FishTank

I was at Gander Mountain the other day and picked up some Strike King Bleeding Tubes for $0.75. They had three good colors, Black w/blue flake, watermellon w/ black flake, and a dark red with/copper and blake flake.

I have a 6' ML St. Croix Avid spinning rod with a Quantum Energy Pti-a 20. This set up sure is fun to use. I fish with inline spinnerbaits, weightless 4in senkos and light weight cranks. I caught all kind of bass with it and it also doubles as a great setup for crappie.

It works great for me. It is much better than it used to be.

Got to play with my Mac today and WOW, what a machine. I did not get my memory upgrade yet. It should be here tomorrow. They were sold out of the base models and all the memory upgrades at the Mac Store. I guess some people are actually maxing these things out. I would rather buy a new car for that kind of money. As far as the computer goes, it the fastest, smothest and most powerful machine I ever used. Will see how it operates after I abuse for six months or so.

For the money, I like the Shimano Curado 100. It is simple, easy to use, and a proven winner. They also have a $50 rebate on it. My second choice would be the Daiwa Zillion. And I will also second what Lubina said. Three years ago I purchased my first low profile baitcaster and I went through 3 or 4 different reels before I found the right one. It seemed the cheaper priced ones where harder to use (do to my inexperience) than lets say the Curado. As my casting experience grew, I found that I could use the orginal ones I had purchased better. So I guess, I would have gone all out on the first one I bought, just to save a lot of time and frustration.

Them's fightin' words! Only if you don't mind lining Steve Jobs' pockets. It doesn't matter whose pockets I line, Jobs' or Gates', I use both a PC and Mac. They are both seperate tools used to get a job done. The Mac is best, hands down, for all printing applications Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Quark, ect. The PC is best for office use type applications such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and E-mail. I can get Microsoft Office for the Mac, I just like it better on a PC. I do like I-Tunes better than other media players and it seems most drivers work better on a PC. But if you add the new Vista in to the equation, I think the Mac Lepeord (10.5) is the winner of Operating Systems. I like XP. Vista stinks. As far as who makes the better machine, I guess it is up to the user. For me at work, I can't function with out both.

I have the high speed Zillion and it is a great reel. I usually fish it with 50lb Power Pro. I use it for just about anything but you just have to remember to slow it down when you need to. I found it works best with 3/8oz lures and above. I have tried lighter weight lures but it does not cast as far other reels I own using the same rod, line and lure. It is the perfect fit for lipless cranks, topwater buzzbaits, and jerkbaits. I was also surprised at how much power this little reel has. I would highly recommend it.

I think they came out in 2006 but I when I see these guys I think I'm looking at a guy at FootLocker. I wish they could find something to improve their vision. ;D

I'd look for the stuff I could not find at my local bait shop and let the bait monkey go hog wild. If I was going tomorrow, I would pick up some of the new Fat Rapala DTs, some LC 128 Pointers, 6in Senkos, Kreatures, and some Sonic Rooster Tails. None of this stuff is available locally.

I like using the Fat Ika, LC Pointers and Zoom Lizards.

With the rebate, I think the Curado is the best deal for $150 and if you are able to find a coupon say for Dicks, BPS or Cabelas you bag this real pretty cheap. If I had to pick my favorite out the ones you have picked, I would go with the Zillion. IMHO, it is the best workhorse reel out there.

I hope all goes well but I would prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I have been through 2 Axe Men at two different jobs. The first was do to down sizing and the Axe guy was upfront with all of us. He basically said your jobs are gone, this plant is closing. We were given the option of quiting right then or staying around to close for double the pay. I left immediately and started a new job the next day. On my first day at my new job, I watched 24 people get let go and thought, here we go again. I worked there for 4 years until my department was shutdown. I never saw it coming but I should have. My wife was 8 months pregnant and I was now faced with no job and no insurance. But there was light at the end of the tunnel, I have been at my current job for 6 years and things seem pretty steady. In your case, it sounds like you're dealing with people and not production so I hope they look at each case as though you are an individual and not a number. Good luck and my prayers are with you.

This may be a long shot but try putting a couple of drops of oil in the maintance port. It could have some lot rot.

Sounds like a good deal on a great reel.

I like the Loomis MBR 844C IMX for throughing 1/2 oz lipless cranks. For 1/4oz ones I use a BPS Johnny Morris Sig. series 7' M.

I work with computers all day and I have been working with a pretty good Dell PC and an old G4 Mac but come Monday I'll have a new Mac Pro with two 3.0GHz Quad-Core processors and 8 GB's of ram. It is sort of like going from Dodge Neon to a Ferrari. This will be the biggest, baddest computer in the building. It is not to often that I get excited about work, but this new Mac will make my life a lot easier. I never thought I would be this excited about a computer. :o

I have had the best luck with LC Sammy in Auroa Black, Booyah Counter Strike Buzzbaits, and the Rebel Pop R.

The longest casting set up I own is a Shimano Calcutta 251 and Loomis BCR803. It is also the most accurate and the simplest to use.

I have a older 251, just a little bigger than the 150, and I use for softplastic. I like the slower action of the reel for this purpose but of course with the slower speed it would also be great for crankbaits. I have used this reel on both MH and H rods. With its' weight, I find it balances well with a Loomis MBR844 and also the BCR803 but not so well on my MBR783. My Calcutta has been a solid workhorse of reel. Hope yours is the same.

A Chronarch for $180 what a deal. You should be proud. If I find it on a mega sale, regardless of brand I might jump on it. It just depends on what it is. In the past I have purchased the following on impulse..... Shimano Curado SF 201 $40 Shimano Calcutta 251 $30 Shimano Stradic 2500 $65 St. Croix Avids $65 Zoom soft plastic $1 a pack (any of them) Lucky Craft Crank Baits $5 I'm still waiting to find a good Daiwa or Pflueger on a mega sale. I might jump on a Veinto or President when they go on clearance.

I'd have to say no. I purchased one when they came out for $39.99 ($49.99 - $10 off coupon) at Dick's on sale. I never cared for this rod and I ended up returning it. I have found the Avid there on sale for $75.

I took my new Stradic 2500 FI out for another test drive yesterday and tested out one the worst lines, IMHO, for spinning reels> Trilene XT #8. This line is usually like fishing with a slinky but it performed quite well on the new Stardic. When I switched over to using it on my old Stradic it was as bad as always. I am not sure how Shimano got this reel to lay the line better on the spool and cast better but I am impressed so far. One other thing, I spoolled the old Stradic first then used the remainder of the line on the new one.

Another for vote for Trilene Professional Grade. It has been fantastic for me. I will be respooling this spring and putting it on just about every reel I own. I have nothing bad at all to say about it. It is the first Fluorocarbaon that I have used that has had zero issues.

If I had to pick my favorite rod for jerkbaits, I would go with the G. Loomis MBR844C IMX. This rod can do just about anything.

1+ If you are going to fish softplastic for the most part, I would go with the AS68MXF. I have the rod and the Stradic 2500 and love it so far. The extra fast tip some getting use to but it can through a Senko a country mile.