.ghoti.

My wife knows what all the stuff is, and what it costs. I don't even try to hide anything from her. I don't have to, she buys stuff for me. She knows what I like and what I use, and will almost always get the right stuff. What are you gonna do with a woman like that, except keep her. And never, ever, say anything about shoes. Cheers, GK

I tried the rattles designed to be inserted in the plastic, and found them useless. I then went with the brass and glass approach until I had the problem of the glass cracking and damaging the line. I now use Ultra Steel weight and tickers. I have some of these in my terminal box that are at least 4 years old, and they're as smooth as the day I bought them. No more lead weights with the holes pinched shut, or bent over, or nicked so they cut the line. The steel retains it's shape and smoothness better than anything else I've tried. The ticker is a small steel bead, placed between the weight and the hook. The combination produces a subtle clicking, quieter than brass and glass, but better than the inserted rattles. I like the tungsten weights, but they're too expensive. Ultra Steel's are an affordable alternative. Cheers, GK

Been to the big one is Springfield several times and never walked out empty handed. I have walked out of the one in St Charles empty handed. On several occasions. Am I sick?

Ditto!!

I'd call that a bit more than an adjustment. Sounds more like a paradigm shift. I know what you mean about variety. It's one of things that floats my boat; using a wide range of tackle to catch as wide a variety of fish as possible. Cheers, GK

Check out the line roller bearing. If that's not the problem, I'm out of ideas. Cheers, GK

Zebco 66. I had to get a little older before I got a 33. No idea what the rod was, other than it about a 5 footer.

A recent Scottish immigrant attends his first baseball game in his new country and after a base hit he hears the fans roaring "Run....run!" The next batter connects heavily with the ball and the Scotsman stands up and roars with the crowd in his thick accent: "R-r-run ya bahstard, r-run will ya!" A third batter slams a hit and again the Scotsman, obviously pleased with his knowledge of the game, screams: "R-r-run ya bahstard, r-r-run will ya!" The next batter held his swing at three and two and as the ump calls a walk. The Scotsman stands up yelling: "R-r-run ya Bahstard, r-r-run!" All the surrounding fans chuckle quietly and he sits down confused. A friendly fan, sensing his embarrassment whispers, "He doesn't have to run, he got four balls." "Walk with pr-r-ride man!"

A man stood on the side of the road hitch hiking on a very dark night in the middle of a storm. The night was rolling and no cars passed. The storm was so strong, he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly he saw a car come towards him and stop. The guy, without thinking about it, got in the car and closed the door to realize that nobody was behind the wheel. The car started slowly. The guy looked at the road and saw a curve coming his way. Scared, he started praying, and begged for his life. He hadn't come out of shock, when just before he hit the curve, a hand appeared through the window and moved the wheel. The guy, paralyzed in terror, watched how the hand appeared every time before a curve. The guy gathered strength, got out of the car and ran to the nearest town. Wet and in shock, he ran into a cantina and asked for two shots of tequila, and started telling everybody about the horrible experience he went through. A silence enveloped everybody when they realized the guy was crying and wasn't drunk. About half an hour later, two guys walked into the same cantina, and one said to the other. "Look Pepe, that's the character who climbed into the car while we were pushing."

I think they should also be penalized for hoisting a fish up and dropping it in the boat. Rubber nets are so much easier on the fish. I don't see why they don't use them.

I keep it simple. 8lb test or less = spinning gear 10lb test and more = casting gear Accuracy doesn't enter into the equation. I'm as accurate with one as I am with the other. Except for the first cast or two when I switch from one to the other. That first cast may go anywhere. I usually make the first cast, after switching, into open water, just to get the feel. Then I'm good to go. Cheers, GK

I have two L&T's. I'd buy more if I were in the market for another rod. I posted before that I like a bargain. Of all the rods I have, only three were bought at regular price, and two of them were those two L&T's. I use the 6'3" casting model for spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and topwaters despite it being a fast action rod. I use the 7' medium action casting model as my "utility" rod. If you told me I could only take one of my rods with me, it would be a toss up between the 7' L&T and a 6'8" Avid. I really like the handles and reel seats on the L&T's. For me, they're very comfortable, and give a nice sense of security. There's also a lot of blank exposed beneath the reel seat. In their price range these may be the most sensitive rods on the market. Don't get hung up on th IM or modulus numbers. I'm staring to think it's just marketing hype, or statistics. You know what Mark Twain said; "there's lies, damnded lies and statistics. Cheers, GK

"Only if you dont have anything else that you can catch fish with." GOOD ONE ;D ;D

Thanks Randall, that makes sense. Not that I'm gonna be any better with a jig, but at least I have a better idea. Catt, that rig looks like the real deal. Where do you get "em? I've been using skirts cut from torn up Fat Ikas and hula grubs. islandbass, good thoughts, no such thing as thinking too much. Now you guys got me thinking about altering fall rates, glueing skirts on weights, maybe trying worms and craws T-rigged, but on a hook intended to be poured into a jig, etc. I always learn something here. Cheers, GK

I've been using Power baits since they came out. Needemp is correct; they won't get any more bites, but they also will not spit it out. A biting fish is a caught fish with Power Bait. Can't say the same about Yum. And I don't like gulp, because it seems to me that none of the gulp baits has any action. I've also been using Zoom baits forever. It's hard to beat their tubes, and the Super Flukes are one of the all time great baits. I add scent to all the Zoom baits. Cheers, GK

I've often wondered this myself. Particularly since I can catch fish on a T-rigged craw, but can't with a jig over 3/16oz. What the heck is the difference? It has to be more than the skirt. I've added skirts to T-rigged plastics, both worms and craws, and had good results. I can fish both, in the same area, and in the same way, and the T-rig will outfish the jig hands down. In fact, with the exceptions of the 1/8oz Bitsy bug and the 3/16oz Evolution jig, I can't catch a bass on a jig. As soon as I go to 1/4oz or bigger, the game is over for me. Somebody please explain the difference. Cheers, GK

GK, do the same test run in a few months. Dirk bought a capricorn, great price admittedly but,....this is one of the few comparisons where my cheap butt would absolutely spend the extra dough on the Tierra. Regarding the Tierras paint job, it does not scratch!!!! Seriously, I cannot own a reel more than a month without it looking 3 yrs old. Mine still looks brand new after a complete season. Aside from performance being flawless, it holds up to LBH beatings. That's saying something. Good point. Also it should be noted that the Capricorn is now out of production, so somewhere down the line, parts will not be available. I knew that going in, and it does not bother me. I don't use spinning gear near as much as casting gear, so I expect these things to last for a long time, with regular maintenance, of course.

I haven't fished the Tierra, but the capricorn is an awesome little reel for the money. Sorry, guys, I couldn't resist. I got two 2500 Capri's earlier this year when Cabela's had them on sale for 60 bucks apiece. I just tried out the Tierra a bud of mine bought, and it was hard to tell the difference other than his was a larger size and thus heavier. The Tierra might be just a bit smoother, maybe. A couple of years ago, Tackle Tour did one of their shootouts, comparing the Capricorn to the Stradic; both being about the same price at the time. They gave the nod to the capricorn. Not that that in itself means a heck of a lot. You won't go wrong with either choice. If you can pick one up one sale, it's just that much better in my book. I'm always in the market for a bargain. Cheers, GK

yuck, yuck ;D ;D

Good one ;D

Go ahead and use the 8. There are not many fish in fresh water that require 100 yards of line. Bass are not one of "em. As far as over-spooling goes, I'm not sure what that means. When is a reel over-spooled? I fill my baitcasters up right to where the spool is beveled. I fill my spinning reels up to within about 1/32" of the lip when using 6 or smaller. When using 10, it's about 1/16". What's everybody else do? Cheers, GK

I've had a few of those type reels, and will never have another one. Every one failed rather quickly. The trigger / bail mechanism was what failed. If you're only intending to use one a few times a year, for light duty panfishing, you'd probably be OK with one. If you're gonna use it every day, I'd say don't do it. Cheers, GK

I broke my Setyr rod this past weekend. Utter stupidity on my part. Had a five on the line, thought I had him whipped, reached down to lip him right at the boat, and he found a bit more energy. I had to rod too high, and he snapped off about 6" from the tip. BUMMER! So, I sent them an e-mail explaining what happened, that it was my fault, I don't remember exactly when I bought it, but it was more than 90 days, I don't have a receipt, and if there was a warranty card, I either lost it ot threw it away. I asked them what kind guides were on it, because I wanted to put on a new tip, and see if it would make a good jerkbait rod. Sent this out at about 8:00PM last night. Got a reply early this morning. They said, " send it back, with a check for $25, to cover shipping, and they would send me a new one", the rods have a lifetime warranty. I'm seriously impressed!!! I'd urge anybody looking for a great stick to check out these rods. Very light and sensitive, made in the USA, slpit grip, no foregrip design, under $250, and a great, no questions asked warranty. When I first used this rod, I wasn't sure that I liked it. It has a very soft tip, almost fiberglass like, without the weight. It transitions rather quickly into some serious backbone. I've never used a rod with action anything like this. But I got used to it, and it became one of my favorites. It's perfect for SwinSenkos, other small plastic swimbaits, and small cranks, even though it's called a spinnerbait model. ( model # SPB178M ) I just had to pass this along. An American company, doin' it right. Cheers, GK

A Chicago family of pro football supporters head out one Saturday to do their Christmas shopping. While in the sports store, the son picks up a Green Bay Packers jersey and says to his older sister, "I've decided to become a Packer fan and I would like this for Christmas." His big sister is outraged by this and promptly whacks him on the head and says, "Go talk with Mom." Off goes the little lad with the Green Bay Packer jersey in hand and finds his mother. "Mom?" "Yes, son?" "I've decided I'm going to be a Packer fan, and I would like this jersey for Christmas." The mother is outraged, promptly whacks him on the head and says, "Go see your father." Off he goes with the Green Bay Packer jersey in hand and finds his father."Dad?" "Yes, son?" "I've decided I'm going to be a Packer fan, and I would like this jersey for Christmas". The father is so outraged he, too, whacks his son on the head and says, "No son of mine is ever going to be seen in THAT!" About half hour later they're all back in the car heading towards home. The father turns to the son and says, "Son, I hope you've learned something today." The son says, "Yes, Dad, I have." "Good, son. What is it?" The son replies, "I've only been a Packer fan for an hour and I already hate you #$%^^$#& Bear's fans."

Never see any "old" codgers where I fish except me