K_Mac

SK Rage Anaconda 10" in bama bug Tor C rigged 1/2 oz SK Denny Brauer jig in black/brn/ amb and a Paca chunk in bama bug 1/8 oz Buckeye Spot Remover shakyhead and Zoom Trickworm in junebug or watermelon/red Weighted BPS Stick-O, wacky rigged in Crawberry or Pepper frog/hot orange The names and faces may change a little, but I will almost always have some version of these tied on in the summer. If I had to pick one it would be a T-rigged 10" worm.

My feelings were hurt to the point I may have to seek therapy. ;D This discussion illustrates one of the main reasons I like this site. When people behave like adults, we can exchange ideas and have lively debate about what the best is. When that is the goal everybody wins. Thanks guys.

One of the great things about this site is there are many great fishermen willing to offer their advice. When it comes to frogs it is clear from this thread that many, if not most of them prefer braid, and make a compelling case for it. Although David P's post is a little insulting for those of us who detest braid, he is one of the guys who make this site the best on the Internet. 15# P-Line CXX is what I use for frogs. If I had a dedicated frog rod I might use braid. I don't and would rather miss a few fish than deal with braided line. Can you fish frogs with something other than braid? Absolutely. Should you? You decide...

In order to use heavier mono/co-poly/fluorocarbon line on spinning reels without line management issues, larger reels are necessary (for most of us anyway) with a corresponding weight increase. Braid makes that less of an issue. If it works for you, go for it. 8-)

To paraphrase Crocodile Dundee, "Now that's a jonboat." Nice rig. 8-)

I've been looking at the BPS version. I'm going to go with 15,000 lb CXX on my PQ.

Excellent! Some new zealot blood - let the Reel Wars commence. I learned a long time ago if you argue with a fool, you're liable to act like one. :

I understand that many recommend their brand/rod/reel because they believe it is a better long term value than the others, and they want help people make the right decision when it comes to spending their hard earned money. I have great respect for that. What I have no respect for are those who condescendingly judge all other brands/rods/reels as inferior. Tell me why I should buy, or why I shouldn't if you have personal experience, that's what this board is all about. I will weigh your input with all the rest. Don't tell me mine is bad and yours is good, it serves no useful purpose.

Same here. The chicken looks like it has already been eaten...

I would far rather fish in a light rain than on a 90+ bluebird day. That has as much to do with heat as it does with fish. As far as lure selection some kind of moving bait, like a buzzbait, or chatterbait would be my first choices. You can not go wrong with jigs and plastics either. Just like any other day you have to let the fish tell you what they want. Good luck.

I don't catch them often enough. : I get excited every time. I have managed to figure out a couple of local lakes to the point where I expect to catch a 5# each trip. I don't always, but I target bigger fish. Fish over 6# are are another story. Only one in the last several years. That is the threshold around here where they get pretty rare, esp. in public water. I do talk to people on my local lakes that catch 6 and 7 pounders all the time...:-? ;D

LoL ;D Why is that funny? It is a fine reel in the price range asked about. If you have a suggestion, make it; if not...

You can't help liking this guy. No pretense, no bull, just hard work and a sense of humor. He may be from Japan, but he exemplifies the American dream.

The Maxxum also is available with the digital control. I have one on my Fortrex and it is amazing how much more energy efficient they are than the multi-speed units. If you spend a lot of time on the water, you will appreciate the longer battery life.

Like most I have and use a huge variety of plastic worms. Today my favorites are Zoom Trickworms, Zoom mag worms, and SK Anacondas. Green/red and junebug colors. If you ask me after my next trip the answer may be different.

Bigger, deeper, slower is my summer mantra. I don't catch as many fish, but what I do are usually better. A big jig/trailer, a big worm/creature either T or C rigged are my first choices. If that doesn't work a light shakyhead/Trickworm or Finesse worm, or a weighted wacky rigged Trickworm, Senko or Senko knock-off. Most of my time fishing this time of year is spent away from shore, but don't overlook bluffs and other steep drops into or near channels. Many times there are outcroppings that hold fish. These can be really good in summer and winter.

Absolutely. Why not?

As RW said, there have been many discussions on this. The BPS Pro Qualifier is easily the best value IMHO. It is a smooth, quality reel, that is very user friendly. With the dual braking it will make learning to use a baitcast reel less trouble. The cheaper reels will get the job done, but long term they are not a good investment. I have come to this conclusion after years of using entry level gear. Just my $.02

14-18' is deep water in most of the lakes I fish. A C-rig is often a fine choice at those depths. I want the weight to be in contact with the bottom at all times. At that depth 3/4 oz would be as light as I would go unless I kept losing rigs; usually 1 oz. Sometimes dragging it a foot or two and letting it set for several seconds works, other times working it faster is better. Good luck.

I think the way sound and feel are intensified at night is maybe the best part of night fishing. A big bass breaking the surface or the slightest tap on a plastic is what keeps me coming back. 8-)

I completely agree. I feel the same way about my boat. They are tools to help me catch fish. As such, they need to be taken care of and maintained properly, but they are not display pieces. I was fishing last fall with a friend who has low end tackle (he could easily afford better) that looks like it is brand new. It is junk, but there isn't a mark on it. : His baitcast reel is kept in a neoprene cover, although it would make a better paperweight...anyway, he was having trouble casting so I let him use one of my Pro Qualifier combos. He went on and on about how nice it was. He then told me he had a nice rod at home his dad had given him, but he wouldn't use it because he was afraid he might break it. I asked if he had some sort of emotional attachment to it-nope, just safer at home. I told him he then must be a collector; he denied it, but I think the facts speak for themselves.

If you can't have it all, and most of us can't, it really comes down to priorities. I am not a big crankbait user, so a lower end rod is fine for me. I have a friend who fishes CBs a lot. He has a Loomis CBR783 that he uses for small/mid-size shallow runners. It is sensitive and light as a feather. For him it is a great choice. For me that same $200+/- would be better spent on a good quality jig/plastics rod.

I'm with Paul on this. I love music, but when I'm fishing I want to hear the sounds of nature. I don't fish too many lakes that are used by 30 footers, and when I do it is when they are not in use, for the most part. I would rather hear 1000 horsepower at WOT than most of what's played on the radio anyway. ;D

I have always used Stabill. Could changing to Seafoam cause any problems with my motors? Unless I completely drained and cleaned everything there would be some mixing of the two during the transition. Thanks guys.

When I was refurbishing my boat I used a buddies. It didn't have any electronics. I have always fished with one eye on the sonar. It was a real challenge, but it probably made me a better fisherman. It forced me to pay closer attention to the lay of the land. I began to focus more on changes in the slope of the bank, cuts, pockets, points, transitions from rock/gravel/mud/grass/wood to rock/gravel/mud... I found a C-rig to be very helpful in figuring out bottom topography and composition, and finding structure. Add a good topo map and you can begin to get an image of what is under you. I have never regretted one penny I spent on quality electronics. I don't have side imaging (yet) but even the best units still only give you a snapshot of the bottom. Putting it all together to get a comprehensive mental image of any area takes patience, skill, and practice. I am not that good, but I enjoy the process. ;D Good luck.