Glaucus

Nothing we do to these fish is a good thing. We just try to make it suck for them as least as possible.

Oh yeah look at this "spring"

I looked it over and it is cracked a little. Bent it back gently and it peeled slightly. It's not too bad. I'll use it until it's dead and then replace it. Might just replace it now anyways since fishing in the North isn't a thing right now.

I got a shipment of new Fury rods in yesterday. I quickly looked them over and everything looked fine at a glance. Today I was spooling everything up and noticed my 705CB has a bent guide. I've seen this many times before in stores. I always assume they were improperly stored, handled poorly during shipment, or handled poorly by employees or customers. When I order online I always order from reputable dealers (usually TW, that's the case here too) with priority overnight shipping. I figure good dealers know how to store and handle rods, and if I ship overnight it cuts down on the handling. I've never received a messed up rod until possibly now. I say possibly. Maybe this isn't the issue I've always assumed it was? I very lightly pressed down on the guide to see if it wiggled at all. It does not. The epoxy/wrap appears in good shape too. Does the guide need replaced? Would you replace it? I can get it done cheap so it's no big deal but if this is not the abnormality I've always assumed it was I'd rather keep the factory settings so to speak. PS I don't pick the wall colors in this marriage.

If you find a true Heavy in the 6'6" range let me know!

Also 735C is probably my next purchase down the line.

I love Tatulas. I'm a Daiwa fanboy and biased towards Tatula. At best I can only ever find them at 100 bucks. At best. Compare that with finding Fuegos at 60 and that's quite a bit saved going that route after paying full price for the Furys.

I didn't mean to open up that can of worms. I've looked into Spoonplugging a few times but I've always come across people saying it doesn't apply and much of the information is not correct. To be clear, I only wanted to know for myself because I may get the book.

No. I could target pike, muskie, and walleye too. Can't believe I forgot about them.

Definitely introduce them to Mr. Ned (Rig). The goal is to catch a bunch of fish. Senkos too. I wouldn't mess with anything else other than maybe inline spinners. The irritation of snagging crankbaits can ruin it for them.

Every country/continent/region has its own sport fish. I'm glad ours is bass. The only other fish here in the US that I would care to intentionally target is catfish and crappie. Carp gross me out so much. Drum too. If I accidentally get one my body is repulsed to have to touch it.

I've read that Spoonplugging doesn't really apply for modern fishing. True or not?

They do. I can't wait to fish them. Gonna be another few weeks at the earliest before fishing is possible in the North. This is my first Dobyns experience. I was skeptical of their power rating system. But I contacted Gary and asked some questions here as well and got led in the right direction. They feel great.

My order came in. 5 Dobyns Fury rods. I was going to put Tatula CT reels on them, but I found Fuegos for $60 each so that made my decision for me. I got these Presidents at half price at a going out of business sale. 663C, 664C, 662S, 663S, 705CB (I like shorter rods, didn't have a choice with the CB though)

Roland Martin recently put out a video where he was WADING in a lake in Florida. He said he's not concerned about the gators. That's absolutely insane. I would have a hard time bank fishing in Florida let alone kayaking or wading. I'd be terrified the whole time.

For @A-Jay

Your giant smallmouth photos have determined that this isn't accurate.

I understand what you're saying, but I've never in my life used my disability as a crutch. I live like anyone else despite the challenges because I believe in being my whole self. I'm just very concerned that my disability could really fail me here. I have stims but not like low functioning autistic people do. I don't spin in circles or clap my hands. I rub my face and tap my feet in nervous situations instead. I get shakey, I get anxious. I give off many signs of being a liar and a cheat in this instance, but I don't lie and I've never cheated. I don't want this test to give off false information because of how my body is reacting which is completely out of my control. Of course I'm not even close to being in a position to have a winning bag at a high stakes tournament, but it is the dream, and I would still like to discuss it. I see a therapist frequently. It's how I've gotten as far as I have.

I'll reply to everyone eventually. I'm going to start here. I don't like your analogy. The short NBA player like Nate Robinson can compete in the league despite the odds. He could maneuver around big guys like nobody else. Same with me. I can fish. I can compete. It would be like Nate competing and succeeding, and then being given a test to prove how he did it, failing, and officials taking everything from him. "Oh well you side stepped LBJ and sunk a fade away but if you can't answer these questions like we want you to, we're gonna have to go ahead and take those points from you." Talent =/= cognitive ability.

Anyone in Illinois or Indiana I'll fish wish. Hit me up. From Illinois, pops is in Indiana. In Illinois I can take you to some treasure LM ponds and some hidden SM spots. Don't know much of Indiana but I go there anyways for dad.

I actually placed an order for the Dobyns Fury 705CB earlier tonight for the same thing. I've also heard the Okuma EVX Crankbait rods are great at $100.

In another part of the forum a thread touched on this, but it was closed before I ever saw it and had a chance to reply. Guys, keep this thread civil PLEASE, so that moderators don't have to close it. This is a very important topic for me personally and you will see why. I have Aspergers Syndrome. I'm very high functioning to the point where almost nobody would notice. I was even able to be a really good football player back in high school. I work full time and I have a wife and kids. I do well. My battle is internal. But one of my issues is that I suffer from anxiety on top of PTSD from something unrelated to my "developmental disorder" (I hate that it's called that). Last year I fished my first tournaments as a co-angler... Not ONCE did I hear or see anything about a polygraph test being taken by winners. Mind you, it's a small club with very little money on the line. And that's what I want to talk about. Polygraph testing in tournaments. My dream is to make big tournaments at some point in my life. Bass fishing is my passion and my obsession. With Aspergers, I don't think that anyone could ever accurately polygraph me. I would be having an anxiety attack during the process for absolutely no reason other than being in that situation. Those things aren't accurate. You can't use them in the court of law. It seems that this rule would effectively eliminate people like me with special needs, as minor as mine really are, from any serious tournament fishing. That's a terrible shame and completely unfair.

I wonder which river(s) ndyakangler catches those giant smallmouth in in Minnesota.

It's just as much a boaters responsibility to watch out for smaller crafts as it is a small crafts responsibility to be safe and be seen. The water is for everyone. What I'm learning throughout the thread is "you don't belong here." Everyone be safe and be smart. Everyone is entitled to the same water in whatever boat they're in.

Any rivers/streams/creeks you could hit up?