gulfcaptain

Hollow body frog followed up closely by the 90mm Whopper Plopper. But that may change with the smaller versions of that Spro Rat.

Maybe because they didn't register the warranty on their rods or comply with the policy (have to have your reciept and be the original owner). In the 4 years of fishing the Bucco line there has been ZERO issues and never broke one. I wouldn't ask for a new rod if I did something that caused it to break anyways nor expect the company to supply me with a new rod for my mishandling of the rod. If you haven't fished it, don't bad mouth it. How do you know what a Bucco feels like if you haven't fished one.....you don't. Sorry to be so blunt but it's hard to have an opinion on a rod you've never fished or owned.

Here are a few, the 2 amberjack went back free, the bigger one was well over the 100lb mark. And that wasn't even the biggest one I hooked, but the biggest I managed to stop.

Well if he did, we will know when he gets back from his fishing trip early and angry at which time we will advise him to soak all of his line for 30 min in lake water to re-hydrate it and reverse the damage from the oven.....lol

Like in the video, the water was up the days before but dropped, put him in that position where he had to get out of there. He ran up there to fish, decided it was time to go...wasn't worth it. So he left. He just got reminded on the way out by Mother Nature. Will he do that again? Probably not. Now he knows that that risk wasn't worth the reward. That's how we learn. Experience's give you knowledge to know better next time.

You should fish the FLW's as well. Why not try to get into both. If you win at the top levels in the FLW Costa's series the pay isn't bad, and if you happen to win the championship then you get to fish the Forest Wood Cup. Go big or go home. Do both, go all in and give um hell.

This is the best post. Thank you. We all do different things, these guys are doing it for a living. No different then the guys in Alaska that go out in the middle of a Storm warning to go crabbing. They know the risks, the marshals know the risks as well. We all do stupid things and have done stupid things. You think that's bad? What about Ikes boat sitting in the trees a few years back in Sabine?!!! Umm, I'll take bouncing off the rocks 100 times over above being in a boat running full speed and ending up on the bank.....odds of gettting thrown out are 100% greater then the odds of getting tossed out where he was trying to idle out of. I'm sure they both hand a conversation and new what was going on and the risks of bumping bottom before they departed. I don't think Ike and his Marshal had a conversation about ending up in the trees. As it says on Steet Outlaws, "Just because we're dumbazzes doesn't mean you should be one too. Don't try this at home".

The FLW allowed 7 of which I only brought 7. I agree with Mike, versatility is key. I normally packed 5 casting and 2 spinning. And whatever your boaters doing, do something a little different.

I fish a handful of crankbait rods in the moderate action from 7" M, to 7'11" MH. 2 are Falcon Buccos (7'MM) 3 are Quantum KVD Tour Cranking (2 7'4"MH and a 7'11"MH), and 1 Smoke 7'6" (M). I do fish shallow cranks and some squarebills with these rods, but as to your second question about lipless and squarebills and why people say use something different. Main reason is ripping it out of grass and clearing the bait. It's hard to do on a MM rod. Not enough backbone to really rip it clean. So for those I have 2 different rods I use, a 7'MH moderate fast Falcon Bucco of which I have 2 of and a 7'2"MH moderate fast also part of the Bucco line. Just cranking bouncing off rock and hard bottom and wood a moderate rod works great, but around grass the medium moderate seems to preform better.

Yes you could catch them on a baited hook. They eat plants, wood, small worms, shrimp, and snails in the deturis found on the bottoms. I had one that would mob the worm feeder when I had Discus, needless to say he went back to the fish store as credit. They don't do well in water cooler then 55 so they can't go too far north.

This is a stop gap quick fix....but not a complete fix. You're going to have to sand, fiberglass/epoxy, sand, fiberglass bondo filler to fill rough spots, sand again, epoxy coating, then install a keel shield. I would run a 6" strip of fiberglass tape down the whole length of the boat. If there is a weak spot, it's going to move to another spot. Sorry to be honest, but you need to do the whole centerline or you're gonna chase it. It's a weak spot that will find another weak spot. Once you get it off the trailer and on jacks somehow you probably can knock it out in a week or two at the most. And as for what to use West Marine's West System's 2 part epoxy is what I would use.

Being I work in Louisiana, I can see this being a problem. Simple solution, Grainger sells a plastic electric carpet dryer fan. Hook up under the cover under a carport if you can and let it run on low. The constant air flow will keep your mildew problem from ever happening. Newer covers have air ducts to let air in and out, so if you have one of those even better with the blower.

X2......Go with the Talon. You get 4ft more of anchor pole, all electrical, and quiet quick deployment. When I get enough for another I will be adding it. You won't be disappointed in the Talon.

Odds are it's going to be tough either way. But keep looking.

Oh come on who wouldn't want to be bass fishing up in the Delta in the grass and have a 1000lb bull sealion pop up next to him or better yet run off with that 8lb bass you were fighting.....they are sooo cute. Word on the street is that they make great slippers....lol j/k

Well a private dealer wouldn't have came down $3000 off the sale price, installed all the equipment I wanted plus re-mounted the motor with new marine sealant at the bolts, gave me a new HDS 5 GPS unit for the console to replace the old Eagle that didn't work (yep freebie), cleaned it up, registered it as so it would be current for me, and also gave me a boat cover. But they know I will bring it in every year to keep the engine maint. up and continue to use them when I want upgrades. And used boats from a dealer, they don't want them sitting there, so odds are they will give you the used boat at almost what they paid for it or possibly below if they know they can make some money on the back end of the deal. I'd say I got way more then I would have with a private owner.

I made the dealer drive the boat 30mi to the closest lake without a speed limit as so I could see how the boat felt on the water. I personally want to see how the boat runs and handles before I buy it. Better to test it and see instead of buying and being disappointed. That's just my opinion. They want my money for their boat. If they really want me to buy it, it's going to a lake and see how it runs and handles or they can find someone else to take it off of their hands as it won't be me.

Welcome to the forums

Test drive, get it out on the water and run it. If the owner/seller doesn't or won't let you test run the boat with him......thank him and walk away. Move on to the next boat.

Take your time, research, look, test drive, think about it for a week or so if you find one you want (ask if you can leave a deposit to hold it if possible that can be refundable although this could be harder with a private seller), and remember it's a used boat. Just because they ask a certain price doesn't mean that's what it costs. You may find a $2500 boat and get it for $2000 if your smart about it. Also look at trailer conditions. Just make sure you check everything before throwing down your hard earned money on something you may want in the moment only to regret in a week after you get it home and then really look through it.

X2. And then the fish goes back in the water. If the fish looks distressed or slightly bleeding, then I leave the fish in the water, hang over in uncomfortable positions and work to get the fish unhooked while they are in the water to keep the stress level as well as any nicks that may happen from becoming worse since water pressure seems to keep them from bleeding, then let them go no picture or weight. I have more of a problem with people laying the fish in the grass next to something or in the dirt to get a picture for accuracy and run around with the fish more then how they weight them.

2000 Champion 203 DX. Need to get some updated pics with the Talon and all the electronics on it though.

First let me tell you 30lb braid is plenty strong and easy to manage. I use it for punching grass, frog fishing, and any and everything else other then big swimbaits.....which I use 40lb braid to 25lb mono. If you make short casts and it seems to look like it's not tight, make a long cast and wind it in. I have to do this when I'm pitching and punching. 30/40/65/80 they all dig in if you pull on a snag and sink it into the spool....regular fishing use nope...never gonna happen, your drag is going to slip before it digs in. Also, get some KVD line conditioner before you take it out and it will help some and condition it. And for this, you cast any size braid with enough force with a 1/2 ounce bait and backlash causing that lure to stop quickly, any bad spot in any size braid is going to break from the shock load of the lure. It's not the size. Lighter braids you have to be more aware of the wear on the line and bad spots. And if you don't wet your knots good and backlash then the bad spot at the knot caused by being dry will cause you and your lure to part ways as well. My crankbait rods have 20lb and 30lb braid on them. Never parted with one yet in 4 years casting.

The older Smoke 100's had a few issues from what I've heard, and I do have the 150's, but if I were to choose between a Smoke 100 and an EXO 100, I'd choose the EXO all day without blinking an eye. Soild reels.

I made a reference when I said it sounded "dumb" to say A Marten was all washed up, stick a fork in him and referred it to the KVD issue. Seriously, if someones feelings got hurt because of that?......wow. It's an opinion not pointed at anyone in general. Saying A Marten is all washed up is a dumb statement. That's the reference. It was to show how some things are put out there. Not out to bash anyone, but if you throw your opinion out there just be ready for the others who have opinions to come back. But there isn't any name calling that I've seen and my statement wasn't directed at anyone, but generalized. But on another note, old Hack almost got a win, but Clunn's epic day got him the win.