-badhabit-

That's their ltx 6'6" MH I said LTA which is heavier than the G-Blanks ( There is one of both right here). Also $349 for the LTX compared to a G-Blanks which is built 1 at a time for $125 and as sensitive or more than the LTX is a bargin. I catch quite a few big fish and pressure rods hard. The G-Blanks don't have the reel seat problems Kistler is famous for and they don't make noises when you have a big fish on the line. They are a much better rod than the LTA. I haven't tried a LTX yet and they may have fixed some of those problems for the extra $100 over the LTA.

These are even lighter than LTA's and much more sensitive. The New & the Old .......... a couple of my combos (2 of 15) (top: 6'10" Heavy/Fast G-Blanks 3.3 oz w/ Zillion 100SHA - Bottom: 6'10" MH/Fast G-Blanks 3.3 oz w/ TD-ito 103M. Both rods were built on Shikari Blanks) As long as you are happy with what you have then nothing else matters.

Rather? ......... You do fish with the GLX and do very well with it. The reel seat on the LTA here won't tighten up on the Zillion and the rod isn't that sensitive anyway = Kistler retired. G-Blanks are much better (recieved #3 today).

I like this thread also and to hear everyone's opinions on the different subjects. (edited "sorry RW" I had never seen a thread relating to that topic and I do have strong feelings about it.) I do learn something from everyone that gets in my boat whether they have been fishing 3 days or 3 decades. That's part of the reason I offer just about anyone to go out on the lake with me, I like diversity in styles and studying them. Just my thoughts on this. (largemouthslayer - My company put the kitchen in Tiger's new home here in Orlando a couple of years ago. I got to spend quite a bit of time with him and his wife. But I don't golf. If you put a club in my hand you better have taken the kids & pets inside then boarded up your windows. )

LBH - That sticker wasn't made about fishermen. But does apply in a lot of situations though with the thick cover, shallow water, tons of types of vegetation, muck, and FL not having even 1 rock that is native (except limerock). If you worked in construction here in FL where the laws are all much more strict because of the weather (hurricanes, tornados, hail, etc...) you would know what it meant Most things that you build here have to be built to withstand 125 mph winds. With the flood of people that move here every year and get hired to work not having a clue how to build things in FL (and all other states are north of FL). A person gets kind of tired hearing "Up home we do that this way." I wouldn't have a clue about fishing for smallmouth or largemouth up north and would prob bomb out (+ I don't do snow ). So don't take it personal Bro and I still look forward to putting you on a double digit bass. (doing my best to anyway) ;D

Most of the time it is the way you present the bait or the reaction of the fish seeing the bait close to them that gets hits. I tell people the only color difference that matters is a light or dark color. That is mainly due to the color of the water I'm fishing. In dark or stained water the fish will see a bait that is darker than the water much better than a light colored bait. In clear water during a sunny day fish see lighter colors a little better because the light makes them kind of glow. At night or on overcast days in clear water the darker colors can be seen better. That seems to work for me anyway.

I agree with about everything that what was said in the posts above. Fish don't get as aggressive when feeding in deeper water normally because more space = less competition for the food. So they will just pick it up and go on their search for more. If you like Trilene line you may want to switch to XT because it doesn't stretch a lot like XL and that makes it more sensitive. But if you really want to feel anything that touches your line you may look into some fluorocarbon line and a rod upgrade (I would start with the line first to see if that helps). It sounds like you are doing real well in bait selection and locating the fish!

There is no reason for o-rings or skin hooking senkos. The best hooks that I have found are the cheap 5/0 Mister-Twister Keeper hooks. They have the perfect bend for hooking fish on Senkos T-rigged. The problem I had with them was keeping the barb in the top of the Senko because after 20 casts or so it wouldn't hold any more. But thanks to member Timistall for coming up with a cure. I now have the best Senko hooks that I've found out of trying every brand. Here is the cure he came up with. You just cut the straight barb off with a pair of wire snips and replace it with a Hitchhiker made by the same company to attach grubs as trailers to hooks. No more top coming off of barbs and no more of the top of the Senko sliding down other hooks. I have yet to move the top of a Senko even when snagged using this method. It works Cut off barbed top pin and replace with this

$5 for a tackle box full of lures, hooks, and worms at the flea market. But most of the time I just use the worms people throw out of their boats at the ramp when they leave. BassFishingMachine - If you truly like topwater you ought to try out a few packs of these: http://www.bittersbaitandtackle.com/items.php?Cat_ID=17 They will put fish in the boat.

Headless basser ............... lol avid I'm not headless but you may get a better looking one buying some cabbage at the grocery store You are also welcome to come over and go on one of my dysfunctional adventures anytime. (Timistall hooked a nice double digit bass Friday with me). bass-slayer1 - Nice size fish and I'm sure it fought well. If they didn't tear up everything they get a hold of I wouldn't mind fishing for them a little bit, but right now they are the enemy Could it be another one....................

Good Job! I have thrown one of those chatterbaits and couldn't even catch a gar.

I also agree with what Catt and cart7 said above But will add that if you take away the internet, electronics, and 70 mph boats that nurse the new breed of tournament anglers along. Then just give them an old depth flasher to use it would seperate the best from the rest.

I am a Pro Pool player and have been most of my adult life, so I am pretty well known already..... attention or travel are things I don't crave. (so that shoots that theory) I am 46, basicaly retired from everything, and God has blessed me well enough that I'm comfortable. (I do own a company but it runs itself and I still play pool events 6 - 10 times a year.) After fishing only for bass since the 70's and living in the "True" BIG bass capital of the world my all of my life my instincts are pretty accurate most of the time on finding bass. I have no interest in any fish on earth but big FL bass in FL. I also never said I was a great fisherman anywhere, but I do fairly well some of the time. I just love to fish and I do have the time to do it whenever I please to (No deadlines, clocks to punch, or wife pulling my strings.) By your theory Boyd Ducket (sp?) is a one hit wonder for winning the classic on his home waters. I believe he is prob as good as anyone else going. (only reason I know his name is his story on the Airrus rods site ) All of my heros have gone on to that big Lake Toho in the sky and I couldn't name 10 pro bass fishermen to save my own life. I can't dance or sing worth a ..... so I fish. Run Forrest run! = <---- me and fishing. :

Needemp - Most of that arguement doesn't hold much water. 1) Most people do not desire or could spend 200+ days a year fishing the tournament trail. 2) Most people probably make more money working than the average person on the trail. 3) 99% of the tournament trail fishermen either hire a guide (or local) to show them around a new lake, spend time with locals finding out what's working & where, or they have spent time on the lake before. Very few have gone to lakes without some type of info. WE now live in the internet age where info on any subject or place is just a click away. Fishing for big fish is an art all to itself and takes a lot more time on any lake to master. But I have faith in myself and believe I have the experience to fish any body of water in FL (and have fished hundreds of lakes, ponds, and rivers) very effectively. The only tournament I ever entered I won (only 40 boats though). I have all of the respect in the world for the ones who have made it to the big shows on the tournament trail and had the drive to do so. But like I said before it is a "different breed" of fishermen and saying one is better than the other is not possible. Guides are pros that have to produce a lot of fish to even establish a name and have to keep doing so to keep it. There is no apples & oranges to this because the goals are not the same. The only thing the two have in common is the prey they seek & the water. 20 years ago before bass fishing became the "cool" thing to do the fishermen on the trail were way better rounded in my opinion. When I watch now it's like a bunch of "Inspector Gadgets" running around the lakes....lol But this is just the .02 of a hick that loves to fish and as long as you are enjoying what you do it's all good

Salute to you for a Great year! (so far and more to go) I've caught 17 over 8 lbs in April and May (so far) this year myself. The number keeps going up but may end there because I play another pro sport and have an event next weekend I have to get ready for I use the KISS method and do the best I can with what I have. I'm not a great fisherman but I do put my heart in it. (KISS - keep it simple stupid)

The majority of the "stars" you mentioned are what I would call "schooler" fishermen which is way different from big bass fishermen. They depend on catching mass numbers of fish first and size second (or a bonus). Most of the people I grew up respecting were local FL fishermen who's name you prob never heard. But most of them prob caught and thew back more double digit fish in 1 year than most of those named will catch in their lifetimes. A tournament fisherman and a big bass fisherman is a different breed. Although a few have crossed that line. I would rather catch 1 double digit fish than 20 - 5 lb'ers. Of course you would have to adjust the weights to your location. There are some very good big bass fishermen up north where in some places a 7 lb'er = a 12 lb'er here in FL. I respect & salute those big bass fishermen for their abilities in fishing wherever they may be and for being one of the odds beaters.

I'm just a Florida Cracker that's been set my own ways pretty well for a long time. All of this dropshot that, finesse this, & swimbait culture crap may work fine for some people. But just give me a bag of worms with a few hooks and I'll bring back big fish. Like my bumper sticker says = "We don't care how you do it up north!" ;D

You can get some top quality baits here for a great price. Look at the color chart and I'm sure you will find what you want: http://www.bittersbaitandtackle.com/index.php

Thanks but I am aware of that. Since Ken Whiting left Airrus last week things are nuts there. Airrus is now part of Castaway Rods. I did talk to Ken on his cell last Friday and he said to keep an eye out for bigger & better things from him around the time of the next ICAST Show. I had another Airrus Ultra XL that got broke during shipping and the replacement was actually just shipped out to me yesterday. Since they won't have any Ultra XL rods until atleast July I just paid the difference to upgrade to a Puls-R. Until the transition is complete with Castaway I can live with the other being a 1" shorter rod

Who was that masked man? Great Buy and Enjoy them

Congrats and a very fine looking bass it is!

I also have the flipping rod and love it. I also have a 6'10" mh casting rod (that makes the Kistler Helium here seem like firewood). I just had GB make me a custom G-Blanks (actually paid Larry for it yesterday because it ships today). Got another 6'10" made on a Shikari blank, Heavy/Fast, and a few little other mods. Cost $158 total to my door priority mail. The G-Blanks 6'10" mh/fast rod with the TD-ito 103M on it is by far the best setup I've ever owned or touched. Combo Weighs 9.01 oz on my digital scale without line and lure. G-Blanks has to be the best bang for the buck going for fans of lightness in setups. My .02

I'm not going to dispute your personal observations, but if you look at the tournament bag weights they have actually gone up n recent years. I think sometimes us older guys look back at the "good ole days". I know I do. I also don't believe that harvesting bass is the reason for any declines you may be seeing. First off, all lakes have their cycles. They are better some years than others. Second. Surveys of top bass locations in the country, continue to name several Florida locations at the top of every list I have seen. Third. The impact of the '04 hurricanes was devastating to alot of fisheries. The famed stick marsh, which is strictly C&R for bass lost all it's hydrilla and has yet to recover. 5th The current drought is also having a severe impact in some areas. 6th. I think Florida has one of the better F&W departments in the country. Keep in mind they have a very difficult task balancing the demands of the fresh water guys and those of the salt. The okeechobee release practices are always controversial. But they are on top of the game. Slot limits and ID'ing declining species like the goliath grouper are good things. Lastly, I think it's fine that you have rules for fishing on your boat. We all do. I just think it's a mistake to assume that C&R is the answer in every situation. You are right about the FWC being one of the best there is. As an ex-guide, newspaper columnist, and a person that has studied bass populations in central FL lakes for a lonnggggg time. I have seen changes. I have been out shocking fish and testing water several times with Sam McKinney (Regional Director & Biologist) of the FWC on the Clermont Chain, Harris Chain, Kissimmee Chain, & St. John's River. I have also been involved with them on studying local fish kills on smaller lakes in the area. My best friend Wayne that you may know as Tennsopher here studied Marine Biology at the University of Tennessee for years also. NorthEast Region Headquarters (DFFM) 1239 S.W. 10th Street Ocala, FL 34474-2797 Phone: 352/732-1225 Fax: 352/732-1391 Manager: Mr. Sam McKinney Email: samuel.mckinney@MyFWC.com I'm not saying that fishing pressure is the main reason for all of the decline because most lakes are doing fine - excelent. It does have an effect on the trophy size fish on the more pressured lakes. When the water gets low like it is now the concentration of non-native chemicals becomes more concentrated and has an effect of marine health, growth patterns, & vegetation problems. Like fertilizer, pesticides, detergents, oil, & gas runoff from over development of our lakefronts. Also just about every lakefront home has to have a pvc pipe run into the lake to pump water on their lawn to help with the runoff problems and lower the lakes water levels faster than nature. Boat fuel & oil spills/leaks don't help either. So I would say over population of people is our #1 problem, not nature. Also the batteries dumped along transit routes by barges years ago have the mercury levels in some rivers and lakes sky high. I do know a little about the subject and will never claim to be an expert on it. But I have paid my dues to our sport. Results speak for themselves and you would be hard pressed to find more than a few people here that catch very many more big fish on a regular year-round basis than I do. I wish you only the best and our bass populations even more, Dave

I personally don't believe you could go wrong with any of them. (I just bought a 3rd G-Blanks today, but that's not on your list) Choose one and get to the fishing ... lol ;D

Mudfish are Bowfin Gar and the meanest fish pound for pound that I know of. Just a nasty azz trash fish that destroy line, lures, and now a rod. After you try to lip one of these they will prob call you lefty They are also called: mud pike, dogfish, grindle, blackfish, cottonfish, swamp bass, & cypress trout in other places. (not my pic)