islandbass

I bought 12# Regular in a bigger spool for $6.95. And while it isn't the limpest line, the line is flat out solid. From bass to salmon, the line kicks phanny on baitcasters at this strength. I have to hand it to RW for the recommendation and thank him too. I would like to try the US version some day, when it is available locally.

I can see some flaws in its construction... Please send it to me so that I can "fix" and test it for you on my local waters. Ha! Just kidding. Purple is my favorite color and your bait looks really good. Hats off for such a great interpretation of the DT body shape. 8-) I can't wait to learn how deep that puppy is going to dive. Well done!!!

For $80, and this is the monkey talkin', I gotta go with a Damiki. I concede that I have never held this rod, but they look so awesome that I, someone who is not ever likely to buy something unseen or untouched, is willing to do. It's that or the Monkey's whispering. The Clarus rods I could recommend at that price point or the old Compres. Both are sufficiently sensitive to jig fish with.

Nice, report RW! I can't wait to see the pics. 8-)

Woh. The handle looks like a light saber. That is cool in my book, old or not.

Welcome and well said!! I would be willing to bet a floating Rapala minnow that many here including me, share your sentiments. 8-)

Nice piggy. 8-)

Dad's Fishing Derby (as he calls it) Date: Friday, October 30, 2009 Location: Green River in Auburn, WA I took my dad fishing for salmon this past Friday. He didn't want to go fishing initially but much to my pleasure and surprise, he changed his mind. We found a section of the Green River in Auburn, which I missed during my initial scouting trip not too long ago while the Mrs. was shopping at the Super Mall nearby. I have never fished this section of the Green River either, but its traits were perfect for us. It was a flat, clear area that was convenient to fish from the bank. Pink salmon (our best bet) or if we're lucky, the elusive Coho (aka Silver) Salmon were our targets. We arrive at this spot at about noon. There were only three other persons fishing. I got set up my dad's rod with a lure traditionally used by many anglers in this area. It is called a corky or drift bobber with some yarn and scent. After I showed him how to work it, I proceeded to set up my rig the same way. The others fishing with us were fishing the same lure. After some time had passed, two new anglers showed up and started fishing. They also got into some fish rather quickly. I took notice and after they landed a few fish, I saw that they were using a marabou jig. Fortunately, I had brought a few homemade jigs that I was planning to try later in the day. Their success prompted me to change tactics. Although I had not tried used these jigs for real world use yet (only field-testing a couple times at a local lake to view action), I figured I had nothing to lose. I chose a jig with fuchsia colored marabou similar to the bottom one in the image below. In less than 5 minutes, about the third cast, I feel something take the jig and although it was my first time trying this technique, instinct took over and I set the hook set. I successfully landed a pink salmon and was completely surprised and shocked. My surprise was that the jig worked and my shock was for not having a deer in the headlights moment, which I have occasionally. In addition, it is a great feeling to hook into and catch a fish, and that feeling is magnified and even sweeter when you do so with a lure you made yourself. Ten minutes had not even passed before pink salmon #2 bit the line! It was also successfully landed. I asked my dad if he wanted to try a jig and he declined. Matter of fact, I had to hook into my third salmon before he changed his mind. After I set the hook, I handed my rod to my dad so that he could feel what it was like to fight one. I did not want him to go home skunked. He had a blast bringing it in and he was amazed at how strong every tug felt. This is my dad fighting his first salmon. I tied the jig that brought me success onto his rig and showed him how to work it. A few minutes later, he hooks into one but loses it. The good thing about that was that his vigor and determination were renewed. Finally, success for my dad! He hooks and lands his first salmon of any kind. Dad's first solo hooked and landed salmon. That really made my day and I felt the pressure of getting him into fish dissipate with the evanescence of alka-seltzer. Praise the Lord! My dad catches his next pink salmon just before I land my fourth one. We continued fishing for about another hour, but there was one final piece of personal glory for one of these two anglers. You see, the Silver or Coho salmon that reside in this river have the harsh reputation of being stingy and lock-jawed, almost always rejecting the presentations and offerings of fishermen and women. As a matter of fact, all of the other anglers fishing along side us were not targeting pink salmon, but silver salmon, and they did not hook into nor catch either. They left EMPTY-HANDED for both. So where is this going? Read on. At about 4:30 p.m., I started packing up the gear while my dad continued fishing. After I got everything ready, I looked up toward dad. Before I could tell him it was time to go, he hooks into another salmon. I didn't think much of it at that moment until I observed that this salmon appeared to be very feisty and jumped with the frequency of a jackrabbit. I started to think that this might not be a pink salmon. I rushed up to dad and coached him to keep the line taut no matter what happens so that he could keep the chance of losing this one to a minimum. Praise the Lord again! He brought it in successfully but there was more to it. It was a bright and beautiful silver, or Coho salmon. Dad managed to do what no one else could that day, and that was, to land a silver salmon. No one even hooked into one. So this is solely my dad's sweet victory and vindication for all of his patience and persistence. Dad definitely gets the trophy for the landing the only silver salmon in that area that day. This is a bright (meaning fresh) fish and it is in pristine shape. Dad's smile says it all. We could not have asked for a better day. I still cannot believe how successful this outing was especially considering my lack of experience with this jig fishing technique and fishing and unfamiliar section of water. By day's end, caught a total of eight fish, four each. We kept two pinks and his silver salmon. My goal was to get my dad into his first salmon and I am blessed to have achieved that goal. It was definitely a special day, and a great time. I won't forget this day any time soon, and I am inclined to believe that my father will not forget as well. Conditions: Overcast, approximately 50 degrees Dad's Gear: 6'6 Shimano Compre Spinning Rod, Rapala 30 4Sxi spinning reel with 10# Sufix Siege monofilament line. Bass gear Imagine that! Alex's Gear: 8'6 Lamiglas Norwest Special Casting Rod, Shimano Curado 201DHSV casting reel with 12# Yozuri Hybrid line.

X10 - Absolutely! x 10^[ch8734]. Matter of fact, they're loosened before I even start walking to the car. Being forced to check the drag before the next outing is a definite plus.

We all hear stories of rods snapping on the cast or on the hook set, and we usually assign the blame to rod manufacture defect, which is possible, and some times the case, but what if all that banging around adds up to damaging the rod blank? Until today, I'd have the two pieces of my 8'6 rod kept together by a strip of Velcro. However, doing this does little to protect the two halves of the blank from banging around against things in the trunk or each other. I suppose it's the upper half of the rod blank that probably needs to be protected more. To address this, I placed most of the upper half of the rod in some ½ pipe insulation tubing and the lower part of with ¾ pipe insulation as shown below: Two strips of Velcro hold the pieces together. This is a closer look where the two pieces of pipe insulation meet. I hope that the insulation material will serve to absorb the vibrations and protect the blank from loose objects in the trunk. So far, as a unit it feels secure and is easy to hold. The upper half doesn't move much, if at all. The protection of spinning rigs, which by nature have larger guides, might be a little more limited but it should still work to the extent where the tubing covers the guides. For one piece rods, I think that placing pieces of the tubing strategically on the blank in areas we know where banging around occurs (like the tip) could be helpful. The tubing could also be kept in place with Velcro. I think I will keep the insulation material in trunk when I hit the water. I don't like to carry more than I have to. I got the tubing at Home Depot. They come in packs of 4 for $0.98. In my humble opinion that's a small price to pay to protect our precious gear. What do you guys do, if anything to protect your rods during transport in your vehicle?

Another Trip to Lake Union, WA Tue. 10-28-09 I had the fortune of getting out of work a bit early today. Despite my suspicions that the passing period of cold and rainy weather would likely turn the fish off and lower my chances of success fishing from the shore, I decided to go bass fishing anyway. Because this was not a planned trip, I only had two trunk rods and a motley but limited selection of lures. Poor weather conditions + Limited lure selection = Slim prospects. Bring it on! I always welcome a challenge! 3:15 PM I arrived at about 3:15 and tossed my first cast about 15 minutes later. First up to bat was the Drop Shot. I managed to snag up in less than a minute. Argh!! I hate the when that happens! Put the spinning rig down and tossed the bait caster with a ¼ oz homemade marabou jig. I deemed the first spot nonproductive and moved to the next spot. Picked up the DS rig again and worked area thoroughly. Snagged up a few more times while using three different plastics. Tried the jig again and lost it on a snag. It was the only one I had. I employed the Joker crankbait next and worked it in a fan shape. Once again, nothing. 4:25 PM Moved to the third spot and picked up the DS but this time no more messing around. Sniper Snub time, wacky rigged. Got my first hit. It was so subtle and sweet, and although it's been a long time, just like walking, you never forget. Knew it was a dink, but a hook up is a hook up. I brought it to the surface and let my line go slack. The smallie knew what to do and shook itself off. 4:35 PM I hook into another one but screwed up and yanked it away. 4:40 PM Time to wrap up and head back to the car. 4:45 PM Temptation coaxed me into trying one last spot; the spot I really wanted to try earlier and I succumbed to her siren wale and made a cast. I noticed something wasn't quite right with my reel so I looked down to see what the problem was (the fluorocarbon line was too hard for me to see). I was having difficulty turning the handle to recover line and I couldn't determine the culprit. As luck would have it I got a definite tug on the line. It felt like a decent one too. I kept think to myself, Don't lose this one, reel malfunction or not. Don't you dare lose this one! I eventually brought it in after some trouble and she was a sight for sore eyes. I took a photo and let her go. As for the reel, it turns out that I managed to get the line tangled around the roller. Weird! I feel good. Fishing from the shore is just going to become tougher as winter approaches so I will savor this round. Most casts were worked carefully, thoroughly, and with focus. It's a relief when persistence and putting in the time yields a reward. Two for three under these conditions a small victory for me I will call it. Conditions Cold and overcast, with a lot of rain earlier in the week Gear: Mag-Touch/Curado 201BSF 8# mono, Compre/Rapala 6Sxi 6# Invizx Lures: Marabou Jig, Senkos, Roboworms, Snubs, Crankbaits -ib

Pretty cool. Glad to see I am not alone in the forgetting to bring hooks when field testing or fishing department. ;D

Sounds like you're using braid? Anyway, I have not experienced any of those issues with 30# ppro so if it isn't the guides, then the next question is how often are you checking for wear and nicks? Braid might be strong, but on the other side of the coin is that it is thin relative to mono of the same strength. Because of this, any wear and tear is going to make the line more prone to breaking. That really applies to any line. Every time you "jerk" or "tug" on the line when it is tangled or dug into itself is going to increase the potential for unseen (but felt) damage to your line. There are ways to alleviate this line digging, and it starts with freeing snags without using your rod and reel and then having an overly tight drag when pulling line off. For the latter, loosening the drag can help, but it is far easier to pull line off while the reel is disengaged.

This is one of the great questions that makes its way with reasnonable certainty. They are meaningless alone.

I've done it but I am not a rod maker. I think I made a post on it but it was a while ago. A little search will probably find it.

You have to learn how to properly load the rod. It seems that you already know how to side arm cast. The mechanics are exactly the same. The rod is just in a different plane. There should be no difference in a overhead and a regulare side arm cast. Everyone is spot on on analzying your casts into the ground. When the say release earlier picture this: With 12 oclock being above you and 9 oclock in front of you and 3 oclock behind you, that release point is somewhere between 12:30 and 1 oclock. Good luck!

The grass isn't necessarily greener. There are many applications and techniques that both reels can do very well. If anything it would help you expand your arsenal. Just search up just about anything baitcasting here and you will uncover a wealth of information. Personally I see both as tools and as such I use and love to use both types. So to answer your question, you're missing out just a little. ;D

Those eyes look killer!!!! You definitely have the skills to pay the bills. 8-) I hope you don't mind if I try that eye shape perhaps on my next crankbait project. One thing I would add is a shark mouth. Combined with those eyes, it would make for a mean looking crankbait.

Its mono and it will cast as well as any comparable mono of the same diameter. Siege will definitely be more manageable IMHO. I have also used CXX and the stuff is tough but the price to pay is its wirey-ness if that could be a word. I would presume also that Siege in the same strength is probably going to be thinner than CXX of the same strength which should lead to slightly farther casts. Siege will definitely be more manageable. I cannot note enough at how well sufix resists memory. CXX, as with many other Pline products quickly acquires memory. This is not to put it down nor is it to say this is a terrible thing. I like CXX, but it's an observation and fact about the memory. This memory is not an issue for me. Its benefits outweigh this minor point.

That is not a bad idea, but I think it really depends on the species you are targetting. For example, that is not an issue fishing for bass and panfish. I agree that there is no real need to join the lines. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. However, if you try this against species that can make short work of a 200 sized casting reel like a king or chum salmon, that is a recipe for a guaranteed mark in the loss column if the fish pulls off enough line. I speak from experience about getting a 200 curado spooled by a brutish chum salmon in which the spool was filled to optimum capacity. To be fair, knot or not, it wouldn't have mattered in this fight. ;D BTW, it was perhaps one of the best battles, all 22 minutes of it (and yes, I timed it) I have ever had against a fish. I tipped off my hat and gave it a salute.

I don't have fixed times, but when the spool runs low enough to affect optimum casting and retrieval. Could be one day (mega bird's next or a few weeks or a year (braid).

I used to get mine from Wal Mart for about $1.99 but it seems the ones in my area no longer carry it. I know that it can be purchased at various online stores that could be found with a search. The one you want is the one that sets in 30 min. Unless you are as fast as the Flash, I do NOT recommend the 5 min. version.

I have used both and I like both. To use a rough parallel, you can think of Elite and the Trilene XL, and Siege as XT. The reason I say roughly put is because Siege doesn't handle like XT exactly, but it seems to be more abrasion resistant than Elite. It leads me to think that Elite is probably better suited to open water scenarios or situations where cover will not be an issue. If I am not mistaken, they are the same diameter, but even with that as the case, it just seems that Siege might very well be a bit more abrasion resistant. Sufix Siege is among the best monos I have used to date, and Elite is pretty good too. I also love how both resist memory. I have used Elite in 8# strength and Siege in 10, 12, and 20#.

Welcome, fellow washingtonian!!! I normally say greetings from the Pacific Northwest, but you're already from here. This is a great site. Glad to have you here.

Unless you can foresee that you will never need to split them ever again, then yes. Personally, I wouldn't. I use 2 piece rods out of necessity for the unexpected, just in case fishing trips and they are kept in the trunk. I don't risk exposing them for would be thieves with the back seat down during the week. That's just asking for trouble. Heck, I don't even put loomis stickers or whatever fishing ads on my car. Coming from the island of thieves, that would be like displaying a neon light saying, "Break into this car. Chances are that there is a lot of fishing gear you can pawn to satiate your drug fix." Yes, thieves can break into any car, but they have to crack the nut to see in mine instead without the benefit of an invitation. And if they stole my rods, shoot. They're the two piece disposable junkers anyway. My true bass rods, the one pieces come out on the weekend if I get the chance to fish and there outings are planned. Wow. I went off on a tangent. Bottom line, I personally won't permanently attach them. This is actually a bait monkey excuse to get a rod that fills its niche that is one piece. ;D