J_Pearson

That's a really set up and great looking tubes. I've been pouring a few plastics lately and I'm interested in dipping tubes. What diameter/ size bolt-screw-thing (yeah, I really know my stuff haha) are those that you used, and what did you use to hand them to drip on the nails? Thanks, JP

I definitely agree the online coverage is fantastic! BASS is presenting itself very well. JP

I'd say this pair of definitions speaks for itself. Like many have been saying, there are "athletes" that aren't necessarily "fit," but they are athletes or participants in a "sport" all the same. Being very involved in wrestling for much of my life, the term "athletic" definitely has different standards for different individuals. I most certainly believe the more fit someone is the greater their individual opportunity is to be competitive in a fishing tournament. The relationship between psychological functioning and physiological capacity is positive. If someone can better handle physical stressors such as excessive heat or fatigue while still maintaining a high level of mental focus, I cannot see how it'd be argued that they wouldn't be more successful than otherwise at such a high tournament level. All in all, the argument of "who's an athlete?" and "is this or that called a sport?" is continuous and goes well beyond competitive fishing. However, when one considers the definition of the term "sport" and "athlete," I believe it would be terminologically correct to label those anglers as athletes. JP

I've purchased them locally at Gander Mt. as well as some small shops in the area. I'd check out the closest G.M. though.. JP

Very nice colors.. Top: Bronzed Flame Bottom: Sun-scorched Craw JP

I was curious what other people like to throw their lipless cranks on. Braid, fluoro, braid-fluoro leader, copoly... I had success using braid late last year in surprisingly clear water, but I was wondering if other people feel they can get more bites using fluoro. My issue is the road I predominantly through traps on is also later used as my frog rod, so it will have braid on it. I'm also fishing a tourney in the middle of April where I'll probably be throwing a skinny dipper in some fairly heavy junk, so I'd also prefer braid there. Straight braid? Braid-fluoro leader? It's a reaction bite, so does it matter?? Ahh! :-/ JP

I got three U2's today, filled up a little cooler and took one into junior wrestling practice (I coach high school, help with junior high). At first glance, more people than not mistakenly identified it as a real fish. ;D Absolute amazing pieces of artwork and cannot wait to beat up some bass with them. JP

I'm sounding like a broken record, but I've also really like X-raps and Pointers. They make up nearly my entire jerkbait collection. I did however bust my first keeper last year on a big smithwick rogue. So I'll definitely be throwing that some next week as well. I've read and heard great things about the Megabass Vision series, but they do cost a good bit more than the others. As for now, I'll stick with x-raps and pointers JP

Thanks guys. Yeah the lightweight + packable characteristics work well for me as opposed to big-time bibs or something like that. Very glad to hear the pockets didn't let you get soggy either. JP

Alright, rain pants are not necessarily "tackle," but certainly an important piece of equipment. I was looking at investing in a new pair, and I particularly like Columbia gear. I was curious if anyone has experience with the Thunderstorm II or Hail Tech pants. Which do you prefer and have you had any issues with the pass-through pockets? Thanks guys, JP

Ridiculous!

I've had success with X-raps, Pointers, Rogues, and husky jerks. I really found it interesting how much the Megabass Vision 110 pretty much dominated any discussion on the FLW's Beaver Lake tourney. I hadn't really heard much of them, they definitely look great at ***. JP

I've done some searches, and understand you can melt down vaseline and add scent oils of choice. However, this winter I've gotten into pouring my own plastics. I really like the idea of coffee scent, and put a couple drops with worm oil into my packaged products. However, I plan on fishing with some larger plastic swimbaits this season, and had a few questions regarding lube. I understand Megastrike is definitely a crowd favorite, and for good reason, because it works. I guess I'm interested in making my own because I have nothing better to do while the ice melts I thought making a vaseline based coffee scent would also hold better on jigs. Would the vaseline have any adverse effect on a soft-swimbait? Thanks, JP

I grew up with a rod in my left hand, and all my baitcasting AND spinning setups are held in my left, cast with my left, while turning the handle with my right. Love being a Lefty JP

Awesome, thank you sir JP

ditto the one in my avatar was caught in less then a foot of water i thought it was a carp till it smashed the frog going past it x3. Three fish I weighed in at a local Tuesday night tourney last August had their backs just breaking the surface. They absolutely killed Kermie. They'll fit in water just a few inches deep. So "too" shallow nearly doesn't exist. JP

Hey, last year I had the privilege of joining the FLW's Michigan BFL staff and will be with them this year as well. I was up there quite a bit with those tournies and made my way up there to fun fish as well. Smallmouth heaven as far as I'm concerned. I'll be making my way up there more than once before your tourney-time roles around and will keep ya as up-to-date as I can. Tubes, drop-shots, cranks, and rattletraps score big-time up that way. I can go ahead and p.m. ya a boatload of info if you'd like, including more specifics. Best of luck on your research-phase! JP

I just saw the pics of those U2 gills and they're ridiculously impressive looking! From the text description, they sound like they're even improved from the original Ultimate gill. Matt makes astonishing baits! I'm ordering at least one, most likely two of the U2's..and was wondering if the flat tail would be suitable for swimming as well as bed fishing, or if I'd be wise to invest in multiple models. Thanks, JP

Up here little ponds are generally more open/ open enough to be be fishable than slightly larger bodies of water, and I've caught my first bass for a while now on shore a week or so before putting the boat in. Jerkbaits and lipless cranks are about all you need to launch from the shore for the first week or two. As far as lipless colors go, I stick to red craw, chrome, and a bluegill color that just seems to work well for me. Don't be hesitant to toss your lipless into ridiculously shallow water. If there are a few days of "warmer" (warmer is relative of course but a series of a few days of higher temperature than the previous week) weather, pond fish especially seem to move shallow pretty quickly. Reel your trap fast enough to keep it just ticking the top of grass/ the bottom. You might think you're reeling too fast when fishing really shallow water, but last year less than a week after ice-out I couldn't reel fast enough. I jacked this chunk that afternoon burning a redeye shad on the windy bank. I've also noted that in the afternoon's/ evenings early season there seems to be a small time window where the bite is at its best. It seems like when I've got that pattern dialed in you can about call it to the quarter of an hour when the bite will be best on little bodies of water. Hope that can give you a couple ideas anyways. Good luck, it won't be long up here! JP

Holy cow I hope this is true. I've been doing all my pre-season stressing about line because my gamma copoly supply is finally down and out, and I seriously got pumped when I saw this haha... JP

To the very best of my knowledge, No. JP

Awesome buzzbait pattern.. Brad, I just spent the past ten minutes or so touring your site, and I'll most likely be placing an order this week. Great looking stuff.. JP

I dont know where in the Midwest you're located, but really early spring up here it's tough to go wrong with a lipless crank just ticking the early veg. growth. Silver buddies are like a cult..and people catch fish with them like nothing else in coldwater (I'm not one of them yet, but will spend more time with a blade this ice-off). Flipping wood with a 3/8oz jig can be productive. Buzzbaits will get shallow bites surprisingly early as well. Basically, if you cover semi-shallow water/ flats with early growth chunking a lipless crank like a madman, you'll probably locate some fish. Work that particular stretch thoroughly because you'll most likely find more than a few hanging out there. JP

So...I just started hand-pouring this winter...and all I have to say about your beavers is... DANG. Those suckers are hot. haha. JP

Thanks guys I really appreciate the input! This 12+ inches of snow that just got dumped in my yard is really preparing me for some open water!