BrianMDTX

Well, THAT was good to hear!

That's a good outing! Man, that corn looks good. Ain't no corn around Houston. I miss that!

Go Ravens!!!

No matter what, there’s one thing about a leader that I would say is indisputable. You get snagged beyond repair, it’s easier to break off 6’-8’ of leader (likely at the knot to the hook or lure) then it is braid.

I have to admit. I read the title and thought it was the newest release from Nintendo!

I’ve never had success with a DS from the bank. Zilch. Wacky rig? Texas rig? Different story!

I may be wrong, or simply looking at this issue wrong, but I think many have given up on using the rod to fight the fish and use the reel to winch it in. I know many on BR have a lot more experience with big bass than I do, so I'm no expert by a long shot. But when I hook a decent bass (4 lbs and up), I do not set the hook and crank it in to the boat or bank. If the bass runs, I let it run, and use the rod, not the reel, to play the fish. If it's heading for heavy cover, I move the fish with rod action, not the reel. Pump and retrieve seems to be a lost art.

I mostly fish from a small inflatable boat, but still fish from the bank. I’d say 60% baitcaster/40% spinning. With a caveat. I have some places where I have room to cast baits a good way with a baitcaster. You may not. You can easily flick baits with a spinning rig. You may have issues with bird’s nests with a baitcasting rig if clearance is an issue. For me, topwater baits, crankbaits, jerkbaits and Texas rigs with a bullet weight (and weightless heavy soft plastics like a Neko Macho or Fat IKA) are worked with my baitcasters. Wacky rigs, weightless Texas rigs with light soft plastics, Ned rigs, drop shot, etc. I use a spinning rig.

This, backreeling (as previously mentioned), and I use it frequently to let line out when A- I’ve reeled the bait in too far to the tip; and B- to better position the rod in my small inflatable when boating a bass.

I won't say my Falcon Lowrider is heads above my Dobyns Fury, but I will say they are both nice rods. Can't compare them straight up as the Lowrider All 'Round Fast is a MH/F and the Fury 705CB is a MH/MF, so different applications. But they are both nice rods.

I have a Fuego CT 8.1:1 and a Tatula 100H 6.3:1. I like both reels, but if I had to name a preference, it’d be the Tatula. Seems to cast farther and very smooth retrieve. But the Fuego CT is still a great baitcaster.

Fished for four hours this morning. Tough, tough bite. Only one strike that produced one dink. But it was on a Z Craw lol.

Gotcha. But, as they were drafted, they are all NFL-caliber.

They’d get crushed. If any SEC team played any NFL franchise in a true, competive game, they’d get hammered. No contest. How many NFL-caliber players are on the Crimson Tide? How many are on the Jaguars? Do the math!

I may have incurred the wrath of the BM. Went to Academy and only bought one jig and one pack of soft plastics. Got a 1/2 oz. black/blue Hack Attack jig and a pack of Zoom Z Craw worms in California 420. I got out cheap but May pay the price later lol.

I’m not referencing that particular scenario. I’m talking about folks who bought $40K and up trucks not so long ago, and when gasoline went from $2.00 to close to $4.00 a gallon, they panicked and lost $$$$ because they thought they were going to face bankruptcy on fuel costs and traded in their truck for something small and economical. When the reality was they would have come nowhere near the monetary loss incurred in higher fuel costs than they did losing $10K or more dumping their trucks.

Like when gasoline first starting approaching $4.00/gallon nationwide years ago, and idiots were selling or trading in trucks and big SUV's and losing $$$ in order to buy an econobox. That would take driving for 8-10 years to make up the difference lost in fuel savings. P.T. Barnum was right. So was H. L. Mencken.

And yet my wife keeps asking me why I still drive an '05 Ram 1500 QC 4x4 with 176K on the odo and more rust than the Titanic's anchor. Thankfully (knock on wood) the drive train is tight and runs like a well-oiled machine. Well, it is well-oiled lol, but it does run great. Looks a little ragged, but for what they want for new trucks today, I have zero interest in upgrading.

I have one of those as well. I like the Revros more, but it’s still a decent reel. Running 20 lb. braid and 6 lb leader on it at the moment.

Not sure what your parameters are for "cheap", but an inexpensive reel that's a stellar performer IMO is a Daiwa Revros LT2500. $49.99 at most places.

I like it, but I do use KVD on it.

It’s clear as mud! I would hope that within a rod manufacturer’s product lines, that the various actions are consistent. They certainly are not between different manufacturers. The standard is no standard!

I'd say yes. I'll also say that one rod's fast action may be closer to another's XF or MF, so it's a little subjective.

I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500. I feel your pain. It runs like a top. A well-rusted top!

Life is too short to drink cheap beer Never regret any actions or decisions in the past, with the exception of those taken deliberately to cause pain and suffering to others