Chris Catignani

For what it's worth, @Blue Raider Bob put on a clinic with the TRD Ticklerz.

I agree...I been fishing the 1/8 oz Original Slider head.

I was fishing a Ned on a Slider Head yesterday, with a lot of success. It needs one of those Japanese names...Like Ned Inky...(Slider has a Inky Dink).

I wish I had taken up Flippin' and Pitchin' techniques earlier.

IDK I'm guseeing he missed the land and hit the lake. Does that guys think hes gonna turn it back up right?

One observation from the river: Every so often you will see smallmouth streak buy as if the current is not a factor at all. If I came into a "hole" that had swift current, initially I would throw a small crank bait (Little O) around the edge of the hole...many times the smallie will come out and hit it. Then I would re-tie with a Slider and throw up stream and work it into the hole. Then lastly, I may even retie and throw the crankbait again...this time in the hole. The reason for this order is that if you get hung up in the hole...you spook the fish. Typically, a hole would be the root ball of a fallen tree. I know this sounds like a lot of retying but believe me...its a good habit.

The Kentuckies on the Cumberland hate that buzz bait so bad...you catch one and end up netting two or three.

The grass roots solution to the problem

One thing that puzzles me some, is why Agencies get all up in arms about a species of fish occupying water... Then on the flip side....cross Northern Large Mouth bass with Floridia strain bass in order to get a version of a LMB that grows faster and bigger. This is what's in Chickamauga. (Its too cold here for pure strain Floridia bass...this is why they are crossed) ...thus no size limit!

I know here is Tennessee, TWRA has some concerns about Alabama bass. The thinking is that they compete and hybridize with smallmouth and reduce the population. Quote from here...

John Gorman (left) and Lloyd Harrison, April 1969, 26 inches long, 21 inch girth

Sounds like its gonna be a sweet set up.

@T-Billy The foregrip does not double as a hook keeper.

Been meaning to get a Zorro shirt...classic.

I really like this MHX CB843...it may just suit you... MHX Crankbait & Swimbait Rod Blanks - Free Shipping | MudHole.com

I agree with the personality aspect of the pits...but my experience with pitted cork is that the pits seem to grow with wear. (and can easily be repaired with cork dust and glue.) @Delaware Valley Tackle @Cbump I've been a U40 user ever since it came out. I really liked the idea of sealing cork. But with U40 you need to redo the process (clean, reseal) if you use the rod often. That "sealer" never really penetrates past the first cell level; this is just due to the properties of cork. One day I came across a product called Cork Renew by Red Moose. Its claim was to seal, waterproof and protect. It's actually a product for cork bottom shoes. I bought some and applied it. This is similar to U40 (white dries clear), but it is a bit more viscous. It goes on thicker. After my initial test (next day) I thought that it felt a little tacky. But to my surprise...this tackiness goes away after a couple weeks. So...take it from someone who make a lot of cork handles, (burls, Tennessee handles, inlays..etc..etc) I am a fan of Red Moose Cork Renew. The only draw back , to me, is it takes a while to get the feel I would expect.

I can't speak for everybody...but I cut the lip slot right after I cut out the outline from the blank. This is when the sides are still flat and I can get a square cut.

The tip size has two measurements. 1. The size of the ceramic ring, almost always in millimeter. This measurement is the outside diameter of the ceramic insert. 2. The inside diameter of the tube (or barrel) of the guide. This measurement is most always in 64th of an inch. Now this will look a little weird because they will be in half sizes...i.e. 4.5/64th of an inch. (aka 9/128ths). Why they mixed the measurements of metric and standard is probably because this is how it was always done?

Yup...Busta Bully...

Thats a Bomber...not so much anymore. I been selling them off on eBay for mold money... I will say this about a Bomber....you can crank that thing right through brush and trees.

I like the more unusual pictures...

I love the Fall. Football season starts. Hunting season starts. School is back in session. All this adds up to less people on the lake! Now the fishing is a different story...