abkeenan

^----THIS. Ebay is a fantastic place to find great deals on NEW reels such as Shimano, LEWs, Daiwa, etc. Unitedoutdoors is one seller that has reels for $25 to $50 off retail. Same thing goes for Sportsmansoutfitters on Ebay. Killer deals you won't beat. If you are think about getting the Lew's Super Duty I would recommend looking there first. Super duty's going for 144.99 free shipping and no tax.

Look good Troutgnat.

I have two setups. I use a 3 arm bladed a-rig that weighs about an ounce total with all the jig heads and baits attached and I throw that on a 7'MH and really load up the rod and zing it. 2nd setup is for the beefier 5 arm rig with heavier jig heads and a lead molded head and weighs somewhere in the ballpark of 4oz and I lob cast that using a 7'6" heavy action rod that I use it I want the rig to get deep quicker and stay there.

So Table Rock every so often? lol.

I am not cheap but I am somewhat frugal as always look for the best deals. I already posted the link above to the Ebay seller I buy my A-Rigs from which come out to be 4+ bucks a piece and then I use these for jig heads: The guy that makes them pours a TON OF different heads with different hooks options however you want them if you just ask. I use 1/4oz and 1/8oz heads and I believe a 3/0 and 4/0 hook and they are thin wire like Bill says that will bend out so you can get your Rig back. They are Matzuo sickle hooks and they are super sharp. The point will curl up from time to time on rocks and whatnot so just replace the hook. He sells them for about $7 bucks plus $3 for shipping for a total of 50 jig heads for 10 bucks. He also sells a stouter Mustad hook ball head for the guys that want to go that route. I also get my crappie jig heads from this guy using the same darter type head on a 1/32oz or 1/16oz head with that same Matzuo sickle hook only a #1 or #2 size hook and I get those for $10 bucks shipped also for 100 ct. I've been happy with them so far and it's easy on the wallet when you lose stuff in cedars. Here is the link to one of his listings: http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-1-8-oz-BULLET-JIG-HEAD-W-BARB-AND-COLLAR-W3-0-MAZUO-RED-SICKLE-HOOK-/121287911538?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c3d52a872

If I had the dough and didn't fear for my life I would for sure fish El Salto or a Mexican border lake. The chance to hook into a world class bass isn't going to happen in Missouri or anywhere within 1000 miles. Heck it's not even really the fact that he caught a 11lb'er....it's that he shared a great time with his dad while he happened into a giant bass. The fact that you want to crap on his memories is sad on your part. You are surely entitled to your opinion but when you discourage someone from posting here or alter the way they feel about a cherished memory you in the wrong. Biglerma pay no attention to these "haters" and please continue to share you info here on OAF. For every 1 person that doesn't like it there are 100 that do. Thanks for the report and pics. I for one appreciate it.

I get mine from this guy on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Ea-KC-Schoolem-VII-h-Flurry-Mini-Ala-Umbrella-Style-Rig-0306142-/251466228394?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8c8e22aa . Won't find them any cheaper and I don't think it matters at all if there is a nice looking lead or plastic molded head on it. Guy makes a good product at a fair price.

Said a mouthful there. When A-Rigs first came out and were going for $20-100 a piece I decided to make my own from some materials from Barlow's Tackle. Ended up costing me about $5 per rig finished.....I bent everything by hand and with round nose pliers and other tools.....never again. Without a wire form/bender its rough on the hands and fingers for SURE. BalsaBee....you have any better results throwing the double monster rig as opposed to the single standard rig?

^----THIS. Who gives a crap if it is easier to catch them in a managed lake? So if I offered to take anyone here to a southern, California or Mexican managed lake full of 10-20lb'ers you would stick you nose in the air and say that just isn't for you? Get real. Sure I enjoy a day slaughtering them on the Rock more than I would on a farm pond but anything pulling on the end of my line is a good time bar none. Table Rock or northern lakes just don't offer you the same opportunities as a southern lake does in respect to hooking a double digit pig. Can you get a 10'ber in TR....sure....but it is a LONG SHOT. You would have just as good a chance of hitting the lotto as thumping an 11lb bass.

Hahahaha.

Price drop to $250. Nobody likes to shoot animals?

Great info there guys. Thanks Champ.

The color California 420 is very similar.

The ones I was talking about are $7 for ONE worm. They are like 20" long and weigh like 2 or 3 oz or something ridiculous. Tackle Warehouse used to have them on the website but it doesn't look like they carry them anymore. EDIT: I just looked them up and they are 19" straight tails and weigh 5oz. Oh my.

The mail man always delivers it?

Is that an Upton's worm? Things are like $7 for one. I never could pull the trigger on those.

All of this color are now sold out on Tackle Warehouse. Hilarious. Ike's Demon Size Stock Price Qty 4 Out $6.79 6 03/03 $6.79 10 Out $6.79 14 03/20 $6.79 16 Out $6.79

NetBait C-Mac in Kentucky Special, Zoom Ol' Monster in Green Pumpkin Magic or Culprit in Red Shad at night/low light. Have a handful of YUM MightEE Worms but haven't thrown them that much to get a opinion on them yet.

Yup. I am not into the Livingston stuff either. There have been PLENTY of baits come and go over the last 20 years that have blinking lights, emit biological prey sounds (ut hum Hydrowave),have laser lights and all sorts of stuff and Livingston has some of that built into them and I am not into that stuff.

Everybody is a cynic when is comes to stuff like this. Guy had just gotten off the water and was so excited about his day and chances to win the super bowl of fishing tournaments I highly doubt he just went out of his way to beat up a sponsors lure to make it look like that is what he was using. I for one believe him 100% that is what he used. Fisherman are a gullible bunch but this an instance of someone being honest. If he was just a sponsor pimping type guy why even mention he caught the majority of fish on a NON SPONSOR Rapala bait? Or show it in the boat along with the Livingston he used?

In one interview he said that he just had some baits that Livingston had given him that were prototypes and not on the market yet. He dumped them out to see if they had given him anything resembling the DT6 in the same color he was throwing only it would get 8-10 deep. Found the one that is a red craw color and rolled with it. Had someone like KVD or others made up this story it would have been suspect. But Howell is a class act, you could see the honesty in his voice and face. He is almost excited to tell Hite how he caught them when he gets off the water and is still in the boat on the trailer. Here is the link and it starts at 11 minutes into the clip: http://www.bassmaster.com/video/first-look-randy-howell-boatload

18"

The guy is 100% flat out honest and the story of dumping the lures out to see what he had is true. Read between those lines. I watched both his interview up on stage with Dave Mercer when weighing in and also when he did the interview with Davy Hite when he put his boat on the trailer at the end of day 3. Howell showed them ON CAMERA and you can tell it was the God's honest truth. He even said on the stage "I used a Rapala DT6 to catch most my fish and I recognize that they are not one of my sponsors but you have to use what catches them" or something to that effect. I realize guys are TERRIBLE about fibbing on what they catch them on and have to plug the mouth that feeds them in sponsors but this IS NOT ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES. Am I going to go out and buy a ton of these lures....no. But I like the peace of mind knowing what they used.

Wow Mitch. This thread has taken the Pre Rapala Wart to a whole new level. Awesome.

And yes 3 of the 5 Rapala DT models (DT 4-16) in that color are sold out on Tackle Warehouse and are on back order. If you have some SELL! SELL! SELL!