roadwarrior

Yep, Randall has it going! 8-)

I have had some luck with Mattlures' Baby Bass in that EXACT situation. No twitch, just a steady retrieve.

One of the best presentations you can make! 8-)

This is THE sale I have been looking for and talking 'bout! Last chance boys! Get 'R Done!

GYCB will probably replace them, but it must have EVERYTHING to do with how you have stored the baits. I have GYCB baits that are 7 or 8 years old that are EXACTLY new. My new (<5 yr old) baits are the same. Shelf life seems indefinite to me. I have bought a lot of Yamamoto baits over the years and none have been "bent".

Here is the PERFECT "girl that doesn't fish" trip: Last spring my partner and I took my daughter white bass fishing. We began with about a ten mile boat ride and then proceeded to catch a HUNDRED or so, white bass. My partner and I hooked them and handed our rod(s) to my daughter to "fight". After awhile she decided to take a break and sunbathe. We fished for a few hours and went back in, stopped for lunch and got back home in plenty of time for her to get ready for Saturday night. Just a delightful day.

You can get both VALUE and NAMES that have established a reputation for high quality and dependable performance simply by taking advantage of opportunities when they arise. An example would be tremendous deals that pop up on the Flea Market section of this forum (today, TDZ-103HL, NIB, for 1/2 price!). Another would be Avid rods for $65 - $100. Secondly, SELECTIVELY buying lightly used and well maintained equipment is another option. With a proper tune-up, even a well used, high-end reel will perform perfectly and indefinitely with proper maintenance.

Hey KU! You guys are the odds-on favorite and if the Jayhawks win at Arrowhead, I'll be riding on your bandwagon! LSU belongs there, too. Still, I think the race is still up for grabs, just like it should be.

"Fast" Action simply means the rod loads in the upper 25% of the blank (where the bend occurs). This portion of the rod can be "firm" (stiff) or "soft" (wimpy). A firm tip is especially desirable for jigs and soft plastics because it does not "give" much on the hook-set. A soft tip acts as a shock absorber and is generally preferred for treble hook lures.

My thoughts: Single hook: Snap-set Treble hooks: Mostly the fish sets the hook; otherwise, firm but not violent hook-set and constant pressure. Jumping: Nothing. That's my favorite part of catching big fish, especially smallmouth. Rod position: 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock. The rod fights the fish. When the fish runs against drag, I'm lovin' it; otherwise, she's coming my way. Overview: Use sharp hooks only, hook-sets are not an issue. Constant pressure is the key. Let the fish run when it wants too, reel when you can.

The AS68MXF is probably a good recommendation for light to medium weight jigs and soft plastics. I own the AS66MLF which is a fun rod for white bass, stocker trout and bass under 5 lbs. However, the tip is soft, so plan accordingly.

Or, THE University of Missouri (beat IL on opening day, who just knocked off #1 Ohio), beats KU and then the Sooners for the Big 12 title. The way this season has gone, nothing is a done deal. LSU has been beaten and come close on several occasions. They may win the SEC or may drop another game or TWO! The National Title is wide open. p.s. I like the current (bowl) system. There are too many teams in too many conferences to have anything resembling the play-off system structured at the professional level. Besides, this way we can argue all year about who was REALLY a top ten team, contender or National Champ!

Be patient and you can probably find the rod specs you want in a St. Croix Avid. This is the best value at a pricing point of +/- $100 and still a good value at full retail. As flechero noted, the "G.Loomis experience" begins with the IMX series. p.s. Keep an eye on the Flea Market, GMAN might have some G.Loomis for sale soon.

Well, after a second reading, you are ABSOLUTELY right! my mistake. It probably makes sense for everything EXCEPT jigs and soft plastics. The tip is too soft for those applications.

How about here: Younger women Faster horses Older whisky Cuban cigars DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! We have a winner. 8-)

I recently bought a pre-loved Metanium from Robert with a tune-up from ReelMech. It's MUCH lighter than my Calais and comparable in terms of smoothness. Since it's already "broken-in", I'm pretty sure it is what it is. My rating is a Dead Solid 10. 8-)

Cute, but you can get a bunch of upgrades for any Shimano reel, but then again if you put lipstick on a pig, It's still a pig...... Ouch! I should stay out of "family" discussions. ;D ;D ;D

Hmm... I wonder why Shimano reels are made so differently? They seem good-to-go right out of the box. :

Q: So, what do you do with them? A: Give them away to someone you don't like. :

Is this a great board or what? Man, there's an answer from someone that's got a few comps for reference. Thanks! That is a GREAT post. 8-)

Bass_cat, I find it interesting that a new member with only four posts spends all his time suggesting how a topic should be handled. Looking back at all your involvement in the Forum, I have to wonder, "What is YOUR association with the Pro Staff program?" If you in fact have no affiliation, perhaps contributing to the "fishing" threads might be a better approach to initiate your participation on this Forum. Longevity and credibility go hand-in-hand. Constructive criticism and suggestions for improvments are welcome and encouraged from BassResource members who have established a "presence", but no so much from people who have just arrived.

Sharp boy, I'd say! 8-)

I think that's a great pic and a fine fish. Congratulations on a very successful year! The best is still ahead for you. Good luck in 2008.

Quality control...that's all. I shouldn't be that hard, but it is. Until this issue is resolved, imports from China and a number of other countries will alway be judged inferior...because they (generally) are. International companies must put "boots on the ground" until they can bring locals up to par. There is NO REASON this can't be done...TODAY!

Man... You stole my reply. 8-)