abkeenan

I can't believe you went there. Poor Donna. I hope after you unhooked the trailer you had a nice dinner made for her with this playing softly as she walked through the door to say you're sorry.

I do not believe fly rods are permitted. I think in the rules it says that it must be a casting rod, spincasting rod or spinning rod.

You contradict yourself when you say "the right way". So using a 5'6" pistol grip with 25lb mono is going to be just as effective as using a 7'6" rod with 10lb fluoro for throwing big deep cranks? Or using a 7'10" XXH flipping stick with 60lb power pro is going to be as successful as when using a 6'6" medium light spinning setup with 6lb fluoro for 1/16oz ned rigging?

I will disagree. Having the right line and the right rod/reel can, and does, make a world of difference. Just like anything else there are many tools that can do the job, but some tools are just better suited for that job.

Well, every Elite angler has their own strengths and weaknesses. Guys that are finesse fisherman might think that the shallow flippers are getting a leg up now. Not saying any of the Elite guys would complain that the new length limit rule is unfair but would like to hear from the field and their thoughts on the subject.

Wizzing a bass. More effective than fizzing. Also no need for Mountain Dew.

I would imagine that rod manufacturer's are currently scrambling at the drawing board as we speak. I-Cast 2017 (or perhaps Classic release stuff) should be very interesting to see what what all the rod makers come up with as far as lengths/tapers/actions/technique specific models for these new bass specific 8-10 footers. Fuji and other guide manufactures also have to be absolutely loving this as well.

In the article is only says that a couple of guys (Skeet Reese) have been asking for this rule change for a few years. Would like to hear if there are any Elite guys against the rule change who see themselves at a disadvantage now. Greg Hackney with a 10 foot flippin' stick? Could get ugly for the competition.

Restrictions on rod length began in the West, and they were the catalyst for the development of the popular and effective “flippin’” technique. Dee Thomas of California, the “Father of Flippin’,” began winning tournaments in that state by “dipping” jigs in stands of tules with a 14-foot surf casting rod. When competitors complained, Thomas developed the flipping presentation, which delivered the lures to the same spots with a 7 1/2-foot rod.The 8-foot maximum was added to B.A.S.S. rules by B.A.S.S. founder Ray Scott and Tournament Director Harold Sharp in 1976. Back then, competitors were paired by random draw and took turns controlling the boat. There were no pro anglers and co-anglers; everyone was fishing for the same prize, two to a boat.Scott and Sharp believed a rod longer than 8 feet gave the angler operating the boat a distinct advantage over the other.

https://www.bassmaster.com/news/bass-will-allow-10-foot-rods-2017 Wonder what will become of this? I know the rod manufacturers gotta LOVE this rule as it expands lines and models. Will be interesting to see what guys will be throwing a 9'11" XXXH with a 16", 10oz monster swimbait looking for a kicker fish. Or someone resorting to the float n' fly in tough cold water conditions in some of the early in the year tournaments. Bassmaster Classic won on the F'n'F....guys from FL, TX, LA, MS, AL and other year round warm climate states heads would explode. Just when I think I have all the bases covered now with my combos.....BASS goes and does this.......ugh (More like Ugh for my wife). Wonder how far I can throw a 10XD on a 10 foot MH rod? If I get bored around the dam I can just heave a crank over it and maybe snag a trout in Taney. Do I need a trout tag if my boat is in Table Rock?

I believe he does have one on. Looks like the auto inflate style that are small and flat to the body. I think it's black and just blends in with the dark uniform he is wearing.

Nice report. I don't have any Duckett cranking specific rods but I have a 7'3" MH Ghost rod and it is the most versatile rod that I own (out of about a dozen combos). I throw squarebills, medium cranks, spoons (jigging and big flutter style), buzzbaits, wobble heads, jigs, swim jigs, underspins, soft swimbaits, jika rigs and spinnerbaits. That seems silly to have a rod that can be used for so many applications but the rod doesn't feel out of place when using any of those baits. Of the dozen combos I own, none of them can handle the wide spectrum of that Ghost rod. Quality control and components aren't the best but whatever blank they are using is a winner in my book.

Nice report M&M. Seems like they are starting to get pretty active shallow. Glad to see that crank bite is still holding up from last week a little bit. Gotta weed through dinks to get some solid fish. But hey, fish are fish and the little squirts keep you entertained between good'uns. Should only get better with the temps fading into the 70's with cooler nights and shorter days. Buzzbait/Plopper, Crank, Football Jig......I can dig throwing those 3 all day.

Look no further than this. As perfect answer are you are going to get. I've done the KVD Elite's size 4 and 6 combo. It works well. But, I like the twin Owner size 5's better.

Good deal. The mixed bank/transition banks were best for us a few days ago as well. Thanks for sharing.

I have a bit of a temper and don't have a problem with confrontations. But as I get older it is getting better. I get very angry while driving when people just drive like maniacs and put others on the road at risk. My wife yells at me all the time about it. I have young kids so I need to cool my jets on the road rage and also in the boat. Sure I would love beach the boat and go at it with some of these yahoo's. But you never know when you cross the wrong yahoo with a gun or weapon that would leave my family without a husband or dad. It's really not worth it anymore. I don't like being disrespected on the water by jerks and letting them just get away with it. But, lots of water and spots to fish and less time to do it wasting it on the losers of the lake.

Good to see you back Bill. Hope all is well and you are on the mend. You are 100% correct about our Tigers and that we should jump up and bite someone unsuspectingly in the SEC. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't SHOCKED that we are better than I had anticipated. I had faith in Odom but just figured it would take a couple of years to get the ball rolling again in the right direction after the debacle last year (both on and off the field). That loss to UGA on Saturday was a heart breaker but it sure gave the squad a boost in confidence, and maybe more importantly the fan base. I have buddies much more in tune with the MU football program than I am and they said there were a lot of recruits at that game. From all accounts that game made a good impression on them and hopefully lands us some quality talent going forward. If only the basketball program could follow their lead that would be great.....but that isn't likely to happen. Poor Kim Anderson. Just set up to be the fall guy for a couple years.

You should do well on those 3.

The first time was 100% tournament guys. Just didn't give a rip. The 2nd instance the idiot followed me back idling to said secondary point with wood on it. I thought surely this guy is going to pull into a slip in one of these 3 docks......there isn't enough room back here for 2 boats. Nope. Moron just starts off 40 yards on the right side of this pocket (the way I had intended to go) and makes his way to me on the small secondary point. Then asks me "You guys having any luck?". I responded NOPE without even turning around to look at them 15 feet behind my boat. Brother after they had passed had the great idea that we should have our butt cheeks hanging out as they trolled by us. Squandered opportunity.

Very cool!

Was able to get down and wet a line for two days in the mornings. Fish were surprisingly shallow. Caught fish from 1 foot out to around 17ish. Had committed myself to cranking ONLY this trip and only took 5 rods out: 3 crankers of various depths, 1 dub plop and a jig. Brother popped 2 smallies right off the bat on Sat morning on the jig in about 5 feet on a gravel flat. Proceeded to catch handful on a crank and bro with the occasional jig fish. I caught one dink on the dub plop on quite a few casts with it. Tried the DP back in a pocket on a secondary point loaded with timber. Weaved it in and out of the wood and didn't get a sniff. Figured I might call one up....no dice. Fished until noon or so with a lot of 10-14 smallies. Only had 2 keepers with one nice 3lb largie that came on a deep crank. Had I burned more gas and fished all day could have caught a BUNCH cranking but had to get back to the house for family time on the toon the rest of the day. Couldn't get much love deeper on the gravel stuff. Not much on ledge rock either. Mixed chunk rock 45 degree'ish banks seemed to be best. Main lake was better than back in pockets or creeks for us. Fished Sat night only for about 90 min from 1130pm-1am with a jig. Only mustered 1 dink and swung and missed on a nice "thump" jig bite. Sunday morning took my wife, dad and 3 year old fishing and caught a bunch of the same dink smallies. Couple on the ned. Couple dragging a crawler. Nothing too exciting. Caught a bunch of "black perch" (green sunfish) up shallow on a tiny spinner/tube combo with quite a few 6-12 inch smallie mixed in. Good trip all in all. Weather was glorious. They want moving stuff right now IMO. Champ...where ya at? Didn't try a fluke, keitech or that kinda stuff up shallow but I'm sure it would work rather well. Like I said I just committed to grinding the lips off a crank. Had a good time doing it. Lot's of fishing boats out there and just about every main lake point was covered up. Had 2 jerks just completely cut me off going down banks. I guess it's just standard procedure going forward and seems to get worse ever year. Bro with a couple of nice small jaws Crank Fish Black Perch on Black Perch crime

Thanks for sharing Donna. Your dad seems to be an early pioneer of the fishing jersey. What a trooper wearing a wool jersey like baseball players in the early to mid 20th century. Can't believe Champ married a girl whose papa was jersey sporter. Love conquers all. Thanks again for sharing the pics.

A little extreme just to have an excuse to giving passing wakers the finger don't ya think Big Guy?

They discussed or made a short mention addressing that in the video. The vent has a lip on it to where your water will not slosh out.

If it's a cool rain could pull them shallow and to runoff locations. Squarebill or spinnerbait could be fun. That double plopper or standard plopper could also be in play.