PourMyOwn

I've never been asked either, and I have switched to bismuth and tungsten when the NH ban went into place. I really think getting it out of stores made the loon lovers happy, so it's a dead issue. I've yet to hear of anyone getting cited for lead, and I know lots of guys who still use it.

Good stuff. Rapala F11s have been catching bass for ages, I have one tied on when they just roll on a Torpedo rather than attack it.

Their other tubes are top notch too. New Hampshire smallmouth love them.

That round reel was the first baitcaster I had that I liked using with braid. Early braids didn't always lay on the spool well, but that 3600 was different. Wish I still had mine.

I'm headed out as soon as my partner is ready. I target perch and crappies, but do catch bass too. I would spend a little time this summer finding spots for next year. I'm hitting weedbeds near drop offs and other things like rock piles mostly. Also, get a flasher, otherwise you are fishing blind. Tons of videos on that. I like Marcum, but they are all good. Good luck!

I started 25 years ago with zero desire to ever sell a jig. In 1995 a guy in New Hampshire couldn't just drive to a bass tackle shop and get a jig made with premium components. Nowadays it really wouldn't be worth it to start pouring with all of the resources there are.

Thanks for saving me the click. (waddles away sadly)

Love their stuff, it takes a few weeks, but the prices are worth it.

17 pound Silver Thread here. I start reeling a buzzbait when the bait is 2 feet above the surface and it hits the water running. 20 doesn't handle as well, and 14 has a bit more stretch than I like at a long distance.

I also own both and the Fuego is a better reel at the end of year 2 than the SLX was after 3 months.

I still toss a 10 and a 12 foot jon boat in the back of my truck for really small ponds. It isn't ideal, but it works. I don't know that I'd want to do that with a 15' like ol Roland, but if you really don't want to trailer, I think you'll be fine.

Yep. Had a guy tell me it was stupid to throw a jig and pig in my home lake years ago since there were no crawdads there. I may not be Mexican, but I know that carnitas are food.

I like my Pro Qualifier a lot more than my Shimano SLX, and just a little less than my Fuegos. When they're on sale in the spring, hard to pass them up.

I lost a 6+ smallmouth when the belly hook came out of a torpedo. The screw that held the hook in was pulled out of the body of the lure, the threads were gone and everything. The bass slid out of my hand as I pulled her out of the water. That was particularly horrible...and it was a limited edition bait that is now useless.

Just bought 2 for 40 dollars shipped. I'll be using them to throw squarebills and spinnerbaits. The 2 piece will be perfect for the trunk of my car. Thanks!

Another northern angler here who uses Texas rig tubes for both large and smallmouth. I tend to lean more towards a longer body that will hold a bigger hook. My favorites are the Snack Daddy tubes out of Michigan.

Don't fish with someone who wont shut up. Silence helps me focus.

I catch them jigging later in the season. They start to get more active in later February and hit my jigging baits while I'm trying for a mess of perch to eat. I don't catch nearly as many in December/mid-January.

When I log on to bassresource.com and see a "Duracell vs Energizer" thread I will know for sure that has happened.

To me the only other reason is legality in my state.

I've been on Ebay buying discontinued baits. I really need to be stopped.

I put an empty spool on a bolt in my drill-with a washer and nut to keep it from moving. I go slowly so as to put the line back on evenly and I use that as backing for my new reels.

I have 5 or 6 left. They're a great compliment to a jerkbait during pre spawn.

A very underrated classic is the Mud Bug. Probably won't get much response on the internet due to them being old, but they just catch fish.

I bought a 2wd 3/4 ton truck five years ago when money was tight. I've had a couple of close calls, but there are ramps I avoid. New Hampshire is not exactly known for its boat ramps, very few of them are anything more than a sandy drop off into the water. One thing I would like to see is more guys using 4wd to pull out of the lake. I watched a guy dig a hole with his 4wd SUV that could have been avoided if he just walked out in 4 low as opposed to redlining it in 2 high.