.ghoti.

I like the way you think. Get some more bang for your bucks. You been watchin me?

I have two STX's, but no Curado's, so I can't compare them. I will say this. If you plan to use line heavier than 12lb test, don't get a Revo. Both of mine behave the same way. With 10lb test, they cast like a dream, with 12, they start to get a little squirrelly. With 14 and 17, they are useless.

Gotta get some. The Big Kahuna, the 6.5" kut-tail is one of my go-to baits. Here's a tip. Slide on a bobber stopper, then a small bead, than an 1/8oz weight, then tie on a 5/0 EWG hook. Position the bobber stop so the weight has about 1/2" of travel. This rigging gives the Kahuna a very erratic drop. If you peg the weight completely, or go much over 1/8oz, the erratic drop disappears. I discovered this by accident. Another cool, effective rigging is weightless, with a big, bright colored bead where the weight would normally be. Fish it like a Super Fluke.

I used "em for about a year. I have the same problem others have, being clumsy, I guess. I can cut off a crank and tie on a new one in less time than I could swap cranks using the clips. And, I have a fresh knot on fresh line. That's the kicker for me.

Good baits. I mostly use an Evo Shake2 jighead. A T-rig is a good option. And, don't forget to try one weightless, on a 5/0 hook, for fishing in , around, over and through weedbeds.

Hey ghost. Here's the quickest route to new parts for Quantum reels. http://www.tackleservice.com/Consumer/default.aspx

I remember all but 4 of them. Thanks a bunch for reminding me of my impending decrepitude.

I do every reel I purchase. Tear down, clean and re-lube, before I ever use it.

Just got my Zune loaded up courtesy of one of my kids. 14,000+ songs. Want me to list "em all?

Hey Dom, I have whatever you come up short. A couple spinning rods, no problem. Spinning reels, I have several. Baits, boxes, hooks, cranks, let me know. I have spare stuff I never use. It's yours for the asking.

I've been cleaning and re-lubing my reels for a long time. After all this time, using almost every kind of lube available, what I'll say is, they all work just fine. What's important is getting the parts clean first. Doesn't matter what kind of oil you put in a bearing if it still has some crud and corruption in it. What's also important is regular cleaning. Once every three years ain't enough. Unless, of course, you only fish a couple times a year. I used to follow the "standard" wisdom; Shimano lube for Shimano reels, Daiwa lube for Daiwa reels and Hot Sauce for Quantums. I decided that was silly, and just a bit anal, so I went with one brand for everything. What I wanted was a low viscosity oil for bearings, a "sticky" grease that would stay where I put it, and to be available off-the-shelf. For me, that turned out to be Ardent Reel Butter oil and grease. I have no problem with Hot Sauce in terms of performance. It does a good job, as far as I ever noticed. But it does stain everything it touches. Get it under you fingernails, and it's there a while. Get it on your clothes, and it's there for a long time. Get it on the wife's new tablecloth, and domestic tranquility is lost.

Hey, I exist. I'm relatively sure of it. I have six Setyr rods and like them all just fine. It's difficult to compare rods, but in my opinion, these rods are comparable to St Croix's Legend Tournament series. I have Avid series and Legend Tournament series rods, but no Elite series rods, so I can't compare those. I own no Loomis rods, so I won't try to compare those either. The warranty is top notch. I broke one, being stupid, highsticking a five pounder right at the boat, and broke off about six inches. I sent it back, after contacting them, and for twenty bucks, got a replacement. Took about two weeks, if I remember correctly. I'd call the fit and finish above par for a factory rod. If you like some "bling" in your rods, these are not what you're looking for. The blanks are unfinished, and the wraps are subdued colors. Pretty much plain jane in the looks department. But, the wraps are tight and even, the thread finish is level and straight, the cork grips and reel seat are fitted together nicely. They obviously paid attention to detail, and put their time and money into top notch construction instead of cosmetics. My rods are from either the Tactical or Response series. As far as I can tell the only difference is the Response series rods have Recoil guides and the Tactical series have Batson guides. Both are of the split rear grip, no fore grip design. The Batson guides are excellent. Zirconia rings, which are a step up from Hardaloy, but not quite up to SiC. I don't know how many Fuji tips I've popped the ring out of over the years. You know how to do it. Reel up your T-rig until the weight hits the tip, and presto, the ring pops out. Well, theses guides don't do that. I know, I've done it. I don't have an opinion yet on the Recoil guides. I bought the two rods with Recoils sometime around August, and haven't fished them enough to have a valid opinion on the guides. No problems so far. I like the split grip design. It just looks cool to me. After fishing some of these for two seasons I'm not sure it has any real practical advantage. I'll probably raise somebody's hackles saying that, but I'll stand by the statement. I do not like the no fore grip design. I hold the reel in the back of my palm, with my thumb and fore finger grasping the line. This puts my middle finger on the exposed threads. It becomes annoying after a while. I will be doing something to modify that over the winter. This is not a complaint about Setyr rods. I have a Cumara that I have the same complaint about. The threads on that one are exposed also. Over all the rods are very light and sensitive. Top notch fishing tools. Cheers, GK

Hey ghost. I have a Light & Tough, 6'3" MH that I no longer use. Sells for around $130 new. I've had it for three years, and used it a lot the first two years. Make me an offer. I have a couple of tubes, so shipping will be just what USPS charges.

Just the head. It's like a really long tube.

I use a 5/0 EWG hook and a pegged weight. This bait has a nice erratic fall when the weight is pegged. I also use it unweighted, in and over weeds. Good bait that not many people throw.

Look to the upper left corner of the page. Click on "fishing articles", scroll down to "tips and tactics" Read everything you find there. Then start on all the other articles. It will keep you occupied all winter.

I forgot something. Thanks Micro, for the heads up. Cheers, GK

Who cares what it looks like? This ain't no fashion show. How does it feel? That's the question.

Frank, you have to call them. 804-550-2188

Better hurry. there's only one left, a righty.

I finally opened my package, from Dominion Dan. He sent me five deep crankbaits, just exactly what I would have bought myself. Three Fat Free Shads, a Poe's Comp cedar, and a River2Sea deep diver. Perfect. Thanks Dan, and thanks again for organizing this. Dan, I looked through your 50 posts I searched, and found no mention of any kind of stuff you might want, or need. So I got you some baits I wanted. I'd been eyballing those baits, and had just ordered a few for myself when you sent me your name for the exchange. So, I ordered a few for you too, knowing that a BPS was close, and you could exchange them if necessary. The reason I've been interested in those baits is their little brother, the Twitchin Rap. On the list of my largest fish caught in 2008, #2, #4 and #5 were caught on a Twitchin Rap. You might try a few of those also. Cheers, GK

Been there, done that, still have the rod fragments to remind myself to leave the braid where it belongs.

Our version of it, 40+ years ago, involved an old Willy's 4x4, about 50" of chain and an upturned hood from a 57 Chevy. Had the chain attached to the Jeep, welded the other end to the hood, flipped it upside down, and piled on. The local golf course was our usual destination. Lots of hills to shoot and trees to ram. Too many injuries to list, but the ones that come to mind are: several concussions, two broken wrists, one broken collarbone, lots of stitches, and one kid who lost two fingers. It rather escapes me now just why we thought this was fun.

I found this site, of interest to any who may want to rent a boat. http://www.kentuckylake.com/fishing-main.shtml Type in boat rental in the search window. Lots of options. Lots of other info there, also. See you all there.

I'll take Bernheim Wheat Whiskey. You can keep that nasty nog