Mike L

This... MIke

If useing the Strike King with the added traiker hook and elongated skirt I don't, all others allways. Mike

The Okechobee Magic are killers down here boy's! Mike

You need to give that girl a hug Mike

Wacky rig Chatterbait Mike

RM is right... It's just what you feel comfortable useing..Nothing is the BEST. You can make anything work for anything, what is ideal is another subject. I use a 7:1 for jigs and top water only. and a 6 something for everything else. You don't say if this is your first BC, if it is I'd get a "6". If you have one already a "7" would be a good compliment. Hope this helps, and Welcome! Mike

My Dad, an Uncle and a cousin went to what we called The Forest Preserve on the far south side of Chicago. It was a heavily wooded area with a few picnic tables scattered around..Nobody else was around There was a little [which looked huge] pond in the middle of it. My Dad took a bucket of night crawlers out of the truck of the Ford, gave me and my cousin a rod. My Uncle put the worms on the hooks and told us to just "throw it out there". I remember the feeling of the pull...my Dad screaming, my uncle yelling, and my cousin running... It was 1956. I was six and haven't thought about that in years!! Thanks for asking. Mike

The only time I had one break was when I was casting to a dock last week and missed the water! [Yeah... OK... like you never did that! It landed on the dock and the corner broke off. Mike

This.. Also, I'm not familiar with the buzz frog you're useing, but if the fish are agressive and really start to hammer a frog I change from whatever I'm useing...Spro, Strike King, to a Scum Frog. They have the sofest body on the market. Also I find them easier to walk in place because they don't have the long seperated legs. Mike

Yep Mike

Power Pro Braid Seagar Invisix Floro Yo Zuri Hybrid Mike

IMHO you don't need one for each. A fipping and pitching rod is the same, just used in a different way. Specific rods recommendations will be coming soon I'm sure. There are many in your range. Mine is the only custom rod I own, which is 10yrs old. If i was gonna buy another I would make sure it's the most sensative one I can afford. Mike Mike

I found the best way to put it on the line when spooling is to use an old nylon sock instead of a cotton rag, sock etc. It doesn't get absorbed into it and you'll use less. Good Stuff Mike

Happy Fathers Day to all who are fortunate enough to have your kids and grandkids with you. To all who don't, remember when you did, that'll get you through.. And to all who's Dad's aren't with you anymore, close your eyes and remember them also, Dad's really never go away... Happy Fathers Day Dad...I miss you Mike

Sounds like your Dad and mine would have gotten along just fine... Mike

For years and years all I've ever used was mono, untill I found this site and tryed Yo Zuri mostly because of you guy's. I've been useing 12# ever since and really like that line. I never gave useing braid a thought for spinners until now... Mike

I still fish it...You can start and finish with a ribbon tail and not regret it. Mike

I've had the best luck useing a Scum frog in either green with red specks, or green with black. I've used the Spro and KVD models, but for non popping presentations the Scum works the best, probably because they are the softest. I walk it over and through all kinds of grass, pads etc. Really anywhere in moderately shallow water. Mike

There was a boater struck and killed by lightening on Lake Okeechobee yesterday during a local club tournament. From what I was told by 2 co anglers who were there, a thunderstorm moved in and he was trying to beat it to ramp, or was looking for some type of cover [which there isnt much] The co angler was knocked out and when he came to, tryed to revive him but was too late. He had passed. The co angler waved down a passing boat who picked up the co angler and called Fish and Wildlife officers who came and towed the boat with the boater back to the ramp. [A strange note..All the fish in the livewell behind the boater were dead but those in the other were still alive.] Here in Florida as it is in other states, those storms are nothing to mess with.. We all should remember to be continually aware of the weather and our surroundings while on the water, just not checking the forecast before we go. May God Bless him, and may he Rest in Peace Mike

There Ya go... To me a reaction bite was just that... They may or may not be hungry, they are full after gorging themselves and just hanging out, thier metabolism is slowed way done in winter and won't chase anything more than a few feet away... BUT if a bait that resembles what they feed on is continualy put in front of them, long enough, in different ways, or coming at them from different angles, as the big dog predator in thier environment they get ticked off enough and hit it just for general purposes! I learned something to day, Thanks Hooligan Mike

Sounds to me that you either are carrying way too much, or you need a bag that is large enough with the right amount of pockets and clips in all the right places that would help you get better organized. As a co angler, who is allways fishing with someone else in thier boat, most if not all of these guy's would get down right annoyed and rightfully so, if they had to continullay step over and/or trip on my bag's. In the last 3 yrs I've gone through 3 bag's... a Cabella's, BPS Stalker and now I have a Flambeau AZ8 that is just perfect for me. Check those out or others that may be more organized to you liking. To have 3 bag's, along with rods, lunch/water bag, rain gear [i live in Fla, gotta have it] all piled up at my feet would make me nut's! Mike

Brett is exactly right...I also do this on ever frog I have, popping style or not. To me the sofest frog on the market are the Scum frog's. But I still inspect and bend the hooks on those as well Mike

I understand we all have prefferences, but I don't understand what you find "suspicious" ? Mike

4/0 Owner twist lock hook, Texposed Reaction Inovation Sweet Beaver, San Diego Jam knot for 20# Floro, Palomar knot for 50# braid. Mike

The key to walkin is slack...Watch that video, it will definately help you