Robert Riley

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this, but confidence is a big part too. As people have said, for bottom fishing it is worth it. But for moving baits not so much. I use a $350 Dobyns DX745c for jigs and plastics, and I'm purchasing a $110 Dobyns Fury 734 for moving baits.

Lost a pretty nice fish last night, pretty salty about it. My knot broke on 4 consecutive hooksets last night, I use a double uni to tie 8lb Invizx to 20lb PowerPro. From what I can tell, the knot is slipping, because the knot is still on the braid. What gives? Should I try a new knot?

They're sweet little reels. I found it 60% off at the new F&S in my area. That's cheaper than my sponsorship discount!

Rod: Fenwick EliteTech Smallmouth 6'9" M/XF Reel: Team Lew's GoldSpin Line: 20lb PowerPro and 8lb Invizx

Lew's TMB in 8.3:1 with 35 IPT. I have a Lew's SuperDuty in 8:1 that's awesome, but it's a little higher than your price range.

Just looking at my area, plus "areas near you" I'm not seeing anything recent at all, however, it is mid-June. However, my buddy just got a great job, so we might just buy two kayaks haha.

I tournament fish with a buddy regularly, so I've got my own pfd and all that jazz. I have a car, but now that I've graduated a truck is first on the list. I've found a 15' green pelican for $300 in my area, checking it out soon. I'll check out the readings posted, but I don't think I have enough options around me to be that selective.

I stumbled on a few ponds around my area, and I'm breaking down. I'm gonna buy some canoe of craigslist and use my 50% discount at humminbird to buy a small sonar. What could possibly go wrong? Advice or warnings?

Maybe a tad bit off topic, but anyone on here work for humminbird? One of the reps was talking at a college tourney meeting and asked if any of us were engineers. I am, never occurred to me to go work for a marine electronics company.

I'm looking at getting one for my local ponds. I'm interested more in seeing the depths and contours than the actual fish.

The only difference in those two is the external dial (on the Pro) and some stronger gearing (I think). Soon I'll be adding a BB2 Pro Inshore as my swimbait reel. I've currently got a Superduty on there. I'm glad someone mentioned a Revo Toro. I've got an NaCl that I use for musky. H*LL YEAH its a good reel haha.

I'd recommend it, they've got a good line of affordable rods in the Fury series. It's especially nice that they have included a cranking rod and a swimbait rod in that line. You'll also find it convenient that when you choose to get a new rod, you can upgrade to the savvy (I'd go straight for the champion though) for S&H and the cost difference. They make their rods light and balanced, the fury isn't as light as the savvy, but that's about the only difference. I own several of their higher end rods, and I still use my savvys for reaction baits and topwaters.

If they know is moving along the wire, that's not much of a problem. I generally use them at dawn and dusk. I do a lot of night fishing, buzzbait is the bomb for night fishing,

I've been throwing them on my D684cb, and it's been great. I wondered why you would use a glass rod, with the softer action and all. But I can imagine glass is pretty cool. You'll have to bring it down next time you come to CU.

To all you guys out there that have fished both the savvys and the furys. I am getting a 734, going to use it for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits and maybe some small swimbaits. I havent extensively used the furys yet, but from what I heard, the savvy isn't all that much better. A lot of guys use furys as their reaction bait rods.

Howdy guys, Just paid off my student debt, looking to sell my teenage dream 85 Porsche and an inherited ride for a down payment on a truck. My first step in getting my own boat. That new Tundra Diesel looks pretty sweet, have a buddy who works at the local toyota dealership. It's a 4.5L with 380HP and 275lb-ft of torque. Is this going to be adequate for hauling any class of bass boats?

I'm partial to "Fish on" and if it's a toad I generally go ape ***** and say "boom" multiple times.

I have to go visit Univ o' Tennessee this fall, and I have lined up my visit with the college FLW tourney there. I've done a tad bit of research so far, but what can you guys tell me?

Just bought a few new chatterbaits, as I have been using them very successfully at a local pond. I decided to buy some in 1/4, 3/8 and 3/4 ounces. The 3/4 is a monster, and I want to catch a fish that will take that size lure! So it has made me wonder what causes you guys to upsize and downsize your lure choice?

I use a Dobyns 806cb with a Lew's BB1 in 5:1 spooled with #10 YZH.

I use a buddy's D806cb, probably use it more than he does haha. But that rod is amazing, I'll be purchasing one in the next few weeks.

Cavitron Buzzbaits all the way. I really like some of my jointed pencil baits, but the caivtron takes the crown.

I generally use the little double tail grub that comes with the basic Zman Chatterbaits. Or the small Keitech Fats. If I really want to beef it up I'll use a bigger paddletail swimbait.

I use a uni-uni knot. I have issues, but I think it mostly stems from the braid being smaller diameter than the leader.

Coincidentally, the BB2 is about 25% off right now on TW. What ratio do you all use for swimbaits?