steveearle

YET? They haven't stopped biting unless there was ice and you could not get to them. They are stacked if you hit the right spot and, contrary to some opinions, you do not have to fish deep even in water below 40 degrees. The dirty water could change things a little.

I own about 15 Loomis rods and am not thrilled about the warranty change. I do, however, have the gut feeling that the change is more posturing than anything. I think they are trying to eliminate the guy who breaks his rod because it has a bad guide or 2 and is old...$50 was just too easy. It will be interesting to see if anyone gets turned down based on the new "one replacement per rod."

I know this is late, but the ramp right under the Hurricane Deck Bridge (north side) should be one of the last to freeze as it is on the main lake. Hope you got out this weekend. They were chewing really well.

I've used the Bendsmender a lot and it works well. More expensive that medical needles, which I have also, but for convenience and handling the Bendsmender is the best I've used.

I'm a pretty big fan, as of right now, of the CI4 2500. The weight is waesome. I actually just sold a mint Sustain 2500FE (9.5 oz.)because the weight was bothering me after fishing 7+- oz. reels. The CI4 does feel and sound a little different because of the carbon parts. Bass Pro had some Diawa Certates in stock as well for $199. I believe they are last years models that they bought up. The new ones are pushing 5 bills.

Saw the truck at Bufalo Wild Wings next to where I work out at Hwy K & N yesterday with the Ozark Anglers.com and Lilley's bumper sticker.

I throw 8lb. Maxima mono on casting reels and 6lb. Trilene 100% fluoro on spinning reels (Jerkbaits). I crank with 10lb. Stren original or 12 lb. Trilene 100% Fluoro.

I think the Veritas is the best rod with the worst warranty (1 year).....

I have 2 of these and looking to get sell of one (Trying to thin out the spinning gear-and maybe add an NRX or 2). $250 shipped or $230 local pick-up/delivery. Great shape. Let me know if you have any questions. Awesome drop shot/shakey head rod. Can provide pic if necessary. $370.00 retail. THanks.

Thats the wind you pray for on TRock...Best grub weekend I ever had was that year (I think it was '07) when the fish moved to the bank and the trees bloomed around March 20th-ish...THEN...the cold front hit Easter weekend (WE of April 1st) and the water dropped to 51 degrees and all the tree blooms died. The wind blew 30 all weekend and it was 19 degrees when I woke up Easter morning. My TM batteries would only last exactly 8 hours each day but we absolutely smoked em on a smoke grub...The next weekend was the Heartland buddy tourney at LOZ when it rained, sleeted, and snowed in practice. There were FIFTEEN bags (5 fish by then) over 20lbs. weighed in at the buddy....

One of the biggest difference in the old vs. new is the colors. Not saying they wont catch fish but some of the new colors look awful. I'm not talking about new realease colors but new versions of the old colors. Some are the same and some are different (ugly)...

If not the Miss River, Kentucky lake is full of them...Caught them on a shakey head in June on accident...

Thought you might like to see what we caught on the Mississippi River the other day while walleye/sauger fishing..They are about 40lbs. each....Haven't been able to get to the Rock since Sept., so this is all I got....Basically using a shakey head set up...SJR 782 Loomis, Shimano CI4 2500, and 6 lb. Trilele 100% fluoro. My buddy had a SHR 821 Loomis, Stradic MGFA 1000, and 8 lb. InvisX...Pretty fun...Water was 32.2-32.6, if you can even comprehend that...

No tech either here, but....I had the same problem with a Minn Kota and the puck tranducer--looks like half a shot glass. Issue has gotten better with the transom style transducer-holds the tranducer off the actual trolling motor...Also, many people (including lowrance engineers) say that the technology has gotten so good, that "auto mode" will work under most circumstances (I know it doesnt work everytime, but its works well a lot of the time. Also, if the fish are in the bottom half of the water column, try the 2x zoom. I found that this has given us alot better detail, especially on the console graph...And, as mentioned before, try to set the upper limit at 10 feet instead of 0. THis can get rid of surface clutter...Thats all I got...

Something to consider (and Im not knocking the PQ guys). Smoothness on the shelf and longevity and durability do not necessarily go hand in hand. The Shimano will hold up. Case in point. I saw this first hand a couple of year ago. My buddy saved a few bucks while looking for a spinning reel by buying the Plueger. They feel great on the shelf...Smooth as can be and a bunch of ball bearings. However, after about 4 hours of grub fishing with it on the Rock, it went from a 10 to a 5....Just saying....number of ball bearings is not always relavent. There are very different qualities of bearings, just like there are different qualities of reels....

I really like the Compre. The 6'6" M spinning reel is very good for the money. I dont like their casting rods quite as much but oh well. Also, take a look at the new Abu Garcia Veritas. I think this is the best casting rod I've seen in the $100 range. The downside is they only have a one year warranty. I compared a lot of these $100 rods looking for a gift for my brother in law and settled on these (Veritas). $80 during the Tackle Warehouse and Bass Tackle Depot Black Friday Sales. Also look at the Falcon Bucoo. I would rate it 2nd behind the Veritas and the Temple Fork behind it. The Temple Fork is relatively heavy compared to these others, even though it has Gary Loomis' name on it.

The Citica E is the reel. You can find them New in Box or Like-New in Box for under $100 on the Bass Boat Central Classified boards if you look every day or couple of days...

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Advanced-Angler-Pro-Series-Tackle-Bags-without-Boxes/703224.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dtackle%2Bbag&Ntt=tackle+bag I have had the Cabela's Advanced Angler Pro Series Tackle Bag for quite a while and would highly recommend. You can buy 4 sizes...They hold 4, 6, 8, or 12 Plano 370s and have 2 side pocket and a front pocket. You can get it with- or without boxes. They also have a molded bottom so that it keeps its shape. The "Super Magnum" that holds 12 370s is the biggest bag that I know of and the one that I carry. I usually fill it with back up tackle that I dont put in the boat...

I have had the originals (Z-Man) actually oxidize (the hook) while still in the pack...These were the ones being sold about 4 years ago...Don't know if they changed the hooks or not...I know of a retail store that sent all of there's back...They do have more now....Whatever works, but I got as far away from them as possible...After the problem with the originals, I played with nearly all, and the Revenge is the highest quality I have found by far...Just my $02..

I have used the Phenix blade so let me give you some advice....They work well BUT....I first used them night fishing LOZ 2 years ago--black/blue with a black swim senko. I practiced with it Friday night, threw it in the tourney Saturday night, then cut it off. When I woke up Monday and looked in the boat the hook was already rusted. Although the Phenix works well it has a BRONZE hook...They are very susceptable to rust...With some hard looking I found a better bait...Assuming your not against internet orders (which I doubt you are based on the Phenix conversation). Revenge bait company makes a bladed jig that is phenominal. Great blade, great head, great colors, awesome hook (very sharp Chrome coated)....I buy them on Tackle Warehouse...the shad is a great color, they have good black hues for night, awesome bluegill color, and very good chart shad color...Give em a look...As for TRock, you'll have to ask others....

Not to be overlooked, for those not familiar, that 853 is an awesome all around jig/worm rod, no matter the model..Kind of in between a MH and a Heavy with the extra fast rating....I have had 3 of the GLXs and they are sweet. Make it in a Mossyback also....

Didnt seem that spooky at the time..In retrospect..?? We were bank fishing down at the Buffalo National River during the middle of the day when I was in 7th grade or so (circa 1987), when my dad and I heard kind of a wierd noise. We turned around and a guy had a young mountain lion on a leash..Chatted and we left...Wish I could see that now...did not appreciate it back then.

My brother in law was down over the weekend and noticed quite a few docks with new postings...What is the ordinance and is it enforceable?

In my opinion the 6'4" is not enough rod for a good hookset on a FBall jig...Just my opinion. I have thrown both on a G Loomis 7' MH (MBR 843) although not my first choice for either (but I have quite a few rods)...If you are fishing mostly open water, I would look at something 7' in length and MH in Action, then let your budget make decisions from there.

I was down there last week (and on the day it happened). It was a fog issue. There was very little of it on Friday but there were isolated patches around the lake--it was actually worse on Saturday...The eerie thing is that I actually met and talked to David Young at the KenLake ramp during practice (looking for any pointers). Gave me weird chills when I found out he was the boater....The accident rumors were floating around our weigh-in before we had the details.He is the person who got second in the FLW lasy year losing to Keith Williams when William caught a 9-1 on day 4 and Young jumped off a bunch of big ones.... KY is a dangerous lake for several reasons.....