Big Rick

I do the exact opposite. I give my rod a quick twitch to make the blade sputter like a shad busting the surface. All in all, it's a change in cadence or direction that incites a bass to strike.

I did some serious damage this summer fishing a Rage Menace rigged on a VMC Drop Dead Hook 1/8 oz. I was fishing in duckweed and cypress trees and the fish were short striking my toads and frogs. I downsized a bit with this. It worked like a charm. Straight, steady retrieve was the ticket. The 1/8 oz weight was just perfect to cause the Menace to ride low enough on the surface to stir up a racket yet the slimmer profile helped the fish commit to actually hitting the bait. Oh yeah, I swapped the twist spring out for an Owner CPS in large. It allowed me to catch several fish per bait.

Got mine done last week. I hit a stump with my TM and broke my left turn cable. So, I just had a full service done. New plugs, water pump, oil and filter change, replaced all fuel filters. By the way, the replacement cables for my Ultrex were only $16 per. I was more than satisfied. That TM has jumped a ton of stumps and logs the last 3 years with no issues. With the way I use it replacing cables every 3-4 years is acceptable IMO. YMMV

It was just as original and epic as I figured it would be. Thanks for sharing the state secrets...

Come on, @slonezp! Give us the lowdown on your very original name!

It appears the algorithm settings on this forum sure think it profane language....

It's a 3/8 oz bait with the famous weight-transfer system. I'm confident that one will be able to cast it on bait casting equipment set up for 3/8 oz baits. Lighter line and softer tips will be a plus.

My father in law is also named Rick. Back in my LEO days I was a buff 6'1" and 220 lbs while my father in law, who is on the Search and Rescue team as a diver, was 5'9" and 150 lbs. Thus, to distinguish between us I was dubbed Big Rick. It kinda stuck over the years.

Problem solved. Rookie mistake, too. In my haste to spool my reel I inadvertently ran my line UNDER the cross bar behind the T-wing instead of over it. Now, it skips mush better with more control. And, of course, the other function drastically improved as well. Man, I feel dumb.... Thanks for the input.

I have several SV spooled reels and very aware of their ability to skip like a rock. I was just wondering if there was a certain way of setting the brakes on these Elite reels that would assist skipping with them. Valid question. I have spent a lot of time skipping with an XH, but this is my first Expride. I frog fish with an XH and skip my frog under cypress limbs. Also, you are right on with the fresh PowerPro observation. I spend a lot of winter days on the diving board practicing short distance accuracy. My pool is 40 ft long so it's perfect for pitching/flipping practice and learning what a bait does underwater. Thanks for the input. I'll give the line some BraidAid and some time to loosen up and see if I can solve this puzzle.

I just received my Tatula Elite Pitching Reel. After insuring it was oiled and greased in the right places I mounted it up on my new Expride 7'3" XH, spooled it with new PowerPro, and tied on a jig. Then mounting my pool diving board, I proceeded to thoroughly enjoy the amazing pitching distance and accuracy this combo afforded. I was thrilled. Smooth as silk and the handle and knobs are so sweet. Then I ran into a snag. I immediately attempted to skip the same jig. BOOM! Eagles nest! Now, I am not a professional, by any means, but I am confident in my skipping abilities with most setups. But no matter what I did on this reel I couldn't seem to get it right. I did manage to produce a couple of skips with the mag brake set to near 20. However, my aim was terrible. Anyone have this reel and can school me on the correct combination to unlocking the secrets to this reel?

I've owned various sized Yamaha outboards all my life. They're inherently good engines. Most older outboards end up with some carb work done due to inactivity allowing the gas to evaporate and leave deposits in the bowl that stop the jets up. This is a common occurrence. That 8 horse is a great little OB and tough as nails. I will say that with used stuff you really never know what you're getting until you've had it long enough to prove it.

Wow, beautiful rods and reels. Thanks for the history lesson. I'd love to see a video of them in action. I'm sure the sound alone is very unique.

The absolute best post I've read today. Really needed that laugh.

One of the main reasons some craws are more slender or slim is for punching mats. The slimmer profile allows it to slide thru the mat and yet still have some movement once it's underneath.

I made my purchase based on the "what-if" factor. In my case it was a 75 or 90. Sure, an additional 5 mph isn't much unless you're in a situation that 5 mph is the difference between disaster or escaping. There are many scenarios where an additional 5 mph would be much appreciated. Weather, accident avoidance, and, heck, just getting there a few minutes earlier, are several reasons to spend the extra. The main reason I upgraded was the same reason you should based on your original post. It's apparent you're gonna have a fishing partner. Those extra ponies sure make motoring from spot to spot much more pleasant. I promise, one mad dash back to the ramp to beat a sudden thunderstorm and your "amazing wife" will be thinking you're amazing because you kept her dry and safe. YMMV

Well, you are entering a 2020 market that has produced a very high demand with diminished supply for various reasons. So, you'll have to be patient and yet ready to pounce at a moments notice. And you'll probably pay more than other years due to the more readily available cash from stimulus money allowing for more purchases than the market can handle. Supply and demand. Capitalism at it's finest. Again, be patient and let the market level itself out while piling up funds to make a quick decision when the opportunity arises.

Strongly recommend upping your skipping game. Jigs can skip like a rock and really get under those docks where the big mama's stay.

Nothing. Had my wishlist ready to go and broke off 6 large ones early Friday morning. Now I know what I'm getting and know I'm getting exactly what I wanted. Oh yeah, had a $30 gift card to offset some of the costs, LOL! Can you say Expride and Tatula Elite!! Woo Hoo!!

I relegated these to the cypress infested lakes I love to fish. They work pretty well coming through the roots and limbs. They do not work any better in grass than the standard ones.

My Expride showed $279.99 at checkout. My emailed receipt showed $223.99. My Tatula Elite showed $249.99 at checkout. My emailed receipt showed $199.99.

Enter Z-Man Project Z Weedless Chatterbait:

Got my popcorn in hand. Let the festivities begin!! Knots are one of the most contested and argued subjects on the forum. Always interesting to see the differing opinions and experiences.

Sometimes newer does NOT equate to better. Often time "improvements" are nothing but a selling point that prove nothing. Your vintage machine proves that point well.