MarkH024

Just wanted to take a second to thank Zebco/Quantum for sending me a free part to a reel I have. Lost the handle cap screw on one of my baitcasters at some point last season and simply emailed them to see where I could purchase the new ones or if they had a size I could go to a hardware store and reference. They replied with, what is your address so we can send you replacements. I didn't even ask for them to replace it. Got the new ones today. There aren't enough positive stories about great customer service so I thought I'd add mine.

You could use that for a variety of things. I'd throw anything from 1/4oz lipless cranks to trig/rage rig plastics. It's a good all around type of rod.

40 is still decent to fish in. We get 36 tomorrow with possible snow...Thur-Friday in the teens.

60 degrees on a January day in Chicago. This is the kind of weather that drives cabin fever out of control.

It's neoprene, so it actually grips better if wet. It takes a bit to get used to, especially if you only use cork but I like it. I find it quite comfortable. I haven't had any wear or tear on mine yet, not to say it can't happen.

I too have the 7'1" MH/F action rod. I have yet to experience any of these horror stories you hear about guides, and reel seats. I actually use mine for pitching....which is a bit on the short side of standards these days but it works well for me so I stick with it. If I end up getting a longer pitching rod, I'll use this one for swim jigs exclusively.

Gotcha. I knew you were fooling around...just didn't get the Holiday Inn joke.

St. Croix Legend T Bass

At my family's lake house in Wisconsin I have caught bass on jigs for years. Up until August of last year, I was under the impression that there were no crayfish in the lake.......until I hooked up a bass on a frog and when I landed it, it spit up a whole crayfish, freshly eaten. Nice bright red one too. Either someone was using crayfish as bait or they are there, always have been, but I just have never seen them. Regardless of their presence, the jig isn't just to mimic a crayfish. It can be anything. Try using a swim jig...slow roll it through weeds. You're bound to hook up on a bass at some point. Or you can use an arkie style jig and skip it under some docks or fallen timber if you have it.

You lost me here.... I am guilty of having Brinner from time to time too. I also have high triglycerides and blood pressure. It runs in my family. Back to the subject post, since grits were mentioned and I'm a northerner............I once had home made cheese grits when i was in Arkansas and it was so d**n good. Since then I have tried grits a few times up around here and it's pretty awful. So it is definitely one of those dishes I think that needs to be mastered. I have never attempted to make them....yet.

No not even close. Screen printing and ad specialty services.

Everyone needs to get their Cholesterol and Triglycerides checked stat.......or else we will have no forums soon.

I saw it on Facebook. Looks sweet!

Last week of February into March. 3 week event.

I think you're spot on about the Rosemont shows and how internet has played a huge roll. I used to go to that show when I was younger and walk out with baggies filled with plastics and other goodies. I remember several rods/reels discounted and advertised big too. Not anymore. Get the Lund...then call me to go fishing LOL. If I were to ever get a big lake boat I'd get a Lund hands down or maybe a Crestliner. Since I fish mainly shallow, smaller lakes...my Ranger works great. I was on Big Green Lake with 3-4 foot swells and it was a scary experience. If I were in my friends Lund we'd been dry and perfectly fine.

Kalins Mogombo Worms....big gals love a big THICK worm.

It's easier to moderate 1 element in it's entirety than 100 numbskulls that can't follow the rules. It's not a hard concept.

I hit up the show on Saturday. Watched Ike's Hawg trough seminar which was amusing but not packed with the info I'd thought we'd get. He just talked about 3 different soft plastic applications from top water column to bottom. Good stuff to know if you're just getting into bass fishing. Over all it was a nice show. I just remember a few years back there were always great deals from rods and reels to soft plastics at these types of shows and it's just not there anymore. This fishing industry is getting far too expensive these days. I also sat in on a Gary Parsons walleye seminar. All that did was make me hungry thinking about a fish fry. No he had some good pointers, just not a big walleye guy.

What is a preferred weight you guys use on very soft or silted bottoms? A lot if lakes i fish are very soft bottom with a decent amount of vegetation.

Buy a few batteries too. One doesn't last a day on the water.especially for the amount of mules you guys catch.

I'm hitting up the show tomorrow. I wanted to go today to sit in on Zona's but that thing called "work" was in the way. Did you see any deals from the vendors? Anyone offering rod/reels at a percentage off? I might try to get there for Ike's seminar, but we'll see what the crowd is like.

I always use backing based on these factors 1) braid is expensive. 2)you're not going to use the bottom half most likely unless fishing really deep. 3) You can spool more reels with your purchase. In the past I have taped it down on the spools and it works just fine for me.

Try adding different trailers to it. Paddle tails, craw type. Give it a different look. Try a stop and go retrieve.

Thanks for sharing that. Great info. I don't drop shot much at all, but its my 2013 fishing resolution to do it more often. Been spending all winter reading up as much as I can about it.

Pretty much everything he said. However, my PowerDrive V2 is a bit older and doesn't have some of the capabilities the new ones do so my mistake for jumping the gun. But still the Terrova is the better choice in my opinion. It seems quieter to me as well. Honestly, the pedal alone would be a deciding factor because the P.O.S one that comes with the Powerdrive will be replaced more than once. I'm on my second one in 3 years.