wasabi_VA

Mono. More forgiving. Easier to learn and tie knots.

I went with the NRS Otto Matik (automatic) and it seems well made. Wish I could have compared them in-person but nobody anywhere near me carries them to compare.

Thanks. Is the Mustang HIT truly the best? I don't have much experience with these. How would the Mustang compare to the NRS Otto Matik? I usually think of NRS making some pretty good stuff.

I kayak fish alone and think I want an inflatable PFD, particularly in cold weather when my regular PFD feels too bulky to wear over my extra layers of clothes. By default I checked out the NRS options, but also see comparable items at BassPro for half the cost. Any specific features to consider as I try to decide which to get?

A creek I can wade upstream has a good number of large and smallmouth and I also catch quite a few keeper size bluegill. What is something I can tow behind me on a rope (tie off to a belt loop or around my waist) with a little ice to keep a few? A cooler won't stay upright and could also fill with water. I thought maybe a bucket but don't have a watertight lid.

I have an old Okuma Stratus SGT-30 beater spinning reel I pulled from the back of my reel drawer and have put it to use for channel cats. It functions fine but for some reason Okuma made that dang bail really large and it will hit the knuckles during retrieve unless I hold my hand just right. Does it on every rod I’ve tried. Any way to shorten the bail? The end entering the line roller has a fancy bend so I’m wondering if I can shorten the other end? I suspect it has an indentation formed into that end and it is factory pressed into the bail arm attachment and not easily removed or replaced?

Well done! That's it! I'm going to do more bankfishing for catfish this year and this seems like a good weight rod for the channel cats I'll be after. It's pretty limber but has some backbone at the bottom.

I'm looking to learn more about this old Daiwa rod I still have, probably from the late 70's or very early 80's. It's an 8' or 9' spinning rod, white plastic looking rod guide inserts, cork handle. Not sure if it was intended as a surf rod but that is how we used it. I'm curious the blank construction. Surprised to see the Made in USA sticker! Caught two 5-pound channel cats with it this afternoon - still going strong! I can't quite make out the model number, assuming that even is the model number. Most everything else is illegible except the line rating of 10-20 lb.

Need some ideas for materials to make a floor for my new fishing cart. Expanded metal looks like a decent solution but I prefer to find something similar but made of durable plastic. Something with plenty of holes so that dirt/sand will drop thru. Any suggestions? Some kind of rigid plastic sheeting made of HDPE?

Yeah, mine is still intact just looks hazy like how a car with bad paint looks. I'm thinking it is just old school fiberglass that has a zillion scratches or something and lost it's luster or something. I have to think there is a fiberglass refinishing creme or something I can wipe it down with to improve. I know it looks almost like knew when I wiped it down with a wet rag, but that only lasted until the water dried a few moments later.

I'm attached to this old, black Ugly Stik as I think I've had it for 40 years. All the writing for model number, etc. has worn away and a few of the guides look a little cockeyed but it is still catching 5 to 20 pound catfish just fine. I don't know how to describe the rod blank - is it some kind of spiral wrap fiberglass? If so I'm thinking there must be some liquid I can quickly rub it with to help get rid of the hazy way it looks now?

Pretty sure this Fenwick Eagle II rod is out of warranty - it's probably 15+ years old. The bottom of the reel seat broke so the reel doesn't want to stay attached. I originally used a zip tie and duct tape to hold it on but the big square end of the zip tie isn't comfortable to hold. Anybody seen a slick way to wrap something around the reel seat so I can still get some use out of the rod? I'll probably use it as a catfish rod or a kids rod.

My packable goretex rain jacket leaks so I need to find a replacement. This is primarily for use during spring and summer kayak fishing trips when rain storms pass through. I don't want a disposable el-cheapo rain jacket - I want something that is going to last me thru a few seasons. I know Frogg Toggs are cheap but they seem popular - are they a decent rain jacket? I'm willing to pay for some of the nicer waterproof/breathable jackets so interested in any you might recommend.

This little Shimano Sahara 1500 is probably 10 years old or so but I've taken care of it with a cleaning/lube/oil every year or two and it's been a nice little reel for fishing small streams. Recently I did a quick wipedown of the exterior, put a drop of oil on the bearings where the handle slides thru and put a little grease on the spool shaft where it goes down into the body. I didn't bother opening the case to put any grease on the main gear. Reel was working smooth and flawlessly before I did this. Today I use it for the first time since the lube job and I can feel a little click or whatever during the retrieve. I R&R the spool and it still does it. I watch and I see the spool does a short herky stutter every couple rotations - like a quick back and forth stutter even though I'm turning the handle forward. Any suggestions to correct? I love to buy new reels but also like to keep em running, especially when they have served me so well.

OK, it's this side. This isn't my reel, just a photo I found. Either my rivet wasn't fully compressed during assembly or the hole is enlarged or out of round. My rivet has a little play so the handle has a bit of wobble. It's only going to get worse over time and fall out if I don't do something

I have a reel where one of the paddle handles is sloppy and I think the rivet is wobbling in the hole in the handle. Can I give it a whack with a hammer or a punch and tighten it up? Hate to go waling on it if that isn't the way to fix it. I'm talking about the opposite side of the rivet as shown here - the side that is visible on the other side of the handle.

I’m tired of watching these massive carp mill about at one of my bass lakes. Time to try and put a hook in one and see how they fight. I’m in Virginia - are these giant carp a special type of carp or just a regular old carp? I’m going to try and use corn since that seems to work for a lot of folks but wondering if they way I’ve heard folks call them ‘grass carp’ means they are different than a regular old carp that will eat corn?

I tried the Advance Mono in 10 lb and didn't like it. Felt...un-supple? Not sure. Maybe I need to give it a look in a store.

I have finally used up numerous spools of 4 lb. mono and braid in my supply cache. The most recent spool of mono was from 2009 (Sufix Superior) and I haven't kept up with who is making the better mono nowadays. I've decided to revert several spools back to mono as I mostly cast tiny jigs and that isn't working so well with braid (for me). Any brands stand out that you want to recommend? I'll be looking for a bulk spool if possible. Focused mainly on the diameter but also want it supple.

They don't have warranty. Question is about using Nikwax.

Yesterday I used my Cabelas Goretex (think it is Guidewear but not labeled as such?) rain pants during a raining fishing trip. They leaked although the pants are probably 10 years old. I doubt I have worn them 5 times and have always kept them stored in a clean and dry location. Cabelas recommended I try the Nikwax product to restore water repellency. Does anybody have experience using Nikwax and does it actually work? I'd like to stay dry while fishing in these cold late-winter days!

About 4 years ago I gained access to a sweet little 3 to 4 acre pond that had some real nice bass. In fact I caught more quality bass than dinks. The pond received very little pressure, just a couple times a year maybe a couple kids bank fishing. I was catching some quality fish. The pond had been stocked properly at one point - just bass and bluegill, no crappie or other species. It has water to 15' as well as several beaver huts, points and coves. A real honey hole. About 2 years ago I saw an otter swimming. And since then the fishing has declined to the point I'm about to give up going there. I'm just getting skunked over and over and haven't caught much of anything. A friend suggested an otter can clean out a pond. Is that possible?

I have tried to contact Pelican about buying those chairs but no response. They look comfortable.

I now have to keep my 8' BassBaby outside the garage and need a cover. I tried a 10'x12' tarp but it's a pain to hook up and remove with bungies. Does anybody have any experience with the aftermarket covers for these size boats? I see several at Amazon, BassPro, etc.

I am trying to get used to my new Garmin Vivid striker 4cv. I am using it in a kayak with the transducer in a Scotty arm. Yesterday was my first trip with it and screen clutter would start to fill up the lower part of the display as I moved deeper than 20'. It was nice and clear and good fish arches from 15 to 20, but then all this clutter shows up as I go deeper. I have auto gain turned off. I also can't see my jig/spoon showing up like I can using my old Lowrance Elite-4. If I increase the gain I start to get too much screen clutter that obscures whatever jig return I get. If I turn the gain down to try and dial out this deeper water screen clutter then I definitely can't see any jig return. I would expect to see the jig using either 77 or 200 khz when it is hanging straight down. Any suggestions? Close to returning it but hope it's something in the settings.