grimlin

I'm the ODD one out here...I reel and cast right handed. I have no problems switching the rod to my left hand and setting the hook.For the life of me I CANNOT reel left handed.I can't even do it with spinning reels either.Feels way to AWKWARD! I've been doing it this way for years....reel and cast right hand.Everybody's different.See what works for you.

I prefer tungsten over steel. But i lose a bunch due to hangup from shore.I still like my lead weights. :-/

I have a little more fun with mid price gears($200 combos) than i do with my old shakespear combo i had starting out(lasted less than a year).Plus i really don't have to worry about my set ups breaking during a fishing trip,I can't say that back then when i was fishing with nothing but cheap stuff. Buy what you want,can afford and have fun with it. I don't agree with this thread entirely. You can't buy one set up and use it under all conditions....it just won't happen. My buddy has the cheap,cheap stuff and every time we fish he loses those fish in the grass and rocks,yet i don't.because i had the right rod for the job.

I caught my personal best smallmouth on a watermelon seed yum dinger. Trust me,you shouldn't have too much problems.Fish them like you would for a bass...same technique. Pick up some tube baits too...smallmouth love em'. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1167358924/ Read that link...it'll help you!

Today i put a beating on them small mouth river bass...I was consistently saying "Woooo baby" and "fly baby fly!" Every time they got some air time. I looked like a dork out there today.... :-/ It's been so long since i had a day like this.I couldn't help myself. :-[

I love my Revo STX,Love my Shimano curado,love my Daiwa fuego. No fanboy here....

They work....not the greatest action,but for the price on these it's hard to pass them up.I always buy the $5 packs kits at Walmart that comes with a few color options and size jogger worms.If an angler is on a budget those are what I'd recommend to get.

This is correct....I seen it first hand when i was a kid.I completely destroy a little river/creek.

You are putting too much on or pressing to hard when going on.2-3 swipes lightly per armpit should be plenty. I use the same one you do and it lasts me a good month. The gel stuff however doesn't last long at all and is a little more messy,so i tend to stay away from those.

You got me,I ain't having much luck either. I almost welcome this cold front that came in last night...I do a lot of river fishing as well. Been a very unproductive year this year for me.Seems like every time i try to find a pattern it changes by next year.

Yup should have just went and got security.Which is the only thing i don't understand from all this.You think once you get older you get wiser...but apparently not. That kid was mouthing off though.He might have had it coming. I say all 3 of them should be banned from any more of these event.That's the only way to be fair.

Then how about your take on it? :

Home spending time with the family and shoveling snow. :-/

You gotta fish according to the conditions and how the bass are biting. Going slow or slower won't always get you bit.Sometimes speeding up will get you all the bites. Look at KVD...you think he fishes slow? ;D He fishes faster than most of us do.

Different strokes for different folks....I'm the complete opposite.I don't see how a faster start up is gonna help reduce backlashes.If anything it's gonna cause them if the person doesn't have an educated thumb just yet. :-/

It won't cast better. It will cast worse than a full spool. It will also not have the fullest retrieve capability of the reel. I tend to fill my spools with main line, the exception is braid; with which I have 10 turns of backing. If you're really into saving the line, you can "turn it around" on the reel. How does only filling half the spool make it worst to cast?I only fill one of my reels half way for crankbait and it casts much much better than a full spool. I've yet to backlash on it going on 2 years now. You are right though it'll slow the reel down,but then again...I don't need or want a fast full retrieve on a crankbait.Horsing a fish in on a crankbait is disaster.I kinda use this to my advantage. Matter of fact i learned how to cast much better when i started using my first baitcaster only using half a spool.A full spool for me always ended in disaster after the 3rd or 4th cast.As i got better i started filling the reels all the way up.

I'm sorry man :\ thats rough. Now you make my problem sound retarded Try and keep an eye out on Ebay.These things pop up every now and then.Specially older lures.I know this ain't much help but it's some where to start and look. Blue streak sorry for your lost man.

Yup......Work is so overloaded that they won't hire anybody else back due to a fear of another crash in the economy that they are working us 60+ a week.They say we have work,but not enough....I don't get that at all.We are having a hard time keeping up with the orders as it is right now. I haven't even had the needs to buy any new tackle lately....I don't see the point in it if i can't even use it right now. I've caught a measly 7 bass this year....most came out of a little pond at work on my break.I'm used to a 60+ bass average a year(shore bound). If you asked me..it's affected my fishing greatly.I did real well when i was laid off... ;D

You will NOT regret them! I think that's the only crankbait I'll shell out Over $10 for so far.You might end up on a waiting list...but believe me I waited almost 2 months for mine and it was definitely worth the wait. Order them over the winter time so they'll be ready just in time for spring. I have two of them just for show boating in my tackle room and people just drool over them.

Listen to these guys...I was trying to find one a few years ago and still looking.There really doesn't seem to be one out there yet. I suspect if you do find a good one it's going to cost you some good money.

Tackle tour has a article on it. Price point is at $169.

It's not moving.I can't figure this out....This one has me scratching my head. Somebody must have read that meter wrong twice. :-/ PS I did wait an hour before checking again.

Thanks! Going to go check that out.

3rd thing i checked....everything is fine there.You would see/hear it running or air bubbles coming up if there were any leaks or water escaping. So i know that ain't it.