hooah212002

Have you checked out http://www.lake-link.com/Wisconsin-Fishing-Reports/'>Lake Link? Perhaps not a bastion of info from pros, but plenty of local guides discuss Delavan and Geneva. Not sure about the others as I haven't checked.

What is your budget?

I was listening to the radio (670 the score) and they were discussing the course of events that led to Zack Greinke breaking his collar bone and Carlos Quinitin's subsequent suspension/fine. With Chicago being full of meatballs, the hosts were joking that a number of callers would call in and say that baseball needed fighting and catchers blocking home plate or that violence made sports better. This, of course, was said in jest and was meant to be in mocking fashion such that it is not possible that people could really like violence that much. Oh how wrong they were. Not only did people call in to say baseball needed the mound charging or home plate blocking, but that other sports did too. Tennis needs fighting. Tiger and Phil should have a boxing match for the #1 world ranking. Why do I bring this up? Because the idea that doing stupid stuff or being violent is somehow "tough" or "makes you a man", or that safety is not manly or makes you "soft" is apparent and far too widespread and frankly, ignorant. This thread is a testament to that.

Why would people buy the most expensive gear? Easy: this is a hobby people enjoy and when people enjoy a hobby, they like to have nice toys to enjoy that hobby with. I have already admitted that at some point on the price scale there is higher quality (*higher price equates to higher quality). I have already ceded the point that the ultra cheap/budget gear is likely to not be worth the effort since you will likely have to replace it often due to breakage (note that I am talking about the $20 Shakespeare baitcasters and the like even though I, personally, have no problem fishing them). Ok, I have yet to actually say that second one, but I think I implied it. Is the difference going to be grand if you use a cane pole with a piece of yarn and I use a $600 something or other? YES. Is the difference going to be there at all if I use a budget rod/reel and you use a high end-look how much money I have-rod/reel? I remain utterly unconvinced. You could, however, provide better argument than "it costs more, so it MUST catch more fish". You've yet to do anything more than assert that price ALONE directly equates to more fish.

That is an inaccurate metric. You are putting ALL stock in your gear. You are essentially saying that it is the gear that makes the fisherman. You are saying "if you spend more money, you will be a better fisherman". That is simply not the case. Also, I remain unconvinced that your proposed combo would by itself cause me to catch more fish than a Black Max (all other factors being equal). "I'm not catching fish today. Better go to Bass Pro and buy that $300 reel so I can catch a few" Now, would I prefer more expensive name brand gear if for no other reason than being shallow? yes. A million times yes. Do I also realize that more expensive normally (but not always) equates to better quality? Yes, yes I do. But to unequivocally state that more money equals more fish is borderline flatout...wrong. If you've got some evidence that says otherwise, I am all ears. We've already got personal testimony in this thread alone that disagrees with you.

The comparison you've made is terrible at best. Why would you compare a childrens fishing pole to high end bass fishing gear? first of all, a spiderman pole is only 3 feet long. This post is exactly the sort of thinking I addressed in my first post in this thread. Why do you guys associate "Walmart stuff" with ony crappy gear? Do you realize they sell Black Max combos? They have the new Quantum EXO's as well. They also sell Power Pro and Sufix. Also Gamakatsu hooks. So this idea of Walmart only selling crap,.. is a crap idea. You ought to compare an actual budget set up. One that someone would actually buy for bass fishing. Like a Black Max combo that is $60. Give me that and all other things being equal, you have no distinct advantage. Welcome to the fray, by the way.

The section of the Fox River I drive by on my way to work is really high as well. Seems to just keep rising day by day, too.

Can you explain what you guys are talking about by "rolling" a fish????

Well, it turns out the Dick's "sale" (if it ends in .97 it's an extra 50% off) is no longer available. The cashier first acted like she had no idea what I was talking about, then said they only did it around the holidays. So that makes it not such an attractive deal.....

Loan me a few thousand bucks and I'll be glad to.

It most certainly does. Thank you.

Thank you. That helps tremendously.

You are correct on all accounts (they are bombers). However, she has LOTS more. I just grabbed square bills and lipless for today because those are my needs for now. I want to know how to look at a crank and determine it's use.

Here are some pics of what I bought. Everything I bought was brand new as far as I could tell.

I am what you would call a "budget basser" and whenever topics come up that pertain to gear, I get to hear about guys that spend $150 on a rod or $200 on a reel and how that is the norm or how "Walmart crap" is junk that won't catch fish. Bass fisherman, IMO (since this is real talk), are pretty pompous and self righteous. A lot of you act like you can't fish unless you spend copious amounts of cash. That said: I do understand the importance and significance of "high end" gear. I do realize there are advantages to paying a premium. However: if you need these advantages and you need $200 rods, how good of a fisherman are you? You have to realize that at least 75% of fishing comes down to YOU knowing where to look for fish.

Wow. That is a great piece of info since I alternate between a very clear lake (near my dad's that we fish on weekends I go there) and somewhat dirty creeks I fish during the week. I would have NEVER thought that until it was too late. This is why BR is a great resource. It has earned it's name 10x over.

Does that help when buying baits that are not in packages or labeled in any way?

http://www.bassedge.com/'>Bass Edge is the only one I have found that still has episodes. It airs twice a month and, IMO, has good information. However, it does a TERRIBLE job at hiding the fact that half of what they do is advertising. It's difficult, neigh impossible,to find a fishing program not drenched in product placement.

There is a house on my way home from work owned by a widow who is selling her since deceased husbands fishing gear. The amount of lures she has is simply astonishing. This one man had more lures than I have ever seen at even Walmart, and they all looked to be in new condition. I asked her about this and she said he would buy them, then un-package them for easier storage. He was a custom jig maker and she has something like 30 jig molds for $18 apiece (that is a good deal, right?). Anyways, what I want to know is: how do you know what sort of properties a crankbait has just by looking at it? Obviously, you can tell if it floats...by putting it in the water. I have always thought the longer the bill, the deeper the dive. I picked up some Rat-L-Traps and some of them in packages that claimed to be "deep diving", but they are lipless?? I picked up some "square bills" but I don't know if they qualify as actual square bills. What makes a jerkbait, a jerkbait? Are they just the crankbaits that are long and skinny with short lips? What about the long skinny cranks with large/long lips? This question is probably easy for you guys with boats because you can go out in the middle of a body of water and cast and see how deep it goes, but that can't be done from shore (or I just don't know how).

Ya know, I didn't think about the very obvious conundrum of how a Hi-Vis line could be Hi-Vis on top of the water, then do the complete opposite underwater.

Well, according to research that I should have done before posting about it here, the color is "ghost" and apparently is highly visible above water, but nearly invisible under. Reviews seem positive, but it IS Sufix so the quality remains.

Yes, but red is the most easily absorbed in the light spectrum.

That was my thinking too: it's almost too cheap to pass up, white or not.

I stopped at Dicks on my way home to window shop and found a 150 yard spool of 30# Sufix 832 for $14.97. Anyone familiar with Dick's sales knows this means the final price is $7.50. Since I am THAT broke, I set it aside for payday. I looked around a bit then looked back at the line only to find the reason for it's low price (I think): it's white. I have never seen white braid nor heard about anyone using it (negative reviews or otherwise). I was thinking I could just run a permanent marker along it to darken it or use a leader, but I am terrible at tying leaders on so far. My number 2 lake that I fish is very clear. Delavan, the main lake I fish, is moderately clear with heavy grass.

It's pricey, but it's supposedly good: check out http://www.navionics.com/en/navionics-2'>Navionics