Choporoz

Mostly LMB, but a couple SMB, plenty of bluegills and the only crappie I ever caught from one lake.

Sounds like he lived a full life. RIP. Agree with your PSA, as well. That's a big body of awfully cold water. Be careful out there.

My issue with Shimano spinning reels is only regarding the 'binding' issue. I would feel better if the issue were better explained as to what causes it and what reels are affected. I know that it is not all of them. However, my Symetre gets it bad and it is terribly frustrating. Even with all the great things I've read about higher end Shimano spinning reels...and my great experience with 'lower end' Shimano spinning reels, my psyche is rattled enough to steer me towards Lews or Daiwa next time I need a spinning reel that retails over $70.

Do you use '360 boxes'? If so, what size? 3600? 3700? If you use them, do you keep your plastics in them? Or, in binder? Backpack? Other? You want it all in one bag/box? Two or more ok? I have few good suggestions, but if you have any set preferences, it will help to answer. I use a large duffel bag with about 7 or 8 3600's that still has room for a sizable worm binder and tools. But I usually also carry a backpack full of plastics and a small one tray tackle box. The only helpful suggestion I have is to carry like-plastics in one gallon ziplocks. I like my jigs and trebles in 3600's.

I read a 'recent' Milwaukee newspaper article on Door County kayak smallie fishing: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/outdoors/excellent-bass-fishing-abounds-in-door-county-b99531470z1-311651251.html Same writer, but a couple years previous: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/outdoors/124138473.html

Build a shopping cart at an online merchant (Susquehanna Fishing, maybe?) of stuff that you dream of having, but are NOT ready to buy yourself. Maybe its a Hudd, or Lucky Craft Pointers, or tungsten weights, or perhaps a spool of Shooter or Tatsu....maybe its a rain gear upgrade from a 3mm poncho like I use....or an SPF hoodie sun shirt....I dunno what your 'dream shopping cart' looks like, but make one up, print it out and leave it laying where your wife, or parents, or whomever can see it/access it - give it to them....whatever Point is, let them get you something that you would really like to have, but won't buy for yourself right now. IMO, that'd be much better than a gift card. Gift cards ARE lazy. So is not bothering to learn whether your SIL wants a polo shirt or not....But, if you get a gift of a really cool lure, you'll remember it and associate it with the giver for a long time...or at least until you send it into a tree.

Cut-R - any color as long as its green Culprit 7.5 ribbon - motor oil Culprit fat max 9 - okeechobee

Never gained a lot of confidence in these. And since I started throwing Rage Structure Bugs, I haven't taken these out again. I get they're not the same shape or action, but I can't imagine they're different enough that a Bug won't get it done and I need to throw the RI. Except maybe punching, but for that, I've been using Rage Craws, Chiggers and Pit Boss. Anyone use both Structure Bug and Sweet Beavers?

I do NOT have that rod. However, I have a different 7'"11 H rod and I have serious doubts about the effectiveness of throwing 1/4 oz anything on a 7'11 H rod. I know of no rod that will throw throw both 1.5's and 6XD effectively.

Saw this coming years ago. OPEC recognized the fracking threat early; they're playing the long game.

I'm right there with you on the first two sentences. But you lost me at the end. They're fishing rods not surgical instruments...why not just stand them up in a corner? I'm not talking 45 deg and setting something on them, but I'd be surprised if standing them in a corner would do much harm. I use a vertical rack over the winter, but often stand rods in a corner for weeks or month at a time.

Most are great. Only one that I have not acquired confidence in is the iShad.....looks fantastic to me, but I just can't get bit

Forget physics...too many variables for me I can't get past the geometry.....ask WRB about spool size, gear ratios, IPT, line diameter, casting distance, retrieve rates....my head gets to spinning faster than a Revo Rocket

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/165790-the-best-rod-thread/ Describe what 'optimal parabolic bend' means...to you

Sounds as though Catfish Edge might have videos for you. However, after skimming 5 or 10 minutes of a couple of them, I have no clue if Mr. Ferguson ever gets to the point where he actually says something useful.

Beautiful reel. Can't help with your quest....but I'm saddened if early '70's is vintage...I acknowledge it probably might be, but sad just the same

That's probably good.....I admit to having failed Statics 101, however, I'm pretty sure that shortening them will have the opposite of desired effect.

Clearly, nobody else watched Chicago Med last night.

One of the only areas that I've been able to simplify my bass fishing...not as simplified as Raul, but simple enough for me: I can sleep ok if I only have four spools of line laying around: two spools of braid (20 and 40 or 50) and two spools of Yo-Zuri hybrid (6 or 8 and 12) Straight Braid - Jigs and frogs Yo-Zuri Hybrid - Cranks/top-water (12lb), finesse (6 or 8#) Braid with Yo-Zuri leader - Pretty much everything else

I bought a Producer XT 7:1 in June and worked it pretty hard this summer, mostly on my jig rod. I can't compare it to the LTE's which have gotten favorable reception around here, but overall, I was pretty unimpressed. But, then, I thought I was getting a great deal at $98. At $61, I'd have been a lot more forgiving, and honestly, it is probably a decent deal at $61...but at a c-note..... It is easily my least favorite reel - well behind gen 1 AG Orra SX. The reel feels 'cheap' to me, partly because label plate fell off in first week and plastic parts could be scratched by looking at them. It isn't hard to dial in, but it is far from 'smooth' and won't cast nearly as 'well' or as far as my other reels. There is some play in the spool, even when adjusted. However, there are two things that are 'serious' deal breakers to me: 1. The thumb-bar release/engagement is awful - won't disengage at times and gets totally fubarred on hard hooksets and snags; either won't pop back, if engaged, or won't depress, if up. Takes a fair amount of playing to get it back on track. 2. Drag is rough and uneven. I certainly hope the LTE is head and shoulders above this one, because I really wanted to like Pinnacle.

Thanks, Kent. That might work. Needs a couple dark stripes across the back with a sharpie and just might kill them.

Kent (RW), also, IIRC.

Changed when? I only started using Keitech two years ago, but there was nothing about them that could ever be called durable. On the other hand, I put up with the fragility because they have incredible slow-speed action (which is likely a result of the softness of the plastic.)

I dunno. Maybe. I'm envisioning a 4 inch plastic; something I'm willing to lose a half dozen per trip in a swift, rocky river. Maybe on an Owner Ultra Finesse head.

Tried to search, but 3-letter words don't play well in BR Search. Anyone use plastics or lures that look like mad toms? Locals on a river near here kill the big smallies with live mad toms (indigenous to the river.) Seems that plastics shaped like little catfish and/or striped like mad toms would work well, but I don't think I've ever seen them. Gobies are about the closest. (Close enough?) I've only found two sites with mad tom plastics and I'm not blown away by the shape, colors or size. (I will probably try some and black sharpie some stripes across the backs.) I gotta think a lifelike 4 in mad tom plastic would be a no brainer; so I'm surprised I don't see more offered or hear talk of using them.