Sam

I voted for Zoom but GY's Senko is a close second. I found some GY five (5) inch thin Senkos at Green Top today and bought a package of watermealon (no flake) to try. Has anyone else seen these baits? Are they new?

First of many fishing trips with the boy. It just gets better. Have fun and post that pic. If your State Fair accepts photos you may want to enter the picture. State Fair judges love photos of kids.

You know, now that you are back I realize that you were gone. Wonderful that you are back and I hope you all retain your careers. Sorry about the fishing trip but you have your priorities straight. Got snow over your way?

Items are produced overseas based on the plans submitted. Are the items produced overseas up to US standards? Usually, yes. But who knows. Burley is correct when he says corporations want higher profits to keep their stockholders happy. That is the US corporate thinking. So it is cheaper to ship the raw materials to the Orient or Mexico and have their labor assemble the products and return them to the USA. It is even cheaper if you can obtain the raw materials in the Orient or Mexico and have the entire product manufactured in the foreign country. What is so surprising is that Toyota uses more USA manufactgured parts and assembly than do the other auto manufacturers. I was surprised to hear this but it is supposedly true. In Virignia the clothing industry has been destroyed; in Pennsylvania the steel industry is gone; in Louisiana and along the Gulf coast there are the shrimp and crawfish being imported from China; Detroit is in the toilet and there is nothing anyone can do to get the city's economy rolling (including the government that does not create jobs); and in California and Alaska we can't dirll for oil and gas as we may injure a seagull. So we have clean air; beautiful waters; a great country; but our jobs are overseas. And we still purchase goods (and services) that are made in other countries without blinking an eye. Go figure.

Are you tryng to give the old codgers on this site a heart attack? I must admit, nice boats.

3 inch bass in local pond.

Excellent. Thanks for sharing.

I use either a #1, a 1/0 or a 2/0 when fishing wacky. The 1/0 and 2/0 are weedless and they work great.

Got a $15 BCS National Championship program for $10 in New Orleans before kickoff. Got a nice $10 BCS lanyard and ticket holder for my NASCAR tickets for $5 after the game.

Just saw some water ripples on the video. Where is Avid's picture? Is he smiling?

Catch anything else? Just kidding. Super fish. You did good.

Thanks. Great tips. I can't wait to try that Ban scent trick. Keep 'em coming.

Not only did you do good in your selections you know how to hook them up together so they work! That is the only scary part of getting the new TV. Putting it together with the TIVO and DVD and sound system, etc.

Dumbdog, Just remembe that you need for your topwater to look like a wounded baitfish. Wounded baitfish lie on its side and wiggles its tail and goes around in circles and just lays there on top of the water. It gets energy from being motionless and it moves a few inches under the water and to the side before coming up to the surface. This is what your Sammy needs to do for you so see if you can get her to do this. I have caught more bass on a Pop-R or a Rico when it is just sitting in the water with its tail pointing down then when she is moving. That is why you get her to move, pop and then sit. And please remember not to set the hook as she takes the bait. Let her take it for a second or two and then set the hook. And keep that line tight or she will throw it. Good luck.

Dave, Note it's existance. Forget about it. Go out and have your dad get you a few G. Loomis rods and be done with it. ;D

Remember, the weight of the reel has an impact on how you balance your rod and the pressure exerted on your hand, forearm and biceps. A light reel can be handled easily but you give up the power and the heavier line test. For an 8 pound test (or less) I would think any 1500 series reel will fit the bill. In fact, any major manufacturer's spinning reel that can handle up to 8 pound test (probably more like 10 pounds shown on the reel) should suffice. Just go take a look at them and see which ones you like and pick out your favorite. You can also add the ball bearings to your formula or the type of metal used or if you get a second spool free or if you like a gold and silver model or the length and weight of your rod and what techniques you are going to be using and if you fish in grass or cover and need a heavier test to pull the fish out....so you get the picture. Just go out and buy one. The economy needs a push.

Do you have a BPS catalog? If so, check out the Shimano spinning reels section and they will give you a chart with the differences among the various Shimano reels. Also, have you checked out the Shimano on-line catalog? If not, give it a shot and read what they say about each reel.

Only problem I have had with a Sammy is that the fish can come unhooked. For some reason they can throw the Sammy. So keep a tight line when you get hit and reduce the probabilty of having the bait come unbuttoned. Otherwise, no problems with a Sammy tied with a Palamor knot. My friend uses snaps and he does OK, but they throw his Sammy every now and then, too. Give her a try for you have invested a lot in the lure.

Bandit Footloose. You can't go wrong. The Footloose is very, very good and I like it better than the Minus 1. What about a Pop-R fished slow, too? Or a Spook? Or slow roll a spinnerbait, if possible. Or throw a worm, Texas or Wacky style, and let her sit and fish her s-l-o-w. Like move her a few inches every 45 to 60 seconds if you can stand it. And don't forget the good ole jig and pig. Have fun; keep warm; and let us know how you do.

Too cold and too dangerous to go out in the greater Richmond, Virginia area. Hyperthermia is something you don't fool around with, no matter your age or experience. It is going to be cold in our area for the rest of the week. I guess we will start seeing ice form on the ponds, lakes and river banks again.

Gee, I feel bad. I am not boycotting anything right now. I will never buy another Volvo, but that's about it. I am boycotting speaking with my brother-in-law, a retard at best. Man, I guess I am not angry with anyone or any product. Bummer.

Who hooked himself in the crotch?

Beast, I take my Tracker Pro -185 on the historic James River with the boat and barge traffic and we do fine. We do bounce around some when they pass but that is too be expected. I am careful to watch the weather for large lakes or wide rivers that can have white caps during wind and storms; but otherwise, I am out there with the Rangers, Tritons, Bass Cats, Skeeters, etc. So give it a try but please be mindful of the weather as you have a light boat.

Always the wacky rig followed by the shakey head and then the drop shot. Even when pitching and flipping you can use the wacky or shakey head rigs. And when T-rigging you can do the same. As for Carolina rigging, have you all tried the wacky rig using a 3X? If not, give it shot. A totally different presentation that floats off the bottom.

What Catt said, "Have a second job or a wife with lots of money" has a second. Me! Great advice.