Big Rick

Won't you tell us how you REALLY feel, LOL!! Joking, bro...

The problem I've found with that is you either pay the same for the big companies shades and get lessor quality or have to spend much, much more to even get to the level of the better options such as Costas. I drive for a living and have tried most all of them. And Costas are the most consistent in lens clarity and continuity. I can't stand a warped view. It gives me vertigo. Also, the Costas warranty is excellent. I have used it for years and am very pleased. Another thing is the GLASS lenses on the 580G lenses are very lightweight to be glass and are crystal clear. They're also VERY scratch resistant. They also shed water like a car that's freshly polished. My brother swears by Maui Jims but when we are fishing together I can point out underwater things that he can't see. I'm no Costa Delmar fanboy. Just real observations from real life experiences for about the last 10 years.

And, Strike King is one of the chosen few that BPS will still carry. And BOY, do they carry them!! Loads of inventory!! I use the BPS credit card for my business expenses and get about $35 a month in points, so I frequent BPS monthly....

Ah, the old search function.... This forum is so full of info it would take years to really digest it all.. My brain would probably rebel and quit altogether. One good thing about creating another thread along the same line is the fact that the original is ELEVEN years old and there has been a TON of new baits, technology, and knowledge created in the last ten years. It's amazing how even baits are so much more realistic and accurate with the new materials and products they're built with. Case in point, since I started using a reel with an SV spool I'm a jig skipping genius and my cast/catch ratio has really gone up. Gotta love technology.... Sorry, OP, for jacking your thread. Carry on.

I have a few S-Wavers and they do catch fish without breaking the bank. And, for the most part, you don't have to have a specific rig to cast them.

I caught 4 over 5 pounds in one trip last month on the Azuma Shaker Z Lipless Knock Knock in bone white. It's got a single larger BB for a difference in sound. I actually picked it up in a discount bin for $3. Needless to say, it was well worth my initial investment.

I really appreciate how the mods, for the most part, allow a discussion to get a bit heated and not delete everything. It's a bit refreshing not to have the social media police projecting their point of view by removing opposing views and opinions. OP, rest easy. Hunting season opens in most of the country over the next few days and the lakes will empty. However, the fishing will get better and better while you have the lake mostly to yourself.

And they smell good enough to spread on toast!! I love these old worms. Every time I get to smell these I am taken back to another time fishing with my Dad in his old aluminum boat. I sure miss him....

I use braid on ALL my buzz baits. If I have on that's rolling to the side I tune the blade toward the opposite side. You can also tune the blade to make your bait run under docks and limbs. However, I have had a few that just would not run right and I trashed them.

Most reel companies that also build rods build those rods with their reel in mind. So, you get the best balanced combo possible, especially on the higher end of the spectrum, or at least that's how they're marketed. The cheap combos are just that... cheap so anyone can buy them. However, you get up in the Tatula Elite range and higher the rods are really built to run the same brand reel... That said, I have several Diawa's, Lews, and a couple of *** and NONE of the same brand rods....go figure..

Green mirror and Copper Silver Mirror are great for cutting the glare on water and seeing whats underneath. I use the copper in the tannic, cypress stained waters of La and love the result.

The BPS Speed Shad are about as good as it gets for ribbed paddle tail swimbaits. I use them all the time. The biggest difference between them and Kietechs is the squid scent and the fact that Kietechs are a tad softer and tear much sooner. Put the two side by side in a pool and you can't tell the difference, IMHO. BPS branded lines are good as well. Excel and the KVD endorsed stuff is legit, especially for the money.

That's because you use the right ROD and REEL for the right application as well. Way too many times the line gets the blame when in all actuality it's the rod and reel that are the culprit. No type of line can over compensate for a rod that's too stiff or too limber, or too short or too long.. Neither can line fix a reel that's too slow for the desired application. That's why, as I've been able to, I have acquired several combo's that are technique specific. Change one component and the whole thing just wont work as well.. I use mono for it's forgiving nature and it's ability to float for all my treble applications. In fact, I only use fluorocarbon for worming applications or when I'm trying to get a spinnerbait deeper than mono will allow it to go. Braid is relegated to my frogs and some jigs...

Woo Hoo!! Man, you are RUINED!! There's nothing like catching a fish on a topwater bait. It's an adrenaline rush that's very addicting. Way to go and keep at it. Just remember this one thing... You can't MAKE a fish bite your favorite lure. You have to adapt to conditions. So, don't get so addicted to the topwater that that's all you're willing to throw.

I fish a lake with float roads. You wouldn't believe the people that camp out IN the float road and fish! I come boiling around a corner on plane and BAM there's an idiot in the float road, trolling motor down just easing along like he owns the place! I have no option but to blow by on plane and maintain control of my boat. I get some looks but I'm also giving some looks. Some people have NO clue about proper boating ethics. A float road is basically the same as a state highway. You don't stop in the middle of the road and break out your picnic basket....geez...

On my lake there's a dock owner that has installed a fish feeder with a timer. Every time it goes off there are lots of turtles waiting to scoop the feed. I have NEVER caught a fish around that feeder and I believe it's because of the elevated turtle population. I've also never seen a fish actually eat the feed. It's all turtles. On a side note, if I'm relatively close to the darn feeder when it goes off I about un-climb the boat!! That thing makes the most awful racket that really dynamites the stillness of the morning!!

I'm assuming since you can see this happening you are fishing somewhat shallow. Try a topwater bait. A popper would be my first choice. I've had this happen before as well and often the fish will get real violent on a moving target above them. Don't go too large at first because you don't want to spook them on lure touchdown. BassNJake had very good advice as well...

Sigh..... Y'all got me back on the TW website creating a cart..... Thanks, guys....

I don't have an issue with it either. And I own six T-wing reels with multiple types of line and leaders. If anything, it's much more accurate in laying the line on the spool because of the narrow slot. However, it is an issue for some that ride the line on their finger. I actually tested my reels by riding the line on my finger while worm fishing and I did have it ride up into the T and start piling up on one side. That's the only negative I could find with the T-wing system.

I learned hi-vis braid is amazing when fishing weightless Senkos. No matter how subtle the bite, if you're watching, the line will jump and twitch to let you know it's show time!! Of course, I was using a 5 ft mono leader and the fall rate was spot on! First time fishing with hi-vis braid. Very pleased with the outcome.

Since you're fishing so shallow you don't need much weight. Also, WHERE the weight is on the hook really affects the action. I really like the VMC Drop Dead Weighted Hooks when fishing shallow water. You can go as light as 1/16 ounce. I prefer an Owner CPS screw lock in them, though. These hooks will allow your swim bait to drop in the horizontal position instead of nosing down. Looks very natural. The only thing to consider on these hooks is they run a tad long. So, downsize one size compared to other hooks and you'll be fine. Love the Speed Shad, too. It's a great bait that don't break the bank. I've used all sizes and they all work well.

Some fish soft plastics and jigs with their index finger UNDER the line. That can cause the line to ride up into the wider portion of the T and make your line lay uneven on the spool. That's all I was stating. It's something to consider when you're looking to purchase a reel. HOW you use your reel is the most important factor when choosing it.

In my experience the T-wing adds 10-20 ft. to a cast by allowing your line more freedom. That "freedom" comes from less restriction at the line guide being much wider on the cast. This is a good thing. On the negative side, you can't reel with your finger on the line because it can cause the line to ride up into the T and let your spool pile up on one end. If you're casting lighter baits the T-wing helps. If you're using leader on heavier line you could possibly have an issue with your connection knot fouling in the T. All in all, the T-wing is a desirable attribute to a reel as long as you use it in the parameters set for it.

Watch your line guide when you reel to insure it's making a complete path side to side. If not, you probably have a bad pall or worm gear. Also, if you have too much line the spool can't correctly "lay" the line down and causes the excess to run off the edges and cause issues.

Every male, regardless of age, has seen THAT picture at least once.....