Champ188

I can't speak to the NRX since I haven't' fished with one, so I'll retract my comment regarding them. However, I have used the Loomis GLX and personally, I didn't think there was any significant difference in them and my Caras.

For bottom dragging baits, you want the highest modulus graphite you can get. It’s lighter and far more sensitive than cheaper rods. That said, you can top out on technology around $250. Above that, you’re strictly paying for prestige.

The biggest enemy to boat control, and I speak for myself especially, is laziness. You're going down the lake on a bluebird sunny day and see a 45-degree chunk rock bank fully shaded with a 15-mph wind blowing on it. You decide to fish it, so you pick a starting spot and as you get closer you notice the wind is blowing more down the bank rather than into it. Now, the correct thing to do would be turn around, get bank on plane and run down to what would have been your original stopping point and fish back up the bank into the wind. That's where your mind starts saying, "Aw heck, it'd be a lot easier just to let the wind blow me along. Wouldn't have to stand on the troller near as much and sure wouldn't have to cast into the wind. Yeah, let's just do that." So now you've created several problems for yourself. You are at the mercy of the wind with boat speed, unless you want to throw your troller around backward and prop-wash what you're trying to fish. Whenever you get to a key spot along that bank, you're gonna go blowing by it way too fast to fish it properly. You're gonna have to adjust your reeling speed to compensate for the boat speed since the wind is blowing you down the bank. And on and on. Guys, I do it, too. But the more we pay attention to details and put forth the effort to do things the way we KNOW we should, the more bites we get.

Yes, there's that and then some. Ask any guide why he takes only a few clients up shallow and he'll tell you that the clients aren't' skilled enough anglers ... can't cast accurately, sure as heck can't flip or pitch, and probably can't handle a fish in heavy cover. There are a lot of nuances to shallow fishing that many never give a passing thought to ... and those are often the difference between getting bit and striking out. Where to throw is a biggie, i.e. recognizing the type of cover (rocks, wood, docks, etc.) the fish are using that day and how they are positioned on it. Sun angles and wind are always important on Ozarks lakes. Boat control is huge. Lure choice is another key area to consider. There's a reason George Cochran won three world championships fishing shallow. He committed to learning how to do it better than anyone else and because so many others were out there hunting for deep fish, he had a good portion of the shallow water all to himself. See ya the weigh-in, boys. LOL

I think I just got sucker punched.

I think it's mostly the latter, although I'm not sure Bill Self is as effective as he used to be.

Now that's funny I don't care who you are.

New Mizunos in the bag vs. questionable fishing conditions ... yep, golf wins that battle every time.

Not every day a guy can get up in the dirt and do hand-to-fin combat with em around here. Great job, Bo. Short-line bite is fun when you can find it and like Bill said, you know how to find it.

Another $259 rod. The OP is looking for a $100-$150 rod.

Not knocking the event either ... Mark and crew do an excellent job in every way possible. But multiple weigh-in locations would also be easier on the fish that are being transported such a long way. Anglers need to take every precaution to not bang them around whether traveling to weigh-in by water or land. Without the fish, there's no tournament. In fact, there's no sport.

Fish the conditions and not the history book was my point all along .... I.e. find your own fish and pattern. I don’t give a day-old donut what someone else caught them on because I’m probably not capable of fishing it exactly like he/she does. Lures don’t catch fish, people do. Again, congrats Chad and as Ketchup said, welcome to the best fishing forum on the internet.

Good job my friend. Almost went yesterday but opted for another round of golf with my new irons.

Indeed, congrats to him on the win but it’s ridiculous for anyone to expect him to tell where/what he caught it on. Has nothing to do with honesty or character and everything to do with privacy.

Welcome to the forum and pay attention to what's said here. Lots of good advice and very little BS.

I had a 94 Intruder and had the same experience ... tough motor.

Well then, that settles it. No one EVER fibs on Facebook!

Factory-rigged Rangers tend to be set up correctly. We'll see if that holds true since many of their best employees have jumped ship to the new Vexus plant.

I thought we were discussing $99-$129 rods. He isn't going to buy a Falcon or GLoomis for that money. I also own several Falcon Cara's but we aren't answering the guy's question by turning the topic to top-shelf rods.

You might also take a look at the Denali Kovert. A very underrated rod in my opinion.

What possible reason could the guy have for revealing the location or the lure he used to win? I’m sure he isn’t longing for company on his spot.

Nice day!!!!

Awesome day. Thanks for the pics and the report. You are right, very nice to see those size fish showing up again.

Four of my five in top 11 including Christie in the lead. Yeah, I’m happy, too. 😁

God's timing is always perfect.