Spankey

Put a notice in the WTB/FS section there is probably someone here that has one to give you. If I had that one I would. I’m mostly spinning.

You are probably right. But did you ever take notice at Wally World when you get to the section where the reels are........... (example: Abu Garcia) they got reels hanging there in clamshell packs that the manufacturer doesn’t have in a catalog or on a website. What’s up with that. I know what I read into that. And it ain’t good. The way I understand it some of you guys have decent Wally Worlds. I despise the ones in my area and will not go in one. What one are you looking for?

It’s all good, don’t take anything to heart on this site man. I can see your point in wanting it. I have boxes and don’t even know why I wanted them. Most likely if I had to sent something back to factory or something. May have done that once or twice but majority of time you can fix yourself. Don’t sweat it.

Yes, many years ago. Don’t know how many generations back they are but they were a good rod for the money. Caught a lot of Smallies on them. They could be 30+ years old. I still have them. All 1 pc. rods but not the length you are talking about. I use to be a big BPS fan years ago. Not quite so much these days. But willing to bet they are still a decent rod for the money. I would not hesitate if I were you. It will not be a light pole like an ugly stick I’m pretty sure.

I keep my reel boxes. I don’t know all about the worth more worth less if selling. Never really sold anything. Gave some reels away. I will not buy a reel in a plastic clamshell. A guy got me in a Nasci last year. I didn’t take it. Shimanos come in a box. At least all mine have. 3 days later I got one in a sealed box. He had the clamshell hanging. I’m not implying the clamshells are seconds but in my mind they are seconds or something. Why are they not in a box. There is no shortage of paper construction products in this country or places that construct these packing materials.

You and me both. And she’s still around. She’s home working from home. I’m at work and we are getting slammed with a snow storm.

That chubby gal in the sombrero is my kind of gal. Just wish I was 25 years old again.

No. I don’t know what that is.

I’m here in the northeast and I rather have more of a traditional winter with small rains and normal snow fall. I don’t like flash type floods any time of year even winter. I don’t care if snows stays on the ground all winter and melting is a slow natural run off. Agree 100%. I guess that what I’m trying to say also.

I’ve used a lot of quality mono over the years and for the most part have never really had issues with twist. Very minor issues at most. There are many great Brands out there but SUNLINE SuperMono is the best I’ve ever used period. The 6-8# spinning setup I used the most, that’s all I use on them the last couple of seasons. Hands down the best mono I’ve ever used and I feel I’ve been using some good mono for years.

Let’s say your reel are spooled with a size appropriate line for the spool and you start to develop line twist. What you can do (on land, driveway backyard) is tie on the end of your line a good quality snap swivel, can be an oversized one, attach the snap to a branch, nail in a tree or something like that than walk off 75 yards 50 yards and reel your Line in under some tension and this twist can sometimes be removed. I’m pretty anal about my line and do change more often than most but this does help.

Golden chrome on upper left and brown craw in lower right look killer. Good find. Look never used, no paint worn off of them.

I really didn’t know of or at least too much of 6th Sense. One day I was in a DICKS a couple of seasons ago and I saw this pattern on a Googan Bait. At first site I knew I could make something happen with that and picked it up. Then not long after that is when I became aware of the controversy that surrounded them. Bringing my awareness to 6th Sense. Well my craw pattern bait options available with 6S in creased 10 fold. Picked up 4 craw patterns that I felt would produce in stained water and they have. 6S is a quality product. The Curve 55 is a great bait. I’ll get into deeper runners as my season progresses. I’m not cranking deeper than about 18 feet yet. This is not a dis toward G. But my options with 6S are far, far greater.

Firstly I am not even in the smallmouth haven of the state. I could have been fishing for largemouth my whole life if I wanted to. I just chose to chase these for whatever reason it happened to be. Addiction, what can I say. Maybe I’m stupid. Fish for 4 lb. Greenies vs. 1-2 lb. Smallies. I chose the Smallies. Please do not make it to be a case of crying over spilt milk. I’ve been fishing and catching some nice largemouths the last few years. My whole deal is to hope to see it turn around some and get back to fishing Smallies again is because that’s the way I want to leave this earth. I’ll make it happen.

I have not thrown any of their bigger crankbaits yet. I’m using some of the Curve 55 now. In craw colors. They are producing fish. I bought them to fish stained conditions. They have some great natural color patterns but I have not gone that direction with 6th Sense yet.

I ask myself every year why I take the trip up to punish myself with the colder weather and not just stay home and fish the Little Lehigh or Branch. I have family up there and it’s worth it. But there are times when the weather is as nice. I don’t want to make it sound like every opening day as terrible. That’s not the case.

The whole state opens up the same day. I don’t have an issue with that. But the weather will be night and day difference between the NE & SE portions of the state. Like wise the other sections. Use to all be the same day years ago. I Remember quite a few times fishing up in Susquehanna and it would be snowing and guys from work would fish southern counties in a tee shirt by noon. Would not be surprised if it snowing this year coming in two weeks earlier.

For years and years I’ve never caught a musky in these areas I call home. They were/are there. I knew guys who fished for them on purpose. I Fished for smallmouth and caught smallmouths. Ok the largemouths, white and yellow perch, panfish would take lures I smallie fish with. During these degrading time of the river I’ve been catching Muskies on my smallie lures. I’m not fishing for them. CB’s, Pop-R’s, Buzz Baits and Spinnerbaits. Not sized for Musky. 6 & 8 lb. test only. They’ve be ranging 24”-38” not a huge one yet but the 38” on 8 lb. test was a fight. It may have gotten worse since I stopped going the other year. I just feel this need to revisit what I call home. Or called home. One thing in life for sure is nothing lasts forever. The killer is I seen and fished it during a time (years) when fish were dinks and runts and where it got to the point that very respectable fish were caught.

I believe you have the right attitude. I sometimes find myself these day just wanting to go out and just fish for panfish or catfish. At least a few days each season. I find it helps with bass fishing. I think it breaks that rhythm that is needed in my case. Helps me focus better.

I think your current live well is going to be fine. Just try to keep the fill pump and circulating pump in working order order. We are not at dog days of summer so temps are on your side also.

Mother Nature has been hard on my home water. Taken the Smallie fishing away over the last handful of years. It did it rather quickly also. I’m not a biologist, I can’t accurately speak of what flathead catfish effects are. I like grass and I don’t like the loss of it in my favorite areas. I think some bad spawns have occurred. Forage fish have depleted. Silting can never be good. I think it is an ecosystem that is put out of balance. I had to switch over to the lake, I refused to get anymore frustrated than I was and ticked off over a situation that I could not control. But I want to believe it has a chance to come back. When I started feeling these effects I switched to lake fishing. Found a new home that basically does not feel like home. Transitioning has been fairly easy. Tried the common sense approach and have caught some beautiful fish the last handful of years. I’m going home to check things out as early as I can. Hopefully by mid-April if spring sets in early I can get a picture of where it’s at. Fish it for a couple of weeks and get my bearings straight. Some nice fish can be had in May if they are there. I hope I can pick up where I left off. Hope it was a situation that corrected itself. I don’t think so. Or at least not entirely. I’ve had this calling to go home and try. Was going to do it this past fall but rains kept me on the lake and off the river. Those Smallies are like a drug. An addiction. I have to follow that calling. Or at least go check it out. And even if things are not good it would not have been a big waste of time because by mid June I’ll know what body of water I need to be on.

You and I are pretty close. Thought I’d have to deal with it before leaving for work this morning. Hear now it suppose to start during the day and through the night. Personally I’d rather deal with 15” of snow than a 1/10 of an inch of ice. Be safe.

I own a 19 foot Tracker and love it.

I use tape or run off mini labels on my wire marker printer. Keep it simple. Pound test, type and date is all you need. Or at least that’s I need. Use a fine point Sharpie.

And if I may add. I am intrigued by the whole Johnny Morris story and how he and Bass Pro Shops evolved. The back of a liquor store of all places. He put together one heck of an enterprise. And BPS is a great place to shop for the diversity alone. I would like to meet the guy. His conservation efforts alone are great for all of us. I am not a business man. And I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation for it but I would think if you are to be King of the Bass Fishing industry, Top Brands like Rapala, Culprit, Mann’s, Berkley, etc. would have their right place hanging full line there. It was at one time. What happen? Product rights? I don’t know, I’m not a business guy. Is more money generated by the square footage of XPS baits than that of other manufacturers? I would think BPS and some of the brands go back a long time to pull up short of what is available to sell. Admittedly I am not a business man. Just a consumer trying to get what is available.