Champ188

Probably wrong, but I don't know if anyone can sustain a 15 pounds-plus pace over three days. I'm gonna say 44 pounds and if I had to pick one, I'd take Mike McClelland.

I'm staying out of this. Waaaay out.

Mike, unless you are fishing strictly for keeper/big bites, you may be missing out on a lot of action. A jig that big just isn't going to get you the number of bites that a Ned rig or shaky head will. And before anyone slaps down the small fish card, I introduced a guide buddy at Broken Bow to it a little over a year ago. Last spring, he or clients caught two 10-pounders and a 9 on it.

Couldn't agree more that Pete's a very straight shooter. However, tournament directors should know better than to ask someone to stand there and tell your competition for next week's derby exactly how and where you caught them.

Sometimes you might throw one up in a tree so I'd actually recommend three of each color.

Nothing to show, Titleist Breath. I went to Academy and bought one identical to yours. That's right. I stole your rig. I totally stole it.

Congrats on a great day and thanks for posting a detailed report. Very generous of you.

I'm planning to bring you a couple myself, Randy. I believe both are even custom painted by Mr. Hughes.

Congrats on the weight loss. Not easy for sure.

I don't know that I'd put a lot of stock in what they may have said they caught them on. I believe Pete is fishing the Central Open this week, so honesty would not be the best policy when asked what he used. That said, Pete is one of the best fishermen/guides on the lake and an even better guy. Congrats are certainly in order.

We are no threat at all in a big-bass event, although Donna could be if she wasn't stuck with an old bank-beating river rat like me. I'm lucky to catch a few keepers now and then.

She's joking. I wouldn't even THINK of taking the rod from her or anyone else and deny them the thrill of catching a big bass. Besides, that was the absolute finest job I've ever seen of anyone landing a big bass on 6-pound line. I wish I had videoed it for use in my new instructional guide service. She let the fish run when it wanted by hand-stripping line from the reel and then recovered line when it let her. It took her around the back of the boat and finally came to my hand at the driver's seat. Kinami 4-inch grub in Natural Shad on a 3/16 ballhead. I had her swimming it around a dock where we'd run into a school of nice spots the other day.

Boys, I think we got trolled.

The present model is the Rk Crawler 55. I would think a new one would have a different model number.

Good job to the top Okeechobee pickers. This is fun. Looking forward to the Classic. One certainty ... Ish won't be on my Classic team or probably any other. Never cared much for him anyway.

It's interesting how weather patterns shift through their cycles ... El Nino, La Nina, etc. ... and how they affect our seasonal temps, precipitation, etc. Won't be long until we have another winter where we are buried in snow in the Midwest and upper South.

I try to keep my pot stirring on the fun side. Operative word there is TRY. And thank goodness that actual FISHING season is arriving so we will have some actual fishing trips to talk about.

You might take some good photos of one then send a few to our own Tim Hughes, custom lure painter to the stars. He can perfectly match your desired colors, and I can personally guarantee that his work is unmatched. I believe I even have a couple of those big Rogues that I will give you, or I can relay them to Tim for painting and then he can send them on to you. http://hughescustombaits.com/

I was wondering if that Tennessee comment might draw you out. LOL You are right ... I knew I was treading on thin ice but couldn't resist. All in good fun, my brother.

Vernon, I would challenge you to a debate but I'm sure you'd try to steer us into a golf ball discussion rather than the topic at hand.

Hey, we can all gather on the 86 bridge and shut down traffic while we protest that we didn't win. Heck, we might even march to Golden. Or at least up the hill to L&L Quik Stop.

That 200 series Bandit is tough to beat. I know people also like the 300 but the 200 is by far my favorite.

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

Actually, Donna and I agreed to quit when we'd caught a fish for every point that Tennessee scored on Missouri last season.

I can only think of one book worth that kind of money. Fortunately, it doesn't cost anywhere near that much.