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I planned on using the 743 for smaller jigs and t-rigs. I want to use the 744 for dragging and hopping jigs that are 1/2oz or more. That's pretty much why I had to get them. I couldn't turn down an extreme for 20 less than the regular price of a champion.

So.. I've been debating wether or not to spend 250 bucks on a dobyns champion, or get a couple veritas or maybe a cumara. Well Cabelas has the champions on sale for 200 and the champion extremes for 230. So, I did the only logical thing and picked up a DX743 and a DX744... d**n you monkey! I've never held a dobyns before. I just hope regret isn't in my future.

I've seen quite a few people with one of These. You could probably carry everything you need in that cart. It seems like it would be nice, especially if you have to walk a distance.

I would have to agree. I'm happy with how the reel has performed. I'm obviously not happy about it breaking, but I didn't expect it to last forever. So, I can't complain.

The reel in question is over a year old and has landed over a hundred fish, including a few 20lb+ catfish and carp. I didn't have a single problem with either of my bps reels until this happened yesterday. Even though the reel is over a year old, will I still be able to exchange it? In the mean time, I've decided to pick up a 201e7 to replace it.

I was fishing a 40 acre lake by myself. When I say "by myself" I don't mean I went fishing alone. I mean I was the only person on the lake. About an hour in, a Grandfather and his grandson snuck up on me and started fishing on top of me. All three of us were in a 10 square foot area together on a peninsula. Well.. the kid had to be about 5 years old so I figure whatever, I'll let him catch fish before me. After fishing for maybe 5 or 10 mins I decide to move because of how obnoxiously close they were to me. I had my other rods sitting on a picnic bench, and guess where their tackle box is. THAT IS RIGHT! The genius decided to put his tackle box on the rod tips. I gently moved his tackle box, all the while fighting the urge to throw it at his head, and moved down the shore some. I know it would've been a lot easier to put that guy to sleep and throw his tackle into the water, but it wouldn't be right.

I'm not exactly sure what happend... I was dragging a jig when I felt a bump. My jig was in about 18fow and roughly 15 yards out. So.. I gave a nice rip on the hookset, but no fish. As I am going to reel in the slack, I can feel it grinding... Then I notice that the spool isn't spinning. So now I can pull line out with the reel engaged, and it makes a grinding/clicking noise. It is a 120 dollar johnny morris signature series reel. What are your guys opinions on the situation? Send it out to DVT? Look for a pro qualifier for cheap? Any advice is appreciated.

I don't believe I'll ever have "enough" tackle. I'm only on my second season, so I own very little tackle. I wish I had more, but at the same time it is nice to look at gear and figure out what I'm going to get. I literally own less than 20 hardbaits. I have maybe 10 bass jigs. Then I have roughly 15 bags of plastics, and 6 spinnerbaits. I've lost probably twice as many lures as I own. Even with as few baits as I do have, I still consistently catch fish and that is the bottom line. Anyways, I bet I'll still be looking at *** and basspro.com fantasizing about new gear, even after I have a lot of it.

Big Bass Man: Do you sell lures painted like that? If not, how much would you want for one?

I don't think you can go wrong for 45 bucks. I have 3 st croix mojos(66MHF, 66MF, 70MF), and I like them all. I beat the crap out of these rods and they're still going. I've bent them and jammed them into things where I can't believe the rod didn't break. I even stepped on two of them partially while fishing on some big rocks and gouged the hell out of the paint, but they didn't break.

I'm gonna have to go with a 3/8oz northstar or dirty football jig with a rage craw trailer.

You should invest in some jigs. They cover the water column top to bottom and can be fished a 100 different ways. Get some black/blue jigs for murky water, and green pumpkin for clear water. Then I would get craws and single tail grubs for trailers. Obviously try to match the trailer to the jig. Example of a jigs versatility: I caught 3 fish on a jig today. The first fish was caught fishing deep water structure. The second fish was caught by throwing my jig into schooling bass that were breaking the surface. The third fish was caught flipping in shallow water cover. All of those fish were caught on a green pumpkin football jig with craw trailer. I'm on my second season of bass fishing, so we're pretty much in the same boat. The best advice I can give for fishing jigs is pay attention to your line, because most of the time you will just see your line move or stop falling before your bait reaches bottom. Don't be afraid to set the hook either. I've gone to reel the slack out of my line and the jig will feel "lighter", so I'll set the hook and fish on! By the way, I have set the hook on nothing, tree branches, and weeds more than I've set the hook on bass.

I would cut my small toe off to catch one of Butch Browns smaller bass. A few Butch Brown Videos:

I don't think it is ethical to kill carp if you're not going to eat them. I don't believe any form of sport hunting is ethical, but it isn't my right to tell someone what they can or can't do. I do however think it's ethical to control deer populations and invasive species like gophers.

murky water - (2) 3/8oz black/blue jigs - (2) 1/2oz firetiger lipless cranks - (2) chartreuse/white spinnerbaits - (1pack) black/blue craws - (1pack) black/blue 4" grubs (caught a lot of fish swimming grubs on a jig) clear water - (2) 3/8oz green pumpkin jigs - (1pack) green pumpkin 5" stick bait - (3) 4/0 ewg worm hooks - (2) 1/2oz white spinnerbaits How is that for scaling down? I bet if any of the more experienced members here went fishing with just those things, they could catch fish consistently.

I looked up burl grips and it seems like it would be nice. Have you seen the Cashion rods that have carbon fiber grips? http://cashionrods.com/category.php?id_category=11

I catch about 60 percent of my bass letting my jig or t-rig fall on slack line. Also, senkos are pretty much always fished on a slack line. Slack line allows your bait to fall vertically. If there is tension on the line as it is falling, the bait will fall away from the target.

That does not take into account subsequent drops of the rod tip. It also doesn't factor in letting the bait fall on slack line.

I use toothpicks to peg every bullet weight, unless I'm using it on a carolina rig. I'd like to thank this forum for that trick btw. I've noticed that not pegging your weight will cause it to slide down the line on the fall and let your plastic fall almost as if it's weightless. I have no doubt there is a time and place for this, but I usually control the rate of fall with the weight and hook size.

Cork just has a more solid feel.

If the bass jumps hold your rod down towards the water. I've noticed that you can almost feel when the bass is surging towards the surface. It almost feels as if the fish is swimming towards you. When I get that feeling, I will pull the rod down and away from the fish while reeling. When I say away from the fish I mean have my rod in front of the fishes direction. For example, if the fish goes to my left, I will move my rod further left and point it down to the water. If the fish is swimming towards me, I will try to steer him left or right while pulling the rod down to the water and away from the fish. I'm not sure how much it keeps them from jumping, but I know it seems to help me keep tension on the line.

All this talk of white dog turds... sounds like you guys have been watching step brothers.. I agree with both of you. I'll fish a rod that looks like a white dog turd if it works, but foam grips do feel like a white dog turd. The sad thing is that I've really been looking into getting a cumara even in spite of the eva foam. I would already own one if they came with cork.

I usually have about 30 or 40 yards of mono backing, and respool after I get to the blood knot on a cast. I fish from the shore a lot and have a knack for hooking reeds, weeds, or trees on the cast. So, I've had to cut some line out after those wicked backlashes, and may respool depending how low the line is.

I use the palomar and improved clinch with no problems. The fish in my avatar was caught on 12lb fluoro with a palomar knot. Edit: I also pulled this fish up with a plastic grocery bag that had mud and water in it.

I wear gym shoes. When I get sick of standing, I'll sit down and fish a worm, jig, or senko slowly.