RoLo

It matters whether the blank is graphite, fiberglass or composite, and whether the main-line is mono, fluoro or braid. In most cases though, I'd opt for mod-fast before opting for moderate. Roger

KOOL...I wonder what he paid for my old boat Roger

Daiwa Tatula Roger

The color ‘Tomato’ takes me back to Mister Twister Grubs in the 70s. One particularly attractive pattern they called “Chartreuse/Tomato Core” Though it was attractive to me, the bass could take it or leave it ? Roger

When I was a kid, 5:1 was a popular reel ratio, which ultimately gave way to 6:1. Even today, I still regard 6:1 as the epicenter, though speeds to 8:1 are common. I'm an old man, yet I still have full control over my cranking speed, and still opt for a 6:1 ratio for everything. There's a lot to be said for 'familiarity', and learning the required compensation and nuances and ONE tool. Roger

The only 'Bills' in my life are the ones I find in my mailbox (Sorry OJ). Go (away) Bills ? Roger

I kind of lost my appetite for beer, but not my appetite for alcohol. After all is said & done, my first love is a medium-rare 'Rib-eye Steak'. I'm pretty sure that's why my friends call me "Beefeater" Roger

Prior to the actual spawn, bass of both sexes feed ambitiously during the pre-spawn in preparation for the stress of spawning. On the downside, the early spring period is highly susceptible to unstable weather, making the pre-spawn season a mixed bag. Here in Florida, some anglers in a local March tourney refer to it as the Pre-spawn, while others on the same day argue that it's spawning season. In reality, the pre-spawn period in central Florida is January & February. Given a warming trend, TODAY (January 17) would be perfect. On balance, most anglers are late to the party. Roger

Tom, I'm hoping you are in the stock market, because it's also solidly founded on one's ability to identify Trend Reversals Roger

Welcome to the forums j-dubs, and don't be discouraged by old fuddy-duddies ? Adhering to the law is a foregone conclusion, that doesn't require parental intervention. When I was your age, I had 2 bass in my aquarium (Shocking as that may appear!!). My 2 bass would be best described as fingerlings, but received my undivided attention. At that time, I would've guessed they subsisted about a year in my tank, but through the compressed lens of advanced age, it was probably closer to 6 months. Be that as it may, there were no ‘Fish Police’ in Hillside, NJ, and it was not a bad experience ? Roger

And anywhere the shoreline swings out to the river/creek (commonly called a Point). "Location" in a manmade impoundment, is different from location in a natural lake. In reservoirs, the "river channel" is the key feature, from the headwaters to the dam. Ideally, you're looking for the broadest shallow flats that adjoin the river channel, then create waypoints that pinpoint the best contour-line convergences (Drop-offs). Roger

Congratulations and good luck! I wouldn’t rule out a Shimano Bantam. I own both, and in spite of different price points, I prefer the Bantam to the Met. Either way, you're going to enjoy that stick Roger

You wearing you're catcher's mitt? Good, here's comes a curveball. 6th Sense Swimbait Hook - 3/16 oz x 3/0 Roger

I cannot be of assistance, therefore I really shouldn't respond to this thread. I just wanted to say, my brother George happens to live in Carlsbad, California. But he holds a casting reel beneath the rod, and holds a spinning reel on top of the rod ?. You guessed it, George doesn't fish. Roger

After reading everyone's contribution, you guys covered a treacherous topic with admirable tolerance and advice. I would only add however, that media bias is not a recent phenomenon. Their bottom-line always benefitted more from negative news than good news. Roger

Glad to hear that TnRiver, it's much appreciated. But any speak about different leagues is total nonsense Roger

I humbly admit to being a Mister Twister charter member, and they still send me catalogs today. Back in the 70s, Mister Twister intermittently sent me a carboard box full of FREE lures. "Why" you would ask, and I asked myself the same question (Don't look a gift horse in the mouth). My only logical explanation is that the size of my orders led them to believe I was a tackle shop. Isn't it odd that the "original" release of many lures is often the best rendition. Just for example: Zara Spook, Johnson Spoon, Pop-r, Gitzit, Sluggo, Senko ~ ~ Roger

HEY...Ain't no reason to look down your nose at us Low-end pros using High-end gear Roger

I've been around the world with bathymetry and currently employ Navionics (The lesser yuk). Navionics compatibility being imperative, I'm currently running a Lowrance Elite Ti (but I think the world of Garmin hardware). With respect to electric motors (trolling motors as it were) I'm unapologetically in the Minn Kota camp (Terrova right now) ? Roger

It's safe to say, fishing line that provides the longest casting distance will be the line with the 'smallest diameter'. On that alone, braid will always get the nod, but that turns a deaf ear on line 'backbone'. It's only my opinion, but I believe that line with greater spine than braid (line with the same diameter) will offer greater casting distance. I say that because very supple line with lateral snaking is bound to increase the overall resistance passing through the guide inserts. That in fact, is the reason why we monitor the guide-count on a rod blank (to reign in the looping & reduce overall line-drag). In the interest of casting distance, which line material offers the optimum backbone? No one is talking about that Roger

On the surface, that certainly appears like a creative approach, and jogs my memories on the Atlantic. Many skippers would fish a Christmas tree rig for mackerel, using a diamond jig as a sinker (blues, stripers & weakfish). As it happens, I don’t fish any two lures exactly the same, so for me at least, it would create an excruciating cultural bias ? Roger

My brother sent my wife & I a Keurig brewing machine; I’m guessing about 8 yrs ago. At first I thought it was pretty silly, but we have never looked back since. I add milk, no sugar, and average 2 or 3 pods a day. My wife's favorite is "Caribou", mine is "Peets" (little more body than Caribou). If we run out of Peets, I'll brew a Caribou on 'strong', which is almost indistinguishable from Peets. Roger

Actually, the very first shaky head jig was a ballhead jig. The concept being, that a spherical jighead offers no directional resistance, and permits freedom of movement in every direction. In any case, stand-up jigs quickly entered the scene. In my opinion, "shaky" describes the delivery, better than it describes the jighead. Early on, floating worms were popular, but just as ballhead jigs gave way to stand-up jigs, floating worms gave way to neutrally buoyant worms. The reason again "freedom-of-motion", where flotation may cause an upward bias. Roger

Rapala #6 Shad Rap - helsinki shad Roger

In years gone by, I have twice bitten the bullet to sidestep a Mercury outboard. The first time (many years ago), I replaced an existing 4-stroke Mercury with an Evinrude Etech. More recently (2 years ago), my wife & I rode from Florida to Kansas in order purchase a Yamaha-powered Alumacraft. Why would such foolish trip be necessary? Because Mercury implemented a shrewd & monopolistic squeeze on the boat hull industry. Roger