K_Mac

The reason he is so ornery is lack of meat in his diet. A couple of cheeseburgers would change his perspective...maybe. Seriously though arguing with him is a waste of your time. You can't win the argument based on whether or not fish feel pain. They certainly feel sensation. Whether their brains processes that as pain as we understand it depends on who you talk to. The argument is whether you have the right to do it. You do. He can eat tofu and hug trees, animals, and insects if he wants to. You can fish, hunt, shoot, drive a pickup, and howl at the moon if you want to. This America for crying out loud. You will find plenty of egg-headed teachers and professors who are educated far above their ability to understand. Take what you can use and leave the rest. EDIT: I just looked at your profile. The pickup will have to wait until you get your license. And one more thing: 52 is not that old!

I have a couple of the older version with "nasty wooden" knobs that I really like. They have many miles on them and are still going strong. The price for the redesigned version is the same as it's been for years, making them a very good value IMO. Enjoy.

Raul maybe you should contact Berkley and see what their replacement policy is?

It may also say that he knew he was wrong making a joke and accepted the consequences. He did not deny making inappropriate statements. My point is, the actions taken by BASS seem reasonable based on what we know. If others come forward or other evidence is presented then harsher sanctions will be imposed. Your experience with cheating is unfortunate. Putting a young angler in that spot is despicable. With that said, you knew when you signed up reporting cheating was required and had you done so your opinion of the system may be different. It was a mistake on your part not to do so. I am not saying I would not have done the same thing you did. I've done plenty of things I would do differently if given the chance. I am saying that Bass sent a message to all who would cheat, and that is what they intended to do IMO. The more I read on polygraphs the less trust I have in them. They may be allowed by the rules, but that they weren't used here seems to support my conclusion.

I think this is a reasonable position. What was done was proportional to the infraction, and sends a clear message IMO. The system is dependent on anglers policing themselves. It seems to work well. I have read several articles on the accuracy of polygraphs. After reading some of the comments here I Googled, "lie detector accuracy" to see what might show up. There are pages of articles. A very high percentage of them seem to indicate "lie detecting" is an inaccurate "science" at best. I would not want my career or freedom dependent on such a device.

SirSnook I think your view is representative of those who may feel that this was not worthy of causing a scandal or blemishing the reputation of a professional angler. My biggest reasons for disagreement is that to ignore the offer and not report it is also a violation of the rules, and may just pass the problem on to next co-angler. Any question of integrity diminishes the credibility of the sport. I am not a proponent of mandatory sentencing, and that the penalties were fairly light means (IMO) either they felt there was not enough evidence to convict if pressed, or they wanted to send a message to Wellman and others that it was not a laughing matter. Based on Wellman's comments the latter seems most likely. How Wellman conducts himself now will determine how much this impacts his future.

Matstone7 don't let these guys give you any trouble. What a man and his wife do in their shower is their own bidness...

Exactly the same hooks. UPC, packaging, and hooks are exactly the same as those sold elsewhere. Walmart does sell many items that are made specifically for them. Gammy hooks are not among them.

I will add my $.02. When fishing a contact bait like a worm I always fish into the wind. I like to take my time and make repeated casts to prime spots at a variety of angles. Occasionally a very light breeze at your back may let you do this, not often though. Flukes video and the input of the others gives you some great info. As you get more comfortable you will learn to adjust speed, cadence, weight, color, etc. Good luck.

There are forces at work bigger than you are. Tell her you love and run for the door. A man has got to know his limitations. Good luck.

gates52 I responded to your reply to NY36 in which you stated that it would take an experienced or discerning angler to feel a "few ounces". You brought up the Veritas and then challenged NY86 when he gave his opinion based on experience with it. The point is slight differences can be huge when it comes to rods at any price point. Unfortunately most manufacturers do not publish rod weights. I've read hundreds of rod reviews on many different rods where weight is given. The numbers I gave you are based on those reviews and years of experience. The St. Croix web site gives rod weights and will give you weights for their rods priced from $80-$400. Those of us who have responded to your post have done so with the desire to help. Sometimes we may wonder off track a bit, but the desire is to help you make an informed decision. Take it or leave it, it's up to you. Good luck.

A high end 7' MHF rod will weigh in the 4 to 4.2 oz range. An entry level rod of the same power and action might weigh .5-1.0 oz more. The cheaper rod is 10-25% heavier, not 2-5%. The difference is apparent to most anyone picking up the rods. I agree that weight is not the only factor in rod selection. Material, components, construction, and balance are all part of what makes one worth $500 and the other $50. I don't have any high end or entry level rods, and I catch my share of fish. What I have works for me, but I have used enough high end rods to know there is a difference, esp when it comes to contact baits like jigs. The older I get the more I realize an extra "few ounces" is very big at the end of a long weekend of fishing. The Bass Pro Pro Qualifier rods are being clearanced now. For $79 I don't think you can by a better rod. JMHO. http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Pro-Qualifier-XPS-Trigger-Rods/product/98314/-1432342

The insulated Guidewear does not have a removable lining.

If the rod has been damaged it will soon show up in use. I would not have a problem buying a rod that had been on the rack for years if it was exactly what I wanted and the price was right. I would definitely haggle with the owner to see if a better deal was to be made, but if the older style is what you want and not readily available elsewhere why not buy it? As long as the warranty applies, what is the downside? Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. Enjoy.

Good idea Rhino. I have SS sheet metal screws in a variety of places in my boat also.

Well said A-Jay. Clayton marriage is lifetime commitment that requires honesty and sacrifice IMO. When you treat your wife the way she should be treated the rewards are great. She has great responsibility also. Keep the faith man. A good marriage is a wonderful thing that does not happen by accident and often takes time to get right. Good luck.

George I think you hit the nail on the head. Once you can answer the questions related to a particular spot, then you can apply that knowledge and understanding to other areas. Having history with a specific body of water and fishing in general is a wonderful thing if you understand this; those that don't will never be consistent. I know a couple of guys who are fine fishermen when fishing is good. They have a couple of spots in a few lakes that when conditions are right, will produce fish. When those conditions are not present they fish those same spots with much less success. For them "history" limits their choices of both baits and locations. One issue with fishing "history" is it sometimes limits our willingness to learn new techniques, which is a big part of the joy of fishing IMO. This year I have learned much about targeting shallow fish in heavy cover. It has not replaced my passion for deeper structure, but it is a lot of fun. It also makes me a more versatile and effective fisherman.

I read the article on the the Bassmasters web site a couple of days ago. I also thought Wellman's "apology" was more of an attempt to justify/rationalize his bad behavior. BB67 by Wellman's own admission he was guilty of extremely bad judgment. It sounds like he got off easy to me. You knew when you made that call some would be critical of you. Doing the right thing is always the right thing. Well done.

A drop of Locktite when using bolts and nuts will help keep things from loosening up. Just my $.02.

Goose like Mark Twain, I generally don't want to be a part of any group that will have me as a member. You are correct that we of the BPS posse are a small but resolute group. Shimano appears to be a little schizophrenic over the last few years in my humble opinion. They seem to be determined to see how quickly they can get through the alphabet... They make fine stuff and if Shimano posse membership makes you happy, ain't that what it is all about? Edit: I was reminded by one of our more erudite members that it was Groucho Marx who didn't want to be a member of any group that would have him. He also is purported to have said, "quote me as saying I was mis-quoted" so I don't guess he would mind.

A talented musician. Listening to him did make me feel better. Thanks.

NYBASSIN36 I use spinning rods for those light line applications, so I don't have any experience with ML baitcasting rods. I agree with DVT that actually handling the rod is the real test of whether it fits your needs. With that said a ML/XF 6'6"-7' would be where I would start. I like the soft fast action of an XF rod in M and MH. There are many fine rods available in the same price range as the Villian. Good luck.

I would find the exact rod I was looking for and not worry too much about manufacturer. The slower ML/M rod will certainly work, and if I had to have a Villian for that purpose that is what I would get, but if Abu doesn't make the rod you want in the Villian line why sweat it? There are too many other choices IMO.

I think it is interesting. I would like to know what the deal is/was also. It is hard to imagine getting four bad bibs unless they were all part of the same lot? I have worn mine for all sorts of physical activities over maybe 10 years without a failure of any kind. I do like the ability to add a liner to the BPS gear, though as an old fat guy being too cold is rarely an issue.

The first rule of writing is write what you know. Do you have the grammar and story telling skills needed to do that? Can you write what you know in a way that other folks want read it? Who is your audience? What do you offer that hasn't already been done a hundred times by people with much more impressive resumes? Why would I buy your book on spinnerbait fishing when I can buy spinnerbait instructional material from KVD? Or finesse fishing from Mike Iaconelli? I think if writing is what you want to do, then you absolutely should do it. Writers write. Whether it sells or not is a very different thing. Good luck.