loudcherokee

Had a nice weekend fishing this past week. Was fishing a pond at a camping resort that's stocked. It was my first outing with my new Lews reel and new Berkley shock series lightning rod. MAN I can't believe what I've been missing. I ended up catching about 6 largemouths, all from about 1-3 pounds. No big guys this trip. I was able to catch a bass on a plastic worm for the first time ever. I used a strike king brand senko style in watermelon, wacky rigged on a drop shot rig, and just kept reeling them in. I also had my first jig-caught bass. It was one of the $1.96 jigs from wall mart in green and black with rattles. I had a pork trailer on it. I didn't even get a chance to fish the jig though. I came up on a tree with a bunch of submerged green and red weeds and thought, lets see how this weedless thing works. As soon as the jig hit the water my line took off and I had the hook set. that was the bigger of the 6 caught. All in all exciting. I love firsts with a new lure. I did lose a few on my "old faithful" rebel pop r in silver. they were hitting, and I was either waiting too long to set the hook or jerking it out of the fishes mouth. None that got hooked got off though. LC

OP, are you using braid? If so, have you set your drag properly to slightly give on the hook set to prevent ripping the lips off the fish, and rod breakage? Just curious as its something I had never thought about till doing a lot of research on braid before switching to powerpro 30#. LC

I've definitely heard that one a time or three. LC

So, what are some of the craziest, most outlandish, longest standing stories you guys know? The best one I can think of is about catfish the size of volkswagon bugs spotted by divers at Norris Dam in TN. I think that one exists anywhere there's a deep resovoir or dam though, lol. I don't intend for this to be a "one that got away" thread but if you got a good story of legend or something, I'd be interested to hear it. LC LC

if you haven't already, take some time to get familiar with snake identification. Don't wanna see you jumping ship and swimming for shore over a simple brown water snake, lol. LC

I honestly don't remember the packaging. I'm currently en route to a fishing hole and the lure is on my rod so when I get there I can snap a pic for you and try to upload it if I have service there. LC

My local gander mountain has a nice selection of terminator spinnerbaits. My fav is a black with red specs that has a single Colorado blade. I don't think its a short arm though. LC

I second the suggestion to watch for cottonmouths. One of the meanest, most aggressive snakes out there. LC

you guys have kinda got me considering the backpack now. I could get 2 or 3 of the 3700 series flat boxes, and a spinnerbait box to throw in there. hmmmm....decisions decisions. LC

Now THAT is a backpack. you got it at a steal for $39!!! good replies and ideas here folks. LC

I thought about that. I have a nice outdoors backpack, but it only has two compartments. Id have to buy 4 or 5 of the flat tray boxes anyways, and for that price, I can get a whole tackle bag system. that Plano 3750 system is only $40 at Walmart.

hey folks...looking for a solution to replace my Plano magnum tray box. Its just too cumbersome and bulky, and the trays just aren't suited to my needs. Also, the bottom always seems to get filled with junk, loose odds and ends, discarded plastics, etc. I can never find my scissors, pliers, or gloves when I need them. that is mostly my fault, but I'm looking for better organization. I'm thinking of a tackle bag, with multiple trays - http://m.basspro.com/Plano-Fishouflage-Bass-Tackle-Bag/product/1108311833941/238422 Any of you guys use bags and like them? are they a pain in the you know what? are the storage boxes adequate for holding plugs, lures, jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, etc? I'm also thinking of this one - http://m.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Extreme-Qualifier-370-Camo-Tackle-Bag-or-System/product/10231462/231946 it seems like its bigger for just a little more. my biggest issue is my spinnerbaits and buzzbaits storage. I can't seem to figure a way to store them without the skirts melting together, or the blades getting bent on the buzzbaits. ETA: I just picked up a "bait binder" made by spiderwire. its a little larger than a CD case, and has I think 15 "pages" that are zip lock to hold amm my plastics. this thing is the coolest thing since sliced bread! it was only $10 at Walmart. LC

my best pond lure is a rebel popper, silver with a black back. ALWAYS gets hits. I call it old faithful, its the same plug I've been using for 10 years. My last pond outing I had bass from 1 pound up to about 7 pounds hitting on it. Even some larger bluegill were nipping at the tail hook. LC

I went with the tournament mg and love it. best reel I've owned to date. LC

cool deal everybody. looks like the shock isn't a bad choice, and I'm impressed with that picture diggy. I may be getting one this weekend to go with my new Lews reel and replace my old pistol grip lightning rod. if I like it, my spinning lightning rod may get replaced too. LC

Anybody using them? I went to look for my trusty IM6 lightning rod in 7' Medium Heavy action and it appears it does not exist. I did come across the shock series, which is available in my needs. They seem to get pretty good reviews. 4.5 out of 5 stars on Bass pro. I also came across the BPS Carbonlite series of rods, which do look intriguing. A little more than I want to spend, but if its worth it, Id consider it an investment. Both rods have negative reviews where the rod has "shattered into many pieces upon hook set" but I'd assume just about any rod review is going to say that somewhere if someone is ticked off over a companies product. I do lean towards the lightning rod because its available locally and I can hand pick one. The closest BPS is 6 hours from me. LC

well I did it. traded the promax for a tournament mg and paid the difference. got it home and put it on my lightning rod, spooled it up with 30lb powerpro, and played with it in the yard. I was tossing around a 1/2 ounce terminator spinnerbait, and I can already tell this thing is going to be amazing on the water. it reels smooth, casts smooth, no backlashes, and I was getting good distance casts without even putting anything into it. is it 6am yet? lol LC

find out what is in the watershed area and upstream of the creek that feeds the pond. That's the only way I know of. Or ask the pond owner. if you're that uncertain, just don't eat any of the bottom feeders and I'd imagine you will be OK. LC

yup. I think its settled. I'm either going to add a lews to the collection or exchange my Abu promax this weekend. LC

Man, the more and more I'm reading about them, the more I'm thinking I rushed into the promax last week when I was looking for a new baitcaster. I seriously want one now.

those are my thoughts too. Had I known more about the Lews, I probably would have left GM with that instead of the Promax, given most of the reviews I've read. LC

been thinking of picking up another new baitcaster. The Lews speed spool line has intrigued me. is anyone familiar with all three of the following? Lews speed spool Lews speed spool tournament MG Lews speed spool tournament Pro opinions? pros? cons? I'm starting to wonder after reading reviews if I should have spent an extra $40 and got the tournament MG from gander mountain instead of the AG Promax. LC

I've only had one outing with mine (promax), and I'm still getting used to it. Its too soon to make a definite decision if I did good or not, and I think I need it on a new rod instead of the 5'6" one I have it on now, but it seems great so far. I originally went looking for an ORRA SX and gander mountain didn't have any, but I liked the Max over several other reels in my price range I fondled while at the reel counter. I plan on going back out with it this weekend. Pros so far are super smooth retrieve, very fast with the 7:1 gear ratio, and the only backlashes seem to be my fault. Time will tell. LC

I got lucky in this department. my girlfriend grew up fishing, but hasn't gone since she was a kid. I got her back into it this year and she is now asking me when we can go fishing again. She knows how to cast, baits her own hook, takes the fish off, etc. I even had her using my baitcaster last weekend, and she now wants one of her own, but with a left handed retrieve! LC

lol, I honestly couldn't tell you. Im not much into hockey at all. can't wait for college football season though! LC