Mobasser

In almost 40 yrs, I've never had this happen. I've used Eagle Claw, Mustad, Gama,and some others. I've never thought of welding shut a hook eye, nor would see no need to. I'd get some different hooks

I've actually seen him 3 times since then. Always bank fishing in the evening. We always stop and talk, and see how it's going. Very nice older guy. So yes, we became friends too.

I have a early 80s copy of Slider Fishing by Charlie Brewer.Also Jason Lucas and Bill Dance. One that I would like to have is Them Old Brown Fish, by Billy Westmoreland

Catt. This is what I use to clean a big mess of crappie too. Works good

Brewers slider head, with a 4" plastic wormm

2012 Chevrolet Colorado. 4x4 Z71 and 5.3 V8. This small truck really moves it. They only made the V8 model from 2010 to 2012

Columbia Craw. I still use 2 round ABU 4600c reels all the time. One is 22 yrs old. I've had some small maintenance issue over the years, and have been able to fix them myself. Nice group of reels you've got there, and tough too

I like to use a trailer. A Zoom twin tail or a grub have both worked well.

I like bluegrass too. Flatt and Scruggs are my all time favorite

This. Works as good or better than most lines. Durable and priced right

I've used Big Bite Baits, and Strike King round shakey heads with these worms quite a bit. Both have worked well.

I've always tried to keep my spools full, and feline as needed. Makes any reel perform better

Nice test and results. Over the years, shad, chrome, and chartruese baits have worked the best for me. I always liked the looks of darker crawfish patterns, and have bought several over time, but these have produced less fish than other colors. The last two years, I've almost quit fishing them due to weed/ hydrilla getting out of hand. I'm having to use weedless plastics much more now

Mid to latter 1960s. Started with smaller topwater lures and farm.ponds

I don't listen to music while I fish. I just like it quiet. If I did listen it would probably be old school country. Merle, Hank, Buck, and Johnny Cash

Look for anything that's slightly different from the rest of the bank. A small change in the edge of the bank, a single blowdown, or even a different type of weed growth. Cast parallel to these areas and bring your baits slowly into the cover. This is why I recommend Texas/ weedless worms and soft plastics. You can cast them past these areas and work into them, with little if any hang ups

Yes. Charlie Cambell the famous Ozark area topwater expert prefers a 5"6 limber casting rod for spook fishing. You can cast a long distance, and the shorter rod length keeps you from jerking the bait away from fish on the hookset.

I really don't have a favorite brand with rods. I look them over, and like to take my reel and mount it on the rod before I buy it. Over the years I've used Berkley, Shimano, Lews,Fenwick, Diawa and one St Croix. Most have worked good

Catt, I need to try the Cavitron. So many guys say great things about them. I'm always on the lookout for the slowest buzzer out there. I also used to like Bill Norman triple wing buzzbaits. In 3/8 or 1/2 oz I could creep them along pretty slow. Now I can't find em anymore

I made a thread about mono lines a while back. I can tie a good knot. That's not a problem. But, I still like having one knot tied to my hook or lure, and I like the way mono handles and cast. Any fish I've lost with mono in 35yrs have been my fault, and I can't blame it on anything else. I really doubt I'll ever use a leader for any of my fishing. Don't see any need to change now

Yes. It's an old one, one in front of the other. I've had it forever. On one of the blades it has L.L. in italics stamped on the metal. I think it's 3/8 oz. I havnt seen on other one like it

Sam, I agree 100%. No crawdad in the world is worth getting chomped by a gator, or bit by a cottonmouth! Good advise for the crawdad hunters down south!

My favorite is an older black twin blade Lunker Lure. New ones I use are mostly Strike King.

Catt, my grandpa used to sing that old song! Sorry to hear about your Crucial. When my Shimano rod finally breaks, I'm gonna be lost without it

I use monofilament for 90% of my fishing, so of course no leader with that. I now have one casting rod strung with braid, for frog/toad fishing, and won't use a leader with it either.