Brian_Reeves

Is this a joke? :-?

Mattlures bluegill would probably be a good start ;D For bluegill based water systems, I use lures that have green and chartruse in them. That goes for jigs, soft plastics, crankbaits, topwaters...the works. If those lures fail, I go with craw colors with blacks, blues, and reds in them.

ICAST is over, so it's not Top Secret, I don't think. Pics are up on www.strikeking.com and a video is up on www.ragetail.com.

I carried a tanto style knife from Ontario my first tour to Iraq. I used it for tons of stuff. The design of the blade lets you use it in a number of ways. I've used mine for a screw driver, used the hilt for a hammer, threw it at a piece of plywood when I was bored (and got pretty good at it too!) and cut all kinds of crap. It's useful, but nothing all that special really. Put it this way...I wouldn't pay extra because a knife was a tanto style. My second tour I just used the aforementioned M9 Bayonet, an Old Timer pocket knife, and a Gerber multi-tool. A tool for everything. Most people don't need that kind of assortment on the day to day though.

Pretty cool, huh? That should tell ya something

I try to avoid fishing a drop shot vertically at all costs because I cannot stand doing it. But it works. Most of the time when I'm fishing a drop shot, I use it just like a carolina rig. I'll pause it when I feel a large rock or a brush pile or whatever down there. I may shake it a little or give it loose line then ease it tight while I'm holding it there, but most of the time I just keep the line tight and let it sit. For shaky head presentations, I agree with senko77. I fish it EXACTLY like I'd fish a texas rig 90% of the time. I'll hop it once or twice and let it sit there for a few seconds. Repeat. I'll sometimes shake it when I'm raising the rod and sometimes I'll gently shake it a few times while it's sitting there. Most of my bites come on either the inital fall or when the lure falls down a vertical break or a piece of cover/structure. I haven't had many hit it while it was sitting still on the bottom, but I don't leave it there for very long either.

My gut instinct is like CJ's. I'd be stroking a 1/2 or 3/4oz football jig or home-made grass jig with a big skirt and rage tail lobster or craw as a trailer. If that didn't work, I'd say throw a spoon if you could get away with it or a carolina rig with a 7inch worm. My last resort would be either a drop shot 4inch worm or a jig 'n worm jigged vertically around the area. I hate using them, but a deep diving crankbait or big heavy spinnerbait would also probably produce, given the activity level of the fish. Carolina Rigging a Mann's Baby 1- is a good search tool as well, but is REALLY snaggy.

I do this as well. If I'm out for an all day trip, I kick off the morning with topwaters if the fish will have it. If there is a strike on a popper or buzzbait, I've got the gear and the love to keep at it. A lot of times, this is when I'll get those first five fish. Once the topwater bite slows down, so do I. I'll switch to deeper diving crankbaits, jigs, and soft plastic rigs. I try to keep a heavy jig (1/2oz or bigger) on when fishing deep water. If I'm in a shallow lake, I use a 1/4oz. With my texas rigs, I use the lightest weight I can for the conditions. With Carolina rigs, I go as heavy as my tacklebox will allow. As the day progresses around lunch time, I'm fully focused on either finishing my 5 fish limit or finding kicker fish. That mentality progresses throughout the day as I establish patterns on the lake. I usually ignore the afternoon topwater action and fish under the smaller bass, pulling crankbaits or swimming jigs looking for bigger fish below the bait. Everytime I fish I am against the lake, myself, and the fish. Putting together a puzzle that gets me more action than the last trip is just as enjoyable as pocketing a check from a tournament. Of course, there are days that nothing goes right, but I make the best of them as well by keeping notes and comparing them to past notes. It's all a learning experience that I hope to apply in Stren and BFL tournaments as a co-angler as early as next year.

The only 'swimbaits' that I use right now are the Strike King Shadalicious, GYCB Swimbait, and the GYCB Swimming Senko. I cast all three on a 7ft MH rod with 7:1 High Speed Daiwa baitcasting reel. I use braided line on all of the lures, unless the water is gin-clear. Then I use a flouro leader that is about 6ft long.

My wallet has been trying to escape for 3 years now. One credit card committed suicide with scissors and one debit card died of natural causes. It's not safe to read my posts ;D

Sick is right. The new Rage baits SCREAM reaction strikes. I actually use the Craws and Space Monkies in a finesse-type role by putting them on a weighted hook. That is my most successful rig this year. As for the Anacondas, using the big ones weightless on top of the slop is something very, very special

Dana White is a smart businessman. I doubt he'll let MMA slide like boxing did. The only problem is having fighters hold and defend belts in two leagues. It's really too hard for anyone to do that, even though it has been done before I'm sure. It will be interesting to watch. Affliction does have some good fighters and they are quickly gaining momentum. It will take a lot to actually challenge UFC in prestige and fan-base though.

I flip flop between med. and large. Depends on the brand. I think med. is what I normally wear. I'd have to ask my wife to be sure

There is no such thing as "extra" Anacondas man. lol

I'd watch batman begins simply because it is awesome. But you can follow the storyline of The Dark Knight well enough without watching the first one.

Brandon Vera's fight was a disappointment Silva's fight was about as expected. Someone will come around and knock his head off...it just won't be anytime soon. That guy is an animal. I didn't watch the fights after the main event though.

I've been helping test the new stuff for quite awhile now and I've tried to put them through the paces. I've fished them from gin clear reservoirs to local ponds to the massive swamplands of Louisiana. These things get fish attention everywhere. I'm still experimenting with rigging and application of each, but there doesn't seem to be anything that these baits can't do. I've fished all of them from top to bottem and I'm impressed. Sorry Roadwarrior, I've tried all of them backwards and they just don't perform as well. ;D

I couldn't with the one I was issued. I can with my own

I carry my own personal Army G.I. Bayonette. It has a saw back, hard case that can be used with the knife to break barbed wire, and an edge that can be razor sharp if you work with it a bit. Most come dull because they are designed to be that way. Genova conventions rules say that it's more humane to gouge someone with a dull knife. Of course it doesn't fold all that easily. And if you wear it into wal-mart the door greeter lady will probably mace you, but it's a great working knife to have. Oh, and you can find them between 70 and 120 bucks in a lot of places. I use mine for skinning, gutting, carving, survival, and cutting wire. Or you can just check out those Columbia River stuff. They are GOOD knives too.

On my last tour, I traded my TV to the new guys and they did the final services on my Bradley for me. ;D

I use snag proof frogs a lot and have an incredible hook up ratio. I also use a MH rod with a baitcaster. The only difference that I see is that I'm catching fish and you're not ;D Just kidding. I'm throwing mine on 30 to 65lb braid. For lilly pads, you can get away with the 30lb stuff. If you want to start playing in matted hydrilla or other thick grass, 65 or more is the way to go.

The Anaconda worms are in no way a knock off of anything. Outside of the water they might resemble something else, but on closer inspection, you'll see why they are different. You ever see the little lip on the edge of rage tail bait's tails? There is one of these on the worm as well, near the tail section. This lip is what gives the lure the unique action that can't be found anywhere else. Currently, that lip is on all rage tail baits...it's kind of the trademark so to speak. As far as I know, Rage is the only one doing it.

I might go see it again. People applauded at the end of the movie and one a few scenes throughout. I've NEVER been in a theater watching a movie where people did that.

Welcome back, MOOKMASTER!

I got one for you. Try dropshotting a gary yamamoto mini skirt, wacky style on the hook for something the fish have never seen with a ton of action. Y'all got any crazy rigs?