BigAngus752

One of my closest friends in the 80's and 90's had a Cyclone. It was a spectacular driver. Did not handle like a truck. It actually handled better than the Regal T-Types and Grand Nationals plus it was all-wheel-drive. I've been a gearhead my entire life and I've driven some amazing cars. My son is also a car guy and we had the opportunity to drive a 2020 Shelby GT350. It is the finest automobile I've ever driven, but I have tried to explain to my son that the 530hp Voodoo in that car is nothing compared to the 428 Cobra Jet in the '69 Mach 1s simply because the new cars have computers to save you from yourself.

Agree 100% if they would only make one that's 7'4 or 7'6. That would be an excellent frog rod.

Do not spend money on a "do-it-all" heavy rod because it won't. You will eventually spend MORE money on 2 or 3 more appropriate rods so my suggestion for a "for-now" heavy rod would be a Daiwa Aird-X. Very inexpensive and very good for the cost. This will suit you until you decide that you want to invest more of your hard-earned money.

Oh, how we love Bardstown, KY! Wife and I are both bourbon-lovers and had a great time visiting distilleries, searching small town liquor stores for good deals, and trying new bourbon every night at Volstead's Bourbon Lounge. We ended up with three allocated bourbons by getting to the distilleries early. We went to Heaven Hill distillery and we each got to bottle our own bourbon after tasting several barrels. My wife chose and Elijah Craig barrel proof and I chose a Larceny barrel proof. Then we drove 30 miles to a small town to have lunch and stopped at a small liquor store where I found ONE dusty bottle of Larceny C922 which is considered by most to be the best ever release from Larceny. We previously had one bottle and drank it years ago. Amazing to find one sitting in the back of a glass case in a small town liquor store.

Please don't let the invisible fire burn @thediscochef! Awesome fish. I would have jumped in the drink for that one too.

I've seen a lot of "how much does this fish weigh" posts but never one that didn't include a photo of the fish! LOL! That sounds like a good day. I don't mind the weather either. That catfish had to be a beast.

Yes he does! You'll be ripping lips at 100 before you know it. Can you remember 25yrs old? I'm only in my 50s and 25 seems like a completely different life from the past. Congrats and Happy Birthday! Go fishing today...

The tungsten worm weight ALREADY has a hole in it for installation? Man, you can't go wrong with that. I get sick of drilling them.

Every BC I own has either braid or 12lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid. I have never tried P-line only because Yo-Zuri has been the most perfect line I could ever want for a number of years. P-line may be just as good. I have no reason to test the theory.

Early spring, late fall, or after some significant wind.

+1 on these suggestions and I'm going to add Four Roses Small Batch to it. Very economical and very smooth. @MediumMouthBass Fair warning, if you really get into bourbons, ryes, and/or single malts it's a hobby like fishing. Here was our weekend finding a new single barrel that we thought was very good (Remus), a liquor store that bought their own private barrel of Elijah Craig (outstanding), and the hard-to-find Maker's Mark I mentioned earlier. I don't sweat the Bait Monkey because the Bourbon Monkey does a lot more damage.

This sounds fantastic. I'm ready to drive there right now. Sounds like an excellent day.

The "rubbing alcohol" flavor you talk about is more prevalent in some than in others and, many times, that is predicted by the cost of the bourbon. Not that cost matters to flavor, but it's demand...the better/older/rarer bourbons cost more. One of the bourbons (and ryes) that I recommend to people new to bourbons is Woodford Reserve (or if you want to try a rye Woodford Reserve Rye). It's low cost (comparatively) both at the store and at bars. In fact, you can buy it at most Walmarts. Is a very smooth, easy-drinker with a lot of caramel and sweet and a short finish with almost no spice. You just have an uneducated palate which we ALL did at one point. Bourbons and ryes are a hobby of my wife and I and we travel just for that hobby. It didn't happen overnight by any stretch of the imagination. It came after we discovered that there was something out there other than a Jack and Coke, which it sounds like you are discovering right now. I absolutely dislike Maker's Mark bourbon. By that I mean the cheap Maker's Mark that you tried. This weekend, however, I was thrilled when we were driving around and visited one of mom and pop liquor stores and they had been allocated ONE bottle of Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Limited Release 2023. It's the last of the Maker's Mark releases of this bourbon (2019 to 2023) and is said to be the best. We paid $72.99 for the bottle and felt blessed since we know people who have paid $149. It's very, very good. But I hate the cheap Maker's Mark? Do you understand? Distilling is an art, you have to try a bunch of them. That will both educate your palate AND help you find what flavor profile you really like. You won't get it on the cheap! LOL. I cringe at what we've spent but it's a hobby my wife and I share together so it's a blast.

No braid. I fish most things on braid, but not my favorite topwater (Zara Spook). I use Yo-Zuri Hybrid but use strait fluoro if you prefer. I would also be interested in seeing your retrieve. It’s not a jerkbait. The tip rhythm is subtle.

Nope. There is one me. I know beyond any doubt who put me here (who put all of us here) and why we are here. I know that there is no such thing as luck. I know that we are of our own free will. I know that we are incapable of clear understanding and we make things up to rationalize existence because we are afraid. I know I need to work on being who I should be every day and will never totally succeed, but when I die I will be made whole. Until that time I will do my best to serve God and my fellow man (and woman). I've been shot at, stabbed, and hit by a speeding vehicle. I barely made it off the operating table once. None of these experiences altered what I believe in any way. I don't know the significance of that, but it seems relevant.

My "do-it-all" jig is a football head because I spend so much time in rip rap. I primarily use 1/2oz but if I use an Arky it will probably be a 3/8. There are some conditions when a 1/4 will catch fish when nothing else will. Blk/blue and green pumpkin is about it for the colors. I find the trailer choice to be more important than weight or color the majority of the time, but it's important to note that a "clear" lake in my area is 12-16 inches. If you fish truly clear water you may have more need to pay attention to color.

As an old Midwest guy I can't describe my level of jealousy. I don't get to fish for the footballs and 18-9 is nothing short of an epic bag of smallmouth. You tell a great story. I was highly engaged in your tale and have a long list of questions! I won't waste the space here and I'll just say congratulations on such a blessed day on the water.

Another after-work fishing session. Slow to begin with but once I figured out that the bright sun had positioned them UNDER wood it was on. This was the best at 4-8. Caught another close to 4 but let it go quickly because it was bleeding. HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: My wife texted and said she was driving over the lake and wanted to float around with me. First fish I boated once she sat down was a 2.5lb-er. I boat flipped it and it shook off in mid-air and smacked her on the shoulder and leg and landed on the floor. I told her I'd fish-slap her again if she wasn't careful. I even made it look like an accident. ?

When I was very young my dad taught me how to find foxes in the wild. If you know you are near a fox den, all you have to do is randomly turn around every few minutes. I've caught foxes following me 2 dozen times this way. That's just how curious they are. I, personally, would leave her alone. She poses no threat to your family and may rid the neighborhood of some cats (which is a plus in my book), but to each his own. Here is some excellent advice: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-foxes

When I fish the small lake closest to me I put a garden rake in my boat. Every trip I bring back at least a softball size bundle of fishing line that I drag out near the bank fishermen spots. Rarely do I find something attached that I want to keep. Most recently I got a brand new standard Chatterbait in blk/blue that I kept. I've already put this Heddon Tiny Torpedo in my stash. The Berkley catfish rod I just left leaning on a garbage can at the ramp in case someone wanted it. The only things I REALLY WANT to find are the two Wiggle Warts I have broken off on someone's old line this year.

For cryin' out loud, are your shoulders sore from reeling fish? You've been catching twice a day! I have to be honest, most of the bass that size that I've seen (only in pics) aren't very pretty, but that one was gorgeous. Hugely heavy but still great body shape and beautiful color. You have an unfair advantage because your initials are PB.

Great answer

RT188 is my current. I agree with your mod V opinion.

Bought this a few years ago to relieve my wife from duty. Works as advertised. Not as pleasing to look at as my wife but quieter. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CIOXIUU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

^^^Prepare yourself for this^^^ I have a Ranger RT188 with a 115 4-stroke. It's the last model year made by Ranger (not Bass Pro). I love it. I don't fish huge water, it's got very good (not great) storage, sturdy as heck, and with no exaggeration I can tell you I can go just an inch or two shy of anywhere a kayak can go depth-wise. The only drawback is the weight. I get blown around and I have my 24V Ultrex dialed down to the lowest possible settings and the spotlock will still nearly whip me out of the boat sometimes. I have an account set aside just for a new boat when I finally completely retire from my second career. If the same boats are available then as now, I will not go fiberglass. I will go with an aluminum Vexus or a Lund 2075. If you are used to a glass boat, I think you really need to get on the water in some aluminums before you buy.