islandbass

@MobasserI think that might be the perception about mono, but like you, I use it for just about everything. It’s economic savings is one of the main reasons but it truly is a well rounded line. I like braid but stopped using it because even at 30# that I’ve used, my adventures from the bank lead to lots of snags. 30# is hard to break off and as for using a leader, no thanks. I also shudder at the notion that while I try to minimize the length of braid that would be broken off that some creature might get entangled in it. I will use fc in 6# for my DS rig if the bite is so tough that even 6# mono falls short. Other than that, it’s nylon or if not available, a reasonably priced copolymer or yozuri.

Glenn nailed it and I agree ? %. A question for you… what is making lean toward not being willing bring both with you when you go fishing? Having both with covers many typical situations. I get that sometimes we might have to just pick one, but on such days I do this, I sometimes wind up realizing, “Dagnabbit, I should have brought a different rod,” lol. I did this to myself about 3 times this season. ?

Welcome aboard! Great intro. I wouldn’t consider what you wrote as breaking the rules, as much as you just being an innovator and tinkerer. ?

Who would have thought that 5/100” could be such a show stopper? Sorry about that, I’d be a little miffed about that. I’d be tempted to check with Dobyns to see what they could do if you shared your discovery with them. You never know.

My brother and I used to climb coconut trees when we were young and thirsty from the tropical heat. Nice to see someone made steps. My brother and I didn’t have that option, lol. Only hands and feet. We even opened them without a machete. The delicate sweetness and texture of young coconut like what you have there is nothing short of exquisite — and you are spot on about the coconut juice. Now for me, one other thing that comes close is eating a ripe, Philippine mango. Mangoes from other parts of the world don’t even come close, lol. First day targeting pink salmon in the Puget Sound. Evening time. The outing was a wash, and no one caught anything or even get a bite. The sunset that evening however, made the outing worth it. These pictures don’t do justice to the optics. The guy in the background was there to just take pictures.

Preach on, preach on, lol. So true. For me it goes in Qbert language, “$&@%*#!!” I knew I should have brought that rod instead.

If I fished from a boat and had the space I’d go redundant because that would make sense and be efficient. However, I fish from the shore and as a result, I prefer a minimalist approach in order to be mobile and unencumbered. When I was new to fishing I took 5 rods. It was a PITA to carry that and two tackle bags. I realized usually 3 of the 5 rods were used more than the other 2. Those last two are either dropped or one to make any 3 of the 5 to employ. 1 spinning, 1 casting and 1 light spinning will cover 90% of what I need. Thanks to some evil people here, my bait monkey has been hounding me to add a bfs setup. ? It would also mean I’d have to build a new rod quiver, and I’d have to ponder whether to make it trapezoidal, pentagonal, or hexagonal, to hold 5 or 6 rods, lol. link to my triangular rod quiver:

If I were in your situation, I’d stuff that space with foam cushion or other similar material like pipe insulation (or even those swimming noodles). Bunch enough together to make circular honeycomb-like form that will fit inside the case and cut it to the needed size. I reckon 10” in your case. I would use Velcro or hot glue to keep the pipe insulation together and I think I’d prefer the latter. I have from Plano. https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/plano-airliner-telescoping-rod-case-15plourlnrtlrdcsxfac/15plourlnrtlrdcsxfac?sku=10463128&camp=CSE:DSG_92700048924274398_pla_pla-4582489592850948&msclkid=d9dc749534b614794dce15ad5a18469b&gclid=d9dc749534b614794dce15ad5a18469b&gclsrc=3p.ds I’ve had it for over a decade now and it has preserved my rods perfectly for multiple trips to Mexico. I used it to store my 2-piece rods and one was 8’6. The rods will jiggle around so if you’re anal about that like me, lol, you can protect your rod halves with cloth, bubble wrap, etc. case was intended for just rods. I carried the reels in my hand carry.

Great job, NH! Hmmm. I need to build an arsenal of them. Never caught a smallie on a jerk bait. Sounds like fun. I have a couple of husky jerks and xraps. Any others to consider? What about line? Maybe 10# mono? As I mentioned in another thread, I have not even had a chance to target smallies yet. My attention has been diverted toward honey do list items or trying to catch salmon and cracking the code on late summer/fall largies as a shore angler. Both have been dismal so far but that’s just paying dues. Just not enough time in the day, lol. Maybe targeting smallies could provide a respite to my suffering.

Season is winding down, and I haven’t even had a chance to target smallies yet. Congrats on your PB. You just need a little jelly now to go with it! ??

I’m liking that! The smaller ewg allows a more weed less set up vs an exposed nose hook up or weedless. I do this too. Given the OP’s described scenario, I give smaller rattle traps and smaller spinnerbaits along the edges or just above/kissing the grass. I’d also use the thinnest line I could get away with. Even floating and suspending rapala minnow types and and poppers in the finesse class in the same places. I think they still make them, but I’d also love to try the rebel bumble bug.

I thought that was odd too but perhaps it could be, looking at the numbers differently, intended to have been 1 1/4oz. My eyes tend to look at numbers and figures always differently and my brain tends to operate on occasion differently too. If you saw how I write the integral symbol from calculus, you might be shocked, lol. Don’t get me wrong. My eyes upon seeing 11/4 transmitted that data to my brain and immediately deduced both 2 3/4 (simply converting an improper fraction to a mixed one) and 1 1/4 as two possible outcomes factoring in the possibility of missing spacing. The latter is somewhat akin to being able to read the next sentence although it is totally messed up. Myfa vor iteho bbyi sdef ini telyf ishi gfors ure. Sorry I am unable to contribute to the topic as I don’t have that knowledge, but Catt, if you like it for a price you’re willing to pay, then go for it. If I fished with it, I just might imagine it’s a light saber. Being that short, I have a feeling it’s going to have excellent wielding traits. If I happen to fish for salmon and bass in the same day, switching from my 8’6” salmon rod to a 6’6” bass rod, it makes the latter feel like a light saber, lol.

Many of the knots you mentioned are very good and reliable knots. I use the improved clinch knot for lures I deem too big or a hassle to tie a palomar. I also use the palomar for T-rigs and Drop shot. I have also used the rapala, trilene knots too. I have also tried the double uni and Albright for joining lines. I use the Albright more only because when I’m out fishing, I can never seem to remember the double uni knot, if a retie is necessary, lol. The Albright also works for when two lines are of unequal diameter. None of these knots have ever failed me when properly tied. This isn’t a knock on you, but perhaps the culprit is something possibly went wrong while tying the knots. I suspect it is unlikely the fault of the knot if all these knots have failed you in the same way. For example, were the standing and tag ends crossed while tying the palomar knot? Or, when cinching down the improved clinch knot, was it cinched in such a way that the line above knot got compromised? How so? Sometimes, if you cinch the knot too early and too tight above the hook and the lure, as you move the cinched part of the knot toward your lure, it is compromising the integrity of the main line above the knot. Sometimes when I am impatient, I unintentionally do this. However, as a fail safe I ALWAYS check the main line immediately above the knot. If I feel any wear, despite how impatient I am, I will cut it off and retie and mentally kick myself in the phanny for letting my impatience cost me fishing time. Develop the habit of taking the time to check your knots after you complete them. The 5 seconds you spend checking a freshly tied knot could save you from losing the fish of a lifetime.

I meant what I said about not paying attention to weatherman reports. Because when they’re wrong, they can be really wrong, lol. How fitting this young lady’s video for this cool thread. In many ways, she’s hard core like me with regard to fishing in even poor conditions. Perhaps the main difference is there is a good chance I’d forget to bring my rain coat, lol. I too would have been fishing. And by the way, her weatherman was also wrong, lol.

Indeed, but I will add this… Focused practice. The practice has to be intent on focusing and being intent and attempting to be corrective, addressing mistakes. Just liken it to millions of golfers who go to the driving range to “practice.” I am willing to bet 95% of them aren’t practicing but more likely just mindlessly hitting balls. They aren’t working on drawing or fading the ball or the flop shot, or intentionally hitting the ball with a lower trajectory. Nah, they’re just whacking away. When I first started using a bc, I was at ground zero and alone. Knowing this going in, Through trial and error I figured things out. For example, my side arm casts (RH) was always flying to the right. Why? Hey dummy (me talking to myself), you’re releasing the thumb from the spool too late. There I am with my new curado 201bsf, which I spooled with 30#. Didn’t know anything about braid. I make my first cast. It was an overhead cast. The result was my casting weight slamming into the ground right front of me. And before that, the spool spun so fast and immediately after the weight hit the ground, that infamous thwurrruppp sound. Instant birds nest. The overrun was so bad that I had to cut it off. Lessons learned: 1) Holy moly — the release point is way earlier than it is with spinning gear 2) For the cost, braid is NOT ideal for a greenhorn newbie. 3) Turn your brakes on. I honestly thought I could use my thumb to manage the speed of the spool and none of the centrifugal brakes were on. What an idiot, lol.

Welcome! It’s good to see fellow Pacific Northwesterners representing our neck of the woods! Nice pics. ???

Yes!! Major little league. I just made the assumption folks understood ?

That’s good, but you’ve probably been told as I have, that such failures in real life would get you fired. And back in school, it didn’t pay to get Fs, right? I mean who would pay someone for failing? Well there is one occupation where they’ll pay you millions to be a failure. An MLB hitter, lol. Talk about getting “paid” to “fail,” lol. Strictly of course on percentage. A batter with a 300 avg (hitting the ball 30% of the time) gets paid a lot but poor little Jimmy gets a 30% on a test and receives no money and a big, fat F. My son in his one and only year playing in the majors, was placed 9th in the line up. Within the first 5 games, his batting average was 486. I can’t believe they were keeping stats on kids! I know the coach noticed it and moved him to lead off hitter for the rest of the season. He was a natural hitter as I was but he didn’t have my power (lol) and was similar to Ichiro nailing singles, doubles and the occasional triple. When he told me he didn’t want to play baseball after the season ended (he ended at .453 for the season and playoffs) I tried to convince him otherwise to continue playing by telling him this, but it wasn’t enough to convince him. He discovered basketball. So I’d add MLB hitters to the list with horoscope tellers and meteorologists, lol. I suppose we can add pundits too. ?

Lol. Unless there is lightning, why would I let the weather stop me from fishing. Screw that. I’m out the door. They're only slightly better at predictions than horoscope tellers. Word. Now go out and fish. ?

Train, say your prayers and eat your vitamins, lol. I like Showtime Ike. When he hoots and hollars with a fish on, that’s what is going on in my mind, but a poker face on the exterior. Bottom and hollaring and double fist pumping in my mind, with my poker face on as I reel in that pig. However, after I lip them, it just might come out. I dubbed a phrase for this act for myself. I call it and have used it in my own reports and posts here as,”Iaconelli’ing it.” Try it sometime. However such an action should only be done on bass 5.5 lbs. and up. ?

Great story, and congrats!

Just a little tip for the mental eye. If you mean a regular side arm cast, it is mechanically the same as an overhand cast. The rod is just in a different plane. If you’re side arm casting from your right side and your lure is going left of target, your thumb is letting go too late. Going right, the thumb is letting go too early. Unless you intend to go more left or more your (sometimes you might need to to hit your target), I go for the “baby bear” mode. Looking straight at the target so my release moment is like the baby bear, just right. What I’m about to say next is just personally for me. For overhand casts, I like a like a little arc, but usually not too much of a rainbow unless that’s the type of cast I need to make. Why? Because too much rainbow or arch means is going higher than farther and distance (if needed) is lost, if distance is needed. A side arm roll cast, dang… I can’t explain that one but it sure feels awesome when you execute one. ?

Welcome!!! Normally I say greetings from the Pac NW but you’re from here too! Just over 2 hours north of you give or take in Seahawk City. Hope to try fishing in OR for whatever will bite but hopefully smallies. ?

Right on. Better to be in the scoreboard than not. Losing tackle is part of the game. Show me an angler afraid to throw it in the cover for bass and you shall see one who catches fewer bass or more often, the random bass. Those random bass are few and far in between.

0 to 1 hour. Usually time spent waiting to pick someone up from work or sports, lol.