Pepe

Thanks, guys. I will try those death traps. I have never used them. I am fooling around with a jigging spoon mold. Hopefully I won't hook myself. LOL

I am curious what you all think is the best type and size treble hook on a jigging spoon (1/2 oz to 1 oz). Do you think a dressed hook helps? Is short shank better?

I have some creatures being tested that have great floatation. If the reports come back positive I will let you know. It remains to be seen if floatation will really make much of a difference.

Good job, Josh!

That is what my wife says about me. It's the best reason to keep the truck around - to remind her of that

Now that summer is here, what colors are you using for drop shot baits?

I hope whoever filed the protest feels like a hero today. I wonder if it was Martens?

This one was ordered with all the options including an automatic transmission, dual fuel tanks and a radio. It is weird to fill up a tank on each side of the truck when at the gas station. The bed is still seal welded and the tailgate fits so well that the bed will fill up with water.

After the war I had a 1966 IH pickup that I bought for $50. I couldn't afford new tires so I carried 3 spares. I took my wife, a Wyoming Cowgirl, on our first date in that truck. I opened her door and knew I liked her when she said "nice rig" and slid in the middle of the bench seat without grabbing the rifle rack. You're right,these trucks are tanks. I slow rolled that old truck down an embankment in an ice storm and, with a little help, put her back on the wheels and drove it home, not much worse for wear.

She ain't a fancy lady but suits me fine. I found her in an old barn in Kansas without a spot of rust, putty or a dent. Here she is fresh from a frame up tear down and restoration. 1970 IH 1200 with Power Steering and factory AC. I guess she will pull my Triton without breathing hard.

Thanks to all who messaged me with interest in the plastics and your address. Packages will be in the mail tomorrow before we head out to Northern Michigan for a week. At least I will be able to sneak away one day for some brown bass fishing with a local guide I hope you enjoy. Mike K.

Thanks, Phill. I got mine and put them on the boat already

We had a fun day even with a bit of rain. We were sad to have to leave and return to work.

Bill, Thanks for that advice. I am having some troubles with my units and they were installed by a shop far from the lake. I was hoping to find a local shop that is recommended. Sport Boats in Shell Knob are good guys but none of them know electronics. Do they need to have your boat on the water to get the adjustments right?

I have received a bunch of messages asking about availability of plastics. I am happy to provide what I have time to make. There is no set price or "suggested donation" and I really do not want to mess with collecting any money. There is a Paypal donation option on the charity's website and I have asked folks to donate as they see fit. If you send me your email & mailing address I will respond individually with what I can send you and what I will be making soon. NOTE: The plastics made by Danger Close are "reliably deadly" novelty items, not fishing baits. If they were baits, the federal government would require someone to pay 10% of their market value in taxes (yes, even though they are 100% donated). But these are NOT baits and should not be used as such. These plastics are far too dangerous to be used around fish and particular care should be taken not to put them in the water near Small-mouth Bass, Spotted Bass or Large-mouth Bass. Failure to heed this warning may result in rapid consumption of the plastic item by freshwater game fish;) Mike K.

I appreciate your kind words but did not read any arrogance or disrespect into anyone's post. This is a forum for folks to speak freely. In my opinion, our 1st amendment is one of the best policies in human history and I would hate to see it censored by any type of pressure. We wouldn't need that amendment if we did not see things differently from time to time. I think this is an extraordinary resource for us to share information, thoughts and opinions. I would hate to see anyone discouraged by being flamed for expressing thoughts and/or opinions.

I make those baits for Pete and call them "Leggy Centipedes" under the Danger Close label. I didn't know Pete had mentioned them. I assure you they are different than the Arkie, which a very good friend always called "thousand leggers". We thought we might try improving the wheel to have some fun and support wounded war veterans, like my son. The world may not need another bait and I respect Bill's position as stated above; "Everyone is trying to reinvent the wheel. "Good Golly." There are 10 million baits with legs, if putting them on a Centipede makes a hoot in heck difference, It would really amaze me." I pledged 100% of the proceeds to http://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/ when making them last winter and sold all that I made except those that are still being used and tested by several friends. The funny part was that we were sitting in Hillbilly Bowl with family and friends, just looking at the baits and talking about them. A bunch of patriotic Kansas gentlemen saw us and ended up buying up a whole bunch of the baits. I was surprised to feel reluctant to let go of any of the baits but it felt good when we sent all those great Kansas folks money to the vets the next day. God bless them and I hope they caught a lot of bass. The baits are made in custom injection molds I had tooled after testing the prototypes and after a fair amount of modification. They were designed for clear water where the subtle action is most effective. The baits are extra soft compared to others. These are not available publicly but it would be my pleasure to get you some if you wish. I don't care to be paid for them but you would be welcome to help support our veterans and their families as you see fit. Mike

My wife was in a slump for the last few days we went out, though she usually out-fishes me. She was happy with this post-spawn girl though. 22.5 inches but we did not have a scale

Wow. Very nice to see an older giant like that still swimming. Kind of gives an old big guy like myself hope;)

They have been catching them pretty well off of our dock. A guy here who runs a trotline uses them for bait and he catches what he needs pretty quick with live worms.

I don't begrudge anybody a fish sandwich but as long as God makes beef I will choose a succulent cheeseburger and let the fish swim away. Jimmy Buffet and I are on the same page there with a "Cheeseburger in Paradise"

We have owned a home here since April 2011 and this is, far and away, the best several months of bass fishing my wife and I have experienced. I caught a 6 lb+ Walleye this morning on topwater while it was still too dark to see him hit it. Between 5 & 7 AM we had caught dozens of bass with 6 keepers including a 22.5 inch LM my wife caught. All looked and acted healthy and all swam away briskly. We got our work done and were on the water again from 3 to 5 with the first trial of my home-made Ned jigs. 7 bass on first 10 cast with 1 nice keeper. If it gets much better than this will have to check my pulse to see if I died and went to heaven;) I really appreciate the information shared on this forum. It has certainly added to our enjoyment Mike

That Buckeye is a very close copy of the wake bait made by Amistad Tackle. The original had a thinner profile towards the end. I have compared them side by side and on the water. The original out-fishes the fin some days but I am not impressed with the Buckeye version. I guess we throw what we have confidence in and leave the rest of them in the box

I'm not sure on cost to modify but I I've had complete custom jig molds made and it cost between $300 & $400

I bought the Do-It Mold and will be pouring some heads this week. I can make a few for y'all if you want. I will be in Shell Knob Thu-Sun so you could get them then.