rockchalk06

My childish dream is to win 800 million in the lottery. Build me the ultimate man cave/house on 10,000 acres of prime lake, deer and duck land. Have all kinds of toys and play like a big ole kid 24-7 My real dream is to make it past 62. Dad died in his prime. He was the best cop/dad/man I ever knew. I spend 90% of my day trying to be half the man he was. Alcohol eventually killed him. I'm 34 and not being able to pick up a phone and call him each day, is the hardest part of my day. My son is only 6. I'd like him to be an old man when I pass not in his early 30's.

Temps have been in the 102-107 range all week. We are going 22 days without rain. No wind and no cloud cover. Needless to say its been "fun" I walk outside around 2pm and it feels cool. Slight breeze, cloud cover and 95 degrees. I played bball for an hour and went on a jog. It's the little things!

Yours too? The BP here has all kinds of video games. My son does little odd jobs around the house before we go to earn quarters. He loves the fish tanks and stuffed animals. He will climb in every boat and sit I every seat too lol

This! Of course your fluoro leader depends on where your fishing. If your in some serious rocky areas or zebra mussels, AbrazX would be your ticket. If your looking for a fluoro leader for a finesse presentation, InvizX would be your ticket. Then there Tatsu, the best of both worlds.

My local Academy's put them on sale all the time. Mgr said its because corporate does all the ordering. They baise the ordering off the Mettle's over all sales. They have at times over 900 in stock. When they get like that, they clearance then off cheap. It's the same reel and will go back to full price in a week to a month. It happened3-4 times last year too. On the Black Friday sales, they had them down to like 20 bucks a pop. They went like crazy

Fall seems to be the best time to switch over to a swim jig. Blue Gill/Shad colors with trailers that put off lots of action and vibration. After the first night below 40, I love to run a squarebill or medium diver in a red craw pattern. Favorites are the SK 4S in "Green Tomato" and the Bomber 6A in "Red Crawfish".

Anytime and I mean anytime KSU has "loss" "smack" or "choke" used in a negative way, who's happy????? THIS GUY!!!!

You'll want a few different options for colors. Depending on how you want your fall of the jig, determines your weight. I like a 1/2oz myself. I'm in the same boat water wise as you. Not near the grass through. I use only North Star Jigs, so the colors are to NS only. Some like the original swim jigs, but I prefer the flip n swims. They are stronger and double as a flipping jig too if you want it. I would go with a few New Gills, Black n Blues, Mistake, Salsa and Kentucky Blue Grass. Those five cover a wide variety of conditions and seasons. For trailers, personally I love the Berkley Havoc Subwoofers. They have colors that match all my favorite jigs. Great action and they have movement no matter how fast or slow you run it. They come in 8 packs for 2.99. They are on sale for 1.99 all the time. I also use the Strike King Shell Cracker and Menace. Both work very well too. As for line, you can get away with braid. I have really been impressed with the Power Pro Slick in Timber Brown. It may fit your water color well. If your worried about the visibility throw of a fluoro leader.

I took advantage of it too. 2 rods and lots of goodies!

Hell even KU beat ND last year lol. Our only win. My Kstate friends are hating me right now

That's a hard question. I have one brand that excels better at one presentation than the other. I'd have to say I'd pick one that had the most varieties and options. One that is technique specific.

I've had the best of luck on the Mistake for dirty water. Clearer water I really like the Salsa. Find out what the bass are hitting on and try and match the jig up. But on the other hand, sometimes it's the "not the norm" which has brought me luck. My top colors are : Mistake Salsa Crappie New Gill Black n Blue I also use nothing but 1/2oz

How are you spooling the line? I tie in the middle of the spool. I run my line through all the guides and put my fresh main spool as far away as I can. Usually 20 feet. I center the rod at 12 o'clock and have my rod tip at 95-100 degrees forward. Don't tip it to one side and keep everything level. When your about 1/4 spooled make sure the line is being laid down on both ends of the spool evenly. If its not, you can help one side get more line by moving the rod tip from left to right but keeping it at 95 degrees. For instance If the left side of the spool is lower than the right, move the rod tip to the 3-4 o'clock position, and the line will build up a tiny bit more on the left side. Sometimes when I'm done, ill take the line and tie it to the neighbors little bird on his mailbox and walk back 100 yards. Then I reel in (rod tip in the same position). That usually makes it perfect. I feel your pain. I have severe OCD and it has to be perfect for me. Just my thing. If your line isn't being evenly laid on the spool or being forced to one side big time, something is wrong with your reel. Check and clean the worm gear for the line guide.

Keep in mind, Duckett has the Macro Magic. It's basically the same rod, but with regular guides and the trim is gold over red.

Thanks. This will be the 2nd time I've purchased a rod sight unseen baised off of recommendations here and from a tech/designer of the rod. It goes against everything I do lol.

Ya I was surprised its was him. I picked his brain for 20 minutes. Here is what threw me for a loop. We both agreed on the DX 745 as my jig rod, but I was thinking of going with a DX 742 or DX 743 for my 1/4 oz stuff. He said neither will fit the bill like "He" would want. He said the 733 would be the better ticket. He said the 733 was one of the most popular rods for the rage rig. I have 2 St. Criox's and love em to death, but there was such a major difference between the M and MH that neither felt like it was perfect. I wanted a full grip so the LTB was out.

I've had some BP XPS fluoro on for over a year now and other than lots of memory, its still good. Could be your water has a high mineral count. Exposure to sunlight is a bad thing too. Someone here made the comment the other day by saying we spend 100-300 on a reel, 100-500 on a rod, 3-10 bucks a lure and we buy the cheapest line we can. I'd jump to no less than Seaguar InvizX or XPS fluoro. Look for the sales. I stock up when I find it.

Baby Rodent.

From my talk with Gary Dobyns last week, you'd be better off with a 4 power for those techniques. The 734 or the 744. I was going for a 1/4oz rage rig, 1/4oz tube and fluke set up and he said the 733 for those. Anything heavier go to a 4 power.

Make sure to check out your Academy Sports guys. They have select Rage Tail plastics on sale for 1.99 a pack. I found the following: 4 packs of Menace 4 packs of Anaconda's 3 packs of small rodents 2 packs of Rage Craws Not too bad of a score!

Na, your spot on. It also keeps you from ripping the bait away on the strike. You can all but lay the wood to them and have a better shot at keeping your fish on.

I feel your pain Clayton, I really do. My situation isn't near as bad, but my ex is nuttier than a squirrel turd. She's about as worthless as one too. This is the COP talking here brother...........for the sake of your kids, for the fact your ex is bat chet crazy, for the fact that they want to sue you........keep this off a public forum. Any decent blood sucker will find you, log on and try and slam you with a defimation (sp) case or use this against you in court. I do this all the time when looking for scum bags!

North Star Custom Baits makes their original swim jig and comes through the grass really well. I prefer the Flip N Swim, which is the best of both worlds. It works very well in all my grassy areas.

I bought the St. Croix Avid MHM. Of all the stuff I have purchased over the years, that was the best purchase by far. As for top water, I like a fast action. Much easier to work the bait.

Well said.