Choporoz

That's a lot of lead for, what will almost always be, very shallow bass

Thanks for the link. Refresher for me, as I've watched Gary in vids before....but I'm surprised by : "10- or 15-pound braid for his main line and ties on a (fluoro) leader of 10- to 14-pound test" I don't think I've ever considered a leader greater than 8 or 10# for 'smaller' braids...14 sounds like massive overkill for light braid

WRB has been singing iRod's praises for a while....now Catt? Guess there's not much sense in deliberating that choice for much longer....thanks, guys

Since the best rod sticky links this thread, I'd like to add the Fenwick Aetos - at least until they're gone....can be had in a number of places for less than $100 now.....incredible deal and great rod

I think thread can work. But, wire works for me. My fingers just don't work so well with fine thread....and when I do get it tight, I tend to overdo it and cut into the skirt strips. I like wire that I can handle with a pair of needle noses and not get my fat fingers in the way

Hard to imagine that an 8 team playoff would lead to any less arguments or outrage....number 9 would be just as upset as Penn State is now. I'm not sure we need another round. However, I might change my mind, if the increased playoff field REPLACED the conference championship games. Some great games, to be sure, but sorta meaningless in the big scheme....for reasons mentioned above.....Big 10 is acknowledged by many to have been the best conference this year...but neither Penn St., nor Wisconsin had a realistic shot of getting into the championship field. Skip conference championship weekend if you want to add another round of playoffs.

http://vet.tufts.edu/wildlife-medicine-program/research-2/loon-health-and-mortality/ Not exactly exhaustive research, but looks to be a lot more 'scientific' than many of the sensationalist info on the interwebs. I think that its safe to say that lead in our waters from fishing and birdshot almost certainly has a statistically significant negative effect on loons. As to whether that impact warrants (drastic?) changes of a legislative nature, I won't offer an opinion yet. I do think that 'better' research is going to be quite challenging -- finding ill/dying/dead birds, determining the extent to which lead was a factor, etc. Loons are a bird that captures the attention and imagination of anyone that enjoys the waters they frequent, so they are getting the attention here. But, I suspect that IF there's a significant negative impact from lead on loons....then, there's probably a significant negative impact on other wildfowl....and possibly other species, as well. I really hated the idea of giving up lead shot shells, but I have overcome that outrage and adjusted just fine. I will keep an open mind and support moving towards 'safer' fishing materials, if further science suggests.

Cool. Thanks. I know where Michaels is...it's that place where I drop my wife at the door and wait in the car for her to come out

All the time. Probably not a coincidence that I also will close my eyes when trying to isolate a particular sound in a noisy environment. Was that a white throated sparrow?

Shadowbox is, indeed, a great idea. I've been on the lookout for one for past five years or so....since my Grandfather started giving me old lures. Currently, I've got plugs hanging in a wall spoon rack -- works pretty well, but hard to clean. And for reels and other stuff, I found a glass top/glass sided curio/display table -- about end table size that works quite well.

I don't know anything about a Walker Special. I do like the Blaster. Oversimplification, but I find it to be sort of a combo blade bait and chatterbait. I got a couple of 1/4 oz versions, but they fish pretty small...small profile...small treble....small fish. But, they certainly do get bit. I've got a 1/2 on order -- I'm afraid that the larger weight might drop too fast for my liking, but we'll see.

^NIce, Quan. Impressive fish. I never had confidence there was enough clear water for a good jerk bait bite around here. (I boated some on lipless yesterday, but never would have considered a pointer)

I know this to be true....and yet, if I was the Browns, I wouldn't even want to face Alabama right about now

and a trolling motor

Maybe just put some lube on them instead?

Yes!!! Our premier video will feature Catt teaching you how to read the structure in your toilet

Get that one in the net quickly! I've got one like that....In fact, we went fishing on our wedding day....Her idea!

I give to Heroes on the Water. (Mostly I give my time, but I will also provide gear, if I have surplus of anything they can use.) The gear goes to the chapter, not 'given' to individuals, so I think most of @Fishes in trees concerns aren't at issue. HOW, and there are a few other similar orgs, revolves around outings where we take veterans and their families kayak fishing for a day or a weekend. So, if you feel cash strapped, but would like to 'give', consider giving of some of your time.

Based on FoM's posts, I, too, bought a pair of the same scales in early '15. One was in my kayak gear and one was in my 'boat bag'. The kayak scale lasted less than a year -- it was frequently exposed to the elements, and probably got pretty wet a couple times a month...sometimes more, especially on the rivers. The boat scale lasted just fine, but it was far less likely to get soaked on an outing. Once I moved it to the yak after number 1 died, this one, too only lasted another six months. I will probably get another pair this winter, but I will first look into getting something a bit more 'water resistant'. (Note: the Rapala scale that I had previously wasn't much, if any, better....and cost FAR more.) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-Electronic-Hanging-Fishing-Digital-Pocket-Weight-Hook-Scale-40kg-10g-/201182152447?hash=item2ed76406ff%3Ag%3AvxYAAOSwnDZUKd7b3 5.52 from this guy in CA....more than I paid, but still not bad...a few at $3-4 from Hong Kong.....I've had generally pretty good luck shipping from China lately

I wonder if it might help if you got yourself a thicker coat....just wondering....

^ Yep. The degree to which one senses negativity is, in no small part, related to the one doing the sensing.

Love jigging...and love to crank and wind. That said, I spent a lot more time with a spinning rod in my hands the last half of this season, than I have in the past.

No reason you couldn't use a keeper-style, however. I bought a bunch of skip-gap hooks a couple years ago and still working through them all; while they aren't my favorite, they do a good job keeping flukes up and straight

There are some who might struggle with this part, but I agree that it is good advice, doc

super fluke/super fluke jr... exclusively, for no good reason I can recall...When I come across long, shallow points, this is one of the first baits I usually think of