Columbia Craw

I think the sales people at the corporate level apply sales figures of colors, models of other like baits. The cost of inventory is murder if it sits on the shelf stagnant. That is why sporting goods companies have such a tough time staying in business. The shear inventory to cover all the options is staggering. If the company doesn't achieve the number of turns a year, it impacts profit. Normans dropped a color that I love several years ago. I knee jerked and bought everyone I could find and ended up with twenty of that color pattern. A year later they put it back into production. Go figure. At least I'm set for life and beyond.

Guido was one of the real ground breakers in bass fishing. He used a spinning rod when many anglers didn't even own one. I'm saddened by his passing. He does define the term legend.

I don't own a Steez. I would like to. Too much for my budget now. I'm very content to fish my Tatula variants and Lews variants for casting reels. My spinning reels are older Soros and Stradic and fish great. I did "spoil " myself with a Ballistic LT but that was paid for via gift cards. The performance of sub $150.00 reels is amazing.

Three ball bearings. One of the best casters ever.

My favorite pitchin bait. Four colors cover all the bases: Black-Blue, Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Red Flake and Okeechobee Craw. I also use it as a football jig trailer.

I don't back reel often but I have felt the need to on occasion. It's a big fish thing. I run my drag at times somewhat loose depending on cover or current and feather the edge of the spool with my finger tip to add a little pressure. Each situation presents what I need to do to pressure a fish.

For me, shakey head means #8 test line and spinning is the choice for that line.

50% I attempt to purchase as much as I can from my local family owned business. I am lucky to be on a first name basis with the owner and they take great care of me. We also have Sportsman's Warehouse in town with a surprisingly good selection. Having Cabelas and BPS in the area means nothing. They don't have anything I want.

7'4" Heavy X-fast rod, 7.3 to 1 reel with 15 lb. floro.

I went to an Asian herbalist about the flu and respiratory issues. He said an old remedy is to take cork and rub it on your chest to remove the poisons in the body. Soooo.... I bought a brand new Dobyns Extreme 742SF, peeled the plastic off the handle and rubbed in alllllllll over ma bodeeeee. I feel wonderful !!

It's often accommodate a different handle-grip-reel seat configuration.

Yesterday was my youngest grandson's 5th birthday. I asked him where he wanted to go for his birthday dinner. It started with pizza, changed to Chinese, back to pizza, then to hamburgers and finally to Taco Bell. ( Gag me ) I looked him in the eye and asked him, " Dez, when you grow up....are you going to be a man of indecision ? He looked back at me totally bewildered and responded, " NO.....I'm going to be a fireman. " Score- Dezmond 1 Papa 0

If the brass plate was green and corroded, you would at least know the trajectory aspect was set far to high. True story: When I was in high school, our football team was on a bus ride to to coast to play Marshfield. We stopped on a little highway short cut for a rest stop. There was an old service station from the 1930's is serious disrepair but it has a rest room. It hadn't been updated or cleaned in years. Above the sink, at least I think it was a sink, some one had written with a felt pen, "PLEASE P*SS ON YOUR HANDS AFTER WASHING. THE WATER HERE IS FILTHY" I laughed my butt off. We lost the game.

If you are comfortable, cast where you intend, work and feel the bait and have a good bite to land ratio, don't change a thing. Welcome to the forum !

You're missing one.

Okeechobee Craw is an effective go between. If you can see 2-3 feet the bass can see seven feet or more. "If you pitch it, they will come."

The 702 or 732 Champion does not lock up quite a quick as the Extreme so the 3 power would be better suited to your described uses in that series. If you decide to pull the plug on an Extreme, I hold on the 742 HP as the rod of choice. Both series are great. I know it's a stressor to buy a rod without handling it. I was there with my 742 but I am happy I went with it. Regarding the expected Dobyns upper tier series. They had it right. The issue of a proprietary material in the blank came under the control of a single rod manufacture. That's old news though. Gary Dobyns had to regroup and obtain another material source to meet the standards already set. That delayed the development. We will see what the result is soon I hope. Doug

I have two Champion 703's, a 702SF and an Extreme 742SF. (Pre-XP) I will be ordering another 742, maybe next week to be paired with a new Ballistic LT 3000. I think the XP is worth the extra money. I'm a fan of full rear grips and the balance on the Extreme is exceptional. For a rod with such a moderate tip, it has serious back bone. I have landed fish over seven pounds with it. I wish they were smallmouth but they were green fish. If the 733 and 732 would have been available when I purchased my Champions, I would have gone to them right off. Once again full rear grip. The 742 has a bit more power in the middle third of the blank. Word is, according to another site, the high end models to be released later this year will have a 752SF. I may wait for this model and save a few more bucks to get it. You only live once.

I was on the Lews web site and noticed they offer handle knobs that are textured. They look like a great upgrade. But I gave that consideration up quick at $16.99 for a single knob/grip. I don't understand how an item that simple to manufacture, Wynn grip aside, be so high priced. I'd buy seven sets if they were reasonable. I can't justify one set at the current price. I know, " then don't buy them." I would like to think Lews would like to help their customers upgrade when a good accessory become available.

I can't believe I have not taken the time to view this thread until now. I ran through all pages and was just amazed, am amazed. There needs to be some national show for custom baits. I can see some here that would be best of show. Wow!!!

I have two baits that are closed bend and the rest are R bend. The R bend, for me, are easier to tune once tweeked by a fish.

Last week I told the wife it was time to start the season. Daffodills ready to bloom and a couple cherry trees blossomed. It snowed to inches yesterday and we expect another inch tonight. I can actually walk the dog with a Spro frog on the snow.

Yes, 8'

1/4 ounce Luhr Jensen Speed Trap. It's a west coast thing I guess.

They better not. Going on a vacation and finding time to fish, like nine hours a day is different. Right ?