Tackleholic

Perfect timing, Mike. I've been putting together an order of your swim jigs; they are the best of the best and I will no longer spend time and $ on other brands.

I found "minnow shaking" to be boring; only took one season to have my fill. No more video games for me.

I retired to an Ozarks city of less than 2,000 population, but still is the largest city in the county. Doesn't have many amenities, but I won't trade it for somewhere that does.

No wife, no budget.

I'm totally hopeless, so out of control with tackle that I can't venture a guess. I have a 500 square foot man cave which is dedicated to my obsession. I also have a 50 foot wall with pegboard and shelving in the garage for overflow. I keep 20 rigged rods in my boat and switch some out after each outing. I have friends who come over to peruse my stock and borrow lures to try out before buying their own. I keep telling myself "No More", but I am weak. Currently I am conversing with Mike at Siebert Outdoors to place a sizeable order for his wire tied swim jigs because the 3 boxes I have don't seem to be enough. Following completion of that venture will probably be a selection of Dixie Jet spoons; seems to be no cure, but you know what? I keep running across other Bass Addicts who are easily my equal or above; incurably diseased.

Megabass Magdrafts are great, but susceptible to damage from a good fish. I use mostly Bass Mafia "Daingerous" line thru models; they cost less and hold together better. Megabass claims they have recently improved the durability of Magdrafts, and I'm probably going to try out their new 5 inch size models.

Strike King used to have a line of tubes made from Elaztec (sp?); they floated. I found them to be great for the shallow stream Smallmouth I pursued at the time when fished as an ultralight topwater. Rigged them with a fine wire wg hook and twitched across the surface. This post has me thinking I still have some cached away; if so, I may try them on my lake with BFS.

I do not balance my rods, but know someone who meticulously does. He will begin by using double face tape and different coins; if that doesn't suit him, he reverts to steel washers, of various sizes, sometimes stacking them. When his OCD is satisfied, he uses a stronger double face tape to to hold the weight. If he changes rods or reels the process repeats.

Rapala Countdowns will allow you to reach just about any depth you want.

I wonder if any cheaters have been caught using false bump boards? I once had a "fisherman's ruler" which would show a 12 inch fish to be 24 inches.

I got away from fixed screw keepers too; what is the Inhaler?

River Smallmouth in early spring; high, cold, and dirty water.

Myself and most others I know have only a few favorite skirted jigs and don't care to switch skirts; I prefer to trim each jig to a specific trailer and keep it ready to go. Wire tied skirts stay put and don't need to be manicured after each use. That's my preference, but not everyone's.

There is definitely a lucrative business opportunity in reel service where I live; non exist that I am aware of, and I learned many years ago not to try it myself. If any Forum Members in my area know of a nearby specialist I would appreciate a PM.

Likewise in Northern Arkansas.

I keep moving with the trolling motor set very, very slow, working the bank and shallows; cast and crank, repeat. Most others are dropping on shad balls 30-50 feet deep which is my least favorite method. They are catching mostly spots and largemouth, while I catch mostly smallmouth who are crawdad hunting and not showing on FFS. Interesting fact is that even when there are no shad around, those crawdad hunting smallmouth will not hesitate to grab a baitfish imitation that passes by.

North Central Arkansas has a carbon copy forecast of yours. Went fishing yesterday, but I'm retired and no longer sadistic; will wait a few days for the cold flash to move somewhere else. I usually keep at it until sometime in December.

Coincidence; I just sold a Stradic 1000 I bought in 2001. $30 to a friend; looked to be in better shape than yours, but I hadn't used it in 17 years. I also have a size 2000 from 2001 which still sees occasional use. I wonder what I paid for those reels back then compared to today's market. Would one of you Reel Service guys comment on the quality of old vs. new?

Well worth it; Siebert swim jigs are the absolute best.

About 60 years ago, I still have the belt buckle (and a rusty can of Brasso).

Me too. I have two of them; one for 3/8 oz. shallow jerkbaits with 10# fluorocarbon, one for 3/8 oz. poppers with 10# mono.. Lifgtweight and smooth.

I bought 4 rods and 2 reels from them this year, along with line and a few baits; sorry to see them go. Sometimes in situations like this, former employees will find a way to purchase the business; that takes time.

Be first in line at garage and estate sales; the good ones are gone in a hurry. Otherwise, Walmart.

I was wet wading once, just shoes and shorts; stepped on the tail of a Cottonmouth and it climbed up my leg, nearly to my shorts. He took off without biting me when I took the next step. Whew!

My "2nd" scariest event happened Walleye fishing alone at night in Wisconsin's Flambeau Flowage. A bear, smelling my fish, swam out and tried to climb in the boat with me. The night was so dark I did not know what was happening until my spotlight shined in his eyes; I was lucky he let go when the motor started on the first pull. My scariest event of all time happened one night when I was fishing on a gravel bar and fell asleep. Two racoons began fighting about 30 feet from me; that was 60-65 years ago, and to this day I have never heard such blood curdling screams, not even in Nam.