the surgery was completed, everyone was astounded at the man's new face. He looked more handsome than he ever had before! All his friends and relatives just went on and on about his youthful beauty! One day, he was alone with his wife, and he was overcome with emotion at her sacrifice. He said, 'Dear, I just want to thank you for everything you did for me. How can I possibly repay you?' 'My darling,' she replied, 'I get all the thanks I need every time I see your mother kiss you on the cheek.'

When you're talking pork, you're talkin old school. It toke an old fart to answer the question.

Back in the day, I used pork trailers, a lot. The trick is to use a piece of plastic worm, just long enough to cover the straight portion of the jig hook. Thread it on the hook, just like you'd rig a grub, leaving the bend of the hook open and the shank covered. This keeps the pork located in the bend and prevents it sliding up the shank.

I've been told about this, twice. Now, the latest In-Fisherman has an article about flippin and pitchin which talks about snelling the hooks. They're referring to straight shank hooks, saying it gives a better, more natural horizontal presentation, and a more positive hookset. It also completely protects the knot from damage cause by contact with the weight. Has anybody actually used this with EWG or offset hooks? I've used snell knotted hooks for livebait, walleye fishing quite a bit. But, never for bass fishing. I like the idea of the protected knot. I'm not at all convinced about the better presentation and hookset capability with any other than straight hooks. I'm asking because tying the snell knot on a non-straight shank hook is a major PITA. I tried it at home several times, and decided I need more info before wasting any more time trying to master the knot on an EWG hook. For those of you who haven't done this, you thread the line through the hookeye, than tie a uni knot around the hook shank. the knot is "inside" the hook, away from the weight.

If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have believed it. That was astonishing.

Bounce worthy!!!!

I use these too. The double sided version. One bag has Senkos on one side and Ikas on the other. One bag has flukes on one side and tubes on the other. One bag has straight tail worms on one side and curl tail worms on the other. One bag has all "creature baits; Space Monkeys, Lobsters, craws, power hawgs, hula grubs, etc. One bag I use for short trips and bank walking, and has a little bit of everything. I label the bags on each side with a Sharpie.

Way to go, Jason. A 7 shows up in my neck of the woods so seldom that I'm happy to take an "assist" on that one. ;D By the way, it was 9 degrees this morning when I walked out the door. I decided not to fish today. :'( :'( :'(

Got a package today from Hawk. I sent him a package as well. Apparently this young man is math challenged. ;D ;D He sent me at least $100 worth of good stuff. Plastics, jigs, jigheads, line, swimbaits, crankbaits, topwaters, toads, and more. Thank you, Hawk. I owe you one, my friend.

If you're talking about the Legend Tournament 6'9" ML-XF casting model, yes it does; at least for me it does. I don't have the spinning version of that rod, so I can't comment.

That's one thing I thought about, sending some of my best baits from this year. That is precisely what I did. Hawk, the package is on it's way.