islandbass

Welcome and pretty impressive record if you ask me.

I just go snug. I see no point in putting it on tighter than necessary. Here is my POV. What’s the point of putting it on so tight when it’s going to being looser than when you put it on after the very first cast and retrieve? It’s wasted effort, lol. ? I usually put my line through a cheap book to manufacture any needed tension.

So true about how much better it is to fish with a clear head! Personal experience agrees with that 100%. Sucks even more if said fishing stint is a skunk out and now you got to do those tasks. I just finished putting in the new commode and of course there’s always a curve ball or two. Apparently, the idiot who painted the walls when last painted (me) didn’t do a good job painting behind the old toilet (it was very tough in my defense, I recall when I did paint it, it was going to bite me in the butt) such that the newer, sleeker toilet would expose the less than ideally painted wall behind it. I had to put 2 coats of paint roughly 40 minutes apart to somewhat dry before I could even start installing the new one. I then discover that I had to chisel out some excess mortar from a nearby floor tile that wasn’t an issue for the old toilet. not that it’s complicated, but it does slow you down. Decided to not fish after all. I’m going to hit some golf balls instead. ?

Many times, lol. But often obligations as such trump hobbies. My wife drags me along to go with Home Depot last night just to buy a new toilet. It ain’t going install itself, lol. She also wants new shelves in that bathroom. I am glad she hasn’t realized that the lawn needs to be mowed. Fortunately, the ground is too soggy to complete this task. if it’s any consolation, think delayed gratification. Such a thought gets me through such times. even if I throw a mental tantrum or cuss like Q*bert. ??

Indeed and sometimes they can cut and stab quite deeply and conversely, can inspire, encourage, edify and launch 1000 boats like a face. I find it upsetting that such folks would do that too you. They’re jealous and likely subscribe to the crabs in the pot mentality. Your input, wisdom and advice is always welcome by me.

Welcome back and what a blessing to live near such a lake. Smallies are in a class by themselves.

That’s awesome! However I am the original creator of the rod quiver, lol. That said, with my round head and gut, I suppose my action figure would be your good friend Friar Tuck armed with a rosary chain grappling hook in the shape of a large treble and a quarter staff that doubled as a fishing pole, lol.

Pickle ball is actually a lot of fun. It was invented in WA State too. Try it. I myself was quite surprised how fun it was to play.

I’ve been down this road myself so I can definitely relate. No go forth my young padawan. The monkey ? in you may yet be strong. ? As a shore angler myself, 2 is a good number. One spinning and one casting. Yes, there are trade offs, but I lived with that. I have found that 3 rods from the bank work … if you can carry all 3rods in one hand and conveniently to boot. I built something I call a rod quiver to help me do just that. in retrospect, I should have used a trapezoid shape instead of a triangle — It would have enabled me to carry 4 rods instead ??

Sometimes people just prefer spinning over casting, lol. Or it might be their only rod. That’s an issue they’d have to take up with their bait monkey. I see your POV, but everyone’s idea and feel of comfort, convenience or ease of use is completely subjective. For me personally, I won’t hesitate to use spinning or casting for many of the presentations you mentioned — bottom contact, moving baits, t-rigs. For many of my scenarios, I have utilized both don’t feel one is better than the other, even in the feel department — it usually boils down to, I used this rig over that rig because the lure I wanted to fish with was already tied on. ?

I’ll take the cold, I’ll take the snow, dagnabbit, I don’t like rain, lol. This is a snapshot of Seattle weather right now. Past couple days we’ve been waking up to around mid 30s and warm up to just need a hoodie. I need to hurry up too. Looks than 2 weeks left to catch a bass in the winter. ?

Bam.

Absolutely not! Your rod will refuse to cooperate and you would be forced to hand line fish. just kidding. You should be fine.

Indeed. I live in a state if you give a tweaker inch, he’ll take everything including the kitchen sink. I totally agree with you about stickers! Someone once stole the metal rods that helps move a sink plunger up and down from a restroom in my work building. Leave nothing to chance, lol!

Or have the top piece fly off on a cast! I’ve had that happen with my salmon rod. And I had to jump in a freezing river without waders to recover it. @cyclops2 It definitely seems to be a trend with bass rods and the longer they get the more challenging they will be to transport for me. I use 2 piece rods for convenience (fit and hide in the trunk) and sadly they get more use than my one piece bass rods. When I do use my one piece rods I will never leave them exposed in the car. If I have to go into a store, they’re coming with me. Only an idiotic would leave them. You only increase the potential for theft and dealing with replacing broken window and your now stolen gear. Therefore, 2 piece rods for me except on the weekends. Sure they can still be stolen from the trunk, but I didn’t advertise it.

One of my mottos: Function over form — Bottom line I am not saying aesthetics is useless. If a rod combo just happens to look sharp and slick, that’s a bonus. Bling is okay, and can make the fishing experience more enjoyable but, mehhh. I won’t stop anyone from buying pretty and eye catching tackle. I’m that way, we’re somewhat like the fish. They bite what appears attractive or enticing — much like anglers purchasing the bling gear or supposedly “magic” lure(s) … I bought into that magic lure nonsense when I was a newbie. I thought my flying lures were going to catch a linker on every cast. As for dating ugly girls, sometimes intangible qualities give an appeal beyond looks. I guess what I’m trying to say is sometimes their attraction will come from somewhere other than looks. I mean even the converse is true. I don’t think any of us guys here see an attractive woman and get taken aback when you see her with an super-ugly crooked toothed with pimples boyfriend and wonder, “what I’m the heck does she see in him, lol?”

Very nice. However, if I had that set up, I’d be forced use lime green braid to make it a Seahawk rig, lol.

It looks so much like a smallie to me. Is the mean mouth a hybrid of an LMB and SMB? Regardless, still one amazing fish.

I think it’s worth a try and truly, there is only one way to find out. You might come up with a winner. ?

Truly a blessing. I come from the school of, “Want to learn? You have to teach yourself .” I will wonder on occasion how much faster and easier it would have been if I had a fishing mentor at the beginning stage. It would have prevented me from going in hook line and sinker for those flying lures. I did like that concept though. Lol.

Indeed. It may surprise some, but many of the big sluggers also struck out often. The home runs are remembered and the strikeouts forgotten. ?

I hear you. My son was a natural. Only two seasons he played and one was in the major little league (the age that goes to the LLWS). He was an unknown on his team and his teammates had years on him. Thanks to my batting skills (lol) I got him up to speed. He started 9th on the batting list but the coach noticed his ability to hit and was moved him to the first spot. He was batting 450 or higher. Only one year in the majors? These kids today throw harder and faster than they did in my day and many play in select teams and he crushing it against this. He is more of an Ichiro hitter as he didn’t yet figure out incorporating the power of the hips consistently, but if you hit a single, double or walk every time you're at bat, that’s production a coach will notice and utilize. He too walked away from the game in pursuit of other interests and I had to respect that. Baseball is perhaps the only sport where batters are paid millions to “fail” lol. A 0.30 or your math test is an F. If you can hit a baseball 3 times in 10 at bats, they’ll pay you millions for such a failure, lol. Please, this is said lightheartedly.

Sorry, bud. That’s a Mariner line, lol. Baseball will always have a place in my heart. I played it as a kid and was actually pretty good, especially at hitting. The Dodgers were my team back in the day with Ron Cey and Steve Garvey. Living in the Pac NW, I have a love/hate with relationship with the Mariners. They ALWAYS fizzle out, run out of steam, even in their 2 best chances. They look good on paper and stink in reality. I love them because they’re my “home” team (I did feel weird switching loyalty from an NL to an AL team, lol) but I just hate how they never amount to anything and for a few years, I’d get suckered by the hype. Not anymore. I have a better chance of catching a steelhead in the Green River than the Mariners have of getting to the World Series.

@Glenn thanks! I actually got that image from Walmart too, lol. They always seem to be out of stock. Talk about sticker shock! They used to be less than $5 a pack. I guess l’ll keep an eye out but for that price, maybe I should seriously consider learning to make a mold, lol.

Probably not found anywhere in great number but it was a smallie killer. The name of the company I think was Sniper Lures and the made a French fry looking soft plastic called the sniper snub. I have one bag left and I’m not going to use the baits. Instead, if I ever get around to it, I will learn how to make a mold from something like bondo and pore some. here is an image