Smokinal

I have some Cabelas raingear I bought about 3 yrs ago and it's lost its ability to shed water. What are you guys using these days to re-waterproof? Wash them in some solution? Scotchguard spray?

^^^Glad to hear you had good success; although it's not surprising. It's a fun way to catch them after throwing the usual jigs, cranks etc... Enjoy the new thing.

I thought about this the other day Deak; good point. I, as many others, are members of different forums in different hobbies...ie, bodybuilding, musclecars, mercury outboard forum, Rugar forum and the list goes on. I can't think of another forum where I have the ability to contact a designer like Big-O. And to have him reply as professionally as he does and share his knowledge is something you don't get every day. I tip my hat to him.

I'm just waiting for them to hit Cabelas where I have a gift card! I, too, love the Rage line and I'm sure this will be a great product. And with the extra bait in the package it's a no brainer.

With braid and a fluoro leader, you have about the most sensitive setup I could think of. Senkos are known for being a swallowed bait and we've all had that happen. The only other thing I could recommend is try to have the line run over a finger tip; you have some extra sensitivity there and sometimes I feel the "tick" there when I don't see it in my line. EDIT: Wizard above me beat me to it. And, yes, that braid will remind you if you don't move your finger on a hookset!

I think Wildbillb has more people interested in where to get them than the differences!

^^^That's what it's all about! Those swim nicely on a Rage rig too. Good luck with the monkey!

It's the bed of a 22.6

I have to politely disagree. Completely different falls.

This reminded me of something you would have to see to believe but I swear it's the truth. My buddy had a horse tied to one of those old, metal swingsets (this was a long time ago). Well it pulled the swingset loose from the ground, it fell over scaring the bejeeses out of the horse, horse takes off down across the yard with entire swingset chasing it, runs into an '82 Monte Carlo, dies right there and totaled the Monte; bent frame. One of those things you just stare, wide mouthed and say "Did that really just happen...." And sorry to see that rod 00!

I'm so sorry to hear about Gizmo. Non-pet owners just don't understand that when you have them that long, they really are a member of the family. Time will help you.

Lots of thoughts running through my mind. First off, are you from the bank or boat? If you are stranded to the bank then you have no choice. I'd find shoreline cover, be stealthy both walking and with your presentation. Big girls should be shallow right now anyway. If you have a boat, I would fish this lake/pond year round and at all different depths depending on water temp/time of year. If there was 1 giant, there's others, and during the summer, I would bet most would go deep. I also think the clarity may get better the deeper you go. As for now, I too would be shallow with a chatterbait, big squarebill (BIG, like the KVD 8.0), big swimbait or a jig. And no one has asked, but we are all thinking it; was the fish weighed on a scale or was the 18 an estimate?

Nice day dude!

You are a bad bear A Jay!!

Well I did end up bringing it back to them. They rechecked everything and ended up replacing the needles in the carbs. They were the rubber tipped ones and they said they were worn out, causing excess fuel to go into the cylinders. I haven't tried it yet but they assured me it was running flawlessly. As far as the bulb not priming hard, they said this new style Merc bulb is designed not to do that anymore. Something about Government fuel regulations (like how they made us change gas can fillers etc...) they said any new fuel bulb now has some sort of new style check valve that will properly supply fuel but not stay rock hard like the old ones. We'll find out next Sunday. Thank you for the ideas guys.

No writing on the underside of the bill?

Tried that, tried every which way but loose.... I guess I'm going to have to try and call them on Monday.

Congrats on a good fish! And thank you for not calling it a 9 lber without a scale.

Those do make for a good day!

Marine Stabil every fill up for the last 15 yrs in my '96 Nitro. Just had carbs apart this winter for the first time in 20 yrs and they literally looked like new inside. Not changing a thing.

How do they come apart? I've searched online, tried contacting tech dept but they never responded; they just swivel and will not come apart. I'm sure there is something I'm overlooking, obviously, but I've never seen a fuse holder like these before. They are this style: http://www.walmart.com/ip/32738734?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227021668951&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=51798753911&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=89207230739&veh=sem

Just for the heck of it, I would stop into my local optometrist and see how much a second pair of polarized prescrips would be. It may be better money spent on a correct pair instead of 3-4 cheap, non working pairs.

^^^These. We were fishing a spawning cove last Sunday and caught almost as many big black crappie as we did bass. Same baits, same area, cast after cast.

I can't help you with a rod selection but I'd like to welcome you to BR!

Glad to help.