Jeff H

Maybe his intentions weren't to fish with them. The Mitchell 300 was, at one time, a real slice of American fishing heritage. If you didn't own one, you wanted one. They were very popular, solid performers for a good many of us older guys in our youth. I still have the only one I ever had but it has been fished to death. I think I got mine in 1970 or 71?

Nice!

Thats his, I got that picture off his website. He calls them "Widegap Jigs" on his site. Good luck losing a fish once you stick them on this jig. It's the first jig I've ever used (and I've used a LOT of different brands over the years) that they haven't been able to throw. I caught at least 250+ bass on these jigs last year and never lost a single one I hooked. I am now fishing GMAN's jigs exclusively. The quality is there, the price is right and you will boat a very very high percentage of the fish you hook.

Is that it?

My Interstates have been weak since I got them. They don't last long enough. Want something better. I am seriously considering the Optima for the trolling motor. I've heard they are worth the extra money. I'll have to look around.

Which one is that? The Poison Tail w/wide gap hook?

I have had enough of these junk Interstates and am going to buy new batteries. Have had good luck in the past with Exide Nautilus Golds. I've read the AC Delco Voyager is stout also. What do you guys recommend? Where is best place to buy? Whats Wal-Mart carry now? Instead of fishing this weekend I'm going battery shopping I guess. Throw me some ideas.

Abrasion resistance is EXACTLY why I choose Trilene XT. Toughest line I've ever fished and the new formula is even better!!

I have a Prodigy, liked it so much bought one for my son too. I will be getting a couple more this fall on clearance if they last that long. Honestly, I think it works as well as my Revo SX does, which I also really like. My son has a Citica 200. We had some problems with it last year but I think (or hope) we got that taken care of now. He likes the Prodigy better but as already stated you can't go wrong either way.

Everybody has forgotten about Sliders. You never hear mention of them anymore. Highly effective technique in the right hands and conditions. In fact, I have many times seen them work when NOTHING else would. I have to add this tidbit regarding Sliders. DO pick up some of the Pro Series heads too. They have a larger wire diameter on the black nickel hooks they use and these are NECESSARY if you fish these heads around ANY heavy cover. I have lost some good fish when they straightened the fine wire hooks on the standard models because I had to put enough pressure on them to keep them out of heavy cover. A robust 3 lb'er will do it to you. I fish them on 6 pound line and the fish never break the line before they bend the hook!!! So, you need both. I will only use the Pro Series when conditions require and even though I should step up to 8lb line for better sets with these, I don't. On those really ultra tough days, I can always count on at least a limit of 1-2lb fish because of Charlie Brewer!! I may not score the big bites on those days but I'll never go broke.

My finesse box is probably as volumonous as anything else I own. Lots of finesse fishing for me. Small jigs/3" craws, 4" worms of all types, tubes, grubs, splitshot rigs, jig/worm, Fin-S-Fish, small cranks, rapala minnows....heck, you name it and I probably use it. Sometimes you just have to get small, ya know? My most favorite method has long been 1/16 or 1/8 oz snagless Slider heads and 4" Producto Tournament worms or Kalins western worms. I have caught a LOT of fish on the Slider's and am a big fan of their stuff. Slider Fishing is FUN! Their little 3" grubs can be killers.

How the hell did he get bit by a possum?

I think the TD-A HSTA is the best deal going this year. No need to spend $200.

Jig 'n pig or craw

Don't like snakes one bit. If there were venomous snakes where I live, hunt and fish I'd certainly wear the right boots AND carry a machete. When I was a kid we used to catch them all the time, didn't bother me then or until I had a very close encounter with a rattler in the Big Horn mountains. When I found out they can really seriously mess you up, or kill you it changed my tune. They are one part of nature I can do without. I hate snakes!!

I won't use ribbons when I'm fishing thick reeds. Other than that I always start with a ribbon and if the fish don't seem to want that I'll switch to small paddles for less tail action.

I fish jerks all summer long and do pretty good with them when I'm not supposed to. They most certainly are NOT a seasonal lure, for me anyway. Doesn't bother me one bit though that some guys put them away in the summer. My most absolute favorite use of them is on inside weedline on hard-bottom flats in the morning where the inside weedline is at least 5' deep. I disagree with a repetitive cadence ALL the time, it's fun but it's a bad habit to get into. Some of my best days with jerks have been on really "messed up" retrieves. The "rip" is a good way to break up jerk cadence. The "rip" PAUSE "rip" cadence has it's days. I almost always start ANY jerk retrieve with a solid "rip" or 2 to get it down faster. Jerk baits are truly fun to fish because you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to retrieve. What works for you is what works!! This is a bait where you rejoice in thy youth, because they can really work you over when you get older. If you fish a jerk bait RIGHT, all day long it should kick your ***. Man....I LOVE 'em!!

Maybe. More like a Clarus to me, I'd give the Compre a slight edge over the Series one. I was still using 2 of my old Series One rods last year that are about 12-13 yrs old. Aside from being a little heavy, they still worked great and are better looking than the new ones to boot! Series One is a decent stick for the price.

#1 favorite = Jig #2 favorite = T-rig worm #3 favorite = Jerkbaits,traps and spinnerbaits are all equal. #1 and #2 faves are also my top producers overall.

Definitely consider newer reels. Absolutely nothing wrong with fishing what you have while you add in new ones. Just buy 1 or 2 new reels a yr and get decent ones, stay away from the cheap stuff. Plenty of good reels to be had around $100 +/- I just upgraded my entire line over the last year as all my stuff was at least 12-14 yrs old. Some of those I still plan to use after Reel Mechanic breathed new life into them.

I respect his accomplishments and to be honest I first started using Shimano reels because of him. It's just sad that a guy of his stature has had to attach his name to some junk like he has.

With all due respect to Roland, it does bleed a lot out of his creditable name. It IS pathetic really. He's not the only one though who I would never buy their endorsed products, but Roland certainly has been KING of the doozy in this respect. Good Lord.....some of the crap he's put his name on has been unfathomable.

Not hot. Not even cute. Must have a nice Bass Cat then?

I can't beleive the one he still has listed hasn't sold. Thats an incredible deal on a very versatile stick!! It just might serve your purpose nicely!

Absolutely! The MOST important thing is to get what YOU want. I have a Prez and several different Premier rods. No problems with them at all. If possible don't buy over the net, get it in your hands and check it out.