Dirtyeggroll

I was excited when I saw the new crankin stick was in stock at BPS. I’ve been trying to get one of the older models for several weeks, if not months. I went to the store to check out the new crankin stick and was disappointed. It looked and felt really cheap. The foam on the handle seemed soft and like it will tear and dirty easily. The reel seat looks like it is about to come apart. It is clear that the bottom/back portion of the reel seat is two pieces and on ALL of the models I held, this is uneven and the plastic material of the reel seat seems really weak. The rod was however, extremely light. I’m hoping that the cheap look and feel is just simply that, a look and feel, and that those who are brave enough to try it find that it is a quality (budget) stick because I need a quality budget stick and the first edition has such a good reputation.

The first step to keeping your hands warm is keeping your core and your wrists warm. If your core is cold, your body will divert blood away from your hands to try to prevent heat loss at the extremities. If you keep your core warm/hot the warm blood will be diverted to your hands to dissipate heat thus making your hands warm. Additionally, I've found that wearing liner gloves (such as Under Armour infrared) under my normal gloves helps keeping my hands warm.

Bought one on the first day and used it to buy some Tatsu yesterday.

I think the Heritage model would make an excellent budget starter boat. The $400 gift card is just enough to get a Garmin with Sonar, side imaging and GPS (w/out maps). Finance it for as long as possible and then sell it to upgrade in a couple years because I bet it will hold its value and one could get most of their money back. Hmm...

Personally, I find that turning the fold to the outside and then securing it with some braid works better than having the fold on the inside.

Much of the heat that goes to your hands and feet is lost at the wrist and ankles. The blood supply is near the surface of the skin in these areas which allows for heat transfer to the outside world. Another method similar to using hand warmers over this area to improve hand/foot warmth is to “bunch up” loose fitting long gloves or socks over the wrists and ankles. Loosing fitting “bunched up” material is far more effectively at insulating than a single layer of tight material stretched over the whole arm or leg. In other words, long socks or gloves are more effective if they are somewhat loose fitting and if they are pushed down over the areas where the blood supply is close to the skin.

Anyway to get free shipping? Order dollar amount threshold? It seems like you’d have to spend $100+ for the savings to be really significant despite a relatively low flat rate shipping fee. Thanks.

Does anyone have a list image of the full 25 days from last year?

It's hard to resist a brand new Tatula CT for $79.99...Not sure about the 8.1:1 since that's the only option DSG is offering since I already have a KastKing Speed Demon (9.3:1) and a PQ2 (7.5:1).

Even more of a discount?

Yea thats why I got the e-gift card. So i wouldn't have to wait for the hard gift card to ship in the mail. If there's an incredible deal on something I need (>20%) I will certainly make the purchase.

I did have the gift card sent to my wife's e-mail address so I can't access it. I'm hoping I forget about it until next year (I did put a calendar reminder to remember I have it the week before Thanksgiving).

Revive! Here’s my 10.2 Basshound I turned into a one man bass boat by adding a casting deck on the front. Its actually extremely stable and can do a whopping 6.1 mph with the 5.5 hp motor. I am thinking of maxing it out to a 7.5 hp just for fun since I can find them cheap around here. It has a 36-lb motorguide and Lowrance Elite 5 on the front. I can still fit it in the back of my truck and take to ponds or throw it on the trailer and hit up the local <350 acre lakes (it a bit heavy). Any thoughts on upgrading the motor? I can’t currently get it on plane with 5.5 hp.

Not tackle yet but TW just $450 in gift cards from me. hopefully I can hold onto most of it until next years BLack Friday sale.

All Seaguar 25-45% off at TW.

I'm not necessarily restricted to any part of the lake. Ideally I'd like to fish the area of the lake that a guide would think would consistently produce the best 5 fish bag. I'm not necessarily wanting to learn Table Rock for tournament fishing, but I'd personally have more fun consistently catching 5 or more 2+ lb fish than catching boat loads of shorts and dinks. Historically we have always fished the Big Creek/Big Bay area because its one of the closest access ramps. However, adding a 20-40 minute drive to catch better fish is not out of the question.

I am not sure about lactic acid, however, there are data to suggest that the fight of angling causes a large release of cortisol (an avoidant stress hormone; https://www.researchgate.net/.../Hormonal-responsiveness...) and that based on how large this dose is (related to how long the fight lasts), it can indeed carryover and create an aversion to something that would drive a cortisol increase in the following season (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20932160). So these bass would indeed be less likely to strike a lure if it became associated with a stress response. I agree, however, that the fight is a significant portion of the fun.

Did some searching around the forum and couldn’t seem to find a whole lot of recommendations for guides on Table Rock lake. I am trying to plan a trip near the middle/end of March and would like some recommendations for guides on Table Rock. So far here is the list I have been able to gather: Pete Wenners Eric Olliverson Bill Babler Additionally, I know that Eric Prey puts out a weekly Table Rock fishing report and runs a guide service. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or does anyone have experience with any guides on Table Rock? Finally, while browsing a few of the guide websites I’ve seen that some of them offer a mapping service (usually $100-150), does anyone have any experience with something like this? With Navionics and having some knowledge of what to look for (gravel runoffs, rock transitions, ledges, etc...), I am not sure what utility such a mapping service would have. I consider myself a novice angler with a lot to learn. My goal of using a guide service would be to gain confidence in fishing Table Rock. Thanks for your help!

Revive! I have a similar question. St. Croix Mojo Glass 7' 4" MH/M or St. Croix Premier Crankbait 7' MH/M. I am looking for a cranking rod to throw squarebills to 12' diving crankbaits. I like the idea of having a little extra length (maybe I can get a few more yards out of a cast), and its my understanding that glass rods are 'better' for cranking. Am wondering if anyone has any opinion of these two rods side by side?

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I think I’m gonna try throwing it on a slower rod.

I just found this as part of an article that might be relevant to my situation as part of an article titled: "5 Reasons You're losing Crankbait Fish" I do pretty much aim to land the fish as soon as possible once I am hooked up. Maybe I'll work the fish a little more with the plopper in the future just trying to keep a little tension in the line at all times.

I recently started throwing a 130 loon whopper plopper and have been getting some awesome hookups. However, the bigger fish keep shaking off the hooks about halfway through the battle to the boat in the water. It feels like I am getting solid hook up but they still shake it off. I am able to keep the fish down and from jumping out of the water but they still seem to be able to shake off the bait. In the last 2 days I have lost 2 really nice fish. The stock hooks on the 130 actually seem quite robust in strength and sharpness. I am currently throwing the plopper on my frogging setup: 50-lb brand on a Heavy power fast tip rod. What can I do to keep the fish buttoned up better? Change the hooks? I've seen some saltwater guys change to "#6 Octopus" hooks. Use a different setup? Change landing technique? Thanks for your help.

Fished Grand on Sept 3rd. Caught 6 LMB between two of us. Biggest was 1 lb 4 oz. Flipped docks, hit points and tried to fish Bluff walls. Water champ first thing in the morning was 80° and buy the heat of the day was 85°. It was a long tough day of fishing.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Hmm I've heard good things about Honey Creek but I am confused as to where that is actually located on the lake. I think I was getting it confused with 'Honey Creek Outdoors' which is actually near the Wolf Creek ramp. I think putting in at Shangri-La and working toward the Honey Creek ramp (or vice-versa) might be a better option. I am really new to offshore fishing, so I am hoping that the fish aren't all deep, that way if we totally strike out trying offshore we can at least get our rods bent on/around docks and/or willows.