abkeenan

I think one of those specimen's gave a State of the Union address last night.

Majority of my reels are Lew's. I think I have 3 PQ's. I have nothing bad to say about either but I still prefer my green E7 Curado to anything else. I also don't need to buy ANYMORE REELS. You are an enabler you know that Champ!?

Are they the best reels ever made? No. Are they worth $100? Yes. Are they worth $50. Most certainly. A few years back I bought a Quantum KVD model that was around $100 bucks and that thing was the biggest piece of crap ever. That thing wasn't worth $25 bucks. But you are DEAD ON about casting distance on the Rock. Long casts are KEY for cranks,jerk baits and most moving baits. Not only because of water clarity and not spooking fish but also having that bait in the strike zone and working an area more effectively with long thorough casts. Good point Champ. Also easier to work angles with boat position on long casts.

Ya I get that. They aren't uber lightweight like some the 5.6 oz reels out there but I think people have gone crazy over weight reduction in rods and reels. Sure having a nice lightweight setup is nice because they lend themselves to being more sensitive and also don't fatigue the angler as much but at what point to those lightweight components lose structural integrity or durability? I am a youngin' so to speak at 33 years old so I don't really ever get fatigued unless throwing a jerk bait all day the left wrist and forearm get a little tender but nothing to where I think about it. Sometimes my left hand with get cramped up after mid to deep cranking for hours. I could see where an older person might need to have a super lightweight setup so he/she can fish comfortably or longer without pain or stress.

The eyes don't matter obviously because they are anatomically incorrect to a crayfish. Unless you know of a white river craw species that has eye located in their rectum. Doesn't matter as evidence of the amount of fish caught on TR on WW's. I was just pointing out the fact that they look just like the Luck E Strike Warthogs.

Yeah that is TOTALLY different than the current green craw (or more like GOLD CRAW) that Rapala is putting out now. That looks very much like the pre rapala green craw. Nice find Dave. Another thing, what is up with the new wiggle warts that are BPS exclusives like the phantom colors, pbj, etc that they came out with that Hughes designed the paint schemes? The eyes are TOTALLY different and are not "wart" looking like the pre rap's. You know what they look like? Exactly like the Luck E Strike Wart Hog that failed and was pulled from the market due to quality control issues. I never did get to try one but others here did I believe. Reviews were not good.

Also, I had a old model BPS Bionic Blade red and black bait caster I bought on clearance from BPS years and year ago. That dang thing although cheap and having a massive amount of flex on the frame (being it is graphite or straight up plastic) could cast out of sight. I used it for topwater and I could spool the dang thing with a spit'n image tied on. Probably the furthest casting reel I've ever had no BS. It was a hunk of junk as far at components, drag, frame flexing, cranking power and just about sucked at everything at reel could suck at EXCEPT casting. I retired it and gave it to my brother and he still uses it. For the $30 or whatever I paid for it, it has more than paid for itself. Caught a lot of fish on that thing and was put through the ringer with some tanker smallies.

Champ, The adage "You get what you pay for" often rings true but other times it does not. I have Curado's, Lew's, PQ's, Pfluegers and other reels in the $150 range and I would put my PQ up there with any of them as far as casting distance in concerned. Durability is an entirely different deal as the Curado is a tank and has never had an issue with it or the Lew's but one of my PQ's which I use for cranking in the 5.2:1 is getting a touch rough on the retrieve. I probably wouldn't recommend them for cranks but they have been solid reels and I have never paid more than $65 when they have the BPS spring sale + reel trade in. I would have no problem if my entire arsenal of setups had PQ's on them. Good little reels and a steal at $50.

PQ's are probably about due for a design change which is the reason why I would think they are trying to sell the crap out of them for $50 to get rid of inventory. Just a hunch.

It's a good real whether an entry fisherman or not. People who are gear snobs will scoff at guys using BPS PQ's but those reels are great performers any way you slice it. You won't find a better reel for $50.

It's got issues. I think a seal is broke on the fuel pump, the ignition sticks and got stuck and burned up the starting motor. Was a great trip! Next time down pretty sure it is going to get a Viking's funeral. If you see a flaming arrow unleashed out towards a floating boat in the middle of the lake pay no attention.

Champ, Saw your rig at 86 (assuming seeing Ranger trailer with the Ozark Anglers sticker along with the GMC and BassX and War Eagle on the back windshield with a Razor backs front plate) when I pulled by just to check out how many guys were at the ramp after getting batteries tested at Wally World and some tires put on the trailer. Unfortunately I had motor issues....again and was unable to fish yesterday or today. So brother and I left last night out of frustration and came back to STL. Ugh. I hate boats.

Some of the Bagley's go for big money but they have to be the right colors, year, etc. Saw that the Nelly's Goldfish wedge bill went for about a grand last year. There are some others in that range also. But nothing I have seen has come close to the $4,000 Wiggle Wart V44 Blue Mackerel. To be honest I had never even knew that existed until I saw that listing. I went riffling through all my warts looking for a Blue Scale wart and had a sharpie in hand to make some squiggle lines and make a quick handful of benjamins...lol. Also wish I would have bought some of the Japanese "Popeye" Warts when prices on them was still fairly low. Now they are going for $100 each and up. I suck as a investor forecaster.

Welcome. Always good to have another MU Tigers guy on the boards. Starting to be to many rah rah Razorback and Dookie fans here to try to fend off. In terms of looking for fishing advice just check in on the boards weekly as guys/gals like Champ188 and Donna will brave just about any elements to soak a line and give a detailed report as well as Bo (merc1997), Quillback and others will chime in. They keep TR info up to date and best take pointers and start from there. Babler usually will post a report or two a week when he has clients but with the cold winter weather he is usually on Taneycomo this time of the year I believe. Welcome and good luck. I am also about 95% sure I will be coming down this weekend to enjoy the mid 50's January weather. Will be in the dam area.

Last years OA Photo

100%. The craziest part of this pre rap deal is that now even the short, flat and mag warts are getting in on the action. You could get mag warts at a FRACTION of the regular size. Now they are also $20-30 a crack for decent colors when I was getting them a few years ago for like $3-5 a piece for craw colors. Wish now I would have loaded up on the mags. The short wart and flat warts have just come out of nowhere I feel like just this winter. Nobody wanted them or at least didn't pay much for them but I just saw 2 fire tiger pre rap flat warts go for $20 each. Last winter you would have been lucky to get $5 each. How much higher can these baits go? I know there was a major crash in the market for Bagley's and the price now is about half or less of what it was 5-10 years ago and wondering if that will eventually happen to the pre rap stuff?

Yep. Welcome Split. Enjoy the honeymoon phase of pledgeship of Omega Alpha (OA aka code name Ozark Anglers) cause it doesn't last long. On formal pledge night this spring, whenever you are blindfolded and taken to the woods, whatever you do, DO NOT talk back to Champ188 or mess with his greased goat or you will wish you hadn't. I'll tell Ned Rig Dave to take it easy on you with the 7 foot ultra light St. Croix since you are near Beardsley. Should only hurt for a few weeks.

Ya I heard that the "Soft" version of YoZuri Hybrid is no good. I haven't tried it. I'll just stick to the regular. On another note I heard that guys didn't like the Power Pro Slick because is was "too soft" as well. I guess limpness is not always good. What did I just type? lol.

Old Plug, If you are wanting wobble/swing heads give Frank a lot at Swing Oil Bait. Prices are super reasonable and has a bunch different size/weight options. http://swingoilbaits.com/SWING-JIG-SKU-227.htm

Nice fish and hat Rick.

I mean who buys these rigs? Seriously. They must have REALLLLLLY understanding wives or are bachelors.

Still about half the cost or less of a pre-rap wart.

Agree and disagree. If people are as proud to wear their Strike King hoodie as they are to wear their college alma mater then they have a seriously love affair going on with that company and probably need to be on the next episode of TLC's "My Strange Addiction". Doctor....I have no idea how that 6XD and it's trebles got stuck there.

I am on both sides here as far as pimping your favorite brands but also being a "goober" going too far with fake sponsorship jersey's and pro style wrapped boats. My grandfather always told me he never understood why people would SPEND money to sport a particular companies logo's or merchandise as it was just free advertising for that brand and in most cases YOU ACTUALLY PAID FOR IT. I agree to some extent but also see nothing wrong with supporting a brand/company that you have grown to love because its a good product or has treated you right with customer service. I've loved Nike since I was a youngster and that is really the only tennis shoes I will wear. I am very brand loyal to Nike. Fishing wise I purchased a few Lew's speed spools and was happy with them and I now have their hat with the logo on it I wear and also some t-shirts. I like wearing them showing that I support a good company and good product. But the guys that have jerseys with their names on it, patches all over it and a wrapped boat without seeing one cent or perk for that company are buffoons. Sure they are free to do as they please as it's a free country and you can spend your money however you want but lets be honest....they are d-bags.

Good video. Thanks for sharing. I am now going to waste another 2 hours watching the rest of those video interniews with the other anglers like Chris Christie, Cliff Pace and Mark Rose.