dwtaylor

If you are talking about the wapsi river in Iowa, I would use a 1/8 oz ball jighead with either a live craw or a yum crawbug. Most local walmarts carry a yum crawbug kit. Another good bait is a senko type bait cut in half and threaded on the same jighead. The In-Fisherman guys call it the "Ned Rig." Also, a #5 gold/black back original floating rapala on 6 lb test is always fun. They will both catch walleyes and catfish too. Here in Ames, the Skunk River smallies love a #2 mepps spinner with an orange blade. They also like a small white grub on a pink jighead (yes, the pink jighead gets more bites....trust me).

How long do bearings require to soak in acetone? Also, do I need the tools shown in baluga's post? Thank you guys so much. This place is always so very helpful.

What do you guys use for cleaning/flushing out bearings and what not on reels? I have heard of people using acetone, but I kind of want some others' opinions about what they use before I try it myself.

This is actually a pretty common problem with these reels. I first noticed it when I spooled it up with line and started practicing, so it must have came like that. All of the reels that my buddies got too were doing the same thing. I have just learned from feel not to let the line go when the clutch doesn't fully release. Actually, right now it isn't as bad as it used to be. Although, I seem to pick up my revo flipping stick more than the aggrest one.

I bought one in the spring of 2010 and I only bought it because our college fishing team had a good deal with daiwa. I didn't pay half of what it normally runs, and it is only worth half. It makes a really bad grinding noise every 30 casts or so due to the thumb-bar not totally engaging itself. I just use it as a pitching and flipping reel, but I would also throw frogs with it. I did have a couple times where on the hookset, the drag let out some line. The drag was fully winched down, yet it would still slip. However, I like the way the reel feels in my hand and I rarely use it for anything other than close quarters bassin, so I will continue to use it. I had originally bought the reel because it was so fast, as it does reduce the number of handle turns per cast. I do want to upgrade the drag, although it may not be necessary. Overall: 6.5/10....8/10 at the price I paid.

I have heard of knot slippage with it, but I have also heard that nanofil is WAY worse with that. A double palomar, from what I have heard, is recommended. I actually tie a little overhand knot after the palomar on all of my braid. This way, if the knot does slip, it only slips to that overhand knot. It takes some practice to get the knot to cinch down where you want it, but It really helps, especially with small diameter braids (<15lb).

These are pretty sweet. A buddy of mine uses them in the treestand to film some hunts, and he has some pretty sweet footage of deer walking through. Its not quite the rut here in Iowa yet, but with this colder weather coming through, they are sure moving. The lenses aren't really the best IMO. Some people do remove the lenses and put them on top of your existing shades. That looks pretty goofy though.

I completely agree. I had a buddy of mine and me fish for walleye one day on a really clear lake vertical jigging. One of the rods had 10 lb power pro and one had 6 lb seaguar invisx. In our experiment, we exchanged rods every 5 minutes when we were on fish. Both lines had the same exact rig on, and the fluorocarbon combo caught more fish. In total, the braid rod caught 5 fish and the fluoro rod caught 23 fish. Water visibility was around 10-12 feet deep.

That is one of the most eye pleasing sights I have ever seen. A true football.

Look for green, for that is where bass will be seen. Basically anything that you were using early in the year would work here too.

Assuming you have the collegiate angler program at your respective college, take a serious look into tackle warehouse. They do a similar deal, but you get everything there at a discount. I tend to drop shot for smallies quite frequently, and I will be one of the first to tell you that an xf rod is one of the worst ways to go. You want that rod to load up so when the fish runs, they cant come unbuttoned. Besides, when fishing a drop shot, it doesn't take a lot of force to set the open hook. I use a 6'6" ML Razr Rod. There are some fenwick elite tech walleye rods that feel very similar to it too, fyi. In the end of it, it all goes by how it feels in your hand. I would match the rod up with the president, because I have always believed that someone should get a better rod than a reel. Besides, a drop shot doesn't use up a lot of line. I currently use a 30 size Patriarch, and I love the reel.

I would say a 6'6" ML Fenwick HMX. I just bought one for fishing the Skunk River here in Central Iowa. There are some smallies in there, but most of them are about 10-13 inches long. I know it doesn't have a split grip, but a split grip actually throws the balance of the rod off depending on which reel you are using. Its a very sensitive rod, and in my opinion, is the best under $100.

rebel craw crankbaits! they are so realistic looking and they flat out catch em. nose hooking a 3in dinger/senko works well too.

I am a current college angler, and I think this is perfectly acceptable. I am very confident that some of our young men are as good, if not better than some of the FLW or BASS guys. Many guys that graduate from the college fishing ranks are actually fishing professionally. I don't believe that fishing is classified NCAA sanctioned sport (at least to my knowledge), so our college anglers can still win some money in bfl's and what not and still be eligible to fish. This gives the opportunity for outstanding young anglers to get major tourney experience under their belts. I have upmost confidence that the guys from the University of Florida and Auburn can fish with almost anybody.

I was wondering what kind of warranty Daiwa rods carry. I had just broken a rod (flippin stick) while fighting a small fish. I did not fight the fish any differently than any other time, and it was not taken out of extremely heavy cover. Also, I was wondering who I should contact because their website is not very specific on rod warranty claims. PS...the rod is just a little over a year old.

I would definitely loosen the spool control knob all the way and turn the brake system as need be. I have been learning to skip cast with a baitcaster and have found that a loose spool with full mag brake works best. My accuracy isn't there yet, but I try several casts every time I go out and I have been seeing improvement. I typically use a 7'6" mh veritas, revo sx left hand, and 50lb spiderwire stealth ultracast. Also, tubes and frogs skip wonderfully.

Looks like a largemouth. I have caught several bass that had large dark spots on it similar to that one. I suppose it is kind of like birth marks or moles on humans. Just something a little different.

I went out today again and I started using some of these tips. I used the suggestion that said to point the rod tip straight to the fish, and it works awesome. I did take a closer look, and I am tearing the lips of the lightly hooked fish. Today: 20 quality bites, 18 fish landed (I lost 2 fish due to line breakage from fishing in rocks).

I have been fishing finesse jigs a lot lately and I seem to be losing a lot of fish as they get closer to me. About 60% of the bites end up in the boat, while the others end up getting hooked and shake off or something. The jigs that I am using have a light/medium diameter hook and a medium stiffness weedguard. I am also using a 7' mh Team Daiwa S rod (worm/jig) and 12lb trilene 100% fc. When I do land a fish, the hook is set in the mouth pretty good, but I am wondering if I am ripping lips or something on the lost fish. If that is the case, how could I change that?

I wish Kistler would do the same...

I absolutely LOVE my veritas. It balances almost perfectly with a revo. In my experience, I felt that the mojo was really tip heavy.

I was just wondering what exactly this tool does. Does it just use the screw to push out the pin or what? If someone could give me a pretty good description, I might be able to find something that would to the same thing cheaper.

Speaking of geese, i was walking around the bank on a pond today, and I guess I got a little too close to their nest. They were about 20 yards behind me on the bank when I got close to their nest. All of the sudden, I feel something jab in my back (not going to lie, it hurt quite a bit) and wings flapping at me. I have never ran so fast in my life getting away from those geese...

Just wondering, what tournament are you fishing, as far as tournament organizations go and its date?

When did they go out of business?!?