FishTank

A Shimano Calais 201a and a G. Loomis MBR783 GLX.

I purchased a couple of baitcasting reels at BPS last year and they spooled both with Excel. One with 10lb and the other with 15lb (I think). The sales guy told me their line was exactly the same as Shakespears mono. After fishing both reels for a day I took both of the lines off and respooled with P-Line Fluorloclear 15lb. I would not recommend Excel. It just was bad stuff. Maybe I got some old line but I have tried their XPS series and I liked it. Not the greatest but good line.

A local pond I go to had a drunken driver, drive straight into into it at about 50mph. When the police arived hours later to find the guy past out on the bank, they asked where his car was and he said as they put him in handcuffs, "It's in the water. You dumb @$$." We then watched search and rescue show up with a big tow truck and pull 5 cars out of the water. None of which was the druken drivers. Finally after dragging the bottom they found his car. I have lived by this pond for years and the cars that were pulled out were as old as 1950's to current. I have yet to here anything else about it but attached to those cars were enough lures to fill a BPS.

I am not too superstious but when I find a lost lure I through it away. Somethings that are lost are not ment to found. It's sort of like picking up someone else's bad luck. :-/

My PB was on a 3/4 oz Lipless Crank 3 years ago and my second was on a old Culprit worm. I have yet to hit anything on these new swimbaits but years ago I use to use a monster size silver jointed Rapala. It reminds me of the new baits but back then everybody thought I was crazy to fish it.

The Premier has 5 HPCR Bearings+1 Roller Bearing and the STX has 10 Stainless Steel+1 Roller Bearing.

All the plastic swimmbaits or padletail large minnows I have checked out or purchased have that chemical smell of rubber. I don't know if it will drive the fish away but it sure hasn't driven fisherman away from buying them.

Here is another shot of the Griffon. It has holographic eyes. When the light hits them they are supper bright but in a shadow they're almost black.

All I can say is the Bait Monkey is happy, for now........... These things can be addictive. I got a good deal on Ebay. I just hope they catch some fish.

For a couple of extra bucks, the new Shimano Stradic 2500 would be awesome. I had an old Stradic on this same rod last year and I liked it alot. But with the new Stradic, it seems like a perfect match.

You must be the Emperior's new apprentice.

My favorite so far is Trilene Profesional Fluorocarbon. It is the only one I have tried that has lived up to the hype. I have tried it on spinning gear and was the best fluoro yet bet still "loopy". The Trilene, IMHO, is the best bang for the buck.

My favorites for this time of year are jerkbaits and Zoom Lizards.

Don't hold me to this but I purchased a Revo Premier(6.2 oz) and I remember someone mentioning that if you call Abu Garcia that they might have either a gear swap or a way of getting you a Premier with the lower gear ratio. I could be wrong but I thought this might be another option.

Another vote for the Zillion. Fantastic workhorse reel.

Did you pick these up from a seller calling himself Basscat2000? I ask because I picked up a Deep-X 100 and a spool of Sunline FC Sniper line and I know he had some other Sunline and Megbass product on auction. Small world...maybe. You guessed right. That's the guy. Like you said, Small world....

Fiskars kids scissors.

You might look at a Shimano Calcutta 200 or 300. They're easy to use and can cast a country mile.

I am going to contact the ebay seller and see if he can get some at the price it sold for last night. He also had some great prices on Megabass lures. I scored a Limber Lumberjack for $30. I have seen this swimmbait go for $70 ;D. I also got 3 other Megabass cranks for $10-$15 each. At that price, I can stomach ordering these lures. Most of the time I see them for around $25 and up.

I hope the rumor is true about the Curado. I have one of the old ones and it has been a rock solid performer. I did purchase one of the new 201 and returned it after fishing for a day. It was like fishing with a tank. It just didn't seem to be as comfortable to palm as my old Curado. I too thought after fishing it that the $200 price was not justified. It is still a very nice reel but again I like my old one better.

I can't speak for the mossybacks but I have a Bronzeback spinning rod and I would say it is just a step below the IMX. Loomis does make a Bronzeback spinning rod in a GLX blank. I have heard it's an amazing rod.

Dropshot. I have had zero luck.

The grips on my Shimano Calais have the best feel, IMHO. I also have a new Revo Premier and Daiwa Zillion to compare to but the Calais' are just something special.

Every year I always ask the owner at my local tackle shop what is the hottest thing going this year and what is the worst new product. (As of two weeks ago) This years hot item has been swimbaits from Reaction Strike and his dog of the year has been the Megaforce. He has had 4 of the 10 he has sold come back with mechanical drag problems. One he showed me new in the box, couldn't be cranked.

Has anyone tried Sunline Defier? Is this stuff any good? I almost bought some 13lb on ebay. It had a last bid of $19.99. I did not bid because I thought who would spend $20 for Nylon Line. I then looked up the regular price at a couple of on line stores. This stuff costs $40. Should I have jumped all over this?