Lucky Craft Man

Be sure to check the maximum length of carring tube you are allowed to take on the plane for the rods. It varies with each airline. If it's over the maximum length, they will make you check it in (for some reason I don't like to check-in my rods. I like to know where they are at all times).

What happened to Fish-n-Chicks initial response to T-Rig? I was waiting to see the fireworks fly.

Here's my experience with the Norman Speed Clip. It was about 10 years ago when I purchased a bag of Norman Speed Clips. I tied one on to the end of my line and was very anxious to try it out. I was telling my two buddies who I was fishing with that day how cool this things were. I clipped on my favorite spinnerbait and was ready to fish. After casting around several weedbeds with no luck, we decided to try some boat docks. My second cast next to the boat dock, my spinnerbait got clobbered. I fought the fish to the boat and it looked like at least a 7 lb. Largemouth Bass. I couldn't believe my eyes! The huge bass made one final turn of his head and next thing you know I see the bass swimming right back towards the dock with my spinnerbait in his mouth and my line hung limp next to the boat. I thought I broke my line. Nope, the Normal Speed Clip was still tied firmly on the end. The bass torqued the metal arm of the spinnerbait just right to open up the clip. My buddies teased me the rest of the day about how "great" those Normal Clips were. I still have images of the blades on my favorite spinnerbait turning slowing, fading off into the depth of the lake as the biggest LM bass of my life swam away. Needless to say, I never used those sorry Norman Speed Clips again and I hope you can learn from my experience so you won't have to create your own.

I was wondering if anyone out there ever caught any fish (and if so, how big) on any of the classic "gimmick" lures. Some "gimmick" lures that come to mind are the (famous) helicopter lure, flying lure, moto lures (now made by Chuck Woolery), and the banjo minnow. Don't ask, but I actually own all of the aforementioned (all were gifts). The flying lure actually worked well for me. I remember catching an 18" LM bass on my first cast with it and thinking I found the greatest lure ever. Anyone else had success with a "gimmick" lure or knows of another "gimmick" lure I haven't mentioned and caught fish on, please post it here.

I use those hook covers (or hook bonnets as they are called). I really like them, because your hooks never tangle and the hooks don't rub against the other lures in the same compartment. The main reason I bought them was because my 5 year old nephew was looking at my crankbaits and stuck himself (he's obsessed with looking at my lures). With the hook covers I don't have to worry about him getting into my crankbaits and hurting himself with the side benefits mentioned above.

I solved this problem very easily. I use my one piece set of rods when I fish out of my boat and I have a whole set of two-piece bass rods that I use if I have to travel somewhere in the car without my boat. I even have several 3 piece rods that I use if I am flying somewhere. Therefore, you can store the rods comfortably, whichever the situation is and the baitmonkey will be happy with the purchase of so many rods and reels. Everybody wins.

Ronnie, Is there a flipping stick in the IMX version (that's not telescopic)? I have a telescopic BPS Extreme flipping stick and for some reason I just don't like it.

I was thinking about buying a G Loomis Mossyback flipping rod (7'5" Heavy Power Rod). Does anyone have any feedback on the performance of this line of rods? Thanks for you help.

The Revo S is a low profile reel, so it should be right up your ally.

13 lb. walleye!! That's a big fish.

I've tried several different rod and reel (as well as line) set-ups for jerkbaits. What I found to be the absolute best jerkbait rod is the XPS Performance 6'6" MH Power rod. Bass Pro doesn't carry this rod anymore, but the MH power on this rod is really in-between a traditional M and MH (for Pass Pro rods). The rod and tip are rigid enough to really jerk the bait effectively, but the action of the rod is soft enough so bass don't throw your lure easily. I also use 12 lb. flouro. line, which is much better then mono for jerkbaits for having low stretch. I also use a Quantum Energy PT 7.0:1 reel, because I like to be able to pick up the slack quickly between jerks. I mostly use LC Pointers and LC Staysees for the deeper clear water of Lake Erie. In my opinion, I couldn't imagine a better jerkbait set-up and I know the XPS is not a top of the line rod, but I feel for this specific application, it outperforms any rod you could give me.

I do some Muskie fishing up here in PA and usually what occurs with Muskie is in the Spring after they spawn they hang out in the shallows and weed edges during the remainder of Spring before they move into deeper waters. They also seem to be a little tentative during this time and prefer smaller baits. Once summer comes around they move a little deeper and prefer the larger lure. Then when fall arrives, they like BIG baits. But during the spring time, being in the same habitat as the prespawn and spawning bass and preferring smaller lures, many bass fisherman catch muskie at this time. Bass fisherman do catch muskie at other times of the year (mostly walleye and smallmouth fisherman), because they fish the deeper portions of the lake that usually house the muskies, but the muskie bite for the largemouth bass fisherman usually dies out after Spring, especially if you fish shallow (not to say muskies are not in the shallows, but the ones that are seem to like a larger baits after Spring). I don't know if this offers you any answers to your question, but in the end, enjoy catching the muskies (I know I do).

Imagine a tournament that allowed live bait... "Let's check in with Byron on the water...Well, guys I am here watching Skeet Reese...wait, I think his bobber just went under...He had a fish on guys, but Skeet was taking a nap and missed it. That may have costed him the Classic!"

I love the part of that ad where this heavier guy says that he can't believe how far the Instant Fisherman can cast and that he thought casting to the other side of the canal was unreachable. Then they show him casting to the other side of this canal that is about 20 feet wide and everyone cheers when he casts it to the other side. My question is what kind of crap was he using before that he couldn't cast 20 feet?

I actually use a MH 7' Bionic Blade for my deeper diving crankbait and it works quite fine. Though, if it were between the Extreme and Bionic Blade for crank, I would go with the Extreme, because they seem to have a little softer action to them compared to a Bionic Blade with the same power, which would be good for crankbaits.

What you forgot to add is: "I caught the fish out of my new 25 1/2' Suck-My-Wake addition X-series boat, with a Nagasaki 350-hp 12 stroke engine and a 250-lb. thrust Tournament Elite Pro Magnum Stealth Satellite Controlled Solar Powered Guide Series trolling motor."

This last Fall, my local Cabelas had a sale which was 25% off all rod and reels (excluding Shimano Products). I pick up a G. Loomis IMX 7' MH Power for $183.75 (retail $245). I don't know if that have that same sale every fall, but I will be saving up and waiting for that sale.

What I don't understand is how ESPN2 had so much coverage for the Classic in 2005 and 2006, but this year they significantly cut back. I was looking forward to spending most on my Sat. & Sunday watching the classic and they cut off coverage at 10:00am and now I have to wait until 10:00pm for the weight-in. Very disappointing.

I had the same problem with hooking up Bass on the SPRO frog. It was actually discussed in another thread not too long ago. I have the black frog, which someone else had and said that the body of his black frog seemed harder compared to the green one he had. Well, my SPRO frog is black and the body feels really dense. I don't know if the earlier black frogs were made heavier, but I don't use it anymore due to the frustration of not hooking up with fish. Though, since everyone seems to love that frog, I may look into a different colored one to see if the body density is any different.

I second the Real Vib. They don't seem to have a very enticing action or vibration. Two other Lucky Craft lures I've tried and don't really like are the Live Pointer and the Live Sammy. I found it a little more challenging to get the Live Sammy to walk the dog, which is very easy with the standard Sammy. I also don't think the Live Pointer has near as much erratic action as the standard pointers. JMHO.

Welcome! I used Cables Rip Cord Si Plus Braid and I love it. I never had an issue with it and I have been using it since the original Ripcord came out many years ago. With that being said, I wouldn't use braid for all applications. If you are using just one rod, then I probably would suggest fluorocarbon, because that line seems to be able to handle many situations. If you have several rods, then braid would be perfect for jigs, surface frogs in slop, carolina rigs, and I use if for soft plastics with a leader. This is just my humble opinion and you will have to find out what you are comfortable with. PS. I think Fireline of any kind sucks

Like trading in a Chevy Cavalier and buying a Ferrari Enzo. I have the BPS Bionic combo, which I do like, but the rod pales in comparison to the G.Loomis IMX (especially if you use it for feel baits). I use my BPS combo for spinnerbaits, which I think it is perfect for, but I use the G.Loomis IMX for soft plastics, which it is outstanding for.

I was just wondering what sale did you get all those G.Loomis and Steez rods from (as well as the reels)?

I've turned the clocks ahead in my house a month ago and there is still ice on the lake. Go figure.

It's funny you mentioned that RW, because I have thought of that same thing a while ago when I wanted to keep a travel fishing set in my car. I have a travel tackle belt along with three 3-piece rods (two 6'6" MH power baitcasters - 1 with flouro & 1 with mono along with one 6'6" M Power spinning rod with Hybrid line). Here are the lures I carry: -White Spinnerbait -Chartreuse & White Buzzbait -Black & Blue Jig -Several Different Colored Senkos -Berkley Ribbontail Worms (Black & Red) -LC Pointer 100 Jerkbait (Ghost Minnow) -LC CB250 (Brown Trout) -Rapala Weedless Spoon (Gold) -Yo-Zuri Rattlin' Vibe (Ghost) -Zara Spook (Silver) -Rebel Pop-R (Bass Color) -Tournament Weedless Frog There are several fishing ponds I like to hit on the way home from work and these lures seem to cover all the situations I will see from shore.