Fishing Doug

welcome aboard Texan. These guys have given you some great advice. I am personally not a big fan of the QuickFire Bail setup......no infinite stop and like has already been said, you get a lot of 'wobble'. That is a lot of extra hardware that must oscilate.... Symetre, Sahara, whatever...just go Shimano if you go with a spinning reel!

I use the MBR843 for my spinnerbait rod and I like it a lot, however, I don't fish as much grass and use 12 lb Yo-Zuri or Gamma. I like the "3" series since is loads up well will 3/8 or 1/2 oz spinnerbaits....IMO the "4" might be a little stiff unless you are throwing heavier baits.... FD

Spinnerbaits are slowly becoming my favorite bait...and if I am fishing open water, a trailer hook is always on. I have had an increased hook up ratio with adding the hook. Now, if I am fishing my pricey Terminators around cover....I leave it off...

I'm with long mike here. Paypal pays 5% in a money market fund right now. Little more risk but 2+times more return. might as well be earning something somewhere........if we are experiencing inflation...a change jar has a negative return on investment...

I spooled up my baitcasters with the Green 12 lb and so far, so good. I would agree that the break strength is underated. I got hung up in timber last time out and ended up just cutting it..... I think it may have a little more stretch than 12 lb Yo-Zuri original. sidenote: used Real Magic on it before going out last time and I think that helped the memory-not that it was a huge issue to start with...but definitely helped on the 6 lb on my Stradic 2500. If I re-spool the Stradic with Gamma, I think I will go with 4lb next time just to attempt to minimize memory just a little more since the break strength seems to be fairly high for the rating. FD

Long Mike, The Natural posted that basspro.com has the 1,000 yard spools for $6.88....which is close to retail price of the 275 yard spool. Great deal. just picked up one for myself. FD

Redline, what is the weight of the reel? I have an Alphas Type F that casts lipless cranks and spinnerbaits better than my 2 TD-Z's....I can only imagine how much better the Ito would be...

Yep, I do the same thing. Baits that work for me and that I use, I have at least 2 of each-and take them with me every time out. Nothing more depressing than being on a good bite with one of your favorite baits but then losing it in cover or something and not having another to tie on.......

I just saw them for the first time today and was wondering the samething. supplemental question: what weight are they? I didn't see it listed on the package...... I didn't have my glasses on and stayed out too late last night so I am sure it was listed, just couldn't see it. : FD

yep. what Cart said.....Couple things on our 170 didn't work once we got it out on the water. no big deal, just annoying since it is a new boat.....

Last year I bought a handful of almost every lipless on the market-the XPS Rattle Shad was the only one that I didn't catch fish on....never was so happy to lose a lure. I gave them a fair shot too in one of my ponds that no one else fishes. After I lost my last one, tied on a Super Spot and started catching fish so I am convinced it wasn't just a bad fishing day. the Super Spots are on sale right now at my BPS for $1.88...can't go wrong with that. FD

I noticed the same thing....last week, the store was open, but had a banner that mentioned the trade show....now it simply says closed.... Raul-got any info on this? FD

I use the MBR783 in IMX with a TDZ for spinnerbaits. As most people mentioned, I don't think sensitivity is an issue for spinnerbaits.....throw a trailor hook on there and the fish will almost hook themselves. For some reason I really prefer the 6'6" rod for spinnerbaits as opposed to 7'. I do better with a 'roll cast' trying to get close to cover with the 6/6...especially in wind. FD

what type of retrieve are you guys using on these? can you simply swim the back or is a jerk/pause more successful? (or neither?) FD

I am with you on that Redline.....numbers make it a good day for me.....

5BL, I agree-it will be Hughes/GSP again. I don't think Serra has what it takes to get past GSP. It is bad news for whoever has to fight Cro Cop! dude is a beast.

I missed the fights last night but those were my 3 predictions. Glad Randy won. He is a class act. I think he is good for the sport. IMO, if it weren't for Sylvia's reach advantage, with his arms AND legs, he would not even have had the belt.... Not sure if I agree with Hughes and Franklin getting their rematches for the belts so soon but I guess Dana White makes that call. FD

KU, Well, I actually haven't had it out yet. I simply tied on a Spot Remover and was playing around with it. It jumped off a couple of times on the Stradic and seemed to have a lot of memory. I guess my evaluation was a little pre-mature on the 6 lb. I gotta get it out there and try it. We actually have 2 power plant lakes we are fishing this time of year with 60 + degree weather already. After a few trips out with it, I will post results on how it handles on the spinning setup. FD

I spooled 12 lb on my baitcasters. Only 1 trip out but like it so far. IMO-as far as stiffness- in between Yo-Zuri Original and Ultra Soft. Spooled up 6 lb on my Stradic 2500 and not sure it is going to stay on there very long....little too much memory. I will troll it behind the boat and see if it cleans up. right now the price is right-buy 2, they send you a free spool. FD

The Frenzy lipless crankbait in Firetiger was my best producing lipless last year...and I fished nearly every brand (except for Lucky Craft) I could find in Firetiger just to do a little comparison. I picked up 5 of them at $1.99 each while Berkely had their "$5 rebate when you buy a minimum of $10 of Berkely product". So there you have it. You can get these things for a buck a peice......... FD

The A&M/Texas game was one of the best games I have watched all year. Safe to say my Mizzou Tigers are on the outside looking in but I think the Big 12 has shot at a 5 teams going to the dance. KU, Texas, A&M - lock. Tech is on the bubble. OK State or K State could sneak in but it is a long shot. I gotta go with Durant being not only the best player in the conference, he would get my vote for player of the year. If his defense is the weak part of his game, he has a strong game.....IMO Depending on how the bracket lays out, I can see TX doing more damage in the Big Dance than A&M or KU. again, IMO

From an investment perspective-this is your standard issue market correction. If you have a financial plan in place (that is in fact invested in the market) and your Investment Advisor has educated you on this, you know this is coming sooner or later. Our clients are prepared for this, anyway. Equities have already gained in 2007,therefore, you should hardly even notice this one day drop when you look at your 1st Q 2007 reports(assuming your portfolio is diversified beyond large caps). IMO, of course. FD

KU, Let me know how those go through the water with a 2 and 4. I tried it last year and it really seemed to change the action of the lure-for the worst. I think I went Mustad front and back though. I think is was Whittler that mentioned that the slight change in hook weight can severly change the action of the lure-hmmm. maybe it will change it for the better.....

just as an fyi-fatfishfarmer is all auction now-no 'buy it now prices'. I noticed it had been this way for about 2 weeks so I emailed him. He confirmed that it will be auction from now on-didn't give a reason why though. Assuming profit margin and/or GLoomis is the reason. Anyway, our great deals we have been getting may not be as great now...... FD

Congrats on the success...again! oh, and PM sent-I need to know where to look for them on Friday. ;D