desmobob

I have a few MHF rods in that price range: Kistler Carbon Steel, St. Croix Premier and Kistler Magnesium TS. I like the Kistler Magnesium TS the best of the bunch, but would much rather spend a little more and get the KLX series rods. The Premier is a club. Tight lines, Bob

I just took advantage of a Kistler special and ordered three new KLX rods! I may have a couple of rods for sale in the near future (Kistler Carbon Steel and St. Croix Premier). Tight lines, Bob

Buy a new one (check out the Spitfire series), then get that one repaired and keep it onboard as a spare. Tight lines, Bob

I like the 5" for wacky rigging in any of the traditional popular colors. I fish very muddy water and the normal bass colors like green pumpkin, watermelon, black, etc, work very well for me. I had some fun, fun days this summer dragging those giant 7" unweighted T-rigged Senkos over the lily pads. Tight lines, Bob

It's surprises me when I think about it, but I don't think there's much I would change. I started with some lower-end stuff and added better stuff as I went along. Now, I'm replacing some of the lower end rods with rods I know I like. (I know I need to keep my paws off any top-end rods, or I'll want to replace all my rods again!) Luckily, I started off buying good reels and haven't had any reason to upgrade any of them so far. I went crazy buying lots of baits when I first started, so I have a good selection and variety. Now, I only need to replace things I've lost or plastic baits I've used up. And I've found out what my preferences are for brands/colors/styles, so my future purchases should be more useful. No regrets, Bob

I swear, I've checked the calendar three times to make sure it wasn't April 1st. Tight lines, Bob

I've only done it once: two rock bass on an F5 Rapala. Tight lines, Bob

Subscribed for the entertainment factor.... Tight lines, Bob

I tried using an inexpensive composite rod for cranking and gave it up for this reason. Maybe a better quality rod would have performed better... I don't seem to have a problem with crank bait hooks ripping out of fish using a MF graphite rod, plus I have all the sensitivity I like. I really can't see myself ever using a fiberglass rod again. Tight lines, Bob

That's a powerful statement. I'm thinking about upgrading my trolling motor next season and I like the features of the Terrova, but it won't work in coordination with my Garmin 93SV chart plotter/sonar. I wonder if anyone makes a trolling motor with an NMEA connection that can be guided by a Garmin unit... Tight lines, Bob

+1 Completely seal off your live well intake (any below-waterline intakes) and see if the leak stops. My buddy's brand new Smoker Craft sank at his dock twice due to live well system leaks. I started calling it a "Snorkel Craft." Tight lines, Bob

Actually, I think the dots somehow represent the number or percentage of your "liked" posts in some way. Tight lines, Bob

I've purchase almost all of my reels from eBay sellers. I search by lowest price, then look for perfect or near-perfect feedback (and lots of it). Haven't been stung so far... Tight lines, Bob

I wear neoprene SCUBA booties. Very warm, and no problem wading with them or getting them wet. Tight lines, Bob

Another vote for the Kistler KLX... Tight lines, Bob

Casual real-world tests seem to contradict the industry testing as far as what repels fish. Salmon are reputed to have the most sensitive sense of smell/taste. One time on an outing on Lake Ontario, my friend was trolling two identical spoons at identical depths. He dipped one of the spoons into the nasty, oily, gassy bilge water of his boat and caught the next fish on that spoon. Maybe trolling a lure washes it clean of any scents? DEET, on the other hand, is a nasty chemical that will dissolve some plastics. Whether it repels fish or not, I always go out of my way to make sure I've washed all traces of it off my hands before handling lures/baits (or any fishing gear, sunglasses, fly lines, etc.). Tight lines, Bob

Fall is here in the Northeast. The water temps in the southern end of Lake Champlain are already down 10+ degrees from the summertime highs. I am SO psyched to have nine days off to fish, starting Saturday! One more day of work to go... Tight lines, Bob

Umm... maybe you're not asking "the experts." I think if I had that question, I'd be e-mailing it to the manufacturer of my sonar unit! (I've owned various sonar units and I'm sure I must have left them on out of the water more than once, for at least a few minutes or maybe a lot of minutes, and I've never had a problem....) Tight lines, Bob

I couldn't recommend anything but a Ducati. My 900SS SP turns twenty years old this October... I bought her new in 1995. Tight lines, Bob

Unless I need the added depth of the 3700, I greatly prefer the thinner 3701. Tight lines, Bob

Owner wacky hooks are great! I use the weedless version a lot. I've also been happy with the Decoy brand weedless wacky hooks. Tight lines, Bob

Heddon Torpedos are pretty affordable, and I think the Smithwick Devil's Horse is the least expensive of all of the name-brand prop baits. They work very well! Tight lines, Bob

That is truth! I've had one for many years and 90% of the time, it gets used in salt water, fighting fish bigger than it should be fighting. :-) It has a wonderful drag and keeps on working like a quality tool should. It just doesn't have that silky-smooth, instant-anti-reverse, chuck-full-of-bearings feel like a Symetre or similar modern-style reel. I have complete faith in that old Whisker! Tight lines, Bob

Very nice of your folks to post here! Thank you. I've put two seasons of very hard use on my Edge 45 and it has been faultless. I also added a Minn Kota "Alternator" and "Deck Hand" to my bass boat with the same result. Tight lines, Bob

I placed an order that was shipped two-day UPS and was in two separate shipments. The tracking for one says "Delayed" and the other is on time. The UPS tracking page for the delayed package says they left the package in their facility. I'm not sweating it. I have faith in TW and UPS. Tight lines, Bob