roadwarrior

;D ;D ;D ;D Surprisingly, most of us have four "seasons", they just aren't all as severe. I might use Omah, Nebraska as an example: During the summer, it can be as brutally hot as Houston, TX; in the winter as cold as Buffalo, NY. Still, the bass are basically the same.

First of all, I don't know why people seem to have it their heads that we need to downsize for smallmouth. That is NOT the case. However, if you are looking for better NUMBERS, smallmouth or largemouth bass, smaller lures ALWAYS outproduce bigger baits. If that is what you are looking for, look no further than the Zara Puppy (black on silver). As I stated earlier, this is a 100% guaranteed topwater lure if a fish will hit ANYTHING on topwater.

If that were true, no one south of the Mason and Dixon Line would ever catch a bass! We have a couple of members from Georgia, Florida and Texas that "claim" they catch a fish once in awhile. Maybe they're just pulling our legs. :

One "all-around" rod only: MBR844C If I could have two, my second is a spinning rod & reel: Medium Power/ Fast Action (soft plastics) A third would be baitcasting: Medium Power/ Moderate Action (treble hook lures) These are the only three rods you "need" for the vast majority of your bass fishing, but all fishing techniques can be done with one rod only.

I currently own 4 St. Croix; one Avid purchased yesterday! To answer your question, G.Loomis is a better rod, I own two. However, at the pricing point the Avid is a very good rod.

I deleted too much of your post. I fish them like a spinnerbait, steady retrieve with an occasional twich. Weightless or not, this is "killer" for me! *** NOTE ** For those reading this thread for the first time, start on page 1.

The Zara Puppy is what I consider a 100% lure. If bass are hitting ANYTHING on topwater, you will catch some fish, but it's a small bass bait. For better bass: #1 Full size Zara Spook #2 Sammy #3 I'm thinking Cavitron Buzzbait, but that's going to be an experiment for me That addresses your question. However, I think suspending jerkbaits are ALWAYS a better option. The Floating Smithwick Rogue is something else you might want to try.

Maybe this website can help: http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/global_portal/en/us/index.html : ;D ;D ;D ;D After fooling around on the Dark Side, you are always welcome on the Bright Side.

I don't watch much tv that's not sports related, but I never miss The Unit.

Nice fish, great pics. 8-)

Excellent color, too. I think they are done!

You need to give this a try: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1190572509

;D ;D ;D ;D Woo-hoo! Congratulations. 8-)

Just using it more...There is no fundamental reason why you cannot have the same accuracy with spinning tackle as you do with baitcasting equipment. Many guys that use spinning gear a lot (like me) are more accurate with their spinning rod...Go figure... Really, it's just practice or using that type of gear more often.

Fish Chris, Your pictures are always THE BEST, and your fish are, too! However, I have caught a couple of stripers that weighed more than yours and were NOT half that size! The biggest striper I have ever seen alive, in person, weighed 44 lbs. I have seen a 52 lb or 58 lb (don't recall exact weight) mounted at Bull Shoals. NONE of those compared to the fish in your photo. So, all I'm saying is good fish, but an even GREATER pic!

Actually, I need to amend my post, it didn't work out. I still have a WTB post in the "Flea Market". Hey Raul, I'm looking for a Chronarch CH50MG. Want to sell me one of yours?

GREAT PIC! Too bad you had a scale, that fish would have been an easy DD! : Seriously, congratulations, that's a fine bass. 8-)

No, Sportman's Warehouse in Memphis. BPS has sold out or not offering online. Their "low price" was $119 and I never could find this exact model. Reed's Family Outdoor Outfitters discounts St. Croix 10%, but never offered a real sale (they don't have this model, either).

Welcome aboard! It's probably more about what you are comfortable with. I use 3/0 Offset Worm Hooks with smaller baits. 4/0 with most soft plastics and 5/0 Offset Round Bend with 7" Senkos and big worms. I fish Gamakatsu and XPoint.

Well, I took my own advice and picked up a new Avid. It wasn't quite the deal some of you got, but $109 seemed more than reasonable. I plan to make this my "general" treble hook rod. I have been using a Avid AC66MF with a soft tip, but now I will use that rig "technique specific" for spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and jerkbaits. I put my Calais CL200 on the new rod. We'll see how everything matches up.

;D ;D ;D ;D Woo-hoo! Congratulations, Deb! That dark 3 lb smallmouth is a beaut, too.

Traditional: Inserted jig head, exposed hook. T-rigged: a) internal tube weight, 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hook 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hook, external bead and weight (barrel or bullet weight) c) weightless The advantage to these set-ups is that the tube can be rigged weedless. C-rigged: The tube itself is weightless and weedless; erratic action

How many excuses can these guys give you for a Saint's team that SUCKS? Man, I'm kind of a closet Chief's and Ram's fan and both of those team would beat New Orleans. With a little luck they could both improve to 2- 14. :

Man, those KU cheerleaders look just fine! :

Hmm... Use it as a trailer on a 1/2 oz jig, but be careful...You might get your arm broken! : 8-)