.ghoti.

I didn't know you had a son named Rocks.

I gotta agree with JF on this. My spinning reels are flooger supreme and xt models, 25 size. The max line size I find acceptable on these reels is #6 flouro or #8 mono. Your 30 size reel should do fine with #8 flouro or #10 mono. My wife's reels are 30 size quantums, and #10 mono works just fine.

I quit using sliding lead weights years ago. I got tired of having to replace most of my selection every year because the ends of the weights were being pinched shut, banging around in my boxes. Started using Ultra Steel weights, and see no reason to change. Steel is harder than lead, and does a little better job transmitting bottom information than lead. Tungsten is harder still and does a little better job than steel, but no where near enough better the justify the cost differential. I can buy 15 steel weights for the price of one Tungsten weight. And the steel weights have never nicked or frayed my line.

Buy the reel you like, put it on the rod and go fishing. Who gives a rip what color it is? This ain't no fashion show.

Nice report Goose. I'm sort of in the market for a new rod, and was considering one of these. I got to spend most of a day last year fishing with a Cumulus rod, and found it to be excellent. I recently sold a Cumara; the first generation, because of the tiny grip. A nice rod, but not nice enough to put up with the grip. I think you've convinced me to look elsewhere. Thanks.

Put them where you could find them, did you?

If your knot is slipping, you either used the wrong knot for the line, or you tied a poor knot. Don't take offense at this; we all tie a funky knot now and then. Since I fish most in and around vegetation, I trim the tag end very close; no more than 1/32" of tag left.

I do mine on an as needed basis. I don't use my spinning reels that much, so they get serviced over the winter. On the other hand, my most used baitcasters could get serviced four or five times per year. If anything feels off, I stop using that reel, and do a complete breakdown as soon as I can get to it. Ditto if I drop one in the water, or the reel gets into mud or sand or gravel. There is no one answer to this question that fits everybody.

Any recipe starting with a pound of bacon is going to be great. Bring "em on!

Robert, Cabelas has the supreme XT on sale right now for $120. I just ordered one. Look in their bargain cave.

It would depend on the location of the guide. If the crushed guide is in the upper 30% of the rod, don't use it. A fish pulling, with one guide missing will put an unnatural strain on the rod, and may result in a snapped blank. If it's in the lower 30%, I'd probably fiah it, if that were the only rod I had. Between those parameters, the decision would be based on other factors. Is it a MH fast rod? use it. Is it a medium moderate rod? Probably not. See where I'm going with this? If a fish is going to put a bend in the rod where the missing guide is located, don't use it.

Consider this, Robert: a 1000 size reel will have a very small diameter spool. This will lead to line management problems if you plan to use anything over 6lb test mono, and, depending on brand, flouro over 4lb test. A smaller spool will result in more line twist and memory. I would recommend a 20 or 25 size reel if you're planning to use mono over 6 or flouro over 4.

Sorry; Bushmills only

Drum Major Siebert; front and center

Nitro, everybody knows there is no Budweiser in heaven. They serve Guiness.

I'm a professor. I work in possibly the most liberal, politically correct environment imaginable. Allow me to define political correctness. It's the idea that one can pick up a turd by the clean end.

Another great RoadTrip has come to it's end. IS it time for the next one? I look forward to this trip every year. I don't have any big fish pics because I did not catch any big fish. I have a bunch of people pics I will send to you, Glenn. I fished one day with Glenn. Thank you, Glenn for a great day on the water. We got some fish and I got to know the guy a lot better. What I would says is; if you get the chance to fish with Glenn, DO IT. He is a fine example of what a human can be. Went out the next day with Big O. What a blast, despite the lousy weather we were faced with all day. The wind kept us off the main lake; where we should have been. We fished shallow, and caught a bunch of fish, but no big fish. The water was falling, which should have put the big girls out on the drops, humps and ledges. We just couldn't stay out there to find them. Despite that, I had an awesome time with Steve and Chad. I was in the boat with two top shelf fishermen, and I learned enough in one day to keep me busy the rest of the year trying to put that new knowledge to use. Thanks Steve, and please give Chad my thanks as well. I hope we can do it again; the sooner the better. Fished Saturday with Mike Siebert and his wife Julie. That would be Siebert Outdoors, just in case you didn't know that. Or Gman to you folks who have been around here for a while. Had a ball with two fine people. I'll say that despite the fact that both of them out-fished me; dang it anyway. LOL Thanks Mike. Thanks Julie. I'd be happy as can be to fish with you two again; any time. The Soiree went well in one respect: we raised 150 bucks for Tackle the Storm. Pretty cool. In another respect, I have to apologize to a good portion of the folks there. Quite a few didn't get any soup because they didn't know it was there to be had. That was my fault for not getting the word around. And, there were some who didn't get any, or took very little because they thought there wasn't enough to go around. Again, I neglected to inform everybody that there were two big pots of soup on the stove; not one. my mistake, again. I weill do better next year. Thanks to Roadwarrior for some good burgers and beans Thursday night. I think Kent should do this every year. Thanks to Alpster for some fine jambalaya and red beans & rice. The weather limited the number of people who showed up to sample Ronnie's chow. Those of you who didn't make it, should have. I think Ronnie should do this every year too. I shared a cabin with Long Mike, Roadwarrior, Alpster and Big O. Our cabin seemed to be party central every night. I was up late every night chatting and BS'ing with a diverse group of folks. Anybody who's been around Big O knows he can BS with the best of "em. Made some new friends too, and that's what the Bass Resource RoadTrip is all about. We had some good speakers again this year, topped off with a night with Big O. He gave away a boat load of Rage Tail baits, and gave us an excellent talk on rigging, presentation, colors, and fishing in general. If you weren't there for that, you really screwed up. Big O is the most expert fisherman I've ever met. If I had all of his fishing knowledge, and he had a feather in his booty-crack, we would both be tickled. And last, but not at all least; a big thank you to Glenn and Keri for hosting this outstanding event. None of this would be possible without them. I look forward to the RoadTrip all year long, and can't imagine having to miss one, or even worse, not having one at all. And last, and this is really the last, we raised a bunch of cash for Tackle the Storm. I think I heard how much, but I won't repeat what I'm not sure of. I would be interested in finding out, if possible. For all of you who are on the fence about attending this event; get off the fence and sign up for next year. I look forward to meeting you. Cheers, GK

I have the Hedgehog Studios spool pin tool. Best money I've ever spent on a specialized tool. Spool pin pliers, such as the Boca version, are fine. The Hedgehog tool is better.

Leader length? Mine are in the 75 yard range.

Remember the mooks? I still have the shirt. LOL

Never, ever look anybody in the eye while eating a banana.

OK, I'll play. ARE YOU PO'D YET?

Leave now? I wish I were there now. This will be the slowest day of the year. I have an evening class; over at 7:50. Then I have to buy all the perishable foodstuff for the Soiree, drive home; a one hour trip; pack the coolers, load the car, and try to get some sleep. Planning to leave at 6am, wednesday. Be at Pickwick between 2 and 3pm. The tasks at hand then will be to get ready for the Soiree, get my rods rigged with terminal tackle, and try to keep Kent sober long enough to see at least the beginning of the Soiree. Kent still blames me for him getting splat-faced at the first Guntersville RoadTrip, and missing out on Muddy's meatballs. I'm bringing plenty of coffee, but I'm not going to force it down his neck. LOL

Looks like a Fat Ika mated with a Space Monkey.

That's the advantage to the rubber band method. As soon as the glue softens, the hot tip slides right off.