Columbia Craw

The filthiest thing you touch every day is money.

I've never had a hotdog.

Deep cranking is relative to the body of water you're fishing. Generally I think of deep cranking as anything 15 feet and deeper. Just about every aspect has been covered already. Get a good map and the best electronics you can afford. Learn structure and how bass relate to structure and CURRENT comes into play. CATT wrote a great thread on structure. Read that. I look for ledges, deep humps and long points. If they have cover on them all the better. Find the bait, find the fish. Some of best days I've had were on a deep cranking bite. Fish were schooled up. I like simple. Long rod, power ratio reel and #12 flouro. Enjoy yourself.

I have compared both models and own three Furys. The Okuma is a good rod. It might be just right for you. The actions feel slower than my Furys, sensitivity is moot. The skeleton grip handle system is an absolute deal breaker for me. I do not like it at all regardless of what brand. You might very well have a win win on your plate.

Boxer Day. I never liked briefs.

My buddy came over yesterday with this exact reel. I was very very skeptical of it to begin with but was very surprised at the performance. I have no intention of moving away from my current brand preference but anyone who is on a mega budget and wants to start with a baitcaster could start here with little risk. It took a little to get it set up but once we did, it was a decent casting reel. I have to give credit where credit is due. The handle is worth 40 bucks alone.

I just put the boat away after fishing a local open tournament. This is what transpired. I went in after my co-angler's lure, hung in some shoreline brush and ended up with a bunch of cat fishing line in my trolling motor prop. Not happy. Took the prop nut off and the stop pin dropped out the shaft hole. Yes, into the lake. I McGivered a pin with a a flipping hook and off we went to salvage the day. We needed two more fish. The hook sheared off the not locked up and we are done. The plastic housing separated from the threaded portion. I know, dumb me, I get it. Please sir may I have another. Headed into the dock after two hours with three nice fish ( one was a 6.85 ) and the weigh master asked what the problem was. I gave him my I'm stupid story. Jimmy got vice grips, procured a prop nut and pin and we were back on the water in ten minutes. I told him I needed to " settle up and make it right." Jimmy said that's what bass fishermen do for their brother bass fishing. Now go fill your limit." We did ( I managed a 4.27 with 18 minutes before weigh in.) and took 2nd place and a nice check. The day appeared to be a bust but Jimmy A. helped my partner out. It doesn't get much better that. Two pins and two prop nuts on order as soon as I hit submit.

Mine is a little worn.

This is the formula I apply: Seasonal pattern ( winter, pre spawn, spawn, post spawn) Depth Water clarity and Temp Cover type I pick a bait that can effectively work the ZONE to get a bait and get the fish to show themselves. Baits that can move as fast as possible but not too fast allow me to cover water faster. Baits that you can speed up or slow down are preferable. For smallmouth I apply the saying, find them with crankbaits and catch them with plastics.

These,

Two feet on #10 for me. This bait was a nice surprise last summer on super shallow rock flats in the early morning. The chartreuse perch was a great color.

I came to earth from another universe where my planet did not permit fishing or hunting in any form. My planet is called PETA and everyone there wears clogs. Anyway...being the rebel that I am, when I settled into this form you call a body, I went right to work hunting ducks and fishing for anything that swims. Being that I was green and had scales myself, the bass was the first species I went after and the rest is history. Don't worry...be happy.

Cliff !!!!!!!!!!!!!! You live brother !!! I wondered what happened to you. Doug

If we could only find someone like a mom and pops sporting goods store owner with a bunch of forgotten TDZ's , TD Fuegos and OG Zillions. What a find that would be.

I've never lost a fish.

All the flippin raffle tickets I've bought at local open tournaments I fished over the years. I bet Iv'e purchased several hundred dollars worth and won ONE item, some screen cleaner, screen cleaner, did I say screen cleaner that's just water and vinegar in a 4 ounce spray bottle.. It's a conspiracy, I'm sure of it. The last event two weeks ago, some little urchin with no teeth won about eight items on 20 bucks worth of tickets. I swear, the free hot dogs could have passed for five inch Senkos in color 176. My God son and I were one place out of the money. Love to fish those those opens. I'm gonna go wash my truck after I take my pill.

You are not crazy. Lures are tools and having options is a good thing. Wanting to simplify is not a bad thing either. Over time you gain confidence in specific lures and gravitate toward them and the stuff that worked okay gets shelved. Bass fishing is incredibly trendy. I got caught up in wanting to try that new thing and try that other new thing thinking it must be better than what I was using at the time. I could dump 70% percent of my hard baits and not miss a thing. You have matured and reached a point that you understand it's not the Lure, it's the angler's thought process as to when and how to apply it that is most important. Now, when you come up on a new angler who is starting out, be a giver and let them benefit from your reserve stocks.

Call Lews direct and ask them to query dealers for anyone that still has the (no longer in production) the 5.1 in left hand. They made it for a time. If you can't find one, a 6.4 will work but it will take more effort in the retrieve. The 5.6 MB is on the LFS frame and I would shy away from that size reel for a 10XD.

It's nice when a plan comes together.

1/8 Luhr Jensen Speed Trap. Money. Normans Tiny N's are also great baits.

You are right on the money, both rods. The 703C will actually do more. It's a decent jerkbait rod and smaller crankbaits in a pinch. You'll be pleased.

Anything that starts with Roboworm.

I'm with geo g on this one. You need to define what your friendship with this guy means to you. If you're not vested in the relationship then sever it. Real friends are hard to come by and relationships some times require some uncomfortable conversation. There's no need for paybacks. You know the truth and the truth somehow seems to surface at the right time. I would tell him that you didn't like what he did and that's not what you would expect from him. Then let him respond. His response will be the evidence if you are HIS friend.

Try a 4/0 light belly weighted EWG hook. When the bass are feeding on bluegill this bait with a gliding fall is special.

Sorry Easton. Congratulations.