roadwarrior

Spooling with backing certainly saves money over time. Since we all like our reels "full", you definitely don't need more tha 80 yards of fresh line. I replace line only when needed, 80-100 yards at a time! With regard to knots, use what you like, no special knot is required. For the most part, my terminal knot is a Palomar, but occasionally a San Diego Jam, Trilene or Uni. Line to line: Blood Knot. Line to spool: Arbor Knot. 8-)

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Welcome aboard! Yep, I'm a fan, too. 8-)

Contact Karl at KaRu: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?action=viewprofile;username=173F2423243116392338500

The smallmouth are in the middle of spawn right now. They should be found on and near gravel beds which are often relatively shallow. 8-)

;D ;D ;D WOW! ;D ;D ;D Great fish, GREAT pic! 8-)

I don't fish the Fat Ika deep and I never use a weight. Twelve feet is about the maximim for me. Also, I don't fish the lure in swift water, it loses its unique action and looks a lot like a turd floating down the river. The fishing below Wilson is what most people think of when we talk about trophy smallmouth at Pickwick! This is PRIMETIME below the dam. I fish live shiners on a split shot rig below Pickwick Dam. 8-)

BPS sells Yo-Zuri Hybrid, Cabela's has both original Hybrid and Ultra Soft. Setting the hook: Use a "snap set" sometimes called a "quick set". When you detect a bite, lower your rod and reel down QUICKLY. When you feel the fish, snap your rod tip up with your wrists WITHOUT moving the position of your hands relative to your body. With sharp hooks, this will drive the point home! 8-)

Yes, you can use a scale, but this might be easier: Put free weights in a plastic grocery bag and tie the bag onto your line. GENTLY lift the bag and adjust the drag. You can then get a VERY close estimate for future testing just by pulling out some line and getting "a feel" for the drag at that setting. 8-)

For a true 6 lb test line, you are setting the drag correctly (25-30% = 1.5-1.8 lbs). Yo-Zuri #6 is 11.9 lb test which allows a drag setting of 3-3.5 lbs. 8-)

** MODERATOR NOTE ** Due to bandwidth restrictions, avids deleted posts are not stored and cannot be reproduced. -Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior Global Moderator ;D

His grandparents (mother's folks) are going to adopt the baby.

Both Toyoto and Nissan build a significant number of their vehicles here. My wife's Altima was built in Tennessee. Nissan's biggest plant, and I think the biggest automotive facility in the world, is located in Mississippi. http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/News%20Stories/NissanOpens.htm

If you are fishing for bass instead of alligators, the proper drag setting will eliminate all potential problems, whether the line is light or heavy. To prevent breaking your line or rod you MUST set your drag within the parameters of BOTH rod and line. This means NO MORE than 75% of a rod's maximum rating or 25-30% of line rating. As a ballpark, 3-4 pounds is what I find works for everything I fish with! Put a free weight in a plastic grocery bag and tie it to your line. GENTLY lift the bag and pay attention to the flex in your rod. You will see how much stress a given weight puts on your rig. 8-)

If you are staking tomatoes in your garden, I would definitely go with the Zebco! :

In moving water on the Tennessee River and fishing deep structure on both Pickwick and Bull Shoals, I have had VERY good luck with the GYCB Single Tail Hula Grub. In relatively open water, a jig head rig works well, but for the most part I fish it T-rigged, weedless with a 1/8 oz barrel weight. In shallow water (<12') the GYCB Fat Ika, weightless and weedless, will usually outperform the Hula Grub. The action is significantly different. 8-)

Welcome aboard! 8-)

Welcome aboard! 8-)

Welcome aboard! 8-)

My, my...After you try it the "right way" you're going to laugh at yourself for making this post. The Fat Ika is fished weightless, too! 8-)

I have asked both companies to quit sending catelogs, but they just keep coming.

Nice fish, great pic! 8-)

Hey guys, Let LBH handle this. I'm not telling you to stay out of it, but Russ is on top of the situation and can deal with everything himself. -Kent a.k.a roadwarrior

Wrong... "Dark" or white, and sometimes something else. :

GREAT PIC! My daughter is a freshman locally. Can she get credits at Avid's University of Photography?