.ghoti.

Larry, I will make B&G one morning for our cabin. You may even be able to convince me to make hash one morning.

Just looked it up. breakfast begins at 7:00am.

Looks like Birmingham is about two hours from Wilson Lake. No excuses Raider. It's time to crap or fart twice and get off the can. This crazy Yankee will give up one night's festivities to drive down and pick up your crazy arse.

I bought two pair when they first hit the market. They lasted one day on the water. Took them off and gave them away. I just did not like the feel. I prefer knobs with no texture. Daiwa's smooth cork knobs are my favorite. Just my opinion. Many people love those grips. Buy one pair and find out for yourself.

Dear Raider, how do you spell distressed? Signed, Long Mike

Oh no you didn't. You really don't think you're gonna get off that easy, do you?

Full time professor and part time consultant. I'll be 62 tomorrow, and have been seriously considering retirement. I'll be giving up one of the jobs. Just haven't quite decided which.

I'd throw a jerkbait, then I'd throw a tube, then I'd throw in the towel.

The only criteria is use to determine which rod to use is overall weight and depth. Weight determines rod power. For less than 15', I use casting rods. Deeper than 15' I use spinning. It's a lot easier to just leave the bail open when dropping down in deep water.

I use a Dobyns Champion 7'6" H-F rod for deep cranking. The rod says jigs, light flippin and c-rig. It is not what most would call a crankbait rod, but it works for me. With a tuned up Zillion, spooled with #14 mono, I can sling a DD-22 out of the county. I discovered this by accident. I wanted to throw a DD-22 one day and did not have my deep crank setup with me, so I used the above setup. It worked well enough I eventually sold my custom deep crank rod because I no longer used it. If you're willing to do a little experimenting, you will discover that all of your rods are good for more than one application. Simply ignore "conventional" wisdom, and give it a try. Within reason of course. I wouldn't use one of my light weight trout rods with 4lb test mono for punching; that would be stupid. I wouldn't tie a 1/64oz crappie jig on one of my heavy jigs rods either. But, right in the middle, I have two St Croix LTB 7' M-F rods that I can, and do, use for just about anything. From 1/8oz up to 3/4oz; jigs, plastics, cranks, spinnerbaits, etc. If you find something that works for you, well, use it. Who gives a rip what somebody else thinks? And, who the heck are they to tell you you're not doing it right? Being an old fart, who has been at this a long time, I ignore about 90% of what I read online. I've always preferred figuring it out myself.

I'd have to say something is not right woth your reel. You say you get the same distance with the mag brakes at 10 as you do at zero. That is not right. Send it off the Mike at DVT, and let him correct the problem.

I used to have three four Daiwa Millionaires; three 103s and a 253. I added outer pinion bearings, driveshaft bearings, levelwind bearings, carbontex drags, four bearing TD-Z handles and SS abec7 spool bearings to all four. Plus a full internal polishing. They were shweeet. I still kick myself for selling them.

Compared to some of you, I guess I'm more of an "out with old, in with the new" king of guy. The oldest reels I have are four Alphas and a TD-Z. They quit making the Z about ten years ago, and the purple Alphas about the same time. Not sure about the exact dates, and don't really care. Those five reels perform, but none are stock. The oldest rods I have are three pre-IPC St Croix Avids. Bought all three when they were clearanced out to make way for the IPC version, so they aren't all that old either.

Ain't it da truth? I sort of wish I had bought two. I've been completely impressed with the Certate.

I knew that, and didn't want to spend that much on a finesse spinning reel, which will see limited use in my game. The Aegis fit what I had in mind to spend. TW's sale made the Certate a no-brainer.

That's what everybody calls me at the Roadtrips.

TW put the JDM Certate on sale as part of their 25 days of Christmas deal, so I bought a 2004 model. If I hadn't purchased that reel, I would have ordered an Aegis. I'd been looking at the Aegis for a couple weeks and hadn't pulled the trigger.

Now that's funny right there.

Mine is a play on the random silliness of the English language. Pronounced as follows; gh as in rough o as in women ti as in nation Wish I could claim credit, but George Bernard Shaw beat me to it by several decades.

the banjo minnow and walking worming have to be on that list somewhere

this may be the worst fishing one liner. Should've been here yesterday.

Simply do what the line manufacturers do; put some 10lb test line on a spool labeled 4, and you're good to go.

I've been known to cuss, belch and fart. I do not twit.

A steel roof and four new windows for the house. Also, a new water line. The old line was only 17" underground and froze for the first time this year. Haven't seen all the bills for yet for that little fiasco. At the newly acquired lake front cabin: had the entire floor ripped out and replaced, drywall and trim work, new heater, paint and floor tile. Still have to purchase and install kitchen sink and cabinets. Still shopping around for some bargain furniture. At least I get a place to have my rod building bench and reel service bench. Got a sneaky feeling I'm building my own doghouse,

Missed ya last year, buddy. Glad to hear you're doing well.