Mike L

Sometimes I spray L&L on frog and spinner bait skirts before I put them down. It really helps to keep the strands separated and supple. I also keep my plastics in a box, If I was gonna spay anything on them before being stored back, it would be a scent of some sort not a product that wasn’t designed for that use. I used to do that but got away from it and they don’t seem to mind. Mike

There’s no one reason. It’s hard to point to one thing that is better than anything else you can buy. Granted It doesn’t have all the new technology or built with same materials that the current models have, it’s just built like a tank. It will throw an unweighted plastic with the same ease as one smaller and lighter. Over the years the E has built an aura around it and still has somewhat of a cult following. A well maintained used one is hard to find and if you do they don’t come cheap. Very few reels can say that. Mike

I’m not a fan of any sort of bling on a fishing rod. I’ve never bought a rod because of the way it looks. Always Function over Form Mike

Good choice. I have an E, G, I and K and use them every outing. To me the K is the smoothest casting and 2nd best overall. Mike

Phenix X Series Mike

The length of the worm doesn’t matter as @papajoe222 said. Totally depends on where I’m throwing it. In scattered to moderate vegetation from weightless to maybe 1/2 oz then a MH should work alright. For that I use a MH/XF Tatula with 20# Shooter In thick, heavy stuff I use a Dobyns Mag/Heavy with 65# braid or my punch setup with 80#. Mike

Butkus! All 135 lbs of him Mike

Pop R UV Speed Worm Rage Bug Mike

Ditto! Mike

Nobody can answer that for you.. How could they?? As others have said it’s purely personal preference Mike

I buy a rod based solely on the presentation I buy it for, not if it had a particular, specific grip type. I prefer full cork, but if what I need/want only comes split, I’m not gonna compromise just because of it Mike

What controlled mine more that just taking a pill every day and being smart with my diet, is 1200 mg of fish oil every morning. At least that’s what my doctor said and the numbers confirmed it. Mike

Profound Outdoors sells something similar as the MJ Rig Mike

Prayers said for them both.

Well Said ? Mikr

Exactly right, there’s no place like it. My daughter lives on the River that intersects with 2 canals with direct access to Charlotte Harbor. This time of the year at any given time we can sit on her dock and watch Tarpon roll right in front of us. Mike

Spray directly every 20 yards or so when spooling, then the night before an outing. Some folks use a rag when spooling but if you use an absorbent cloth to run it though you’ll have too much waste. However if you choose that route, I found using an old nylon to apply it won’t waste as much. Keep in mind, if you feel the need to reapply during a trip make sure it’s dry before casting. Mike

Whenever you want, I live 20 min from the Tarpon Capital of the World! As far as a trip, I always wanted to fish the Amazon. Mike

This year has been tough for us as well. A granddaughter graduated college, a grandson graduated HS, niece getting married in August, first great grandchild due in September!!! Mrs Mike booked a cruise to Bermuda in October just to get out of here for awhile Mike

One of the best quotes ever said! ? (and he is exactly right) Mike

To me 4 hrs is a long time. if I know the lake or not, experience tells me to start at the obvious places that lends itself to my style and confidence level. To graph or not depends on the size, features, conditions etc. If there is an area of shallow water with mixed emergent vegetation with access to deep water or not that’s where I’m going. If it’s a large area, it would probably take that long to pick it apart enough to hopefully getting a bite or 2 that I can pattern. I’m not junk fishing. I’ll use my normal rotation of baits and retrieves. If after all that and I’m confident there’s nobody home only then will I move deeper. But by that time the 4 hrs was up a long time ago. Mike

Ditto Mike

KVD Conditioner ’Nuff said Mike

Ditto Have never had a problem with this combination. The last few times I threw a c-rig it was with a Carolina Keeper on 20 lb Shooter and it worked just fine. Mike

Prayers comin her way for a complete recovery! Mike