Big T

I think my post was a little misunderstood. My intention was to bring light to the low price of the Lightning Rod. I have heard good reviews about them. If I like this style of rod then I am going to step up to either an All Star, Fenwick HMG, or a St. Croix. Big T

For under $90 dollars: Great reel- Symtre $79.99 Good Reel- Sahara $59.99 Not sure about the Sedona, I think I might try one. I have both of the other two. I have two Symtre 4000's, one that is 5 years old and been used in saltwate extinsely, no problems at all. As a matter o fact it probably would be in better shape if I was not so ruff on my stuff. Hope this helps Big T

I ordered one the shipping was going to be $4.95 on the rod alone, so I ordered a couple of lures and paid the same amount for shipping on the total order. I think this style might suit my needs for fishing the NE Cape Fear river, lots of overhangs and small creek oxbows. Longer rods are too cumbersome. Big T

I have been wanting to try a short pistol grip but did not want to spend a fortune in case if I did not like it. I found this was one on clearance a thought I would share it for those hwo like this style of rods. I am going to try it and if I like it then I will move up to a more expensive one. Anyway here is the link. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_98476_100002006_100000000_100002000_100-2-6 Big T

my mistake, I looked on their website it seems that they are $26.50

BPS has last years version of that rod for $22.50 now.

Way to go Skins, I grew up watching them here in North Carolina. Hey Boett43, I noticed you were from Frederick, I lieved there for about a year and half. My stepfather is from that area and I have relatives living there.

Well I would figure that the LSU fans would say that so I am going to agree to disagree with you guys. Let's just say you all do not like USC and I do not like LSU. ;D Big T

Here is proof that the split National Championship was not a figment of Pete Caroll's imagination strait ftrom the USC [website:http://usctrojans.cstv.com/ot/usc-2003-national-champs.html

I am with Muddy on the issue of graphite and twisting. Penn uses graphite on their slatwater spinning reels and is renowed for the reels. And a 20# Red Drum has alot more fight than a 10-20# Bass. Just my opinion however. Big T

Item #2 is not a fact unitl it happens it is only braggin.If they win I will be the first to give LSu it congrats. And USC has strong tradition for winning National Championships throughout its' history. And as I said until they have a true playoff like in baketball, which by the way will be won by the mighty North Carolina Tarheels ;D, it is all a bunch debating. No hard feelings extended or taken. Just a little good natured ribbing. Big T

In theory the Cabela's combo is $109 then you have a $20 coupon so that would make it only $89 plus shipping. I have a BPS Extreme rod, my only problem with it is the fact that the ceramic insert came out of the tip after a year, plus I do not care for the size of the handle. That tip porblem could've been my fault but I have never had that happen with Shimano rods which were $20 to $30 cheaper. You could try the Cabela's combo and compare the two rods and then have a unbiased opinion based off of your own preference. There really is not a best oufit only a favorite at a certain price point and budget. Hope this helps Big T

LSU is a good team, I would not say that they are the most dominate team in the last 10 years considering they only have one National Championship and that was split title with USC; who by the way has won two and has played for a third in the same span. Big T

Blame the Pac 10 and the Big 10 for the lack of conference championships, not USC or Ohio State. And yes,Georgia should have won thier division. This is why college basketball is better than college football. You do not get penalized for one slip up. Also why we are talking about teams not winning their conference or division it could be argued that Kansas does not belong in the Orange Bowl. I remember them losing to some other Tigers at the end of the season. Put Mizzou in that game instead of being stuck in the Cotton Bowl. Big T

I'm not scared to give a two loss team. USC Trojans, yea we lost to Stanford but accidents happen. They are playing as well as anyone right now. Also Georgia, they are hot right now too. The BCS is flawed, it does not work . This season proved that. The only way to settle the debate is to have a 10 team playoff, using the various BCS bowl sites. Otherwise there is going to alway be this deabte year after year. Big T

Or the money machine, aka College Football, could settle this on the feild with a playoff sytem with the top ten teams playing intstead of having a month off to debate who really is the best. Big T

Jeremy, Shimano has that over the counter warranty program on those rods. I am not sure where you got it but, I know that the Eastern Outfitters down here in Hampstead carries those. Check the Jacksonville store they may have one in stock or can get one. Intercoastal Angler down here at Wrightsville Beach told me that they could order any Shimano rod that I wanted. Big T.

I am waiting on the BPS Saltwater Angler catalog to come, I think I odered the master catalog as well. Who in their right mind would pay $5 for one of these in the store, when they will mail you one for free. Big T

As the comedian Ron White would say: You can't fix stupid.

I have had three cheap Okuma reels. One was the Stratus sold at Dick's and the other two were Avenger 50's that sell for $35. I liked them, they served me well. I just like my Shimano's better so I sold them. Considering getting more for trolling. My buddy still uses one of my old Avengers and has caught several King Mackeral in the 20 pound range. One thing I like about them more than my Shimano's is the line capacity. Not really an issue for Bass fishing but can be in the saltwater environments that I fish alot. Big T

That price is what I paid for mine, two summers ago. Although most people slam this series I have not had any issues with mine.However, I also have not fished with it alot. I do not care for it. I do not know what it is but it just does not click with me. I think it because of its length. It is 6'6" and I am used to 7Ft. rods. If it were me I would get a Shimano Clarus. They run $59.99 for 6'6" and $69.99 for 7ft models. Much better rod I have one that I use for everything from Bass to Redfish in the salt. This is just my observation from owning both rods. Big T

As crazy as this sounds I have read several articles in local fishing magazines on Bass being in local retention ponds. Alot of these ponds are isolated from the river. They do flush into the sewage system that goes to a treatment plant. One local biologist suggested that the fish were introdoced due to birds, mainly seagulls landing in a body of water where fish eggs wer at and transporting the eggs to another pond where they rub off in the water a later hatch. I am not sure how accurate this is, but it sounds logical. Big T

You got a steal, that is Daiwa's saltwater baitcaster and sells for around $129 at BPS and Cabela's I paid $69 for the regular Daiwa Advatge 150h last summer trough Cabela's. Big T

Merry Chrismas to all. I you have to travel today be safe. Big T

So far I recieved a new battery charger for my boat, some BPS gift cards, a new baseball cap w/built in lamps for night fishing. Sunday the 23rd was my birthday, my wife gave me a new hand held spot light that is very strong for night time navigation, and some BPS gift cards. I see some new rod holders for the boat and a few heavy duty rods capable of catching sharks and huge flatheads in my future. I may not fish at all until sundown and early night hours next summer. Big T.