K_Mac

Providing brand B was of good enough quality that it didn't interfere with my fishing, absolutely. Taking advantage of a sponsorship offer is not necessarily selling out. In most cases it is a good deal for the company and the pro. Using prototype equipment that is far superior to the regular retail stuff is unethical IMO. Custom equipment is different and should not be confused with off-the-shelf stuff.

I haven't had enough experience with them to give any personal opinions. They get very good reviews here. Click on the search button and enter rage tail; you will find dozens of posts about these baits. Good luck.

Young man you ain't right, but at least you've got a sense of humor. ;D

Vuvuzelas, obnoxious horns blown by soccer fans for reasons that defy understanding.

I have a hard rule of never fishing in wind greater than 50 mph. It depends a lot on the lake. A couple of the lakes I fish have many sheltered areas that provide protection from the wind. I also fish a perched power plant lake that a 15-20 mph wind makes completely unfishable.

As Catt said, you can use them any place there is fish. Fishing jigs from shore can be very productive: around wood and brush, rock, gravel, docks, grass, and depth irregularities of all kinds, it's all good. You will lose a few; it is just part of it.

The only point of this post is to say this quote is my new all time favorite. 8-)

I have 12# YoZuri Hybrid or 15# CXX on all my baitcasters this year. With KVD Line and Lure they both work well. When I use my supply of YZ I will buy CXX to replace it.

Congrats to both of you. 8-)

Now that's funny! ;D ;D ;D Aint that the truth.

One more vote for the BPS Pro Qualifier. I have three, one bought this spring and two early last year. They are excellent reels. I think you get good bang for your buck buying reels in this price range. There are many quality choices available. Just my opinion. Good luck.

I'm a conservative guy, and believe in playing by the rules. I understand requiring all crew members to be licensed. It just makes sense. I'm not sure that sure that denying the boat the prize because one crew member lied when signing on is in keeping with the spirit of the law. One thing is sure-it won't ever happen again.

This video has been around awhile, but even if you've seen it before, it is worth the time IMO. Bob Lusk knows some stuff about LM bass. 8-) http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/bass-fishing-fish-biology.html

Some of my fondest memories are of visiting my parents and having my mom's skillet fried chicken and homemade pie. I will never forget the day I asked her how she made pie crust so light and flaky without using lard. She looked at me as if to say, "How did I manage to raise such a dumb kid." What she said was, "You can't get pie crust like this without using lard." There some things for which there is no substitute.

I've been caught in storms a few times over the years. :-? I am a lot more careful than I used to be. It is a sick feeling when the lightening starts popping around you... It is also amazing how much water a boat can collect in a heavy rain.

Yup. Had it right to the bevel on the spool lip. Like I said, tho, 12 lb. line wasn't causing me any problems as long as I did my part. I had forgotten that she would be better off using heavier line. I was thinking more along the lines of having her try a light rod/reel combo as she thinks a 6'6" rod is too long. It took my wife a little while to get used to 6'6" rods when she first started using a BC. She had always used 6' or less. Now 6'6" is what she uses most of the time, and she will occasionally use one of my 7' rods without too much problem. She just doesn't care for the longer handle length. Hang in there and enjoy the process. 8-)

I would take it back and exchange it. I think it is very likely a lubrication issue, but it's a new reel. More common is over-lubing on new reels. I have three PQ's. Two were purchased early last year and have been used a lot. The other one only has a few months use, but all three are as smooth and quiet as they were out of the box.

I voted full grip, which I prefer without the fore grip. I have one split grip that I use mostly for pitching. I like it very much for that application. For two handed casting, not so much.

Excellent post Catt. I have have tried to explain, and demonstrate the idea keeping contact with your bait by keeping a certain amount of tension on a slack line many times. Some get it, some never will. Bass Junkie there are some jig related variables that you can look at. The first is weight. I use 1/2 oz most of the time, but sometimes a 1/4 or 3/8 will work better; other times 3/4 or 1 oz is preferred. Rate of fall can be very important. Second is size of the jig and trailer. A mop jig or finesse jig can be the same weight, but there is a big difference in their profile. A small chunk or a full size craw can make a can make a real difference from day to day. Third is color. The importance of color is very subjective. I think it matters, and I use 3 basic color groups: Black/Blue, Brown/orange, Green/red. Hang in there. Mastering jigs will make you a much more versatile fisherman IMHO. Good luck. 8-)

I'll be in touch. 8-)

About two minutes and I would have to kill myself. : ;D

+1

Comparing a BPS to a Shimano? no contest,Shimano wins hands down. As far as an all around reel though? that it is not,,it wont cast light stuff..need to drop more $$$$ for that. Luke the PQ is a fine all round reel. I like the 6.4:1 ratio best, but the 7:1 works well also. I have three and believe they are an excellent value in moderately priced reels. There are some that are loyal to Shimano who will always recommend a Shimano product. That's cool. There are some that will always be negative about BPS stuff. I personally don't think that is cool. To say the PQ does not compare to the Citica because one is made by Shimano and the other made for BPS, is silly to me. Based on personal experience, the PQ is a great reel. I sure the Shimano is a fine reel also. Good luck.

I kind of wish I had some of my earlier efforts on video. :-[ It would make a funny instructional video: Things not to do at a boat ramp!

I agree with Goose on this. Your boat sits fairly high in the water, and will be more effected by wind than a traditional bass boat. Get as much thrust as you can afford, and make sure the shaft is plenty long-to go at least 12" below the surface when fully lowered. The digital units are far more energy efficient. I am in the cable steer camp. I have owned a powered steer unit, and tried several others. I did not like any of them. Since you do not have a traditional deck, a remote unit like Long Mike's may be a better option for you. It is worth taking a look at-on the water if possible. One of these days I'm going to drive over to Mike's house and go fishing with him to see how his works. It's probably no more than 500-600 miles. ;D Good luck.