RoLo

Pictured below is the One-That-Got-Away:

Believe me, today's casting reels are 'nothing' like the bait casters of yore. One hour with a Shimano Metanium, and you'll be an accomplished bait caster Roger

I know nothing about Lake Cabot, but looking at the cavernous backdrop, it would seem that shallow food-shelves are at a premium.

It's probably the most important decision of your life (I'm routing for you) Roger

Welcome to BR! Roger

To select the proper hook size, you need to have the bait in your hand. Lay the bait on top of the hook-shank and notice how much hook throat is exposed. If that gap is too small, it'll take an awful lot of pressure to compress the soft-plastic. Roger

Welcome aboard! Roger

> Whitetail Deer Bow-&-Arrow - Shotgun - Rifle > Pheasants > Ruffed Grouse > Bobwhite Quail > Woodcock > Jack & Cottontail Rabbits > Gray & Red Squirrels > Woodchucks Rifle permit > Dabbling Ducks Black Duck - Mallard - Widgeon - Wood Duck - Greenwing Teal Bluewing Teal - Pintail - Spoonbill ~ ~ > Diving Ducks Lesser Scaup - Greater Scaup - Canvasback - Redhead Bufflehead - Goldeneye - Scoter - Old Squaw - Mergansers ~ ~ > Geese Canada Geese - Snow Geese - Brant I'm sure I forget a few ;-) Roger

I tried the 'chicken rig' once, but never again! I'm still finding loose chicken feathers all over the boat Roger

Welcome aboard! You have the win/win choice of Orange Lake or Lake Lochloosa Roger

Congratulations, you're going to make new memories in your new craft Roger

More than a saying, that's a reality!

In a world dictated by "Survival of the Fittest", the motto is "GIT-R-DONE!" (he did). Roger

^^^ This coming from a gentleman angler who's bested the almighty "30-lb Benchmark". As long as your fluorocarbon leader is nestled between two pike teeth, those teeth will serve as ivory line guides. On the other hand, the instant two pike teeth clamp down on a non-metallic leader, it's goodbye Charlie! (As luck would have it...your PB). Today there are a bunch of pliable, tieable, metallic pike leader materials, but my favorite is: AFW 26-lb Surfstrand Micro Supreme - Camo (avoid pre-rigged leaders like the plague) It's 0.014" stainless steel consisting of 49-strands (7x7), capable of boating the next world record Roger

We almost lost our Irish setter last night, she puked up something that looked like that! Kidding aside, I've been around a dreadfully long time, but don't remember seeing a billed plug quite like that. Hang on to it, you may have a collector's item Roger

I realize that buying into the "Braid-plus-Leader" camp would be taking the path-of-least-resistance. But Lois & I have always been advocates of using 'braid only', in the total absence of a leader, (our mainline IS our leader). Either we've been bucked insurmountable odds, or the accepted stereotype may be due for a work-over Roger

We anchor our boat to prevent it from drifting in the wind or current....RIGHT? I confess to employing a 12-ft Minn Kota Talon, BUT, the closer to nature the greater my respect. Accordingly, I'm an ostensible fan of the "Throw-down pole" as Catt refers to them, because the ends justifies the means. Go For It Roger

If landowners are doling out bread, you'd be well-served to best their efforts. Fish for bluegill sunfish using frisky red worms or lively crickets. Just "food" for thought Roger

For what it's worth, I used to own a MH Falcon rod that was very similar to a MH Diawa Light & Tough. Roger

Though not my favorite, a punching rod I use at that price point is the "St Croix Mojo – MBC70HF" (7’0” - Heavy - Fast ) Roger

What do you mean "tonight"? I never knew there were special nights for drinking Roger

Great Catch! Yup, you can spend 4 times more for a lipless crank, but it won't catch 4 times more bass than a Rat-L-Trap Roger

The head-kicker might be better described as the head-toucher (toe to head with minimal impact) Did you notice the perfectly straight vertical lines on all the toilet seats? The halves were probably held together with mucilage glue, yet he still failed to part a couple. All-in-all, a highly intellectual performance

Until now, I've never had to rig my 'swimsuit', but when that day comes, I'm not looking forward to that center-pin hook

In my opinion at least, the buoyancy of the worm is more important than the shape of the jighead. Nearly any jighead will breathe life into a buoyant worm, but that cannot be said of a worm made of sinking plastic. I prefer a 1/8 oz "ballhead jig", which is the same jig configuration used for the original shaky worm. A 'spherical' head exerts no offsetting resistance that might interfere with the natural rocking action of a buoyant worm. Roger