Chris at Tech

I started fishing the Shadalicious baits this year too and really liked them. I'm swimming them through and around grass so I always throw them on braid. At first, I was fishing the 5.5" baits with the 6/0 weighted Bass Magic hooks from BPS and not getting good hooksets. Once I started slitting the belly open, it made rigging easier and it increased my hookup percentage. I got a few packs of the Owner hooks at the TW Black Friday sale, so I'm curious how those will do with the wider gap. I figure I won't need to slit the bellies open anymore with those.

The 3 I use the most: 1) St Croix Avid 6'6" M, Revo STX w/12 lb P-line Premium for jerkbaits, topwater, lipless, shallow cranks, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits 2) Dobyns 703SF, Daiwa Tierra 2500 w/ 8 lb Trilene Floro for dropshots, shakey head, split-shot rigs, small crankbaits and small scrounger heads 3) Dobyns 683c, Revo Premier w/ 15 lb Trilene Floro for weightless plastics, light t-rigs/jigs, spinnerbaits

Pointer, Spook Jr., Senko

None -- I wear sneakers (Nike Shox)

To me, it's confidence. I've got a boxfull of jerkbaits, but 95% of the time, I'm reaching for a pointer. And more specifically, a chartreuse shad pointer 100.

Swap the Abbadabbado for a CH50MG and that is a great suggestion! Not a chance in Hades, my good man

Dobyns 683C w/ Revo Premier

I've got a few that I throw on occasion, but I just about always reach for my LC pointers when I want to throw a hard jerkbait.

+1 on the recommendation to hire a guide

+1 on the recommendation to hire a guide

+1 on the recommendation to hire a guide

That's a bit of a generalization, no? What about all the student-athletes in lower profile programs and sports? What about the DII and DIII programs? I think you are off base with that remark. Why does being in a lower profile program change the fact that the NCAA governs with a ridiculous amount of hypocrisy, and a complete lack of common sense?

So as I understand it, the NCAA basically said that they confirmed that Cam's dad asked for money so they declared him ineligible for 2 days and then reinstated him. Do I acknowledge that shady dealings are more common than folks may think? Yes. But at the same time, the NCAA appears to have evidence that there were indeed shady dealings here, and they did nothing.

The NCAA is a sham.

I've been out with quite a few guides, and I typically tip 20%. I've also been lucky enough to have been out with a bunch of very good, professional guides (professional as in the way they run their guide business, not Kevin Van Dam taking me out for a day) I'd recommend that people consider the entire experience when determining tip amount. And that experience starts with your first communication with the guide all the way until the boat returns to the dock at the end of the day. And as others have said, don't just tip based on the catch. The guide can put you on a ton of fish, and be an unprofessional, miserable SOB. A fantastic guide can also have a day where the fish just don't cooperate. And I'd tip the second guide more than the first guy. Last thing to mention. If your trip has a mate, chances are the mate relies on your tip to get paid. In those situations, 100% of the tip should go to the mate.

Crap...with the warmer weather this week, I was hoping it would hold relatively steady at least through this weekend so I'd get one more crack at them on the same bite

I was even nice enough to give him my "spare" Pointer in the color that was producing for me

One of the bigger ones is Black Friday

My father in law and I had our best day on Varner yet today. We put about a dozen largemouth in the boat, all of them on Pointers except one that hit a lipless crank. Our best 5 would have gone 26+, anchored by a 7.5 that I got and the 8.25 that my father in law got 10 minutes later. We got another just under 5 lbs, and a bunch of 3lbers. Then a bit of a reality check set in...My big fish combined with my father in law's big fish was about the size of Randall's 15 lb monster

Glad to see you post a report, George! I don't think I've seen a post from you on here since I fished with you this spring. I'm hoping to sneak down there again soon

I've spent more time on Varner this year than I have in the past. MANY people know it much better than me, but I can say I'm not hauling in Varner monsters on my boat. If I had been, you'd have seen a lot more pictures I've pulled an 8-15 from Varner -- but I was on Randall's boat

Obviously, this is mostly personal preference, but I think a medium power spinning rod would be better suited for the weight range you mention. And if you're looking for a medium power, 1-pc rod from 6-6.5 feet tall, your options open up a TON.

If you're throwing from 1/8 to 3/8, are you sure that light power is what you really want?

BPS Microlite ML60LS 6 ft, 1 piece, L power rated for 1/16 - 1/4 oz $45 is full price and since it's BPS, I'm sure they'll go on sale at some point But I have no experience with this rod...

Except that it's his 2nd 15+ from Varner. Randall -- I hate you P.S. -- you gonna be on Varner this weekend?