Mike L

Well Mrs Mike found my shopping list and wiped it out.... Frog Togg bibs Rage bugs, Rage Shellcrackers, Rage Craws, Rage Smokin Roosters, clippers, 5/0 and 6/0 1/8 & 1/4 oz Owner twist lock hooks. 2 Omni Shade shirts Mike

Wait, you stopped opening gifts on Christmas day to post!! Man, I like your dedication Mike

You Sir have all you need!! Mike

I use straight braid only for punching heavy mats and froggin. Mike

Anything that you present slowww, or eratic or drop on thier nose. Some lake's it may be a jerk, some it's a plastic of some sort. Down here for me it's a smallish plastic bait fished slowly. Very Slowly. Mike

Ditto..If you're just talking about chunks Mike

Ummm I use 30# and have for years and maybe broken off once or twice if I remember right but it was never because of the lb test of the line. And when I go frogging it is in some of the nastiest stuff you will find in any lake in the country. Anyway, to answer your question, yes with all things being equal you will get maybe 5yds more distance with 50# over 65#, Maybe. The 65# wont be as manageable as as the 50# would be but the manageability of braid is not a concern of mine regardless of the presentation I lime it for. Mike

I frequent a few other sites as well as this one but always seem to find myself checking in here more than the others. It's not so much that the info here is better or more in depth, which it is sometimes, it's that there are so many obviously accomplished fisherman who aren't afraid to give an honest opinion even if it may not be the accepted norm. Sure there have been some heated disagreements from time to time but it seems they always end with a sence of respect for each other and with an unspoken agreement to disagree. IMHO, even tho the mods here are sometimes a little quick to lock a thread if it takes an unwanted turn, I feel that is another reason that most of us just move on to the next to maybe learn something new, or try to teach someone else who has a genuine desire to learn regardless of the level of knowledge or expierence a poster has. Isn't THAT my friends the real reason we keep coming back? Thanks for a job well done. Mike

Haven't used those indigenous swimbaits in years! Sir, I stand corrected! Mike

To Me, Best...Florida, 'Nuff said. Worst...Florida, after a cold front. Mike

12# Yo Zuri Mike

Thanks guys. I feel I can compete with those guys, but if I'm wrong I'll know soon enough. Mike Mike

Thanks Fellas Good advise Capt'n thanks Mike

I can't even talk that much at one time let alone type all that !!! Mike

Braid for heavy cover presentation's Floro for bottom contact presentation's Co Poly for moving bait presentation's Dont use mono at all anymore, see no reason too. Mike

Unweighted wacky rig... Shaky head... Dead Sticking... Not because I can't catch a fish, it's just that they all take so much time. Mike

Toss em the dashboard Mike

That's the problem! I see something I haven't got and think Ummmm I wonder?? Man, That looks good! If I was a bass I'd eat that! Throw it in the basket. I learned that leason. Unfortunately, Ive done that so long I got bags I haven't opened yet! As far as brands, yes I've settled on 1 or 2 brand's now for almost all styles of plastics. Mike

Ditto... Mike

Yeah I'm really leaning toward doin it. You're right I'll know soon enough. Just was wondering if anyone else competed in it. Thanks Mike

2 & 2 Mike

For the past few years I've been fishing the BFL, TBF, and Nations circuit's as a co angler and been thinking more and more about moving up to the Rayovac Series next year as a co-angler as well. Now that I'm recently retired and have the time and Thankfully the means to see how far I can go, I'm still a little hesitant. After all I'm 64 yrs old! We bought a motor coach so the travel isn't a concern, and there's just something about traveling around the country at our leisure, which we were gonna do anyway, and fishing at a higher level of competition that really appeals to me. Hopefully there will still be time to sit somewhere with a cigar and watch a sunset over a mountain range somewhere, but I'm not ready for that yet. In the back of my head I keep thinking if not now, when? But at 64! Anyway thats the thought process. My question, do any of you now, or have you, fished the Rayovac? Mike

Not meaning to confuse you, but I've been useing the skip gap style hook almost exclusively now for flukes. Like them much better. Hold's them straight and tight. Mike

With the room restriction you have, you'll have to make an over hand cast. I'd use a min of 30# braid. Keep a good amount of slack in your line, nothing will walk with a tight line. If you're useing a frog with long legs you can cut one leg shorter than the other. That will help it to turn. The problem with that tho is it will want to continue to walk to one side, which if you take that in account when you cast can be a good thing as it's easier, at least for me, to change your retrieve angle a bit. Which is what you would want to do sometimes anyway. Mike

Another effective way to rig em is though the nose. If you do rig them Texas style and want a little depth either use a light split shot about 18" up, or put a smal nail weight nearer the tail. For the small size fluke you may be better off useing a thin ribbed finishing nail. It'll be easier to get it in. Mike