drscholl14

I have a 6'6" casting that I bought a couple years ago. I wasn't a big fan. I didn't like the taper and it made fish feel extremely heavy, like I had no leverage on them. Not sure if it was the way it was balanced or maybe that the tip was pretty stiff. Just my two cents but that was my experience with them. If you want something in that price range I'm a big fan of Shimano Cellus rods. In the $50 range they are great rods. Cabelas has them on sale down around $45 a few times a year.

If you decide to sell your Dobyns and it's in good shape shoot me a PM.

I bought a Quantum Team KVD MH MF 7'4" from Cabelas last season because it was on sale for like $40. I was kind of looking around for a rod I could use for deep cranking and for the price I figured I'd at least give it a try. I wasn't expecting a lot out of it but it's actually become one of my favorite rods. I fish mostly 5 and 6XD's on it and the length allows you to cast a mile and the tip is very sensitive and has enough give to get good hooksets down deep. There are definitely better rods out there but at a list price of around $80 it's tough to beat.

I have caught quite a few walleye while drop shotting for bass. So many that I actually bought a bag of plastic gulp leeches to use on Mille Lacs if the smallies weren't biting well. It worked.....Caught a 27 inch walleye while my wife was reeling in a 5 lb smallie. It was awesome.

A whole freaking month to wait. My lineup is going to change on a daily rate with this long of a wait. I'm going kind of safe with this one but not with some of the obvious picks that are out there. I like how the pools got broken up this tournament. Should make it another fun one.

Nice start for me. Of all people KVD sunk me.

Ah! My bad. Still crazy to get it back on a caught fish

Tak killed it! Unreal he caught a fish that broke him off the day before on a different crank and still had the other one stuck in his mouth.

This is a good point. A lot of people think this isn't for shallow water fishing. Couldn't be further from the truth. Some of the best dock fishing days I've had were messing around with a drop shot around docks. Seems so backward but it worked.

Ah the fish of 10,000 casts. Have never caught one when I was specifically fishing for them but they are always following my cranks to the boat when I don't want them. Boy are they fun to watch in the water.

Costco has GREAT meat. Surprised me the first few times I had it from them. I enjoy the long cook times with a good scotch or old fashioned and a good cigar.

Welcome from a neighbor to the north! Good luck in your goals and I hope you get that flathead. I love catfishing the rivers up here and flathead are one of the most fun to fight out of any fish I've caught. Absolute blast.

I don't have experience with Abu reels but do with there rods and I've had structural issues with the two I've had. Not saying their reels would be the same. Almost all my reels are Daiwa now. I've had Shimano, Lews, Pflueger and out that bunch Daiwa reels have always felt the most solid and definitely the smoothest.

I usually wear the regular under armor performance t shirts. Comfortable, breathable, and cool, and not $35 like a lot of the name brand fishing tshirts. All you need.

Rods: Shimano, Quantum (although my next maybe a Dobyns Fury) Reels: Daiwa Line: PowerPro, BPS Fluoro Plastics: Strike King, Reaction Innovations, Yum Jigs: Strike King Spinnerbaits: Strike King Crankbaits: Strike King Topwater/Frogs: Heddon Spooks, Pop-Rs, Spro Bronzeye frogs

I stock up on line, terminal tackle, things I'm low on (this year it was cranks, d**n pike) and anything new that I want to try. Problem is I don't seem to limit the "restocking" to the off season...

Justin Lucas is the only one that saved me at 12. The middle of the pack is so close to each other in weight its crazy. Tomorrow could see a big shake up.

Those Aquasticks are awesome! Just bought one this Winter. Can't wait to start using it once I get my boat out of storage!

Figured this thread needed more pics....

I'm not from your area but I do shorefish for catfish quite a bit. I primarily only fish catfish at night and while you can catch them during the day they are much more active at night. Get yourself some cheap rod holders that drive into the ground and then a set of clip on bells to clip to your rod as a strike indicator. Then use @conorsixtakc's advice on bait a tackle. Upgrade the weight of your sinker if the current is strong and cast out cut/live shad or bluegill (live for flathead/Cut for channels) and wait for a bite. If you are going for flathead look for laydowns. Can't help you with blues as we don't have them this far north unfortunately. Check out youtube also, there are some great catfish channels out there.

You can try heavier trebles, heavier split rings, just don't go too big or it will affect the action of the bait. I throw the KVD jerks from Strike King and have never had one float on me. What jerks are you using?

Another Fishing Show is CLASSIC! Those guys are super nice guys too. Gregg is the cameraman that KVD hooked in the arm with a crank, double trebled, and a bunch of MLF anglers came over and tried getting it out. One of the funnier videos I've seen. The show is a little less serious than others but definitely entertaining. There's great another local show that I've gotten to fish with called Northwoods Angling but they aren't really a bass show. Just giant fish. Catfish, sturgeon, gar, etc. They just fished with Jon B and AP Bassin a few weeks ago.

I could eat BBQ every meal for the rest of my life and not get sick of it. I smoke, ribs, brisket, pork shoulders, chicken, tri tip, whatever will fit in my smoker. There's just nothing better. Great thread to start on here!

Holy crap! I work as a Firefighter/Medic and am expecting my first child in about a month and reading that story had me tearing up. I have been on the other end of that situation many times and hopefully will never have to flip sides. I don't wish that on anyone.