Bigbarge50

So your saying XL is inferior? If you get the "free for life XL deal" you should take it because even though you would never use it you could sell it to the thousands of guys who fish it day in and day out with any issue. Not saying this to be a jerk, but you seem to have a lot of inside info on the industry, so curious if I am missing the info on XL being a bad product. And you have used the new armored?..... seeing it is brand new I do not know many who have used it so while the reviews on it were good in FLW and bassmaster...... I am more into experience than the hot new thing. If you have how is the stiffness, because the reviews said it was somewhere between Xl and Big Game...... and I find big game to be rather stiff. I was also under the impression that (and this is according to the magazines) that armored is basically a copolomar and not a mono because of how it is made. While not wanting to be a stickler to detail..... but that is why armored did not even cross my mind. The original poster is looking for all around ability with sensativity and toughness....... my answer would not be mono....... but he was looking this in mono..... so maybe we should ask why not something other than mono?? just a thought..

Trilene Xl x2...... I went to it because a lot of old timers around me swore by it and I have never had an issue. It is my go to topwater but have used it in basically ever other application. A former pro I know also swears by stren..... original stren....... and he was sponsored by P-line. The good news is they are pretty cheap, so might be worth checking out a few and seeing what you prefer.

Basscatcher, Think you have a really good idea there. If it was really easy to record this data, think a lot more people would do it.

I have not kept a log but have always been real curious about it. I am not sure a log is "work". Does a guy who keeps score at a baseball game working? How about the millions in this country with hours pouring over stats of sports to do their fantasy teams. And that is not even real.... it is a make believe team (hence fantasy). Some people may use a log as a tool to record and learn from their trips. I guess that can be work, especially if they are doing it to improve tournament performance. Others may just enjoy the numercial side of fishing, like the guys who really like stats in other sports. Fishing logs and stats makes more sense to me, seeing the guys who know someone's batting average is not actually doing the batting. Just the opposite side of that coin.

Ohh sorry if I seemed a little vague that second time I mentioned the record, should have said like the first time it was the FLW record....... both are beyond impressive and needless to say those rare days that come along only every few years. I actually was just reading through FLW magazine yesterday when I saw the thread and seeing I had just read the article from then, figured it was worth a mention.

I would not feel too bad about this. A 4lb fish is a good fish, no matter where you are. Outside of your real hot spots, it would seem the 4-6lb range is going to be your "bigger" fish with the huge ones being double digits. In the amazing fisheries.... well then the 8-10 lb range are the big ones and the mid teens are the huge fish. I would love to point out that to those of us feeling terrible about the fish we catch when we read some of the early claims on pages 1 and 2 (not the detailed fishing journals which were awesome btw fellas) that these claims of one out of every ten fish being well over 5 lbs and much more like 10 lbs........ well need a grain of salt there...... and some pictures. The FLW record set this Feb (so middle of the spawn/pre-spawn so agressive feeding fish) on the big O (back to being maybe the best big bass lake in the U.S.) was set by a local guy who's family (as well as himself) have won multiple events on the lake. The weather was perfect and he set a record at 106 lbs over the 4 day tourney. So we are talking about just over a 5lb average over the 4 days..... Again this is a record setting performance by a local who obviously knows one of the best bodies of water in the country under the best conditions seen. If people are catching near double digits every ten fish...... well then they need to join the tour because the record setting performance landed him $125,000 and he was not pulling in 10lb-ers every 10 fish. This again.... I must emphasize..... is the best 4 day total ever...... In amazing conditions...... Hope everyone had a great day and tight lines in the new year

This is easily one of the best threads we have had in a while. The pressure debate sure is a tough one to nail down. I have my thoughts on it and yet they keep evolving and changing the more I fish and learn. Great to see other guys thoughts on the matter.

Merry christmas from the northern end of the southeast. May we all have gotten the reel and lures we wanted and tight lines in the new year. BTW florida guys, down from VA in lake county north of orlando for a few days visiting my mother but have 4 combos ready to rock. Heard some fish are in pre spawn mode in central florida.... and truth to those rumors?

My first suggestion was also going to be a fat Ika. The two things that popped into my mind were maybe a tube bait (not sure how popular they are at that lake) or a double tail grub (maybe with a skirt). I know those are not "creature" baits but they all can present a different action in a smaller package. If your hell bent on a creature..... what about eh original gary Kreature. Those started it all right and yet I do not know a lot of guys who throw them still, everyone seemingly has moved onto other "newer" lures.

Wow did not expect all the feedback fellas, especially this fast. To clarify..... I have no problem spending the money for the Stradic. Thanks for the heads up on the in store discount too, though not sure I have one too close to me. I wonder what is so new and exciting about the new stradic as opposed to the "old" one. I have an old shimano myself and I love it. I also have a very old bps tournament mega cast that still is a very nice real and still catches a lot of fish. Looking to upgrade my spinning gear and would ideally have 3 set ups total.... two standard all around set ups and then then maybe a ultra light. The main thing I was curious about is while the shimano name speaks for itself, I was just curious to not just buy the name you know. I fish almost all $100+ baitcasters which is not a point of pride or anything else, just happened to be the reels I was interested in. I have never fished a over $200 or $300 reel and am not sure what a $300 dollar Diawa is giving me over a curado. (that is not a bias Diawa statement.... I have two of them). So I do not use just one brand or such so I am open to other options. I have never fished a pflueger, but have heard good things. My thoughts for the last few months have been the Stradic, and still 99% there. Now to avoid the idea of buying both and trying out the Pro Qualifier or the extreme that is also on sale.

So here is the question.....a spinning reel showdown The new stradic is out so the last model is now on dail for about $120 bucks. I have been eyeing this reel for a long while and was ready to jump on it. Then I noticed the BPS Pro qualifier is now $50 bucks. No need to speak on the quality of shimano spinning reels..... have been told over and over they are the best out there. I am rather sure of that fact too. Yet I have heard really good things about the Pro Qualifier and it has really good reviews. So how far off is the quality of the Pro Qualifer compared to the Older stradic? Is it that great a difference? I really want the shimano but if I could nearly get 3 Pro qualifiers for the price of one Stradic, and the quality is near the same, then I would be kinda of silly to get the Stradic just because it is a shimano. I don't want to be the guy who buys more expensive stuff just to buy the name and basically waste money to say I got a shimano. Thoughts? Thanks in advance and really looking forward to hearing from those who have one of these reels or maybe both. Also hopefully helps someone save some money to this holiday season if they did not know about the prices Pro qualifier http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shopsreg;-Pro-Qualifierreg;-Spinning-Reels/product/10205014/83951?cmCat=CROSSSELL_PRODUCT Shimano 2011 Stradic http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shimano-Stradic174-FI-Spinning-Reel/728293.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dstradic%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=stradic&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

Use the BPS worm binder.... Most stuff stays in their original bags, but some things like most zoom products go loose into bags Model I use is on sale and I must say I really like it http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Extreme-Double-Worm-Binder-Bag/product/10200096/133178

Culprit and Zoom. They still making Charlie's? Have a bag still, like them a lot too.

I have the Lowrance5x DSI unit on a smaller boat......and have been slightly underwhelmed the more I use it. They give the impression of a near photo quality picture...... and it is FAR from that. Got it last Feb and have played with the contrast constantly, with mixed results. Maybe I expected too much out of it.... and maybe year two would be better, Hindsight being 20/20 wish i waited till the hummingbird came out as I have been looking at the hummingbird but have been thinking about the color model. Quite a bit more money, but seems like would be worth it. The Lowrance5x DSI unit though might be ok for the price...... though I like how the hummingbird has both Di and Dual beam sonar. So guess it depends on budget.

The link was especially helpful, helped get me signed right up for it.

quan, another quality fish. Especially nice right about this time of year. You need somebody to get skunked next to you and take pics at that pond just let me know haha. KId- I have not really tried those just because I have not been a trout guy.... but getting a fish on is always worth a shot. I am a arlington guy.... though I see Fahnestock listed as a favorite of yours. Grew up in Putnam County NY myself, and miss places like Fahnestock...... good times. Will def check out those places around the airport, might have to wait till spring though might be a little cold for those spots now, but Gravelly might be ok.

PSU.... my two cents are these 1- If the worst thing she can say about you is that you spend maybe too much money on fishing stuff, then you doing a good job as the man in her life. My serious gf's post college and I had some great times, but you will not always be on the same page about stuff. It always bothered me that after years together there were still certain things that I was really into that seemingly made them disinterested or anoyed. This really bothered me. That profound movie you want her to see.....she falls asleep 30 seconds into it..... or things like your fishing tackle issue..... A little older now and I realize that certain things are just not going to happen. If it is not that big a deal, like fishing tackle, then you learn two things...... not the thing to share with her, and let her vent, she'll feel better and you still have your new tackle. 2- Every woman, no matter how cool or sane, is raised in a world to dream of rings and wedding dresses. They think about it at times and places as men (esp young men) we could not even comprehend with our male brains. Your at the 5 year mark..... she is probably judging your purchases as a reflection of that money could be going to making a life with you more permenant. She can not help it. Probably not even aware of it. Happens in some weird estrogen fueld recess of the subconcious. This is why despite you spending far more on her..... she would say such things. Your male brain goes all logic with spreadsheets and total money spent. I think we all got a laugh about you presenting a spread sheet.... that would go over really well HAHAHA. No point trying to figure this one out, Apples and oranges. What has been lost in all this...... the really important stuff....... what color were those senkos and what rods and reels did you get?

So is anyone getting out at all here this winter in NOVA.... very quiet around here, especially compared to years past. Would love to get a line wet myself, thinking about maybe some shore action from 4 mile run park.... thoughts? Anyone start thinking or talking about the Richmond fishing expo? Also has anyone ever heard of fishing in Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary..... is it legal? Anyone ever heard anything? Was driving to Reagan International and looked over and wondered if anyone ever fished there. Just figured I would see what all the NOVA guys are up to this winter,

Thanks NoBassPro, My father went on ebay and bought about a dozen meadow mice back in the 90's, though most were not the "fuzzy" ones. Glad I am stocked up on them. Something about that lure...... and the river runt..... guess it is the way the plate was on front, gave them a very wide wobble. The white mouse in the water literally seemed to turn a near full 180 degrees per turn. Throw in that soft tail they have.... dynamite shallow water action. My father loved the medow mouse and runt so much he searched high and low of a "modern" replacement. He got us a whole bunch of spence scouts in the 90's which had a very similar wide wobble. Looked the other day..... appears strike king stopped making them a few years back. Figures huh. I laugh at how many lures are now gone or now different. I own probably about 10 jitterbugs inherented from my father (as well as a few I have used since I was a kid) and have owned storm stuff since I began fishing. I did not know classics such as the jitter bug, wiggle wart, and chug bug are now different in some way. The storm stuff I have loved (NY PB came on a chug bug pooping next to lilly pads) and have fished the doors off of, having to replace hooks several times over the years. My chug bug's paint is pretty rough now and I have a wiggle wart who's bill is wearing down from all the bottom cranking..... should I not replace these because the new ones are not the same?

heddon river runt and headon meadow mouse. The real old meadow mice that were fuzzy are the best. FInd it hilarious now people are getting way back into mice imitators and people are spending 30 bucks on mice swim baits and pradco is sitting on those fuzzy meadow mice. Think they stopped making them in the 80's. Action is amazing on them. Literally sitting on a gold mine. A jointed river runt has insane action.... and the suspending model was well ahead of its time. Def would love to see them make a comeback.

Tools.... who needs those when you can load up on plastics and lipless cranks!!!!

Thanks for the heads up, i will def go check that out. I am trying out this winter a similar idea..... floating rattle traps with storm suspending strips...... basically making a lipless crank into a suspending jerk bait..... fingers crossed

I put the Rattle Trap first..... I keep losing the red eye shads and catch nothing. I know guys swear by them, and they look so good, but do nothing for me but catch the bottom. I have no idea why because I have done rather well with a simple chrome rattle trap. I keep buying red eye shads, but starting to wonder why I tie them on instead of a trap. I also love that rattle traps come in a floating version. Great for buzzing over the top of some shallow weed beds.

I throw both the stick-o and the senko.... I do not feel there is a difference other than softness of the lure. When I see gary is on sale, I get a bunch. I bought the stick-o first when i was in a bps and they were dirt cheap, so I bought two packs. Those two packs have not been gone through yet, and the bag of watermellon candy has been VERY productive to me, I would say they have produced as much as any color senko I have through. The baby bass stick-o...not so much. LIke the flake count in both. LIke the shape in both. Like the smell and salt of the stick o better. Both have lots of color options and like their variety. I actually spent some time watching both fall on the lake this weekend. The stick o appeared to wiggle on the fall just like a senko with a very similar fall rate. The softness (which I think is a big factor) is a biggest difference by far. Also to be fair, I pretty much exclusively fish either weightless and texas rigged..... so in that situation I find performance to be near identical. If you were wacky rigging I would think the stick-o might be quite a bit stiffer than a gary. In colder waters, might some want less wiggle in a wacky rig? Might the more subtle shake be better? I like both and will continue to throw both. Will always welcome tips on sales on either, so that can keep feeding the bait monkey and keep trying new colors and loading up.

Wanted to get a trip in, especially before the front moved in Monday, so got out Sunday and the little lady decided she wanted to come with. Decided to skip the boat and went to Mercer for some shore casting. Water felt like it might still be in the low 60's or high 50's. No luck on the dam end but had some action in the stumps. Was a real nice day to get out, which I am sure will be hard to come by here soon. Here is my better half with her first ever largemouth bass. This little guy sure put up one heck of a fight. Had another hook in his mouth, so looks like he snapped somebody else off not too long ago. Guess he fought his way outta being caught once before. Was caught on a purple Senko.