fishballer06

The 2013 model. Not the brand new 2015 DC model one.

Some used reels aren't in production any more, but are still very great reels.

I'm more jealous of the 45* water than I am of the fish Nice job!

Split grip isn't a bad thing. Yes, I agree that a full cork grip usually makes for a more balanced rod. However, some applications call for me to keep my rod tip down anyways, so the rod being a little tip heavy because of a split grip is necessarily a bad thing. Case in point, a jerkbait rod or deep cranks.

If it says "Original Series" on the label, it's made by Rapala.

Just picked up a Metanium HG brand new for $279. Sigh....

I would check out the following: St. Croix Premier St Croix avid Shimano Crucial Dobyns savy

Plastics, or even jerkbaits.

Sorry, looking for an xi5 owner. Thanks though.

Well right now, almost all of my spools are empty But like others, I fill them just a hair below the lip. Any fuller and I'm bound to get problems.

832 floats, trust me.

That's a first for me. Very cool.

Can someone here who owns the new Motor guide xi5 trolling motor PM me? I have a few questions. Thanks.

I'd recommend a good auger and some tip ups. If you have a shelter and space heater, I'd recommend bringing them too...

1 or 2 I believe...

Why should I buy a new Benz whenever my Malibu still gets me to work and back? It's all a matter of what you want to spend and what you value your tackle at. Paint/finish quality, hardware and hook quality, country of manufacture, sponsored professionals, details, tuning, etc. So many things can go into a bait. Just like whenever you're buying a car.

Ebay is the best place to find old, discontinued lures that you can't find in store any more.

I'm on the opposite end of the Quantum CS spectrum. I bought a new Smoke baitcaster about a month or so back from DSG when they were on sale. Whenever I opened the box at home, I noticed the EVA grip knobs were kinda rough and beat up for a brand new reel. I sent an email to Quantum explaining the situation and how I was upset over the condition of the knobs for a brand new reel. They emailed me back and told me that if I wanted them to warranty it, I would have to ship it to them for their review. They then later explained that grip wear is not something that they warranty and that they would most likely not warranty it for me. So I then replied and asked if I could just buy the new foam knobs and replace them myself. They told me that they don't sell the knobs separate and that I would have to buy the entire handle assembly in order to get new knobs. I was pretty bummed that they literally wouldn't just send me the $0.05 knobs and make me happy. It's whatever though. The reel still works fine, it just isn't perfect cosmetically. I guess I can't complain for the price I paid.

I agree. Everything was moving along nice and smooth, and then they totally killed it with all of the extras.

I want one, but it would have to come out of the wedding fund.... Fiance might chop a hand off if I do that.

I can't believe this is making national news, but its cool to see it is. This was on one of my local lakes. 50" muskies are caught around here fairly often, but I guess doing it through the ice adds to this scenario.

Chronarch E5. Lucky for you, most stores have them on clearance right now too.

Ancient fishing trick. Land the fish, remove the hooks, then place lure so that its just hanging in the corner of the mouth for a quick picture.

Senkos Pit Boss DBomb Biffle Bug Super Fluke Brush Hog Cavitrons DT's Shadow Raps Rattlin Rogue SK 1.5's Rat-L-Traps Skitter Pops Zara Spooks Hooks Tungsten sinkers Shooter FC

Maybe I'll take some more pictures of all the colors tonight. The carbon color is actually pretty neat in person. I think it will work well in dirty water, or overcast days, where you kind of want the bait to give a "shadow" in the water, for a lack of better terms. The colors I got were: carbon, yellow perch, blue back herring, purpledescent, blue ghost, and bud. The mossback shiner color looked really good in the store, and I debated on getting it as well. If these end up doing well, I'm sure I'll be picking more up and will grab a mossback.