Bankbeater

Man up and do what I did. Take it to a reel repair place and have them show you what you're doing wrong.

I use a Curado 200 E7 on 6-1/2' MH w/ fast action. I tried braid and didn't like it because it kept getting roughed up when I would fish around rocks, and timber. I switched over to fluoro.

I remember reading somewhere that when a tree falls in the water that the fish will stay away from it for a while until all of the chemicals in the tree have dissipated. Maybe the same thing is happening when the plants die off.

Yep, you did right. If more people keep calling about it sooner or later the DNR will set up a watch. They have done that several times where I fish.

We went out Saturday to a pond that is currently down about 3 feet from the drought. My Dad got the first, and second LM on a brown craw colored 3/8 Mann's 1 minus. The first fish was the largest of the day at 2-15. I started throwing my 1 minus with no luck, and then BAM something hit it hard. I thought that the fish got off because there was very little resistance while I was bringing it in. I ended up pulling in a crappie about 7" long. Couldn't believe that a fish that little would go after a 3/8 crankbait. My Dad got two more LM before we called it a day and headed home.

Thanks for the vid!

A light colored, or chrome bait when they are hitting the surface.

Good job! I wish that I could get a day like that.

It depends. Sometimes I like to go fishing just for the peace and quiet and the time away from everything, and other times I like to go fishing just for the competition.

Wow, Hootie that is impressive.

Brush Hog. They are heavy enough to throw weightless, and they sink about as fast as a fluke.

Nice Bass! Congrats on the new PB.

Dang, my fishing license has three months left on it.

I like a 3/4 rat-l-trap, or a heavy t-rig with a tube or craw. Something that won't catch the wind when you throw it.

Rain? We are about 7" below normal for the year here. When it does I like a spinnerbait in white or white/chart.

A t-rigged plastic worm, or a brush hog. I usually try to find timber to cast into.

That is a bag of plastics!!

I wonder if birds would fly into it???

I would have called MY insurance co. They would have done one of two things. They would pay for the repairs and contacted your girlfriend's brother's insurance for reimbursement, or they would have paid for your repairs and if your gf's bro didn't have insurance, they would have sued him. The only problem with going through insurance is that they usually require a police report.

I would get a rig that you can flip/pitch jigs with.

Take the rest of the guides off of it and use it for a pool stick. Seriously, I would tie some heavy line on it and use it like a cane pole.

I use the same trailers that I use when fishing the bottom. You can also use a plastic worm as a trailer and swim it in slow.

I usually use the same jig on the bottom, and for swimming. I swim them first and if I don't get any hits I will slow it down and bounce or drag it on the bottom.

You schedule household maintenance around your fishing schedule.

Fishing is my way to relax after working all week. I would also say that it has brought me closer to my Dad.