Mike L

Braid can last years, I don't worry too much about it changing colors. When it get low, it's time. Mike

I don't use those entirely enough... When I do its a Owner 5/0 twist lock with the centering pin when rigged vertical. 4/0 rigged horizontal. Mike

Ditto.... The KVD will make it much easier to separate by hand. Mike

Any style or size you would use if you weren't useing a C Rig. I don't make any distinction between one presentation over another except for punching matt's. To make it weedless just T rig as you would anything. Now if you need a specific recommendation for a specific size plastic, post it. It'll come quick I'm sure Mike

To all the Moms out there, Enjoy Your Day!! (Happy Mothers Day Ma...I miss you) Michael

Yes, snell knot. Most all of the pre made floro leaders are tied that way, Eagle Claw included I have a bunch of them in my salt water box. Mike

I use original Power Pro and have for years, from 20# to 65#. I have no reason to change Mike

Ditto Mike

Fenwick Techna AV with Curado E...All around plastics setup Phenix M1 with Curado I...Spinner/Chatterbait Mike

Braid when it gets low. Floro and/or copoly either when its gets low or every January which ever comes first. Don't use mono Mike

Good Job!! I'm told there are even bigger ones in Webb. I wouldn't know first hand. Mike

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger.. Anyone who tounament fishes for any amount of time has had days like that and worse. I know, I have and it seems like all I do latley is fish tournaments. Doesn't matter where, how or when. You think you've got a pattern down and something changes. Sometimes you know what and sometimes you won't. At least you had a good time and didn't zero! Good Luck on your next one. Mike

Yes I know, you're right of course, Thank You This fish was full, it looked like she was ready to bust open. Mike

If she don't want to bite she's not going too. Now, that being said she still will protect her nest. I zeroed in on a hog one time and she just wouldn't hit anything in and around the nest, like you I threw everything I had at her and couldn't make her mad enough to commit. Since it was a cloudy day with no shadows I backed off, sat down on some rocks about 10ft from shore and waited. I couldn't see her where I was but I knew she wasn't going anywhere. Every time someone would come along I shooed them away and told them what I was doing. They all understood and a few stayed, but I made them sit behind me about 10ft and to be quiet. You should have seen 5 grown men sitting on some rocks and waiting. I joked that we looked like a bunch of expectant fathers in a maternity ward! After about 20min I got as small as I could and side armed a weightless, white centepede over all the clutter on shore. It hit the water about 5ft from the nest and I waited another 5 minutes or so, and then started reeling very slow and then stopping every 3 or 4 revolutions. One of the guys sitting behind me was about 6'3". He stood and backed up slowly and following my line guided me to where the nest was. I crawled about 3 ft to my left one time and he said you're right there keep coming.. I stopped it at the edge, turned the handle about 1/2 turn, she came off and nailed it!! We yelled like we were at a HS football game!! All I had was one of those spring loaded scales and it said 7lb. I swear she was closer to 8 1/2. Anyway, I released her pretty quick. True story Moral of the story...With all the activity around her with every mothers son trying to get her, she knew you and everyone else were there when you got out of your car. Mike

You guys up there must be on top of each other if they're holding in the grass. Yeah, I wouldn't like that either. But I can see where at times, that type of grwoth pattern would be an advantage. Mike

Thanks Fellas I feel better I'll start with the 20 as I'm going to use either an Allstar ASR or a Fenwick Techna AV rod. Both have a max line spec of 25lb and don't want to push it. Thanks for your opinions Mike

Can you imagine if you were in a kayak and saw tha thing? It's head would have been above you! Whew! Mike

Check out the Gambler Big EZ. It doesn't have a deep channel per se but it does have a deep slit on the top that the hook point lays into. It's just not covered as much as on the Skinny Dipper. Mike

Can't help with a recommendation, but until you get one, to me the best way to "see" what's under you is to throw a fairly heavy, tungsten weighted Carolina Rig. Drag that thing in around areas where you can't see anything growing and you'll soon learn more than just where the grass starts. Welcome and good hunting Mike

Old is when you finally retire and you have stuff to do, but you keep putting it off to give you something to do! Mike

Pick up some keel weighted hooks. Commonly known here as the Rage Rig. For the standard size I use a 5/0, smaller ones use a 4/0. Either a 3/8 or 1/4 oz will do nicely. Mike

You're right of course I thought of that, but I would rather not use a leader for throwing in cover. It's just something I don't have confidence in doing. Mike

I'm thinking about trying 20lb floro for close in, hand to hand combat. Not for punching matt's of course, but for pitching in isolated areas of heavy to scattered grass, reeds etc. Useing jigs, creature, soft stick baits etc. Been useing 50# lb braid and always have, doing fair, but I'm looking to change up a few things and thought I'd start with my line. It'll be either Berkley 100% or Sniper Any of you guys do the same? Mike

All that new fangled, fancy, stuff is well and good How about some tried and true old school stuff.... * Sluggo's * Small, white, feather tailed, red nosed pop r's * Double or single tailed Mr. Twister grubs * Plastic Centipede ok you young guys can stop shaking your heads now. Mike

Ditto Mike