Champ188

What's a Redfin?

I carry some of the thin-wall Zoom tubes, mainly in white or chartreuse for bed fishing. Otherwise, I'm pretty much sold on the Mizmos.

Hope it didn't sound like I was criticizing your rod choice, dtrs5kprs. I understood that yours were a perk from Ranger. Pretty nice deal, for sure, and I'd darn sure be using those rods for something or another. I will say that while fishing sure sucks at the moment, lots of good info gets passed around this time of year. This forum is just unheard of in that respect. We are blessed.

I rarely throw a 3/4-ounce spinnerbait but when I do, I put it on one of my 7-0 or 7-3 MH rods that I normally use for a football jig. Most of my warm-water spinnerbaiting is done with a 1/4-ounce or 3/8-ounce bait, both of which I throw on the 6-9 rods. I do throw a half-ounce bait in late fall and early spring, which I can do with either a 6-9 or 7-0 rod. 96CHAMP, I will say that I'm not sure I would drop $400 on a Loomis GLX to throw a spinnerbait. The reason I say so is that a spinnerbait is a reaction-bite bait and if you get too high tech with your rod, it can cost you fish. Yes, you need to feel the bite but a slight delay lets the fish actually get the lure in their mouth before you bust his chops.That Quantum rod you're looking at would probably do you a very good job. My final recommendation before I shut my piehole is your reel. I see a lot of guys put 7:1 reels on their spinnerbait rods and end up fishing their baits too fast. I'd strongly recommend a 6:4:1 or 6:3:1 ratio, which is fast enough to burn a bait on the days you need to but slow enough to finesse it a bit on days they're being fussy.

I throw a spinnerbait a lot and my two designated rods for doing so are identical 6-9 Duckett Micro Magics in MH. Tip is plenty fast so that you don't feel like you're throwing a broomstick and to have some give when a fish takes the bait. But there's also plenty of backbone to set the hook and muscle a fish out of heavy cover. Probably the best spinnerbait rods I've ever had.

They pretty much ran me off, Sprint. To get there from Arkansas, Donna and have to either stay the night before or leave home 2.5 hours before takeoff. Either way, we're paying for a tank of truck gas, boat gas and entry fee. No more chance than we have to beat that bunch out of any money, I just can't justify the expense. I'd be inclined to donate more often if it wasn't for the long trip.

That's why they make so many different brands and models. There's something for everyone.

You better be a pretty good stick to fish that winter series. Those boys will lighten your wallet in a hurry.

Spot on, abk ... per usual.

That Quantum rod is HEAVY. If you're looking for a budget-priced cranking rod, look no further than the BPS store brand rod. I'm not a BPS supporter by any stretch of the imagination, but their 7-10 cranking rod is designed by Stacey King and is a darn good rod. I own one and am very proud of it. I'm a big fan of Duckett rods (have half a dozen or more Micro Magics) and they have some good cranking rods, too, but you're gonna spend better than $150 for one of those. Here's a link to that BPS cranker ... http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Crankin-Stick-Trigger-Rods/product/10204844/

There are at least 3 things in this world that can never be too big. Two of them are bass and outboard motors.

Hey bobw, good job to you and your partner of beating out a heckuva nice sack on a hard day to fish. And thanks for the info. Good luck in the championship. Same to you, Sprint21.

Thanks for the solid report, QB. Glad you got a few bites. You did better than a lot of guys have been doing.

These are supposedly an exact replica of the old Warts. I have a couple and have been pretty pleased with them. They are in the $3 price range so no one is going to get hurt by trying them. Paint job is much better on some colors than the "new original series" that Storm is putting out. http://www.bsfishtales.com/wiggler.php

Great people, great products, great prices and they will treat you right from day one. Big fan of Battery Outfitters.

Nicely written report, Danger Close. Thanks for sharing it.

Never hurts to buy and try anything, Alex, as long as it is somewhat sensible. I'd guess that Koppers jerk bait will catch fish.

Good job on a tough day, guys.

Don't bet your life's savings on that, Alex. There's a pretty good chance ... a really good one, in fact ... those fish were caught on an A-rig. The jerk bait bite has been tough so far this year. Really tough.

Get out there, you lightweight. They're chomping!

Glad I stayed home. Fighting that kind of wind for 31 fish is just a bit slow for my taste. I prefer to be up in the 50-plus bracket with a little better keeper-to-shorts ratio. But good job out there. Bet your TM batteries were happy to see the charger when you got home.

That's part of the lure of fishing ... trying to figure the silly things out and all the while knowing we never will.

Am I the only one whose head wants to explode from threads like this? I think we've crossed the line from a practical discussion on the effects of barometric pressure on fish activity into a theoretical symposium.

One day he will ask himself, "Why didn't I just keep fishin' with grandpa?"

Is that the little dude who scooped up the free-swimming fish in the net?