fourbizz

Also, I hope you find your wayward rod, I think you could do it with one of gold/black back baits!

Way to go Avid. Setting a goal like that is a good thing. I was lucky enough to meet mine this year and then some. Hopefully you will be able to do the same. Live bait is easier. I don't look down on it, but it is easier. Anybody that says they are the same is kidding themselves. If live bait works no better than artificials, then why pay the price (jumbo minnows/shiners are EXPENSIVE) and go through the process of keeping them alive, when you could just throw a jerkbait. I have caught some big fish of a few different species on live bait, but they just weren't nearly as rewarding as a big one on artificials. Again, not meaning to bash live bait fishing, it is just easier, though not neccesarily "easy".

Because that is all I can catch !!!!!!! I like hardbaits. Out of my few bigger fish most have been on hardbaits, but not my 13. Hardbaits have a much, much higher hookup ratio, and they don't get thrown as often. Usually you get them with one 2/0 treble in the lip, and then the bait swings down and get get another treble in the gill plate. They are much lighter proportionately speaking, so they are harder for the fish to shake off. They last alot longer. They are also, arguably, more effective at night than soft baits. They just don't tend to get the kind of bites that soft baits appear to, especially on our fish that have seen a ton of big baits. On dumber lakes, I feel like the gap narrows between the two. Thats my take, but then again fish chris is like 73 times ( thats an exact number) better than me, so you should probably listen to him!

For the same reason we don't all use Yo-Zuri Ultra Soft. Just because a respected person backs it 100% doesn't mean that its the ONLY option. You also have to realize that Fish Chris isn't after "little" 10 pounders anymore. LOL. He is after 15+ fish and that the Hudd is the best way to do it. I think that hardbaits work pretty well on the smaller 4-10 pound fish.

FEMALE POEM I want a man who's handsome, smart and strong One who loves to listen long. One who thinks before he speaks One who'll call, not wait for weeks. I want him to be gainfully employed, And when I spend his cash, be not annoyed. Pulls out my chair and opens my door, massages my back and begs to do more. Oh, For a man who makes love to my mind And knows what to answer to "how big is my behind?" I want this man to love me to no end, And always be my very best friend. MALE POEM I want a deaf-mute nymphomaniac with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and a bass boat. I know this doesn't rhyme and I don't give a (crap).

Unfortunately, the collar had worked its way lose over time, unbeknownst to me. This allowed the bearing to slip down, and that allowed some of the balls to fall out of their cage. I had to do an on the water jerry rigging and that pretty much screwed the pooch on making the original one work. The part was only 6 bucks, so hopefully it won't take me 4 hours to replace. P.S. I kinda forgot about this thread, sorry it took so long to get back to it!

I really was expecting to see that new ranger when I opened up this thread!LOL. Robert your such a softie!!! I lost all my pictures of my girl when my hard drive crashed a couple weeks ago. I'm sure i'll have more soon, she's always making me take picures :

I think the difference will be negligible, but a difference none the less.

Just wanted to clarify: I didn't look that up just so I could correct you lightninrod. 23 sounded crazy big to me (an admitted discovery channel junkie ) so I looked a little deeper. My post was meant to be lighthearted and I sincerely hope that it will be taken as such. Jay

The crucial is a sweet rod for sure. In the 100-200 dollar range, I've really been digging the Powell Max series, just picked up another yesterday. The 702.

Has anyone ever replaced one of these? I have one on order. I haven't taken a look at what it will take to replace it yet. (Its raining cats and dogs today). I was wondering if anyone has any info regarding this repair. I couldn't stand the squeaking anymore!

See now that is what a hard bait is supposed to be. Hand made in america. Just because its japanese doesnt mean its good.

People can argue the end of life cycle, you might as well keep em point all they want. For me it boils down to this: I could not kill a big fish. Even if I knew she would die in a month, I would still let her go to finish her life naturally. Replicas look better anyway. Check out these companies and tell me that they aren't beautiful replicas. http://www.advancedtaxidermy.com/ my absolute favorite, i have seen these in person and they are by far the most amazing work i have seen. http://www.lakeforktaxidermy.com/ also great work

. I think :-/

I wouldn't mind hurting a few otters around here. If I did, it probably would have much effect on my eternal outlook

Waking a Mattlures Bluegill is one of my favorite ways to get it eaten. *weird high pitched voice* " Doo do doo, i'm a clueless little bluegill, man what a nice day, that milfoil sure is pretty...wait whats that?....oh $%^t!!!! SPLOOSH!!!!!" Its a beatiful thing. You don't have to fish real fast to keep them off bottom, but you should also decide if you don't infact want them on the bottom.

Well i received the mojo last week. Just in time to get sick as a dog >. I missed a few days of work. Just as I started feeling better, I got a call from one of my best friends. I have known him since I was ten. My buddy's daughter had passed away, so I had to travel to the funeral and spend time with them. The next person in line needed the mojo soon for some serious mojo charging so I had to send it off. On a more positive note I DID make it out for about half an hour. We have had a horrible dry/cold january. I ended up having to fish miserable post frontal conditions. I fished a pond close to my house for about 45 minutes. It has been so dry that it is at HALF POOL! In my 45 minutes of seriously ill, post frontal, ice cold fishing I managed this toad and four of his clones. All were treated to the mojo, but I only photographed the first giant. Sure would have like to get a chance to really fish while I had it, but I added a little to the pot I guess. My other addition was to muddy's rapala. That mook had threaded the line tie of his rapala directly onto the mojo key ring. It didn't have freedom of motion. I took an 80lb Owner split ring off of the bait that I hooked my first ten plus on and attached it to his rapala and then the ring givin it that freedom of motion most important to the mojo! It is on its way to the next recipient and I am stoked to see what happens next. Jay

I can't blame ya, I believed the "world record bear" email for years before I got "snoped" ha ha!

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/wcgator.asp Nice try Dan Only saltwater crocodiles get that size I think. Big gator never the less.

If I were to have only one swimbait rod, it would be a Shimano Crucial Heavy. Its a 7'11" inch rod that will handle matt's and baits up to about 6 ounces. With baits bigger than that, I use a 7'6" Okuma Guide Select Extra Heavy it can throw the biggest of them. For a reel, I prefer the Shimano Calcutta 400B. I also have a Cardiff 400 and it does the job, its just not as smooth. I have other swimbait rigs, but those work pretty well.

Why oh why are you looking only at japanese hard baits?

Assalt jigs on inventory liquidation. This thread prompted me to pick up another 120!

If you are only going to throw Matt's baits (which isn't a bad choice ) your rod will work. You don't NEED a heavier rod, but it would help. The okuma MH, crucial mh, or Redington RFXC 76121, would be optimal. The okuma and shimano are designed as swimbait rods, and though they are designated as MH they are better suited for those baits than "traditional" MH. But a 7' worm rod will get the job done. Need proof? I caught this (my first swimbait fish) on a Matt Bluegill and my 7' Lamiglas MH

Anytime. I do think it would be worth your time to try the bluegill as well. The baby bass gets pounded, I would order the three pack. Average fish just hammer them, and so do good 'uns. Good luck.

The baby bass sinks faster than the bluegill and stays down easily. I have fished the bluegill down to about 30 feet. They are cool little baits, thats for sure.