TheKingFisher

Thanks, War Eagle.

Thanks, Teal. I understand that everyone will have a preference. I was really trying to ask if they are more or less interchangeable? Can I replace a ewg with a round bend and vice versa? Does it affect the lure much? Hopefully I posed the question better.

I'm looking to change out some treble hooks on a few squarebills and lipless cranks. I've got some with round and others with ewg, does it really matter what I replace them with?

Wow that sounds like the making of a tough ride back to the docks!

Great post and responses so far. I've never watched a fishing tournament before, but I watched the first free episode of majorleaguefishing the other day and watched pros struggle. Never really actively thought about it before I guess but I'd just assume that those guys are killing em anywhere and anytime they go out. I won't feel so bad now if I don't "do well" or even get skunked for that matter.

Wow, Crickety, that sounds great. You'll have to keep us posted on how things come along as you start to work on it. It absolutely sounds like heaven. My father shared a pond with a neighbor that I now realize I missed out on. I was a young adult at the time and was just kind of getting started on my own and also hadn't yet gotten back into fishing. Oh well...

Pondboss your absolutely right! Just finished watching the first episode and first let me say I've never really watched a tournament before but have seen fishing shows before and I really enjoyed the online video. It felt more fleshed out which I like and based on what others are saying I would expect the tv version if it's only an hour to feel more like a highlight reel. So I appreciated the extended version. Oh and I like the all keepers count thing. I'm considering buying the season online. Last but not least, Ike's screaming is driving me nuts. But I understand that's his fishing persona and that adds to his popularity. Just comes across kind of Happy Gilmorish to me.

Ok, you guys talked it up enough. I'm just starting to watch and am only a few minutes in and it's already awesome! Plus I just gotta say as much as I hate commercials, am I the only one who thinks the reactions to the Sasquatch by some dummy who's always got to be right (we all know someone like that) in the Jack Link's commercials is plausible? I also think the Sasquatch reactions are completely understandable even justified really. It's like poking the bear!

I don't know what it is... I haven't caught one fish on the two of these I have but still feel like I should have this many! Nice collection.

Nice fish! I'd take it that's for sure. I too think it shows a lot of maturity for the forums on this site that you guys could discuss this with civility. Kudos on the catch and to both of you for the mutual respect for your fellow fisherman. Way to stay classy, which some people have a hard time doing especially from behind the keyboard!

Just watched a few videos on youtube and have discovered that I've done a little pitching without knowing that's what it was! Going to definitely use it more, especially when I start using my new baitcaster. Thanks guys.

Reading through this thread confirms that I have no idea what pitching and flipping is. But it's no big deal, I already knew that. As a bank fisher not real sure I can employ these methods anyway...

Teal, I've got a Spro Little John on the way which I can't wait to try it out. I got hooked on lipless cranks when I started throwing them and laid off the lipped cranks for awhile. The flat side on the Little John makes me think it's like a cross between a lipped and lipless crank resulting in a shallow crank with a tighter wobble. Man you guys are helping me put together a nice little shopping list.

I was thinking the same thing. I actually went and checked couldn't imagine one bigger than the 2.5!

Great topic! We all get to talk about our favorite and see what else is out there which is always a bonus for the tackle junkies. My favorite is the KVD squarebill 2.5 in bluegill. As a bank fisher when I really want to fish water away from the shore the KVD casts a mile and calls in some good size fish too!

Looking through these pics of all the loot was a blast. I saw the original post for the exchange but wasn't quite sure what it was, but I'll be trying to get in on it this year. I've always said there's too much tackle out there to cover it all by yourself. That's not to say many of us aren't trying! I think a big part of what makes the exchange cool is the prospect of getting stuff that you may not have thought of or even gotten to. Of course vino is always a good gift too! Congrats everyone on what looks to be a great exchange. Count me in for 2013!

Flywatersmallie that Orvis guide sling is nice, I'm wishing I could trade up for it! I like the compartments in the main pocket which mine doesn't have. For fly fishing equipment it may be too big but for bass fishing tackle I think it's sized just right. I've been eyeing this waist pack that Cabela's has on sale. Haven't pulled the trigger yet due to trying to get over my fear of all things that look like a fanny pack! I also wonder about the ease of switching the bag around to the front to get in and out of it. Right now I can slide my sling around to the front and back with ease.

Wow, great tips everybody! I hadn't even thought of gear maintenance as a way to keep me busy. Is there a good sticky in the forums here or elsewhere on best methods especially rod/reel maintenance? I recently bought my first bait caster and could probably be practicing with that now also. Thanks in advance.

I get grief from my wife about this so now I torture her with it. Now I openly ponder if there are fish in just about any body of water we drive by. I've also started to wonder about all the water in the off ramps on highway exits and how I can park close enough to check them out. Some of them look pretty good!

I like the subwoofer a lot and have caught good fish on them when others weren't catching at all. The fish seem to prefer them on the move which makes sense considering their design. While bank fishing one day, I actually watched a couple of bass in clear water right below me chase them as I reeled in close to shore but when I got in close enough and ran out of runway and slowed down or stopped they backed off. I wasn't catching anything otherwise that day so I toyed with them a bit. The fish were clearly intrigued and not spooked so I figured that was also a plus.

My store was cleaned out. Too bad. If anyone scored a couple of the pumpkinseed, bluegill or shiner cranks they'd be willing to part with at a reasonable price message me...

For now I have an Orvis Safe Passage sling that's easy to swing around and get into without taking off. Of course being Orvis, I keep getting asked if I fly fish. Not yet, I'd like to keep my wife around a little bit longer! I bank fish and try not to take everything including the kitchen sink out with me on each trip but have recently have been considering going a bit bigger. If I can't get a slightly bigger sling, I'll probably go with a shoulder bag.

Not a big spinnerbait guy but am going to throw them more to build up my patience for slower fishing. But I like the Strike King made for Dicks with the colorado blades and have had success with them. I think the colorado blades help slow me down just a little more than others. On another note, I LOLed at the komanchi name definition on the website. Seems like total bs, but I gotta say their spinnerbaits look good and certainly have caught my attention as a fisherman!

I think guys just want to have fun with it. Plus I have to admit those shirts are deliciously gaudy! Besides you can never have too many confidence boosters when out on the water.

Good luck with these. I've had two for a couple years now and can't seem to get anything to bite on them. I have the black and green one in the pic above and a white one. I was so excited to fish them when I first discovered them but now don't throw them much at all.