RandySBreth

Sounds like a good reason to try it, doesn't it? I mean geez, it's a Rapala, it'll catch something.

I think as far as a fishing show goes, it does make for a kind of uneasy feeling in lots of viewers; yeah, it's not the same as fishing a very pressured body of water. As far as the second complaint of everyone - the old chestnut about "fishing private water I don't have access to". I have access to several nice fishing spots in my neck of the woods that "'Ol Bill" doesn't, and you can too if you go and look for them and ask nice, or even do some work for the owner of the pond, ditch, sand pit, lake, creek or whatever, or even (gasp) pony up some cash for access. One of the best pieces of fishing hardware is in between your ears, you know...

Yeah, that dude really doesn't have a clue. : http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20333&id=0043073121539a&navCount=5&podId=0043073&parentId=cat20333&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true I'd go with the 35. I have one in the bigger 40 size for throwing things on a 8' spinning rod across the lake or river into the next county, and people don't realize how very light these reels are comparative to their size. Great, great reels for the money.

I don't have as much experience doing the "co-angler" thing as some of the others here, but what I've seen at the events I fished could be summed up like this: #1 Ask. Really talk to your partner at the pre-tourney meeting. They may be running a smaller boat with space at a premium, or they might be the "two rods on deck and don't really use the second one" type with tons of room for your stuff. #2 Really, really think about what you will use out there, and keep it simple like RW said. You don't have to pare it down that far, but chances are you'll take to much stuff "just in case". Most boaters will be willing to lend you a couple of spare soft plastics (again, ask), so don't take every color and size of everything you own. #3 A bag that carries everything is your friend. The tackle bag/boat bag/cooler/rods all add up to a mess. ONE bag (like some of the backpack styles guys have mentioned) is much better. Not only does it keep all your stuff together, it doesn't make it look to your boater like you're moving in. I use a older tackle bag that's made to hold 6 3600 size Plano's, but I only use 4 and put my rain gear and small snack bag in it, then attach my soft plastics binder to the outside grab handle. Spare line spools (small 100-yard or tippet spools- superline/leader user here) and tools go in the side pockets. I always ask to put my drinks in their cooler, and have always been able to. It's actually kind of fun to plan exactly what I'm taking and get my plan of attack ready.

Neither. Both are O.K if you want a varied amount of different outdoor "stuff" but for fishing specific I'd go with In-Fisherman. As for Bass specific, I've never been very impressed with Bassin'. Sometimes the Bassmaster and FLW Bass magazines are great, sometimes not.

That was awesome. I could even hear a little Yoda voice saying it. ;D Anyway, the XCaliber is a great bait, one of my faves, and the Rapala HJ12 (Husky Jerk) is, too. Totally different lures though. The Rap is a first generation suspending jerk, and the XCaliber offering is like someone did a "pimp my lure" treatment to a Rogue.

In the Ozarks we usually throw them as an alternative to topwaters. You wouldn't think a fish would come up out of 50' of water to hit a topwater, but when they're chasing shad out over submerged timber they sometimes will. I like them for stream Smallies, too. Sometimes they get tired of seeing so many buzzbaits a walk-the-dog topwater of waker will work better.

I use spinning gear for anything I don't use on fly gear or casting gear. ;D

Wow, the two models I've used I picked up at the outlet store (I live close) and they were like two bucks a pop. Maybe they put the only ones that worked on clearance so they sell the rest to the snoopy?!

I've used the medium crank and one of the jerkbaits. Pretty good value for the money. I haven't used the two you mention, though.

I'd do it however you usually have good results from. I spool superlines now so I don't have to worry about that type of thing. I do use mono as a backer, and I always do the pencil thing.

I have used superlines with a leader for about 20 years now. I fish the super-clear waters of Table Rock/Beaver Lake. I usually use an 8' or so leader of fluorocarbon leader. It works.

I love the old thing, I'd go with whatever good 4/0 or 5/0 hook you already like.

I was reading this year's issue while I ate my lunch. They've never stopped making it. You have to check your local (better) book stores or magazine stands. I get mine delivered every year.http://www.amazon.com/Fisherman-Bass-Magazine-2010-Guide/dp/B003A1IOVS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267302051&sr=8-4 It has a great article about KVD in it this year. The topic? How he fishes hard baits, like the Classic win that just happened.

I'm with the guys saying to just buy your own blades and customize. I buy good spinnerbaits but it seems all of the major manufacturers have blades I don't want on the model with the head, wire size, and hook I do want. So I just replace the blades. Easy to do, and then you can also catch fish on your own "custom" spinnerbaits. Not really custom, but you can say it anyway, might impress your newbie friends.

I have used P-Line's FlouroClear on spinning gear I loan to folks who aren't down with the whole superline/fluoro leader thing I fish with. Pretty good stuff, not expensive. The best fluoro I've ever used is Orvis "Mirage" leader material - tied to Fireline or PowerPro as a leader! ;D Yeah, sorry, I know that probably doesn't help.

I try to only buy the bright colors, but I use leaders. As was said above, a Sharpie will change it easily if that's what you want to do, and if you use green, you could go back over it with a brown, black, blue, or whatever if you wanted.

I fish all through the Winter and have tried all kinds of gloves. I like the golf glove idea, although I haven't tried that I have tried batting gloves and they were O.K. These days I mostly use mechanics gloves, there are several brands that aren't expensive but allow plenty of "feel". Check them out at Lowes or a similar type store. Most of these aren't waterproof, so that's the downside. The best outdoor-type glove I ever had were shooting gloves from 10X - Very thin synthetic leather with a tiny bit of Thinsulate, and Gore-Tex, too. I found them at the Bass Pro outlet store and bought one pair, then went back the next week and bought another. They have long since gone to great glove graveyard in the sky, and I realize I should have gone and bought every one of them I could find in my size, as I've never seen that exact glove again. There's another lesson I didn't learn then - if you find something you really like, you had better buy a lifetime supply 'cuz they will quick making it. :'(

I think the other guys nailed it, if the water isn't frozen up there it's still probably very cold. Trout love that. Even in the milder Ozarks we usually hit the trout rivers when the water temps are that cold. If you do go for Bass, you might catch a break and get a couple, but I know it'll be pretty slow.

That's exactly how I feel, too. Except for the sweet, sweet music of a fish pulling drag and making the guides "sing" with the sound of superline drawn tight, there shouldn't be the sound of anything coming out of the reel. If it's making a "loud grinding noise" there's some kind of grit, grime, or goo in there that shouldn't be. Saying that your reels "... still cast plenty far, wind in that line and some fish too..." is kind of like saying "My cars lifter's knock and rattle real loud, one cylinder fills with oil at idle, and the brakes shudder and squeal when I stop, but it's still running" - and being proud of it somehow. If it's some 40-buck reel I can understand how some folks don't care about maintenance, but if you took care of it you might not have it explode when you finally hook that monster. I've seen it. ;D

I've used it as leader material with superlines, and it's super abrasion resistant, also ties good knots. I don't know how it would work if you spool it alone.

And if it's a mid-level priced Shimano spinning reel, it may start binding up after getting wet. They are notorious for this, unfortunately.

I know a few folks who swear by the Pflueger President reels. They're about 60$ or so, and seem pretty solid.

Like trying out any new thing, be honest with yourself: Are you the type that quickly gets into stuff, only to lose interest? Or do you begin with a "starter kit" for whatever it is and quickly outgrow it, and have to turn around and upgrade? If it's the latter, you might try one of the flyrod/reel combo's a little further up the quality ladder.

Swimming a 5" Kalin grub on pea gravel banks gets pre-spawn Spots, Largies, and Smallmouths for me on Table Rock and Beaver. Equal opportunity fish-getter. ;D