Big Rick

I've still got several I saved from my Dad. They're nearly identical. Biggest difference is the paint scheme and the FEATHERS on the rear treble. Overall, it's a nice redo and will surely catch fish as well as the old one.

Bailey hasn't been on here in over a year. However, @Master Bait'r has been active in the last month. Since he was the poster the introduced the product maybe he'll chime in and give us a current update. I'm interested as well.

I second the motion. The entertainment value is near zero.(which is a plus for me) The information value is at the top! Jonny is a very respectful and intelligent young man. His videos are very informative and are professionally done. I'm sure I'm 20+ years older than him yet I have learned things from watching his channel. Well worth the effort.

Here's a different perspective. We, as humans, often need to be reminded of things we learned in the past. And, five people can say the same thing and yet we will get 5 different things out of it. That's because we are all different in our way of communicating. And, often times we glean something out of a topic revisited a second or third time that we missed the first time. After all, it's all about catching more and bigger fish! So, Tactical Bassin' and Bass Resource revisit what is relevant at the time to refresh it in our memories so we will be more effective when we do get on the water. The Good Book says there's nothing new under the sun. However, every time we relate a story something different can stick out from the last time it was told. I'm just thankful these guys commit to helping us catch more fish. Regardless how often they have to revisit a topic. As long as it is relevant it can be effective. Talking about top water fishing in December is pointless. Nearly every thread created on this forum is a regurgitation of a previous thread from the past. However, we are ultimately too lazy or too ignorant to use the search tool and find the info from the past. But, different people join and give the same answer in a little different light and it resonates with us and helps up chase these green and brown fish.

"Starting" with a spinning outfit will never teach you how to skip a baticaster. The nuances of the casts are nowhere near the same. So, don't think just because you get comfortable skipping with a spinning combo that you'll also rock with a bait caster. Two totally different approaches. Skipping with a bait caster is much better IMO. I can use both, but using the bait caster is much quicker and more accurate. Which is kind of the point, right? Again, not discounting spinning gear. I have multiple spinning combos. But I am much more accurate and quicker with a properly set up bait caster. I'll admit that the biggest help is the SV spool on my Tatula. It's almost cheating it's so good at holding the spool at the right speed.

THIS! I got my Mississippi Lifetime Sportmans License back in the early 90's. MDWF lost money on me when I lived in La. and hunted in Port Gibson, Ms. Out of state big game license alone were $350 per year. Sportsman license covers everything recreational but your stamps for migratory birds. Saltwater is a different subject altogether....

I DO fall in a statistic, brother. When I have a uniform with a star on the front I got a TARGET on my back. One perceived wrong move in front of a stupid cell phone camera and my career is up in smoke. Doesn't matter what happened 30 seconds before or after the video clip sent to the news outlets. Which is one of the reasons I hung up that uniform and moved my family 5 hours away. Anyway, this is my last post on this issue. I hate politics. But I LOVE backing the BLUE because they backed me when it counted. Now, back to fishing......

Brother, you have WAAAY too much time on your hands to create those pics...... I envy you....

Pictures are worth a thousand words....

While I'm sure @Glenn appreciates the vouching it is not necessary. This whole forum is run with the utmost professionalism and there is no reason for any of us to think Glenn would lie or cover anything up. My time on this forum has been very enjoyable due to the fact that there's no foul language or reprehensible conduct allowed. I also enjoy the fact that we can spar a bit as long as the hits are above the belt. That makes for an enjoyable conversation.

Like @AJ, I couldn't let this go without responding in defense of our law officers... Maybe you should spend some time looking up the crime/ethnicity ratio in Detroit... As a retired LEO I can attest that it is much more likely the perp will be a certain ethnicity in certain areas. Peace officers have a split second to assess a situation and determine what's needed to insure the safety of everyone involved. First and foremost, their OWN safety. So, when an officer is in a higher crime area that stats prove the crimes are committed by certain ethnicities mostly, that officer is on high alert due to that. Police often stereotype because of the crime/ethnicity ratio. You don't go fishing in a bathtub. You fish in a high potential location. While this is a crude example it is very accurate. These officers have no choice but to be in the higher potential area. It's their job. The biggest thing you can do in your favor is don't act suspicious. Be calm and obedient to the officer involved. Don't give the officer ANY reason to think you're a threat. Keep your hands in plain view. Make no moves that you don't first tell the officer what your intentions are. Then, move slowly and deliberately. This is your life you're playing with. Again, these officers have, more than likely, arrested and fought with many perps of certain ethnicities and are already expecting trouble because of that high ratio. Don't add to that number. As a whole, peace officers are just trying to keep you safe and do their job safely. Most have families that they want to get back to. Peace officers are NOT PERFECT. But, for the most part, they do have a huge heart and really care. Treat them with respect and you'll get respect REGARDLESS of your COLOR..... I apologize for further derailing this thread, but this needed to be said to keep things balanced.

Well, the keel on the BT is very deep or low for ride comfort. It actually extends below the bottom of the rest of the boat. So, if you're used to another boat that isn't that way you may be feeling that keel digging in. I don't know, I'm just suggesting this since I have a friend that runs a BT similar to yours and am familiar to the boat a bit. On the other hand my G3 is built with a slight and ever increasing rake to the bow and it will flat move! But it is a rougher ride in the bigger swells than my buddy's BT. My G3 is 18 ft with a Yamaha 90 and will top out at 42 with all my gear and a full tank. So, with your bigger boat with two people, more gas and gear, and the deeper keel might not run any faster than 35. Again, just trying to give you something to compare to.

Something is bad out of sorts here.... Almost sounds like the prop clutch is slipping?? Surely not on a new prop....

The Brat is a great bait. It runs well and will not blow out. I've caught some good fish on it.

Zoom makes limited color runs. One of those is Candy Bug. And it is AWESOME. Its June bug with some different flakes in it.

The vast majority of fish hit a jerk bait on the NOSE or the front of the bait. They seldom come up from behind. So, 3 hooks will increase your landing percentage greatly because the front hook will be in his mouth and the other 2 will be hooked OUTSIDE the mouth/gill plate and will prevent the fish from throwing your bait. Bass are notorious for doing a vicious side swipe on the front of the bait and if your hooks aren't super sharp you'll flat out miss it. One of the most effective things you can do is swap your hooks to Owner ST-36 and your split rings to Owner Hyperwire split rings. Those side swipes become much more deadly.

MN Fisher nailed it. If I could add anything it would be to also give your rod guides a dose as well. It really slicks things up and add distance and accuracy to your casts.

What's up with no PICS???? You gotta share the love!!

You really need a stout rod with a lot of backbone to drive those hooks home. Yes they are sharp. However, the diameter of these hooks is where the problem begins. If you don't have enough rod strength to hammer these hooks past the barb you will stick the fish, but only until he jumps and throws it back at you. That's because you don't have enough strength to drive the hook in past the BARB. Driving a hook thru the plastic and past the barb takes some real jacking with a stout rod. Any lesser hook will bend out and you lose the fish anyway.

It's a liquid that penetrates the line and assists in keeping it smooth and limp. Really helps with casting distance and accuracy with Flouro and Mono. I've attached an example: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Kevin_VanDams_Line__Lure_Conditioner/descpage-VDLL.html

And don't forget your line conditioner, which really helps with the memory.

Cajun Line by Zebco. Like Big Game but colored RED. Some think the line color makes a difference and some don't. Regardless, the line is tough, low memory, just the right amount of stretch, and is cheap. 14 lb. is all you'll ever need to chase green and brown bass.

THIS!! Because the slightest difference in cadence of your retrieve can make all the difference.

I would stick with action baits like cranks, lipless, spinnerbaits and the like. While these rods are tough as nails and will handle a beating they are not known for their sensitivity. So, any technique that requires sensitivity would be better relegated to a rod that is more sensitive.

I buy mine from Tackle Warehouse. I prefer the Standard size. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Don_Iovinos_Splash-It_Poppers/descpage-DISI.html