dulouz

I feel your pain. Iowa isn't any better. I got the BPS Strike game for Wii. That helped for awhile.

I wasn't really planning on buying one. I just wonder about them when I browse the BPS cataloge. I just wonder why they have two of their own brands.

Just curious, has anyone used the browning rods and reels? Everyone talks about the BPS label, but never browning.

I want to go on a trip over spring break, 3rd week in March, to somewhere in Missouri. Looking for a resort or cabin rental, something that would have stuff for the wife and kids to do. I plan on doing some fishing, but don't have a boat so someting with boat rental would be nice. Or good shore fishing. Any ideas???

I am looking for a decent, but inexpensive combo for my 7 year old daughter. She has a cheap ultra light now and I want to get her something a little more substantial. My son has a BPS megacast and it is not bad. Here's the catch, my daughter or course wants pink. Has anyone tried one of those Shakespeare Amphibian Jr. Spinning combo? I want something 5'6" light, 2 piece. Any suggestions???

I use a mono backing because that is what was on my reels before I started to experiment with braid. Given the price of braid I don't know why you would fill a whole spool with it, especially when the bottom half just sits there never getting used. When paying $25 per spool I want it to fill as many reels as possible.

I had one on an Ugly Stick and I took it off and found that it had wore through the finish. It had been on there for about ten years.

My tackle box is organized. My reels all are clean and have new line. I have gone over all of my gear several times. I even have put on a casting plug and gone outside and cast a few times until my hands go numb. Any ideas what to do until ice out?

BPS has some cheap nylon socks that work well. I did find one I really like. The Cabela's rod nylon rod sock has a hook gaurd built into it. I also made my own reel cover by cutting a hole in the bottom of a Crown Royal bag. I also have cut off the leg from some old jeans long enough to go over the handle and up over the reel.

A drummer? I am surprised you know your right from your left. Just kidding. I am a bass player and have a lot of respect for drummers. Back to fishing... I have both RH and LH reels. I cast with both hands depending on where I want the bait to be. Actually it was easier for my to learn to cast a baitcaster with my left hand. Less control and less power led to fewere backlashes. I haven't mastered pitching/flipping with my left hand so I do prefer a LH reel so I don't have to switch.

I bought a couple of those mesh rod covers, rod slick I think was the name, to protect my rods while in the bed of my truck. Unfortunately they are abrasive and took the paint of my guides. Frustrating since I bought them to protect my rods.

A buddy and I fish in a private farm pond which recently received a bunch of grass carp. I built a bunch of pvc structures and dropped them in various places. We also have built some nice rock piles from field stones.

I offered the guy $100 and he was cool with it. I can't wait to use it when the ice is out.

Yeah, I found a broken shovel handle in a barn on the family farm. I just cut myself a chunk of that to break off when I get snagged. I have been using 12lb Trilene XT and have cut myself up trying to break that off.

Ok, so it's not about bass fishing and it is more or less fiction, but I love "A River Runs Through It" by Norman Maclean. The book is better, but you can also watch the movie. It really brings out the art in what we do in the pursuit of fish.

10/2, wow that is small. It is good to know that there are other people that are interested in keeping things light. I really like the way baitcasters handle and how versitile they are. What I don't like is how heavy they tend to be. I actually had someone build me a casting rod with a Batson blank meant to be a spinning rod. It is listed as light with a fast tip; meant for light jigs, spinners, and micro cranks. It is great for all that and more. I love it and look forward to trying it out in the spring with braid, 15/4 or 20/6 (?)PP.

Thank you everyone for you input. Since posting this I talked with the three most knowledgeable fishermen in my area. All three of them use 20# power pro on baitcasters with no problem one said he had some 15# on one reel. They all also stated they use braid for the strength at such a small diameter, and the excellent sensitivity. The exact reasons I started using braid.

I put together a small "box" to leave in my car for spontaneous stops to fish at the local river. I have bag with one 3750 box and a couple of smaller boxes that contain: various colors of twisters tails, 1/4 oz spinnerbaits, shallow running cranks, rapalas, spoons, some basic terminal tackle; and the usual stuff like pliers, scissors, scale, etc... This all goes with my light rod and spinning reel.

Is braid really worth the expense and inconviences? I ask because I recently put braid on one of my smaller spinning reels to get a stronger line with a small diameter. I like it so far, especially for the sensitivity. So I put some Power Pro 15 on one of my casting reels. It casts a mile! But after reading some posts on here about smaller braid digging in I am questioning my choice. The general opinion is that you need at least 30-50# braid to prevent digging in. Well that puts the diamater back to comparable size mono that what i had been using. Also people have mentioned tying the line to fence posts and reeling it in as tight as possible. Seems like a hassel to me. Besides, I am not sure I want a braid that takes a pickup to break off if I ever get snagged. I am thinking about going back to my 12lb Trilene XT, which I have never had a fish break. I generally don't fish areas with a lot of heavey cover. Any thoughts???

Just before ice over I put 15lb (4lb diam) on one of my baitcasters. I have only caught a couple of fish on it and it seems fine so far. What problems could I run into? What about the line recommendations on the rod? I chose 15lb because my rod is only rated for up to 17lb.

I know someone who is selling a Shimano Qurado 301 DSV (LH) for $125. It is almost pristine condition visually, and seem sound mechanically. From my understanding it has not had much use at all. I am very interested in buying it and I am wondering is this a good deal?

I got BPS The Strike for the wii. Actually, let me correct myself, my kids got it. It is a blast!!! I don't have a boat and with the game I get to live vicariously. I love the underwater view so I can watch the lure. In some way I think I am learning more about fishing. The game is great and the whole family loves playing it.

I have a Cabela's series bat that holds 3 3600 boxes (i only have two) and 8 3700 boxes (i only have 6). I leave extra room for any extra stuff i need to go fishing for the whole day. It is heavy so it usually stays in the bed of my truck when I fish. This is my main bass bag. I recently put together a smaller bag that I use when I fish the river. It is mostly cheaper baits that I don't mind loosing to snag or a pike. I also use this bag when I have to walk to get to my fishin spot.

I like having two piece rods for the convenience. It is so much easier to keep in my car for those spontaneous trips. The next vacation my family goes on will include fishing for me, and there is no way I can get a 1 piece rod in the car with the kids and all the luggage. Yes, I have cast off the top half a few times, but not very often.

Has anyone owned or used the Daiwa Megaforce M100TSH reel with the twitchin' bar? If so I would like your opinion of the reel. I was considering picking one up.