K_Mac

I think this year the two best teams in baseball made the big dance. I hope Beltran and company put a whooping on Boston in return for the one they put on us last time. I would not bet the egg money on it though with Boston having home field advantage. The NL has got to start winning the occasional All Star game!

Thanks for the post A-Jay. You have captured what I am trying to do. I am still on the learning curve, and have to resist the "more is better" approach. The last couple of weeks I have started a new cycle of 2 or 3 days concentrating on different muscle groups with a day off (resistance) following. I can already tell a difference in the way I feel both during and after training. Finishing the workout with a little left in the tank is not something I'm used to, but the results speak for themselves. I have some health issues that sometimes restrict my ability to do what I want which is frustrating. My overall quality of life is so much better now that I hope I can follow your lead and make this a life-long commitment. Thanks again for the post.

See what I'm saying?

It is the nature of the beast. I belong to a few other forums and they are all the same. Take what you want, help when you want, howl at the moon when you want, and leave the rest!

Porcine indeed!! At 345 twenty-one months ago I was definitely in that category. I have tried many of the popular weight loss and fitness programs over the years. They all worked to some extent. This last time around I made the decision that I was going to lose the weight and get fit by changing my life style. That is the only way for me to maintain fitness and health. What I have learned over the years is when I swear off of foods that I love, it is only a matter of time before I go crazy and quit. So I had to figure out how to eat the occasional bowl of ice cream or cheeseburger (or two) and fries without using it as an excuse to go back to my old habits. It has not been a completely smooth road, but I now weigh ~200 with more muscle than when I was a kid. I do resistance training at the gym or at home 3 or 4 times a week and at least 30 minutes of cardio just about every day. This gives me some license to eat like a fool from time to time. What I've found is even when I do, it is less stupid than it once was! For those of us who are "all or nothing" guys it takes some discipline, and trial and error to figure this out. I am not going to give any advice, but can tell you it is worth the effort. As far as supplements I have found that by increasing my protein intake I am better able to build muscle and control my appetite, esp when it comes to empty calories from sugars. It is easier and cheaper to use a protein supplement than to get it all from natural foods. I don't think it is better-just easier.

If you throw squarebills in the nasty stuff (and you should) you will get snagged occasionally. You just have to go get them! Most don't run deep enough to make that too much of a problem. A lure retriever will sometimes help. Like a jig, losing them is part of the deal. I have not tried any of the deep SBs.

I have had a Fortrex for a few years now that has worked as advertised. My experience with MG over the years has not been great. I do fish a lot with a friend with a 36V MG that works OK. The adjustments are not as simple and the foot control on/off is is backwards (for me). I'll stick with MK.

It is often in not trying that comes regret, shame, and other unhappy emotions. Many of my biggest disappointments are not from from my failures, but from those "what if" conversations that play in my head...

Speedbead after reading this and other recent posts, I have come to understand you are a philosopher. I like a man who is not afraid to look below the surface... No, my life has not worked out as planned. Life is what happens while we are making plans. I agree with Teal that not getting what we think we want or need is often for the best. I don't really know if he said it or not, but Abraham Lincoln is often credited with saying, "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be." I think there is real wisdom there.

I have a friend who always tells me he caught em on a C-rigged rattle trap! He may not be telling the truth though...I have had some success with a small floating Rapala in the past.

I am not one to sugar coat the truth either. I respect that Brian. Spirited discussion is one of the things that make life interesting. Peace.

Getting the right one to rip across the top of submerged grass can work really well. I caught a couple earlier today doing this with a KVD 2.5.

J Franco you are a man of courage and conviction. I salute you my friend. As for characterizing poor folks taking advantage of a broken system as animals I completely agree with John. It is way over the top. Yes they were stealing. Yes there should be consequences. And yes it is very easy to get all self-righteous over something like this and completely ignore the corruption all around us.

Yes!

One more vote for the PQ. I have 4 that have performed well.

I will add my $.02. If the only difference in catching and missing fish is the trailer, then you have a compelling case for the pork being the problem. I used pork for years. With all the plastic options now available I have no need to mess with it anymore. While 12# mono may be a little light for jigs, I have caught many jig fish on 12# Trilene XL. Like Bluebasser86 I do not like braid for this application, although many use braid, or braid and a leader for everything. I agree also that PLine CXX (what I use) or another copolymer like Yo Zuri Hybrid would be a better choice. A good 100% flourocarbon line may be a little better, but is not necessary. I have used the SK jigs with good success. Trimming the weed guard, or just spreading the bristles may help. Sometimes trimming the number of bristles, rather than shortening them all is a better option. As already mentioned, make sure the jig is sticky sharp! Good luck.

Congrats on the big win AJay, and Red Sox nation. That was quite a game last night. Between the Red Sox and the Patriots you Boston fans had a remarkable day!

That was the second of two great baseball games! I love this time of year!! Go Cards!!!

I am a Cardinal fan. I would love to have another shot at Boston! I would agree that Verlander is a beast and Boston or the Cards are not a sure thing. I really enjoy baseball, esp this time of year. Every team left has the tools to win it all. Go Cards!

Hootie I do pitch them to visible cover much of the time, but that is not the only place they shine for me. Worked slowly down a rock or gravel point, shelf or most any other type of deeper structure will get you bit! They do not have much action, but I think that is part of their appeal at times. You can separate the legs for a little more action-sometimes that works better. Sometimes size matters! I have had great days for both size and numbers with a standard 4.20 size. I have had days when they will not get bit, and changed to a smallie and killed them. I know that when compared side by side the difference is slight, but it can make a the difference. Good luck!

Illinois Missouri Kentucky Usually the Missouri license is a good value for me. Not this year, unless I get another trip or two in before it gets too cold for an old guy. I've spent more money on less important things though...

California 420 in both smallie and standard 4.20 is by far my favorite color!!! I almost always have one t-rigged-often one of each. Watermelon/Red and Hematoma are also very popular on my boat.

During a tourney it is a pain, other than that I don't mind. I am starting to get an attitude toward musky though. I don't mind catching them, it is the ones I don't catch that aggravate. The last couple of trips to Kinkaid here in southern IL. has cost me two good crankbaits to the toothy varmints. The last one was probably a keeper (48") that took a 100 series Bandit as soon as it hit the water. I had him to the boat twice before he bit me off. All I wanted was my custom colored bait back...

A higher price tag does not mean better in all cases. We can all agree on that. Sensitivity, quality, and value still comes down to opinion and budget though. Whether the reels you list are cheap or legendary depends the budget of the buyer, and of the model chosen. That mono was for years the gold standard of fishing line, and that as a result still holds many records is not a compelling argument for its superiority today. While you can make a case for Ugly Stiks being "unbreakable", to argue that they are world class sensitive is silliness in my opinion. What I'm saying is that these are subjective judgments that are fun to talk about and give us plenty to argue about on the interwebz, and there is value in that.

For me, this sums things up Catt. Some people will say that they can't tell the difference between mayonnaise and Miracle Whip or just don't care. It matters to me. I once worked with a guy who had more money in the sound system than the truck. Didn't make a bit of sense to me, and I love music. It mattered to him. Some of us can't tell the difference in sensitivity of rods, and some don't give a rip. For others, even the slightest improvement is worth whatever the cost. Most of us find a level that is good enough. Unfortunately, I find that the "good enough" bar tends to be very near the upper limit of my budget.