Mike L

I use Phenix X11 composite. Its on the high end of your range tho. Its loads up like a champ and with a curado I, can throw a 1.5 sq. bill a mile. The X13 is a 7'6 in the same ratings. Mike

30# braid for on top 12# Yo zuri for jerking Mike

I like Floro...don't really use mono that much anymore Mike

Wanna adopt me? Lucky man!! -Mike

Braid...Power Pro Floro...Segar Invisex Co Poly....Yo Zuri Dont use Mono anymore Mike

Bill C'Mon... How could anyone who has contributed so much here think hes a pain. You dont have to fish everyday on big famous lakes and rivers, or enter every available tournament to be of value to those who sign on to learn. In the 4 years I've been on this site you are one of those who's opinion I value, and hopefully 1 day be able to meet in person. Be Well, Be Positive Mike

I volunteer!! Sorry to hear that Pro Crafter I hope you feel better soon Mike

Im told the Monkey Box has been hot this week. I'll know tomorrow. Mike

You got some good advise there..... If I may add... Fish your fish, dont worry about what he's doing. It'll be tough not to try to match him, but believe me when I tell you, if you start doing that you wont stop and any confidence you had in your self or your abilities will be gone. You have a line in the boat, the area from the seats to the motor is yours. DON'T cast over, or next to him. Be ready with the net if you boater hooks up. However, before you leave its always a good idea to ask him how he wants you to do it . Some will want you to be still and he swims the fish to you, and some will want you to go get it. Its always a good idea to ask before you leave. Keep your bag out of his way. When running keep it between your legs if he doesn't give you a compartment. When you're fishing put the bag on your seat. Keep your rods either on the deck or next to your seat along the gunell, NOT between the seats. Dont step on either seat getting to the rear deck if posssible Offer to bring lunch, drinks, snacks etc. Always buy the ice. If you smoke make sure you dont burn a hole in the carpet. If you use dye, make sure you dont spill any, that stuff is hard to get out of the carpet. Offer to help pay for fuel, some will take it some will not, but be ready. It's my opinion the co angler should share in the cost especially for a 9 hr tournament day. Dont forget who's boat it is.. Respect his equipment A lot of stuff?? Yes it is but if you think about it just makes sense, but thats me. Above all have fun, don't put any added pressure on yourself just because its a tournament. Just go Fishin. Good luck to you Mike

I've seen them but not too often. Doesn't matter anyway as long as it's at least 16' without a tiller and the motor hp is in the range the manufacturer recommends. Mike

Trilene Knot Mike

I used that knot before I switched to the SDJ for eveything but braid. Honestly don't remember why I switched, its just as easy and fast. I like the double loop. Mike

Vary the wsy to work it... * Like jerk bait with small twitches * Dead stick, let it fall on its own * Add a nail weight through the back for a horiz fall * Add a nail weight to the nose for a nose first fall * Hook it through the nose Point is try different rigging style, youll be surprised Mike

More and more as each day passes!! Mike

Catch a smallmouth Make better decisions from the back of the boat during tournaments Learn to fish the drop shot Get enough confidence to enter a So Open in 2015 Get enough confidence to enter a Rayovac Series event in 2015 Mike

Ok I use nylon to apply while spooling to insure that all the line is treated on the spool. And also before each trip. Pre treating a filler spool instead is a good tip also. Mike

1st tap, she picked it up.... 2nd tap, she let it go.... 3rd tap is me on your shoulder asking why you didn't set the hook.... Down here a t rig is a staple, it's just what you do. Maybe not all day, but at some point you're throwing some kind of plastic. But on average, in the grass hitting holes as you move along, a hard veticle set, is always best. Now if you're in deeper, rocky areas without a lot of growth maybe a side set would work, I wouldn't know. Mike

Haven't been on the lake in over a month. We launched at Scott Driver and stayed on the north end all day and did find beds. We were just messin around so I didn't want to bother any bedding fish, we left them alone. Leaving Fri to prefish for the Fed Nation tourn on Sunday. I'll let you know next week what we find. Mike

Its just a confidence thing with me. Its why I still use the Uni to Uni to join 2 lines when it seems the whole world uses the Albright or Alberto. Mike

Dont know much about the newer ones, but I love my older ASR jig rod Mike

RI Sweet Beaver for flippin heavy cover and mats Trick worm for Shaky Senko for Wacky Brush Hog and Paca Craw for bottom Chatter and sq bill for moving baits MIke

Thanks Brian Mike

Thanks Rhino, I wondering about just that. Mike

I used that stuff once just to try it and went right back to the KVD. It was too greasy for my taste. It made any overspray on the reel hard to get off and it left a film on the line that made an oil slick on the water after a cast. Mike

What everyone said.... A tip when changing line....don't use a cotton rag to apply as you reel new line on. Take an old nylon sock, or anything that isn't absorbant, wet it down good and reel through that. You'll use a lot less. Also dont forget to shake the bottle once in a while. That stuff tends to settle on the bottom. Mike