roadwarrior

Some Wal-Marts, all BPS and Cabela's stores.

That is probably the worst thing you could possibly do with a rod. You might get away with it for awhile, but eventually your tip is going to break.

No, it will just be a mess.

6" Senko, watermelon w/ black flakes, watermelom with red & black flakes, green pumpkin w/ black flakes, black w/ blue flakes Fat Ika (not a worm, but something you should DEFINITELY be fishing) same colors

I'm all about that bait this summer. Good catch, great pic! 8-)

It seems like we're always on the same team. Havin' some different "favorites" ain't nothin'.

Well, my Grandmother never had a sip of alcohol in her life (98 years) and didn't allow Grandpa anything but an occasional beer (Schlitz). So, he kept his bottle in a brown paper bag under his football chair (Lazyboy) so she wouldn't know. I had a lot of cousins and when it was just "us boys" Grandpa would give us a sip. Now, I'm tellin' ya, at the age 8, 9 or even 10, that stuff was AWFUL, but we all thought it was a treat! I think that's one of the reasons my Granddad liked fishing and taking his grandkids along. Nobody ever taddled on him.

My family line lives a long time. Some of my first memories are those of my Great-Great Grand Parents, one Great-Grandpa and two Great-Grandmas. Anyhow, my Grandpa (mom's side) shared "The Secret to Longevity" with me a few months before he passed on: 1. Drink at least one bottle of fortified wine (Thunderbird) every day. 2. Smoke when you're upright or sitting down, but not laying down. 3. Pay close attention to football, especially the Oklahoma Sooners. 4. Fish whenever you can and when you can't. And most importantly, 5. Avoid exercise at all cost!

I thought that's how it worked everwhere? Where do you guys think all those Lake Erie fish come from? Just release the smallmouth you catch, we want them back!

The Shimano Citica is a little heavier (9.9 oz), but it's a fine reel. You might find a new one on occasion in our Flea Market for $95 - $100, MSRP is $120. It comes in a left-handed model: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20331&id=0035967120569a&navCount=1&podId=0035967&parentId=cat20331&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20331&hasJS=true

Yes, but you really don't need to. If you want "strength" 20/6 or 30/8 braid might be the answer. However, my suggestion is Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (11.9 lb test). Regarding the drag: Stick with a front drag. The "advantage" to rear drags is that they can be adjusted more easily when fighting a fish. Well, you should never do that anyhow! Set your drag up properly and you will not need adjustments.

Symetre. MSRP $79, but you may be able to find one for around $50. Also, for bass fishing the 2500 series is as big as you need.

Standard procedure for me...then I like to troll it, too!

Length is really just a matter of personal preference. There may be some slight advantages of one over another, but they are NOT significant. I do however STRONGLY suggest that you spend some time looking for a deal on an Avid rather than buying the Premier rod. St. Croix is introducing a new Avid series and the current models can be found for $80-$100.

MegaBass PopMax http://www.tackletour.com/reviewmbpopmax.html 8-)

Coming from a man that for a long time so strongly endorsed braid is a BIG statement. Thanks! I'll give it a try.

Nope, I don't back reel. I set my drag CAREFULLY and depend on it to perform flawlessly. As you probably know, the moment of truth is when you get that fat girl to the boat, the first time! The fat smallie in my avatar was the strongest freshwater fish I have ever caught. She stuck slightly up river between the boat and bank. She ran down the bank and around the back of the boat. After clearing the boat, she bolted! That brown fish headed for deep water in the middle of the Tennessee River and she was on a mission. Peeling line and screaming drag...Man, I'm ready for fall.

+1 8-)

The line didn't break. "If the knot ain't perfect, it's not good enough."

Welcome aboard!

The MegaStrike advantage: 1. User friendly. This product has a consistancy slightly lighter than Vasoline. The dispenser is clean and does not spray or spill. Applications "stick" to baits and lures, they do NOT drip and the product does NOT stain cloth or carpet. 2. The best attribute, to me, is the "slime factor." Whether the scent tastes good to a fish or not, I do not know, BUT...it doesn't taste BAD! Fish may hold a bait a little longer and lures tend to slide in the mouth. Mattlure's has suggested this product for improving the hook-up ratio with swimbaits. 3. MegaStrike lasts for a long time because you only need to use a little at a time and it never gets old.

Alright, first of all, the Yo-Zuri Ultra Soft is EXACTLY the same in cold weather. So, if you like it now, you'll like it then. Regarding pure fluorocarbon line. I WANT to use it...BUT...I have not found a line I can fish, especially on spinning tackle. Yo-Zuri Hybrid (original formula) is VERY close to the refraction index of water, but it is NOT a pure fluoro. I think it is the best "alternative'" and have gone back to using it on two of my baitcasters (#12) and one spinning outfit (#4). Otherwise, I'm still Mr. YZ Ultra Soft.

I talked with my partner who has been guiding below Pickwick Dam the past three days. Air temperature 106-107, 92 degree water and 2-3 stripers PER 8 hrs! Pittiful. It's too hot to fish the river.

I hope you catch your PB on one of the Professor's snakes. These would be my suggestions as far as mounting goes: Any largemouth weighing 22 lbs 5 oz or more should be skin mounted. I loves me some smallmouth and don't want them killed, but if it's 12 lbs, by all means mount it. Otherwise, replicas are DEFINITELY the way to go. 8-)

Nothing, just personal preference. I prefer green, but I got a deal on some line that came in clear (white) only. So, for the past year or so I have been fishing clear without ANY noticeable difference.