KevO

I'm looking to buy some of these and would like some help. The Luck-e-strike bass magic baits have caught my eye, has anyone used these? What size hook do you recommend for the 4.5" and the 7"? I've only seen the keel weighted hooks in 1/8 and 1/4oz do they come in larger sizes? What kind of setup would be best for these baits? I've been using a 7' MHF with a Cardiff 200... is that acceptable? Thanks

Initial quality are the key words in this statement.

I'm not sure of the weight of it but when I first bought it I was throwing it on a 7' MH 1/4-1oz rod and it was too much rod for that little bait. I'm using a 7' M 1/4-5/8 now and it is ten times easier to cast.

To add to what Matt said if you go the shimano route, the 50mg would throw those baits pretty well and you can get them for less than a curado 200E now. I had been throwing small crankbaits on a 200D and it is possible but was a little difficult. I switched to a 50mg and I got more distance and was able to cast more accurately.

X2 they will definately get a fluke to stay down.

I work for a moving co. enough said

I'll have to say that those fights tonight were a bit on the boring side, other than the Machida fight. I was pulling for Penn but once GSP got him on the mat there wasn't much he could do.

Beef brisket and a keg of Beer

I don't know what kind of reels you own but if you use shimano here is a link to their reel maintenance section. It shows you how to do a basic clean and lube of both spinning and casting reels. I do this but I also send them away to get fully cleaned once a year. http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/customer_service0/reel_maintenance_instructions.html

I can't count the number of times I've changed the channel because I simply couldn't handle listening to Skip Bayless anymore. That guy is a frickin' idiot. X2 I don't know whose worse Skip or Steven A. Smith... I feel like shooting the TV when those two are on together.

I'm too young to have seen the original skynyrd play, but I saw them play 3 years in a row in college. They were awesome. They were supposed to play the New Years Eve concert in Nashville TN, but cancelled because of the economy. Too bad I was thinking about going. Any way it's a sad day for sure. Hope they go out on tour again soon.

For long trips I put take the reels off and put the rods in a sock. I bought one of the berkely vertical rod racks and screwed them into the bed liner in my truck. I take the rod in the sack in put on the rack. It keeps them off the bedliner and secure.

I tie thru the holes on drilled spools. And tie an arbor knot on non-drilled spools

He's a class act for sure and stud wide reciever to boot.

It would be easier if you used the hair jig as the weight on the bottom. Tie a palomar knot to a drop shot hook and use something else like a fluke or finesse worm, then add the hair jig as the weight. I don't think the rig would work correctly if you used two weights.

It's got to be a fake, they have the same ad posted on the Nashville TN craiglist too.

I use 6-8# yo-zuri hybrid for spinning reels and 10-15# for casting reels. Also, if you read the box or look at the spool on some spinning reels they will have the line recommendations printed on the spool. That will tell you what the manufacturer recommends.

It's tough here too. I haven't caught a fish in about 3 weeks. The last bass I caught was on a 4" Tru-life swimbait, the next cast I hung a rock and lost the bait. Haven't had a bite since.

I went to Dick's yesterday and saw that they had one Shimano Stradic 2500FH on clearance left. The tag said $89 but I didn't have my bait monkey stash with me so I went back this morning. I asked the guy at the counter if that was the right price he said yes, then said he would take another 10 off if I bought it. I countered with 20 off and we settled on 15. I also had one of those $10 off coaches coupons so I got the reel for $65. Pretty good deal I thought. BTW thanks to whoever posted the link to the coaches coupons. I bet I've used 10 or 15 of them. ;D

Another vote for the shimano crucial dropshot rod. I have the 6'8 M XF spinning rod it is my favorite rod. I use it for almost all soft plastics from DS to Tubes and weightless worms.

Go Cardinals!!!

I have both types of rods. I like the split grip better because I think it looks better, but I also get a better feel because I have more contact with blank. The split grips I own are only for apps. where sensitivity is important like worms/jigs or finesse fishing. Other apps. like spinnerbaits and cranks I use a standard grip.

I have a spirex that is probably 10 years old now. It's ok reel, I liked the idea of the double paddle handle, but thats about it. It also feels like I have a brick attached to my rod instead of a reel. I would spend a little more money and upgrade to a symetre @ $100. You could even find one of last years model for about half that. Just my $.02

I like my shimano crucial rods with my carrot stix a close second. I'm thinking about selling the carrot stix and getting a cumara to replace it.

My friend got an MIT (manufacturing industrial Technology) degree at Tennessee Tech, it's in the college of engineering. Basically it's production/plant engineering, half the math of other engineering degrees with the same or better pay afterwards. I'm thinking about going back to college and getting that degree. I wish I would have listened to him when he tried to get me to switch my major.