Terrierman

9/0 is perfect.

Set jugs on flats in about 15' of water with the perch on a big circle hook at about 7'.

I'm going with two boxes for ned - one with just heads, scissors and glue and one with the plastics. I like to leave the plastics in the store packaging in the box until I actually make up the jig.

PM sent.

Rod and reel or set lines?

What QB said.

Yeah in the old days when it was just that store it was a regular destination. Nobody drove by Springfield without going to Bass Pro. That place still jumps and the décor to me is amazing. And about Johnny Morris. I've done a lot of work for them and see how he treats people. Keeps his word, and I admire that.

Nice trip guys. Shoulda been here last week!. Never been there or done that before..... Still and all... Nice trip....

Wow.

Beautiful fish man. Just beautiful.

To each his own. I love fresh fried and grilled fish. And by love I mean I will go a long way out of my way for a good fish dinner!

Hush your mouth. It will happen a few more times but who doesn't like April in February?

Great day to be out.

Heck of a day man. Shore lunch is the best. Nothing wrong with eating a few river fish now and then, they don't live forever no matter what we do,. We did a deal on a local small river last year and had a top drawer fish fry for supper. Smallish bass are fine to eat, mighty fine. I know how you feel about a fishery and we are in agreement. Great report.

I fish with a weedguard. No apologies for that and no popcorn needed unless I am missing something.

Good read. I wish there were something similar over here in the Southwest part of the state. They have some very nice activities planned!

I'll take your word for it. Never done it.

Hard for me to imagine ever leaving the red line in any fish that has one. Well, any freshwater fish anyway. No need on Snapper for example. I've lived for a long time by the credo that fish meat needs to be snow white. You won't go wrong that way with catfish, striper, hybrid or white bass. But I have a very sophisticated palate.

You win.

I'm thinking we've got Dave patterned.....

Remodel and expansion. Currently closed. It will still be good I betcha.

The new,improved, bigger and even better Ma's Place I presume?

As long as we are talking about casting distance, the line and reel you use make a lot of difference there too. Balancing rod length, weight (UL, L, ML etc) and action (slow, medium, medium fast, fast, extra fast) right sizing the reel, and line you choose is the trick. I like 2000 or 2500 size reels on 6'6" LF or MLF rods and tend to use lighter line than a lot of others. 4 or 6 lb mono (big fan of Maxima and have been for years) and recently due to Ham's influence, 8 lb nanofil with 4 or 6 lb leader work really well for me. A decent reel with a good drag is a must. and so is a properly filled spool. I've used Shimano Sahara's, Daiwa Exceller, Lew's Speed Spin and Pflueger President lately and like them all. The Shimano's get a little picky if you get them wet so I don't buy them personally anymore. Recently bought an Okuma Trio and a closeout Daiwa Ballistic but haven't got to fish with either of those. With the stuff I have used it's no problem to cast a 1/8 Marabou Jig 60 feet or so. 1/16 naturally is going to be a little less distance.

Exact same experience here. Plus the jigs really are very nice.