Alpster

This is very funny to me. I have this robotic survey instrument that gets VERY temperamental sometimes. My crew named it "HAL" a long time ago. When we get to the job it's alway "put HAL together and get set up. LOL On topic, I have a USB gizmo the size of a CF card that accepts them as media. Still very small (fits in the watch pocket of my Levis) and unlimited data transport. I have several cards. I am lovin it. Ronnie

X2 Ronnie

Not counting salt water gear and the 1/2 dozen or so Zebcos for the kids I fish with. I currently have. 7-Baitcasters 5-Spinning 6-Flyrods And one baitcaster in the lathe that will soon be a light weight plastics rod. Ronnie

Awesome! No better way to spend your time. Good job! Ronnie

Dead sticking is just what it says. Allowing your bait to remain motionless with no action imparted by the rod (a dead stick). You do it by casting your bait to the target and letting settle (or die) on the top or bottom. It works because fish are lazy predators and will take advantage of a dead snack they don't have to chase down. If you have ever had a fish on after spending 5 minutes picking out a backlash you will know that it works. JMHO Ronnie

I could lie and tell you I only sleep on the bare ground with a rock for a pillow and bear skin for a blanket, but too many of you have seen the Bassbus. Ronnie

YoZuri Ultra Soft #12 will be a the line you should try. You can order it from Cabela's. It behaves very well and is amazingly strong. You shouldn't be disappointed. Try it! Ronnie

I don't get it either. I apply KVD exactly the way you describe. As a matter of fact SPEEDBEAD and I spooled up a couple of my reels and one or two of his with #12 YZUS and cranked it through a terry cloth soaked with KVD and sprayed it on every day we fished at Guntersville. I am still using the same line on the same reels (Mg50s) and re-applying KVD and it's performing flawlessly for me. Has to be something else going on. :-? :-/ Ronnie

I once caught a crappie on a huge buzzbait. He was only a little larger than the bait. He had to hit it perfectly to get the point of the hook in his mouth. They are tougher than they are smart, no doubt. Ronnie

IMO Shimano doesn't make a rod that compares with the Loomis IMX, except that Shimano owns the G.Loomis company. The Cumara comes closest, but it's not a Loomis IMX. Crucials are not even on the same planet. I hope I answered your question. I have 5 IMX rods. I shopped for a Cumara when they first came out and fished with a friends and they just don't have any magic for me. Hope this helps. Ronnie

I use a Calcutta 400B with a Loomis 8' Back Bounce custom rod. The Back Bounce is a salmon rod, but very popular with West Coast swimbaiters. Ronnie

Lve2, Welcome to the forum. Looking for lakes in NJ? This link will help you. http://njbassanglers.com/places.php#monmouth Ronnie

I love jig fishing, but more bass have been caught on plastic worms than all other baits on this list combined. Ronnie

As a rod builder, I agree with Micro that alconites are very suitable for most rods. I don't however think that SIC guides are always overkill. On a high end, expensive blank (read GLX) that you intend to use a lot (tournament fishing), for a long time (pass it down to your kids) SIC guides are appropriate. They are expensive but have their place. I too am interested in the zirconia guides, if any of you builds a rod with them before I get to, let me know what you think. I hope this helps. Ronnie

Good Job, Robert! Looks like a fantastic day!! Ronnie

yep,yep,yep.

It amazes me that anyone is breaking this line. I use the same wooden dowel that I use for braid when I get snagged. I wrap the US two or three times on the dowel and pull. More times than not, I straighten out the hook instead of breaking the line. I fish in a lot of heavy wood cover and stay snagged. I have towed my boat all over my lake pulling on this line. If you are breaking this line during normal fishing, it's either a defective spool or you are damaging the line somehow. Next to Power Pro braid, this is the toughest line I have used. Including P-Line. That's my experience. FWIW. Ronnie

A real bummer for sure. He will be missed! Ronnie

Nice job Wickyman! I'm glad it came out like you planned. It's also good that you have a source for free cork. That's awesome, but just for education purposes, here's a picture of a full wells grip made from "Flor Grade Cork". Notice it has no pits or grooves. This cork is rare and very expensive. Keep on keeping on! Ronnie

Welcome aboard! Glad to have you here!! Ronnie

I have Ultra Soft spooled on 1/2 a dozen reels and I love it. Nothing except braid has 'braid like' memory. I am convinced that you can get a "bad spool". It's the only explanation as to why some guys HATE particular lines, the first time they use them. If you are breaking line on the cast, it has to be defective or damaged line. I would return it for a replacement if I didn't damage it myself. No matter what brand it is. I still change out line 2 or 3 times a season. Bulk spools make it affordable. Ronnie

Way to go, Fishstick! Basschump just learned what a lot of us already knew, that most of our members are the "real deal". Keep on keeping on". Ronnie

Try heating the epoxy with a blow dryer and scraping it off with a wooden Popsicle stick. Use "Goof Off" or similar solvent to get the residue off. Ronnie

Nice fish! If I had caught him, I would have guessed around 9lbs, but since it was you who caught him, I'm going to say about 6. Ronnie

Do you need a hint??LOL Ronnie