islandbass

checkmating with pawn and queen, that’s awesome. personally I like queen pawn games, but I admit I have not focused to go too deep into any main lines and just rely on developing my pieces. There is good and bad with this approach and unfortunately, the drawback/bad with this is you can fall into traps as you have stated. I don’t have an official rating but it’s probably around 1200. My chess.com online rating is higher, but that’s because I leave no stone unturned and explore many possibilities before making a move. As a result, I have won more than I’ve lost even against stronger players willing to play me. Blitz however, it’s probably about 1200 too. I have lost more games than I have won, especially at chess.com. I no longer play blitz there (5 min games) because my internet connection sux and it’s not fair to my opponent, when I lose my connection and it looks like I abandoned the game. Or worse lose that way in a game I’m winning, lol.

Usually between 12 and 1. I don’t like it, but that is my body clock. Nearly without fail, when I make the effort to sleep by 9-10pm (the time my wife sleeps and she always wants the 8 hours) I wind up staring at the ceiling and cannot fall asleep even when I want to. Midnight rolls around and zzzzzzzzzzzz. I don’t care to watch tv and besides my wife is already sleeping. ?

Dang, WRB. You’d think they’d get it from your earlier post, ?. I was going to mention this since no one seemed aware of the difference until I saw that you already did. ?

Congrats to Thomas. Beautiful specimen for sure! If I caught a smallie that big I’d retire from smallie fishing… for about 3 minutes and get back at it. ?

That is awesome! While my ear is not as versed as yours is for southern accents, I was dealing with an auto claim and the operator had a southern accent and while it sounded pleasant and cool, I could only guess what state she was in. It happened to be SC. Next time, if I need to know, and if I happen to be on who wants to be a millionaire, I hope I can count on you to, “call a friend” , lol.

The monkey is strong in this one. ?

The English one doesn’t bother me at all. I have been blessed with the ability hear any accent speaking in English and comprehend it instantly. It doesn’t matter. Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, cockney, German, Southern, east coast (NY, NJ, Boston), valley, etc. it doesn’t matter. My ear hears and my brain comprehends it. Everyone who speaks a language has an accent and we are no exception. What is even cooler is detecting accents in other languages. For example Spanish speakers from Spain sound nothing like those in Mexico. Even from within Mexico as here. People from Sinaloa have a different accent from people from Mexico City. And poor me, for the life of me, even though Spanish is my second language via marriage, my gift almost fails when trying to understand Spanish speakers from Puerto Rico or Cuba, ? and shamefully, one of my brother in laws. I still can’t understand him, lol. I have been summoned to translate for folks when it’s an operator with a Filipino or Indian accent to translate, lol. What I hate about those call is usually the option I want is at the bottom of the ding dang list, lol.

The vertical drop is one thing a spinning reel achieves effortlessly. No need to strip line off. With that said, I still use both reel types and will strip line off my bc reels as needed.

I don’t play that game nor is it on my radar. my rigs are tools to do a job. They are weapons of bass destruction — No flash, no frills — Hidden and inconspicuous like a sniper, and low profile like a baitcaster, lol. Period, lol. With that said, I do enjoy when people here post such pictures of their gear.

That’s one catch about better gear. It is very difficult to go “backwards” (ie, gear quality, function, performance, lighter weight of object, etc. ). If you start hearing a cage rattle in your subconscious, that’s your bait monkey attempting to mind control you or at the very least, use his powers of suggestion and persuasion. ?

Our lakes in WA state according to the WDFW are naturally high in mercury and so such warnings do exist here. However, you will not know this since most lakes do not post the warning. While some lakes have the warning(s) posted, the only other way anyone will find out is if they actually read the state pamphlet.

Braid jumping off the spool seems odd to me given how limp braid is. I would second going no heavier than 30# and would prefer 20# braid or thinner for what you described. Also, as already said and based on personal experience, I don’t know if line dig is an issue in spinning reels. Also, if you have to go the economic route since the typical filler spool is about 150 yards, you might consider using a mono backing underneath with the braid on top. For example if your spool holds 300 yards of 8# test and I have a 150 yd spool of braid, I fill the first half of the spool with 150 yds and mono and top it off with my braid. You can really use any ratio.

Well said, A-Jay. I remember when I first started fishing in 2004 I told myself only one rod was needed and I stayed with my med-light 4-10lb line “Walmart special”. I initially was targeting trout and didn’t know jack about bass. I tie on a size 5 floating Rapala minnow and didn’t even know what I was doing. I felt a “vibration” but didn’t know it’s significance (it was a hit, dummy, lol). As my lure got closer to me, I see a bass on the end. He was small and that was all it took. A “trout” angler’s first fish was a bass, and that was all it took. Naturally, it didn’t take long to realize when and where and when my Walmart special rod was adequate and when it was knot. Then, all these rods start magically appearing in my garage. Another spinning reel or two and who would believe a few baitcaster reels too. My 6th grade shop teacher’s words have never been forgotten and are still with me today. “Use the right tool for the job. Save yourself the trouble.” Rods and reels are tools so don’t blame me. I’m just following orders. -ib

Wow! Thanks for sharing an excellent story. I enjoy reading such things. ?

I have used spooks, skitters and lucky craft sammys. to me, sammys are so easy to work and the skitter walk not too far behind. the spook is definitely doable and manageable. if the Sammy is a 10, the skitter is a 9 and the spook is a 7 in ease of working to me. however, if you use a duo lock snap or loop knot instead of direct tie, I have found that the spook’s ease to work it brings it up to par with the other two. Also, larger spook seemed easier than the spook jr.

Indeed! I always emphasize when I teach someone to cast to let the rod do the work for you. I teach them how to use the lure’s weight to load the rod and let the rod catapult the lure away. Optimal and efficient casting mechanics that provides the greatest of ease with minimal effort. Spinning anglers with poor casting mechanics (you hear the whip of their rod passed their ear before the rod ever gets loaded) is nearly a pet peeve, lol. It can be a tough habit to lose when they try casting gear. ?

After you coat them, wait about 15-20 minutes or so in order for the coating to set and settle. Any moisture on the meat will get absorbed by the breading/flour mixture (especially if you used a binder like egg or liquids like buttermilk) and help the coating adhere and remain stuck to the meat. ?

Congratulations on such a milestone! And Thank goodness you don’t live in WA state. You’d still be paying full price until 70! No joke. You not a senior in their eyes until then. Only at 70 can you take advantage of the “senior” fee for the rest of your life. ?

If you’re referring to sidearm casts being unpredictable, simply a timing issue regardless of whether it’s a casting or spinning rig. I will admit, feathering with the off hand feels cool. People who see me do it say, “Dang. I didn’t know you could do that, lol.”

I used to collect comics. Ain’t saying much but my “prized” comic is Wolverine #1 lol. It is not worth Superman #1 but maybe in a million years, lol. I also have the a couple sets of the infinity gauntlet on which the marvel universe did their thanos arc.

Maybe that state doesn’t have size limits in those species? I don’t think mine does on blue gill and pumpkin seed.

I’m no expert but I couldn’t hear any sound coming from the rod from you pulling the string. Now the sound coming from the reel? I think it sounded normal to me when pulling back through drag quickly, but I can’t verify it because none of my bc reels have braid on them. Maybe pull the line very slowly and see if the sound can be duplicated.

I agree that sometimes chess.com engine analysis is weird but in this case while your move was a “blunder” in the engine’s eyes, your opponent didn’t see the correct course of action, and to your benefit. At the least, you lose your LSB with fxg6 and you just eat that loss. That is the so called “blunder” the chess.com engine is referring to — losing your LSB. It’s survivable but puts you a bit behind the 8 ball. At worst, you lose your LSB and your queen. The pawn on f6 that just took your LSB should not be taken. It would be taken by the knight without a thought in a blitz game. I might have instinctually done that if I didn’t take a some time to look. If black decides to retaliate with Nxg6, and if I were white, I’d beg my opponent to do that because I’d respond with Rxe6. Ouch. You’d practically be forced to play Qxe6 and then white take your queen with Bxe6. White giving up a rook and pawn (6) for a queen and bishop (12) is a decent exchange. I am no chess expert, I don’t even have a rating, but I did save a 15% by switching to Geico ? Chess is an awesome game. ?♟

For the team. I like Russ, and I’m a fan and I’ll root for him in every game he plays except when he is up against the hawks. I’ll wish him well but like the hulk says, “hulk smash,” lol!!!

Ha! That is what we all say and hope, lol. This is related, but do you already know what side of the handle feels more comfortable to you? This is ultra critical especially for a newbie. I made the mistake of getting a reel on the “wrong” side for me. This does not apply if you are ambidextrous.