Rob G.

Micro, Excellent instructions. Thanks for taking the time to take pics and the like! Abu has definately made a quality, well put together, strong product once again. And this time they got the LP baitcaster thing right! I have an upper line Torno, it is a good, sturdy reel, but nothing like the Revo's.

I agree that speculation or heresay is not advise. However, I do believe that it is entirely possible that someone new to the site, could and already have rendered some good advise. Most of the time, advise and opinion are one in the same. Let's just hope that opinion is based upon personal experience.

If you want to purchase o-rings, just go to your local chain hardware store. Menards, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.. They do not cost much at all. Just take a bait with you to find the right size.

With a QUALITY swimjig you do not need to set the hook for say. It is important to use a line that does not stretch much such as flourocarbon or braid. A true swimjig has a lighter wire hook than a regular jig, typically a different head design, and a weedguard with either 7 or 11 strands of plastic. It is also important to use a burner reel, especially in current. You have to keep up with the fish or you might lose them. If you are looking for quality swimjigs try this website. It also have a ton of great info on how to fish them. www.brovarneybaits.com They are the best swimjigs I have ever used. I have used some other good ones, but not quite this good. By the way, do not waste your money on Booyah swimjigs, they are junk.

Bernie, where are you in IL. I live in the Quad Cities, Milan to be exact and I fish the Mississippi River almost exclusively. The River is very dynamic as the Corps of Engineers and Mother Nature change her frequently. You can be on a load of fish in the morning, water clarity or pool stage will change, and they will not be there by noon. Good news is that they do not move far. As far as fishing the River and places, there are always some fish near the channel, but do not neglect the numerous backwater lakes and sloughs. In a typical day of prefishing or just goofing around I will fish heavy rolling current areas, and areas with litte or no current. Anymore you also basically just have to decide if you want to fish for LMB or SMB. In some areas both are found, but they really are different animals. Drop me a PM, maybe we can sneak out together after it warms up a bit if the drive will not be too far. Take care. Also be advised, most books you read are geared more towards lakes than the River. Not saying you cannot pick anything up from them, but lakes and the River are much different.

Actually, the return policy is only good for two years and you must have your receipt. I was looking for a new shakey head rod yesterday and asked about warranty when I was there.

Walmart does 'market studies" on each of it's stores. They stcok what they believe the "market" will will purchase. Some have more fishing, some have less. Some have more hunting, some have less. Some no longer sell guns, some have many. They have an idea what will sell and what will not.

A Brovarney swim jig. Just use your imagination as to the ways you can fish it.

Ditto, not a technique to turn to, but something to do when **** happens. I guess it really depends on where the sun is at the time.

Just a heads up. Check your local WalMarts for fishing clearance. I did not get an spectacular deals, but better than mail order or internet. Filler spools of 50lb Power Pro $9.00, Chatterbaits $2.50. Not bad anyways.

With water temps 48-50 degrees bass should be able to be caught. Most years when I start fishing the water is about 40 degrees. I would also try a crankbait with water temps in that range.

I gotta say that FHS maps are really good. I do not use them for the spots they mark though. I mostly fish the Mississippi River and it is full of backwater lakes and sloughs. The US Army Corps. of Engineers produces maps of the channel, but not the backwaters. If it were not for FHS maps, we would not have maps of many of these areas.

Double edged sword. I no longer have the time to fish as often as I used to. I used to go 4 times/week, I simply cannot anymore between my work schedule and my wife's work schedule. We have an awesome 18 month old daughter, too young in my book to be out in a boat yet. I know of people that take their kiddos that age out, but not me. The other thing is the price of gasoline plus the price of decent childcare can make a day on the River cost a bit so I only take her to daycare so I can fish about once a week. I am fortunate to spend a lot of time with my girl though, my work schedule is 24 hrs on duty and then 48 hours off. In a few years she will know the boat well. I am ceratainly looking forward to teaching her. But really, Winter is my fishing nemesis. I do go out and catch some walleyes and sauger during the Winter, but it is not the same as bass fishing. I caught one almost 31 inches a while ago, it was still like reeling in a wet sock! LOL

I classify myself as a "recreational" fisherman that fishes some tourneys. Due to family obligations and differing work schedules between my wife and me, my time has become more limited. I still get out a couple days a week and usually go on a couple "fishing vacations" with they guys each year.

If you think it is difficult to get them on the hook, just wait until you try to get them off.

The size you bought will outfish the larger ones in a lot of River systems. For here on the Mississippi you got the ticket man. You can rig those on any brand EWG Superline hook, the weighted hooks as mentioned above, or on a jig head with a long shank hook. They work great when fished through or above Eel Grass or other vegetation. Remember these are subtle baits. Long casts can be key, just as with swim jigs. Try to keep your colors near that of the abundant forage in your area. The color you bought is a good all around one though. They also work on Carolina rigs, shakey heads, or drop shot.

Ditto

A chunk of Ivory soap will catch channel cats.

I still use the Silver Minnow or sometimes the Miller Wobbler, they are very similar baits. A lot of days when the fish are only slapping at a frog fished across pads or mats, they will inhale a metal spoon. You can tip them with anything you like. A Speed Craw displaces a lot of water. You are right, metal spoons are largely forgotten lures, but still very effective. I tie one on for novice fishermen that accompany me in the boat occassionally because they can be fished on top, or retrieved under the surface. They are also pretty darned snag resistent, and strike to hook ratio is high.

This sort of thing has happened to me also. I think the morel of the story is that we are usually too impatient and need to let our baits sit a bit longer and fish slower.

It is not necessary to modify each and every bait on the market. In MOST circumstances, if a bait worked better with a splitring, they would have put one on. If a snap made it work better, they would at least suggest it. We all make things way to hard sometimes.

Why is this website so slow? It cannot be my computer, it works fine with other sites. It seems to have gotten even slower since the revamp. If I can change my settings or something to speed this up please let me know.

I gotta say my Revo STXs are about as good as it gets. This one may suprise people, BPS David Fritts crankbait reel. That deep, heavy spool really throws baits. I know the rod has a lot to do with it too, but the reel helps too.

T & A always helps.

I use Silverthread Excaliber and love it. I buy a 3000 yard spool ech Spring and it lasts me most of a season. I like it because of the low memory, thin diameter, price, and abrasion resistance. I normally use either 14 or 17 pound. I do use braid and flourocarbon for specialized techniques, but for most purposes Silverthread is and has been for about 5 years, my go to. Give it a try, it would suprise me if you are disappointed.