MAN

I just tie the braid directly through the ported holes in the spools now if I have to use braid. Da heck with the backing.

I saw a small bucket at ICAST that had a mesh cover over the opening with a slit in the middle. You can slide you trash in it and it keeps both the trash from flying out and the bugs off of it. I plan to make something similar.

I walked the new product showcase lure area several times making sure I wasn't overlooking anything as well as the new mom and pops that were at the show....I didn't see anything to write home about with regards to lures. I really think manufactures are just playing it safe right now and probably have spent more time dealing with logistical and inventory issues than product development.

Anyone heard if Rapala's releasing their new line of soft plastics at this show?

I use Zoom Trick Worms because they are the most easily available in my area. But any of the above mentioned straight tail worms will work just as good.

I'll be there and will share if I see anything cool. So far all the daily teasers have been ....eh.

Yes the SPCRM has a smaller profile body but a larger bill to help get it down to the same depths as a CRM.

The SPCRM is a smaller profile medium diving crankbait

Thanks RDB I will check out the youtube video's as well as figure out out to reset the unit back to factory settings. Not working correctly: I am not picking up on ANY fish both arches/icons and appears to be a lot of noise its picking up on. I am sure it is something I did fiddling around with the buttons. I didn't mean to say the unit itself is bad. Thanks again for the reply and help

The blanks on the cheaper rods are produced very fast and with very little QC/attention given. Also the cheaper rods utilize local guides and components (generic). And just like the blanks there is very little QC in those as well. I built a series of rods one time that had indestructible solid carbon blanks, and used local guides equivalent to Fuji to help offset the blank cost. Well of course the aluminum oxide inserts could not handle the loads that fisherman were putting on them because cheaper manufacturing process and would dislodge. Causing a whole series of rods to suffer. There were many lessons learned there.

I miss my old monochrome fishfinder. I just bought a Hummingbird Helix 7 and I still can't get that thing to function correctly. I need to find a website/someone's post that says " here is how you set up every single thing in the menu option for best proven performance.

Where did you purchase yours?

In similar situations I have caught some of those minnows in a net and baited them under a cork to get an ID on the culprits.....then was able to choose a better bait.

No name or logo either on this one.

Dang this is the one I have several of that I confused for yours. Well at least the forum was able to determine it was a CTF for you.

I swear I got some of those at home, I'll check tonight and let you know

Nice Lures....that Excaliber series really brings back some memories of re-stocking the 4' section of those baits 3 times a week growing up.

What I have always pondered is that if fish smell by taste. Some scent additives are synthetic chemicals formulated to match the requested smell...for the fisherman to be pleased with. However, what do they taste like to the bass? What if it doesn't taste a single thing like shrimp? Shad? etc.. Then did it really even matter to begin with? ..a day in the life of MANS empty head.

Its come a long ways... But I don't think some fisherman will be happy until the rods can float in the air

I wouldn't

Spot on. I was lucky enough to be a part of that whole practice run and had learned a lot from it. The HD rods themselves are some of my favorite out there for the price.

The fact this actually works helps to prove that people way over think bass fishing. I would post some pictures of other stupid lures I have seen that work....but I can't afford another violation on my account for doing that.

I went around our community lake yesterday with my son to pick up trash. We were so focused on not jumping up on a gator that we had seen sunning himself the previous evening....that I stepped on a snake. Luckily it was just a banded water snake, but if it would have been a cottonmouth I would be in a heap of trouble right now. We did see the gator ahead of time and he just walked into the water and went away. Next time we will put more emphasis on the snakes instead of the gators.

The fly cases are great holders for little Mepps style lures. ...at least that is what I have always used.