hoosierbass07

I'm not sure. I went to a Walmart optometrist a few years ago to get new glasses. I told her I was taking my glasses off to read more and more and she said it was time for bifocals. So I tried progressives and thought they were horrible. I went back to my regular glasses. So a year later (now) I went to another optometrist. I asked him if he thought I needed bifocal glasses and he said it was up to me, they would give me any glasses I wanted - regular, lined bifocals or reading glasses. lol. I said give me the lines bifocals. I will admit the lined bifocals are much nicer than my progressives but I still prefer my regular and that's what I have on now.

Nothing can be certain but death, taxes, and horrible bifocal glasses! I don't mind taxes because they make the community better. I don't mind death because I die every summer when the Cubs start sinking further and further down the wins column. But the worst of all - bifocal glasses! I've tried two pairs now, one last year and one a few days ago. First I tried progressives and now lined and I hate them both. I just can't stand having my glass lenses sectioned off with two different powers. I'm moving my head up, down and all around trying to find the right angles. I feel like a dope moving my head up and down. The last few years I've simply moved my glasses down when I need to read or do up close work. I don't need glasses read books or fine print, I need them to see far away. But I'm finding I need to take my glasses off more and more when I'm reading. I thought bifocals would solve that problem. Yeah, it sort of does but it's a pain. A PAIN! I'm really disappointed in the optometrist world. Here we are in 2015 and they have not perfected perfect glasses.

I have one bait caster, Shimano Chronarch, with 14 pound Trilene XT on it. I have that on an Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0 Winch seven foot crank bait rod. After three years of owning this bait caster I think I've finally got a rod and lure set up that lets me cast it with no back lashes and casts really really nice. Now I want to get a rod for Texas rigging worms and soft stick baits. I mostly cast five inch Yum-Dingers and seven inch Power worms on 3/0, 2/0, and 1/0 wide gap and regular round bend off set hooks. I also like using smaller worms and five inch lizards. The bullet weights I like to us are 1/16, 1/8, and 3/16 and some times a little larger and smaller. So would a seven foot Veritas 2.0 be good for Texas rigged using 14 pound line? I plan on getting another bait caster in the future that I will put 10 to 12 pound mono on. Also, which one would be best, medium, medium heavy or heavy? I really like my Veritas 2.0 Winch because it's seven foot long and I can cast crank baits a good distance. So now I want a seven foot rod that will let me cast my Texas rigged lures a good distance. Thanks!

With regards to those power poles for kayaks, what happens if your power pole gets stuck in the machine and it's in the down position? You would have to craw to the back of your kayak to mess with it. I don't think that would be very fun.

What's the deal with Z-Man and west central Indiana? I got into fishing three years ago and I know the local big stores around here carried Z-Man products because I bought three or four packs of their soft plastics. Now, three years later, I don't see any stores carrying Z-Man. Makes me wonder if the other lure companies are so big they can flood and push other lure companies out and off the shelves at the big stores.

I never knew what IBTL stood for. I always thought it was something risque. lol.

Now that I've had a chance to think about it - my Stradic CI4+ is my first high premium spinning reel. I have noticed over the spring that the reel is significantly lighter than my Saharas and Symetry reels. I've never held a Stella before. So if the Stella is as light or lighter than my CI4+ I could see me wanting one. That CI4+ is so light I had to get used to casting a little different than the way I cast with my Saharas and Symetry.

Some times I think the In-Fisherman TV series must be owned by Pure Fishing considering they show so many Pure Fishing lures and products. I guess there's nothing wrong with that since Strike King has their own shows too with their own products.

This is sort of cool or funny. I went bank fishing this afternoon around 4pm from a dock at a clear water strip pit. A few years ago I bought two soft plastics that I've tried to catch bass with and have had zero luck - the Jackall Cross tail shad and Reaction Innovations Trixi Flirt. So I drop shot both of those today and actually caught bass on both! It blew me away to finally catch bass (small ones but still bass) on those two soft plastic lures. The funny thing is now that I've looked them up online, I find the Cross Tail shad was made to drop shot. I only Texas rigged it in the past with no success. But with the drop shot, I caught some bass. lol.

I'm a Shimano spinning reel fan. My top reel is a Stradic CI4+. If I had the money I might buy the Stella but only for eye candy. I just can't see what that reel would do over my Sahara's and Symetry and Stradic. If I fished with other people who knew about reels I would buy one just to show off. If gorgeous women would be in awe of me if they saw me with a Stella I would buy one. But I don't think any woman in Indiana would be impressed with an $800 spinning reel.

It's hot and humid here in Indiana. My desire to kayak fish is zero because of all this hot humid weather.

All these stories about getting poked keeps me from targeting cat fish. lol. Know way do I want to mess with a cat fish. If I ever catch one on accident I'm not going to baby it, that's for sure.

So I'm just starting to get into drop shotting for bass. I tried it seriously for the first time a few nights ago bank fishing from a dock and was happy when I caught a few small bass and had some bites. That got me hooked, what a fun way to fish. So I'm wondering, what is every ones favorite soft plastic you use when you drop shot? I bought a pack of some Gene Larew Tattle Tails over the winter and have never used them before. I don't even remember why I bought them. I must have thought I was going to do some drop shotting for bass this summer. Anyway, I tried them and they are cool. Those things float absolutely horizontal when nosed hooked. I have never seen a plastic float so horizontal before. Those Tattle Tails seem awesome. Also, how do you manage the line when you drop shot? I'm finding it's a big pain to carry around a drop shot rod with that weight below the hook.

So have any of you dared watch the new Sense8 series on Netflix? I watched the first episode last week and decided to watch a few more and then I got drawn in. I just finished it and have to say I really really enjoyed the series. The last three or four episodes were really good. I'm trying to figure out in my head where I rate this series. It's not perfect, then again I'm starting to think it's a masterpiece of story telling. I was drawn into all the story lines. I thought the acting was excellent. Netflix is on a role this winter/spring: Marco Polo was fun to watch, Bloodline was fun, Daredevil was awesome, and Sense8 was mind blowing. I can't wait for the Netflix Jessica Jones series later this year. If it's half as good as Daredevil it should be another fun series to watch on Netlfix.

How in the world do you car top a kayak like that? There is no way I would try to lift my 78 pound 115 above my head. lol.

What a great race! Yep, it was history.

Oh man, that thing looks nice. That seat looks real nice too. I'll be interested to know how you like standing up, standing, and sitting down in it.

Small tubes and the Stanley Ribbit. That Stanley Ribbit is fun to use.

It looks like that seat is for 2013 and on. I think my Ride is from 2012.

I never thought of that option. I will look into it. Still, that Commander is one nice looking hybrid.

This is simple - Texas rigged soft stick bait, mostly a five inch Yum-Dinger. I just can't get away from the five inch Yum-Dinger Texas rigged. I'm addicted to them! lol.

How high are in in the Captains perch? Is it anything like sitting in a canoe seat? I have a Ride 115 but I'm also looking for a kayak that will let me sit a little higher and make it very easy to sit up and sit down. I can't sit up and sit down easily in my Ride 115 with the basic low seat. I have to say though - I keep looking at that Commander 120 and really like the look of it. If I could get one in Dusk color at a decent price I would jump on it probably. Plus I assume it's a good bit lighter than my Ride 115.

OK, the king of bass fishing knots is probably the Palomar knot. One of its strengths come from the fact you make two wraps around the eye of the hook. Most will agree knots with two wraps around the eye is stronger than single wraps. What I'm wondering - how much stronger, on a percentage basis, are double wrapped eyes over single wrapped eye knots? Do two wraps increase strength by 10%, 20%, 50% or more or less? How much strength does that double wrap add when doing the Palomar or Trilene knot over the single eye wrap uni-knot? I ask because I was looking at a site that test knots and that uni-knot seemed pretty darn impressive. http://www.leeroysramblings.com/strong_knots.htm I do like the Palomar knot but I'm getting a little tired of tying it. The Trilene knot is OK but still, I can tie the Uni-knot pretty quick. But I don't have much experience with the Uni-knot. I mostly fish with mono from 6 to 10 pound line. I guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and simply try out the Uni-knot and see how it holds up. But the thought of breaking off a hook and leaving it in the mouth of a bass makes me shy away from using anything but the dependable Palomar knot.

Why did you get rid of the Commander?

I've never competed in a tournament before but form my view point it's clearly cheating. Cheat!