RoLo

Then again, a "used" hammer may have the edge ;D Roger

For years I've owned a Challenger IM5 CLC66MH It's one of my northern pike rods, and the intermediate modulus can handle the heaviest fish. Although Challenger is unsung, they make a genre of blanks with specifications that are hard to find The CLC66MH is 6'6" Med Hvy- 3/8 to 1oz - 10-20 lb line (it's a super rod) Roger

I have several favorite worms, and they rotate with the seasons. Fall Worm> Gambler 8" Flapp'n Tail Worm (black blue) rigged on 3/16 oz Type-Z Bullet Head Jig Roger

Right out of the package, nearly a hundred percent of the Gamakatsu and Owner hooks are dangerously sharp. However, if the hook-point becomes damaged or dull with use, there is no hook in the world that cannot be sharpened. Even the cut-edge point swaged by Owner can be quickly triangulated. Although it will no longer have the cutting edge configuration, it will be far superior to a cut-edge point that is dull or damaged. Being a tool & die maker, I have diamond files, ruby-impregnated files, wet stones and hand grinders. But none of that stuff is necessary, in fact, a simple tool like the Diamond Edge Hook File sold by Bass Pro can quickly rough out the point. Granted, it will not be as good as new, but much better than dull or damaged. All that said, I personally chuck my dull and damaged hooks Roger

You're right Raul, it hurts every time I park on those numbers. I tried several more times to dredge up that combo, but to no avail Remember the time when Avid found a whole tackle box that went overboard? He recovered it several years later, but as I recall, he wasn't able to salvage much more than corrosion and barnacles Roger

Fishing from the bow, my wife set the hook on a good bass that promptly wrapped-up in the bulrushes. I quickly laid down my rod and got right on the electric motor remote, so either her or I could reach the bass. As the boat was closing in on the fouled bass, I heard a sickening sploosh behind the boat. You guessed it, my lure got snagged on the bottom and yanked my rod & reel over the transom (what a bonehead). Well, we got the bass, but despite 30 minutes of grappling with treble hooks, we never recovered the combo. It was a Daiwa Light & Tough rod with a Shimano Stradic reel. I have since renamed that old waypoint, "Shimano" Roger

I've been using the kut-tail worm for many years, which really excels as a drop-shot lure. The kut-tail is extremely popular in Japan, but for some reason it's been largely overlooked in the United States. Roger

That bronzeback you're hoisting is obscene! :o Dwight, the best of luck with your new craft...that is terrific! Roger

This is the best way I can explain it: The only color that can possibly catch a bass, is the color that's on the end of your line. Conversely, every color that is not on the end of your line has zero chance of catching a bass. As a result, we have more to do with the color that bass are striking than we might imagine...not the bass. If one angler is catching bass and the other is not, the wise angler will not waste mental energy thinking about color, but focus on far more important matters such as Lure Depth, Lure Speed, Lure Action, Lure Size, and Line of Retrieve. I fish only "bubblegum" flukes because it is highly visible, which gives me an edge on presentation. Roger

Dwight, I just ran into this old post today...HOLY COW!! I recently traded down for a smaller boat, and that fish you're holding is roughly the size of my new boat ;D Jokes aside, I'm getting used to seeing your face behind super trophies! Roger

I think when that senile guy choose his screen name, he meant it "tongue in cheek" ;D Roger

So what did we all learn from the answer? > Watermelon Candy > Albino > Bubblegum > Glimmer Blue > White Pearl > Watermelon Red > Junebug > White Ice > Baitfish > Smokey Joe > Lemon Shad > Watermelon w/Chartreuse tail > Baby Bass > Green Pumpkin > Watermelon Seed > Smokin Shad > Pearl White > Arkansas Shad Roger

Find PM Roger

To make room for the incoming shipment of "croakers" ;D

Nothing more than already stated. I will say this though, I personally rated Lake Michigan as having the 2nd-best world-record potential, 'before' this fish. Although the White River in Arkansas has a longer growing season, Lake Michigan is a gargantuan ecosystem. By the way, I'd be reeeeal happy with an almost 13-lb brown trout Roger

Dangerous words my friend. The daily whisper of the bait monkey! If I'm not mistaken, it was Raul himself who coined the expression "Bait Monkey" 8-) Roger

Well said Roger

When I was just a youngster, the world-record brown trout stood at 39 lb, 8 oz and was taken from Loch Awe, Scotland. It was a historic record set in 1866, and like so many world-records it was not recognized by every Fishing Hall of Fame. Throughout most of the 1900s, the biggest brown trout taken in American waters were produced by Lake Michigan and the Provo & Logan Rivers of Utah. Nevertheless, the brown trout from American waters were nowhere close to the weights of those yielded in Europe, particularly Germany & Scotland. Consequently, authorities at that time predicted that the next world-record brown trout would be taken from Loch Awe, Scotland or perhaps New Zealand. Then in 1988 to everyone's surprise, a 38 lb, 9oz brown trout was yielded by the North Fork of the White River in Arkansas. Then four years after that in May 1992, a 40 lb, 4 oz brown trout was taken from the Little Red River in Arkansas, finally breaking the historic world-record held by Loch Awe. The record brown trout caught by the late Rip Collins was 40¼" long with a 28½" girth. The authorities now shifted their sights to the White River in Arkansas, as the source of the next world-record brown trout. Oddly enough, if the brown trout featured in this post is certified (only time will tell), the authorities will be wrong once again! The Manistee River is one of the spawning imprints for trout and salmon that reside in Lake Michigan. If the record brownie is broken yet again, I believe that Lake Michigan or one of it's spawning rivers hold the highest promise. Hmmph, it started in Michigan in the early 1900s and may end in Michigan in the early 2000s. Roger

X4 Sufix Elite isn't going anywhere, and you'll soon forget about Stren Roger

Not to sound insensitive, but the only thing shocking about this incident is that it's not a lot more common. My wife and I often ride without a life preserver, so if either of us lost our lives to negligence, it would merely serve as a reminder to others about something they already know "Wear your life vest at all times on the water" Roger

OHH BABY! That's the real deal! Roger

I thought so too, until I saw that he goes both ways... and to think- I roomed with him at Fork! just kidding around ;D ;D

Not saying it's the best Paul, but I'm currently using Berkley Fireline Tracer Braid. The line color alternates in 30" bands between chartreuse-green & moss-green (hi vis & lo-vis). Since it contains two different color tones, it's reasonably visible against most backgrounds, but unfortunately the intensity of the chartreuse fades rather soon. Roger

The "chatterbait" was named by 5 different members, possibly more than any other lure (it's one lure I never bought). During the passion of its mighty liftoff, I dared to say that the chatterbait will likely be a passing fancy. I was summarily assaulted for making that statement, but now it's the chatterbait's turn in the barrel ;D Roger

You make a very valid point, but if you've ever hired a fishing guide in your life, you'd be doing the exact the same thing. I've never hired a fishing guide in my life, because I feel that if it's the guides boat, the guide's spot and the guide's technique, then it's also the guide's fish. But that's me, and to each his own. Getting back to Mattlures baits, the craftsmanship that Matt interjects into every bait is truly astounding. If it were me doing the same thing as Matt, I'd be up against two obstacles: First, I'm not sure I'd want to sell the bait to anyone, Secondly, I'd have to charge about $200 bucks a lure Roger