flipin4bass

My "bass boat" has been parked in the garage for three years. I've been fishing out of my Trident ever since. I can't cover the entire lake like the other bass rockets, but man, the places I can go that they can't. I love my kayak and I doubt I ever go back to my "bass boat." YAK ON!

I like those Big O jigs with Owner hooks! The web site is awsome with the pull-down menues so you can easily build your order. Jigs built with Owner hooks and at those prices...best value out there in my opinion.

Do I understand that right...you have jigs with Owner hooks? I'm game!

And at that price, it doesn't hurt as bad when you lose them in the rocks.

You can make your own for under $2.

I think it's commendable how the Minnesota DNR is taking a proactive stance against invasive species with videos like this. Although it's somewhat long, I found it very informative. The zebra mussel has already been introduced in some of our lakes and I just hope they can be controlled by diligent boaters.

I installed BOCA Orange Seal bearings in a couple of lower end reels and in all of my higher priced baitcasters. These bearings were put in dry and I've yet to experience a noise problem. I didn't notice a change in casting distance in the cheaper reels, but there was definately a difference in casting distance in my Calais and Calcuta GTB reels. Maybe the increase in performance can be attributed to the higher bearing count of some reels, not sure, but so far I'm pleased with the upgrade.

I landed my very first bass with that lure! The Creme was my primary lure back in the mid sixties. I remember getting it snagged once and I went in to get it back...we didn't have a lot of money in those days and I wasn't about to lose my favorite lure.

Rapala Risto Raps and Fat Raps, Excalibur Shad-R, and the older Storm Wiggle Warts.

Good point! I've retired many lures too early without considering the conditions.

Don't cut corners when it comes to a seat, your back and bottom will appreciate it. I replaced the stock seat on my Trident with the Gone Fishin seat from Austin Canoe&Kayak. It's the best $127 I ever spent.

I've had good sucess all summer with the 6" Gene Larew HooDaddy. I've also just recently tried the Damiki Monster Mikiand have had some violent strikes on those. The Miki has the best action of any creature bait I've used.

Where are these reels made?

Nice wall hanger!

Nice catch! Now load those pics into you photo editor, rotate 90 degrees, and frame em.

A Manns 9" Blackberry Jellyworm.

Well, since we're ranting...over the Labor Day weekend I dropped my cell phone in the lake, broke my video camera, lost a big one because I was asleep at the reel, and ended up on the receiving end of another angler's lake rage. And you thought you had it bad.

I wear a survival knife on my PFD, not for protection, but rather for cutting myself free from lines and cords should my kayak ever overturn. I found out yesterday they have other uses when a beaver ran into my crank and became hooked. These creatures are strong swimmers! He took me, the yak, and half the line on my reel for a short ride across the lake until I was able to pull the knife from it's sheath and cut the line. I felt bad for the beaver and I hope he eventually gets the hook out, but he did get a nice LC crank in trade.

I've missed some good fish because I was "Sleeping at the Reel."

I got the Boca Orange Seal bearings in yesterday and replaced the stock bearings in two Calais 200 reels. The Calais is a smooth reel anyway, but now they perform like reels with NOS. I put the bearings in dry and so far I hear no nosie. I'm very pleased with these bearings and plan on upgrading more reels.

I sure hope not, I just ordered the Orange Seal bearings from Boca a couple of days ago.

I was disappointed to learn a few weeks ago that Shimano decided to discontinue their flagship, the Calais 100 and 200 model reels. They are still making the digital DC version of the Calais, but at $600+, I doubt I'll ever own one. I do, however, own two of the 200 models and if you thought that these reels were just a lot of hype, then you obviously never held one in your hand, or let alone used one. They are by far the smoothest reels I have ever used and in my opinion, one of the best baitcasters ever made. I only hope that mine will last me a few more years. One can only speculate as to why Shimano made this decision, but I imagine that the present state of the economy and demand played a part.

This method has always worked for me. I've got a scale fixed to my bench for this purpose.

" I casted it out and let it sit, but I wasn't paying attention and when I looked for it, it was gone." We call that "Sleeping at the reel" where I come from.

Way to go! That water begs for frogs.