Bluebasser86

I don't know if it's the reels, the style of baits, rods, maybe the fact that muskie guys tend to use the really heavy stuff, but it happens with big swimbaits where it doesn't happen with muskie baits, or maybe it's muskie baits don't cost hundreds of dollars so we don't hear about it. Maybe it's the muskie guys fishing more around open water and weeds instead of around cover where abrasions can occur. All I know is, I know a lot of people who have experienced the heartbreak I'm talking about from fishing big swimbaits on braid. I know guys do it, but to me, it's playing with fire. Another issue with braid, the lack of stretch can pull hooks, especially on big fish at boat side on a heavy bait.

If you throw big swimbaits on braid, it's just a matter of time before you experience the heartbreak of a cast off. I fish mine on 20lb Big Game.

I've got rods from both lineups, although not the exact models you're looking at. The Fury would get my vote of the two. The Veritas are fine rods if you get a good deal on them, but they're not great for full price.

That's awesome of you to do. Fishing can go a long ways to keep kids out of trouble, I honestly believe it did for me. I had 2 really close friends I did everything with growing up. We always fished together until we got to be mid teens when they got away from it but I kept going. One is dead from a drug deal gone wrong, the other is in MDOC for a long time for dealing meth. I can only imagine what would have happened if I had followed them away from the sport. Hopefully it gives him something good to get his mind off everything going on in his life and can help him realize that everything is not all bad.

Supposed to make it all the way to 20 on Tuesday. It's my good buddies birthday and we always try to go on 1/2 every year to celebrate it, looks like we might be able to get out this year if the next two below zero days don't lock up the ramps even at the power plant lakes.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

I could do a lot of damage with swimbaits as long as I have my 7" Slammer and 185 Shine Glide. Neither is real expensive and both can are in the size range you listed. The 168 S-Waver, Bull Shad, Savage Gear line through trout and gills, and Savage Gear Glide Swimmers are also solid baits in your desired range.

Hopefully the BPS bait is more durable, that would make them a lot more appealing to me.

I have some of the RI versions of this bait but have not been impressed thus far. I like other RI baits, and buy them in bulk where they're close to the same price as BPS baits (that have really come up in price the last few years). I don't have any issues with companies copying each other, sometimes the copy is better than the original, just giving the heads up that the bait was out there already more or less. If it's anything like the RI bait, I'd rather have a pack of the BPS Stick-O over all of them.

I always set the parking brake, no matter how much I think I don't need it.

That top picture is the reason I love winter fishing.

It's a knockoff of the Reaction Innovations Pocket Rocket.

It's the Kentucky strain in the Ozark lakes and they regularly get up to 3-3.5 pounds but it's uncommon to catch them much larger than that.

Welcome!

That old boy has some character to him, great looking deer!

I love days like that. What were you getting them on?

No experience with the Daiwa but I have 2 Trions, one that is over 10 years old and one that is 4 years old and both still work just fine. They don't get as much use as my other reels as I bought them more as pond hopper/bank fishing reels, but they still get quite a bit of use and abuse.

The only issue that arises when it gets really cold is the tiny amount of water that braid holds, freezes really fast and makes it stiff when it really cold. It also carries more water back through the guides and to the reel, so it ices up guides (and levelwinds with baitcasters), faster than mono seems to. I still use it all winter long even in extreme cold.

You're absolutely correct, people will say things they'd never dream of saying in person, because they know there's next to zero chance of any repercussions. At my work, they're called "Door Warriors", guys who talk all kinds of trash behind a 300lb steel door, but are "Yes sir, no sir", when the door is opened. Glad you seem to have taken a step back and let your emotions calm down. I don't think there's any need to continue any further here. LOCKDOWN!!

Not as bad as you northern guys, but this weekend is going to be rough. EARLY AM DEC 28 14° LO Cloudy More TODAY DEC 28 33° /14°F Mostly cloudy and not as cold FRI DEC 29 37° /12° Some sun More SAT DEC 30 17° /1° A bit of freezing drizzle More SUN DEC 31 8° /-11° Colder with periods of sun More