Banor

Just getting technical here, but Fireline is a fused, not braided, line. And it is also crap B

My Mom said the same thing except she said it was Joe Schmo who jumped off My mom said it was my sister. I said let's find out. We never did. > B

I'm not being sarcastic, I'm seriously curious - what was to get used to? Can you expand on the statement? B Quantums are heavier than Shimanos and that in its self takes time to get use to. But I have mainly used Quantums so I don't have that problem. I have a Shimano but don't use it all that much. Ok. I was wondering if there were other subtle, less obvious reasons. I'm hoping Cabela can give a review. Thanks TBP. B

Expand your IT knowledge into web development and create a good web page for yourself. Start marketing yourself to potential sponsors that way. Maybe you can use your business as an in-road to area tackle shops. Bring them into the computer age and use it as a window of opportunity to show potential sopnsors you can get their product in the door. Nothing like a web site to broaden a tackle store's customer base. The fringe benefit would be your name on the site as a web master and the potential for increased exposure of sponsors you are targetting. So many directions and possibilities for you based on what I see in your resume. Very well formatted resume. Clean, relevant and to the point. B

In order to respond to this I would have to incriminate myself and there is a slight chance the wife could accidentally click on this forum. B

I'm not being sarcastic, I'm seriously curious - what was to get used to? Can you expand on the statement? B

While I fully support and empathize with our troops because I am one and never went to Iraq but spent my share of time in a sand box, I think that percentage is low. I do know quite a few anglers who have spent their share of time over there, but the percentage of them are low. Our fellow anglers will bounce back from natural disasters. Once an angler, always an angler. I think an above poster hit it on the head. The youth these days are just too into other things that have nothing to do with the outdoors, let alone fishing/hunting. As the amount of rural area continues to be consumed by urbanization you will see the number of youth who ever experience the outdoors to further decline. Sign of the times I'm afraid. It's something we can vow to change and put our best effort into it but I dont see it turning around. B

Nearly forgot... I must strongly agree with RW on the political implications. At the same time a few less people pounding my favorite lakes sounds attractive. Hmmm... I believe that is a classic conundrum. I would add that those 75% will vote yes on an anti angler/hunter bill if a crafty politician slips in something that appeals to those 75% who would otherwise not care. B

Forgot to mention if you cant skip under the dock you can tune your favorite crank bait to run left or right then cast beside the dock and run it under the dock. Anything to get under that dock. B

If you can find any gaps/cracks or otherwise open areas to skip something under them then do it! The further you can get up under them the better. I prefer to skip tubes or senkos under docks but anything will work. B

Matt, Michigan is in the same boat as Texas. Our license sales are declining so much so that it's hurting the DNR to the point that they are raising the license fees. Consequently less people will buy licenses. Consequently the budget will drop. Consequently they will have to raise the fees at the launches. Consequently less people will fish so they wont need licenses. Do you see where this is going? B

Amen. Don't ask if you can't accept the answers. Once you do buy, give us a review - dont ask what we think! Great topic RW. B

This is going to depend on several other factors to get the entire picture. Rod manufacturer. Length of rod. Reel. I dont know that you'll see a huge difference between the fast and xfast. If you do see anything I think you'll see slightly easier casting of the lighter lure. Maybe. B

Very good choice with the Airrus. B

I might add that hair color would not be a price point factor for me. B

I would say 50 - 75 is on the low end for average combo. Switch the prices on High price rod and High priced reel. For example, since you are the Sheriff... Curado 100's and 200's are around 199.00 and I consider those the high end of the mid range price point. Chronarchs would be my opinion of where high end starts at 269.00. I guess an individual's opinion of this would be skewed based on their budget. Very subjective post!! Promotes debate and varied input! Good job RW! B

I dont see any better way to keep a bait right in her face for an extended period of time than this. It's been my experience with conventional methods that you perpetuate an endless cycle by casting/retrieving, casting/retrieving to the bed. You get the bait in the bed for a few seconds - long enough to get her attention, start to tick her off but then you are out of the bed and she no longer feels threatened.... thus giving her a cooling off period only to try and work her up again. She's not going to expend any more energy than she has to and has no reason to kill a bait that is only breifly in her bed. By the time she's made the decision to kill the predator it's a moot point because the predator is gone. Endless cycle. With the DS you can pretty near keep the bait in her nose permanently. Shakey head is not a bad option either. Both of these will be my go to tactics for bedders. B

Agreed. B

Gee thanks dude, that helps alot! The answer may have been overly simplified and a tad sarcastic but it is very accurate. 6.3:1 is probably the one size fits all gear ratio of baitcasting. (Until you learn to specialize and figure out what works best for you for techniques). B

technically you are correct.but i know plenty of guys who have adapted it to heavier cover fishing.it's great for dropping in holes in weedbeds.this requires heavier line.i also know guys who dropshot in weedbeds with braid with great success.the key is to stay open minded.this could save the day when nothing else works. Can I get away with agreeing completely with both views here? I would say this... if you are doing either DS or Shakey in heavy cover with heavier equipment you are not doing either in the manner that defines them. Both have been widely considered to be finesse techniques in light to no cover. On the flip side dodgeguy is right on point with being open minded and adapting techniques to fit situations. Any successful angler should be adept at this. To give my opinion on the original question directly....if I personally were going to concentrate on brush and in heavy cover I would not use a shakey head. I'd probably use a jig and pig or something heavier of that nature and pitch/flip to holes. That's just one man's opinion. B

Airrus: AC661M or AC701M in the $94.95 range. B

I'll be needing a co-angler link as well for the Buckeye BFL. B

Integrity is everything. If I ever make it to the sponsor arena I will give you a guarantee that you can quote me on 10 years from now. I will never pursue a sponsor of a product I do not use or have confidence in. I will never use a brand because I can get it for free. I will use a brand if it works for me based on quality, performance and productivity. If the makers of those products choose not to sponsor me so be it, but I'll continue to use that product because it works for me. In the mean time I continue to pour whatever plastics I can and use my own Some things I can not pour and some things just arent cost effective to pour but I love them just the same so I'll buy them until they run out. GYBC hula grubs come to mind. Integrity is a choice. I choose to keep mine. It is for this reason that I refuse to purchase some products marketed by Pro's who have chosen to leave their integrity at home in the interest of lining their pockets. B

Bravo!! B

The benefits of casting for dropshot for me are quite simple. I've been fishing since I was 8 years old (35 now) and I have yet to meet a spinning combo I didnt want to choke in frustration. I'm one of the lucky ones who was raised on baitcasters. If I had to do it over again I wouldnt change a thing. The chronarch 50mg has laid to rest any issues with finesse baitcasting in my opinion. B