Mitch f

You mean something like this?

OTF, you hit the nail on the head... it's not just the equipment, it's the guy using it.

I like Falcons too, not too expensive but very decent. I dont cheap out on reels though, only use Shimano Curados and Chronarchs. I have some old Ambassadeurs that I use for Musky fishing that just won't die. But on the rods...IMO less than $100 is all you ever need anymore. And now please forgive me as I retire to my new Guinnness Black Lager

My wife is going back to China to visit her hometown for two weeks starting June 3rd, YIPPEE!!!!, uh, I mean I'm really gonna miss her. I know she would want me to be happy and I think she would rest better knowing I was enjoying myself. So, with that clearly in mind, I will volunteer to join you guys as long as it is in those 2 weeks.

The longer I fish the more I really get excited about finding deals with fishing equipment. Found a daiwa rod at Dick's on sale for $19.99, made my day. I will not spend over $100 anymore for a rod, actually I rarely spend more than $79.99 for a rod. Graphite was the greatest leap forward in fishing rods! They are all cheaper now!

After you strip down all the rhetoric, were a pretty good group of guys! Welcome, and enjoy yourself!!

I pretty much use baitcasters for anything 1/4 oz or heavier. For small 1/8oz and under jigs a spinning reel. So most of the time you will be using a baitcasting reel. Get good at a side arm cast so you can cast your lure under overhanging tree branches in the river. The action of that cast is best described as turning a door knob. If you learn how to use a baitcaster now you will become a much more efficient fisherman.

JD, A bunch has changed in the last 40 years, I mean Dylan has gone electric man! An ultralite rod with rooster tails? How are you going to drive the hook home on a tube jig with an ultralite? like playing pool with a rope! :have-a-nice-day: you know im just playin with ya

Since the water temps are around 50, I only bring 3 lures with me...a jig, a jerkbait, and a crankbait. I thought you were only a fly fisherman?

I would like to float the Big Piney thru Fort Leonard Wood

Went fishing on the Meramec today, 30% of the smallies we caught had gig marks, here are some of the pics. Virtually every hole where we caught fish had a fish with gig marks.

No doubt and I'm out!

Here's a look at some real brainiac libs for the other side http://www.breitbart.tv/andrew-breitbarts-greatest-momnets-man-against-the-mob/ RIP Andrew Breitbart

JD, You are right we need to target the poachers and enforce the laws the way they were intended. You are wrong that gigging in and of itself is not a weapon of mass destruction.

Hey Wrench, you forgot one, POOR DAWG!

I agree to a point JD, but illegal gigging is more like a weapon of mass destruction. The season is in the time of the year when the water is typically more low and clear and the fish are schooled together, making them much more vulnerable. A poacher can go in and clean out an entire hole full of large 10 year old fish in one night.

Jest what da hell is a Cartman voice? nice fish Drew! never have seen a shadow bass until now

I'm so glad this discussion got turned the right way too. 90% of the discussion was pretty lame, only 10% worth reading. Now get that mottled bluegill out of your face and let's all go fishing!

I love Woody Guthrie, have many of his songs on my iPhone

I make my own, you have to modify a regular football head Do-It mold with a dremel tool to make enough room for the wire. The wire is from Mason, it's the same wire used to make musky leaders. You need 7 strand woven wire around .023" diameter. I bend the ends so they won't pull out. Also you need to heat the exposed ends of the wire with a torch then dip them in powder paint to keep them from unraveling.

Im just joking with you, I thought you were meaning that those three places were the best places in Missouri to catch the biggest fish.

Agreed, Whats your opinion on a flat eye vs regular... and 60 degree vs 90 degree bend? the perfect hook i'm looking for doesn't exist, I called Gamakatsu and Owner and they said I would have to order a minimum 5K worth of hooks. That aint gonna happen. But i'm too darn picky

Keep thinking that

I think those aspirin heads are made to cut the current and get down to deep water quicker. One easy way to make one is take a regular round jig head and hold it against a concrete floor and hit it with a hammer, flattens it out nicely. I think Billy fished mostly Dale Hollow and deep resevoirs like that. As far as the bear hair, it's got a good color but it's so darn expensive it's just not worth it. As Al said, Football heads are good for rocks, round heads are good all around, and I use a "walleye head" from Do-it molds for all my swimming jigs. I always bend the hook a little bit ever so slightly. I like to take a pair of needle nose pliers and place then in the bend of the hook and barely squeeze...it actually increases the bite of the hook, making a 1/0 hook into a 2/0 size bite. I also bend the point slightly up, this increases the hook up percentage, it also makes it easier to get snagged, so less is more. Like Ron said, the light wire hooks can be freed with a steady pull and straighten out the hook so you don't loose the jig. There is a debate among fisherman whether a light wire hook or a heavy wire hook penetrates with less pressure. My opinion is, with both point sharpness amounts being equal, the heavy wire will penetrate better. However, being able to straighten out the hook when snagged is a big bonus. These new ultrapoint hooks seem to hold the point so well they can withstand several snags. ps. for me this was long winded, but the Oscars always bore me to death

Now yer talkin