Mike L

Braid for all topwater, regardless for what. Mike

In that case you're good. I personally would use 20# braid witha 15# floro leader on the spinning rod but that's me. Even the docks around here have vegetation in and around them. Just a confidence thing. Mike

I wonder how many of the more successful pro's would be useing 350.00 rods and 400.00 reels if thier sponsors weren't footing the bill or just letting them use it. Sure, it doesn't matter to the more successful ones with $1 million in career earnings, but I assume it does to the vast majority. But a poor slob like me will get what I can get and make it work, and be as successful and happy as my ability and means will allow. Been doing that all my life and untill fortune shines down, that's the way it will stay. Mike

Also, Post on FLW's forum site that you're looking for a guaranteed boater and don't forget to leave a way for someone to contact you. Also, sign up as soon as you can, don't wait untill the priority date. Then if you find a boater just call them with his name and member number. Mike

So we don't ask the same question, would you be so kind to post his reply please? I'd like to know what he says also. Thanks Mike

Ive heard that Alex makes a super, super rod. I personally don't have one (yet) but a few friends do and I have to fight to get them to let me throw one when we're out together. Mike

After buying and useing 3 different bags over the years I've settled now on the Flambeau AZ8. As a co-angler or just putzin around it has the right amount of zippered compartments, pouches and velcroed enclosures in all the right places for me. It can hold your boxes either horizontally, or vertically which I do as I mark each for a quick retrieve. The bag is not too big either. It is more taller than wider and longer which is perfect for when you're in someone else's boat and don't want to take up too much of his space. Mike

I do the same. I have to bring everything in one bag if entered in a tournament and having mutiple bags doesn't make sense. I use the plano boxes with the permanent vertical dividers that I store vertically in the bag and label as: * Stick... Senkos, sluggo's, trick worms, cut r's, etc. * Creature...beavers, brush hogs, tubes, lizards, etc. * Swim...big ez, flukes, skinny dippers, etc. Another box for frogs, top water, cranks/jerks/traps, and terminal tackle. Mike

I've also tried both over the years and between the 2, I liked the ewg better. That being said I don't use either anymore. The skip gap style are ideal for flukes and many other soft plastics. Check them out, you may like them too. Mike

Ditto Mike

I decide just based on water clarity. But I'm a simple kinda guy. Mike

We all have our strengths if we admit it or not. I hate the "junk fishing" term. What's that mean anyway? We bring stuff with us that we think may work in any given time, day or time of the day. Just because we may try 4 different techniques to find a fish I'll bet you a curly tail worm, the first thing we pick up is what we have confidence in based on the weatner, location, clarity etc. I know I don't drop shot, I wont rig one up... I rarely throw a Carolina rig, I won't rig that either... But at sun rise on a grass flat or around some lay downs give me a frog, On a hydrilla mat give me a craw, In heavy to scattered grass I have 3 or 4 things I throw because they work. Yes I'll change the presentation a bit... Color, horizontal fall as opposed to a more vertical one, chatterbait in place of a spinner etc. We all throw what we know. Maybe not all day but we all do it. So to answer your question, I always throw what I'm best and more successful at. Mike

I use Yo Zuri for all moving baits... and Yes, back that drag down. Mike

This Or a fluke.. Bam!! Mike

* I can't stand walking around in polyester pants and wearing a visor all morning trying to hit a little white ball in a hole... * I trip over myself trying to do a jumping jack... * I fall asleep watching rollin billboards turn left for 3 hour's... * Get bored hitting a fuzzy ball over a net... *Afraid I'll shoot myself in a knee cap if I walk around the woods trying to kill something... But give me a golden sun rise, a light breeze, flat water, a hook, line and sinker and I'll be your friend for life. Mike

Great Job! It can get addicting Mike

Seems like most of you use Roboworms for dropshotting. Being as the lakes here in Fla are shallow soup bowls compared to what most of you fish in, I don't see the need to drop shot at all. Wish I did. At last years roadtrip on Wilson, I picked up some just in case. As I didn't know what color to get I got a greenish one with a chartreuse tip that looked good (don't remember what it's called) Anyway, on a whim I tied one on weightless when I felt the need to downsize and got bit on the first cast. Don't know if it was the color, action, or it just fell on the fishes head and pi**ed it off Mike

Ditto! "For the money" they are great. Mike

3/0 or 4/0 skip gap depending on the "skinnyness" Anything bigger I use a twist lock straight shank. Latley, I can't rig anything else but the Cut R. Mike

Always have my Chicago Bears camo hat with me. If it's gonna be 90+ degrees which it usually is from May to September down here, I'll wear a wide brim but that Bear hat is allways with me. Mike

Live bait. But there's no reason you couldn't use them for certain soft plastics. The bend at the shank will prevent rigging cetain plastics straight if the eye and point aren't exactly in line. Mike

12# Yo Zuri Mike

I've never even seen a hook like that. It does look like a quasi skip gap with an angled shaft tho. Mike

I only use offset ewg hooks, and then only with bulky thick plastic's like Brush hogs etc. Straight shanks work better for me with thinner plastic's and in heavy cover. Your results may vary. Mike