retiredbosn

I think Texans like snowbirds even less, didn't get any replies when I asked the same question on the central thread.

I don't think they ever were great, they still work. Depending on when you fish them a buzz is more efffective during the day and a black chatterbait is more effective at night IMHO

Never tried the finesse worm, but the regular hardnose 7" is awesome. I like the hardnose, doesn't rip, or climb the hook, they do last longer than regular worms. But I couldn't say about the finesse worms.

That line rarely (never) sees the light of day, never has any pressure on it and is probably as fresh as the day it was first spooled. There is no reason the breaking strength should be compromised. 8-) I know I'm showing my ignorance, but the line that comes off the reel when I strip and replace, the closer I get to the spool there is always quite a bit of memory and looks crushed. I was thinking that the line may be compromised because of the way it looks. Thanks for the replies I'm learning quite a bit.

Oh forgot to put in the original post that my wife is awesome due to her seeing my post on the EXT and then buying it for me. She did all of it on her own.

I'm honestly a little suprised at the results of this poll so far. I figured most would either tape or slip it in one of the holes, so much easier. Then again I would definitely tie if I was worried about being spooled. Then again the line that close to the reel spool takes a beating and the breaking strength has to be compromised I would think.

I don't know whether I'm lazy, uncordinated or what. But when attaching my line to the spool of a baitcaster I used to tie. What a pain in the butt, now I either tape the line or slip it in a hole on the ventilated spool, I know if I ever get spooled I'm in trouble, but then again smb and lmb don't spool you. The friction from the line to the spool or the line on line is more than adequate to hold the line secure, just wondering what other people do. I have caught stripers with this set up no problem, but then again nothing over 12lbs or so.

Fresh or saltwater, makes a difference as to what they could be. Fresh water I would say mosquito larvae or some other insect, salt or brackish then I would say a shellfish or barnacle larva, shellfish larva will be able to swim not just move in circles.

Recieved my EXT Pro today, although my b-day is another month away I opened it immediately. First impression was wow, I like the construction, the reel is small about the same height as the BPS David Fritts reel, palm it easily. Put it on the pole I had waiting for it, spooled it wit some mono I had laying around, 15lb stren original. Then I took it for a quick test out in the yard, after setting the brakes, I started casting, I figured that I better start easy and gave it just a little flip of the wrist, the casting weight (1/2 oz) went about 60 feet. Much farter than I had anticipated, after getting comfortable with the reel 40 yard casts (measured) were easy, I never tried to cast hard, just a regular cast. I'm impressed with this reel and can't wait to get it on the water and do a real test on it. Anyway, I have never been this impressed with a reel right out of the box. Then again the most expensive reel I own prior to this is an Accurist PT. Time will tell how well I like it.

Here is why the spool size does not play that large of a factor in IPT rating of reels. The IPT data is not based on an empty spool, it is based on a half full spool. The IPT rating is based on half spool of line, of .012" diameter. Bigger line and faster the IPT, when the spool is full the IPT is more. Strip some line of your reel, mark it at the lead guide make one turn and measure, you will find different ratings that get smaller the closer you get to the spool. With one turn of line on the spool and the IPT is way off. The spool only comes into play on a reel that holds a large amount of line. Most LP reels have similar size spools in regards to amount of line they hold, that is why a 5:3 is going to take up 23" of line or so. Saltwater reels on the other hand that hold 400+ yards of line will take up more line per inch as a result of how deep the spool is.

IPT is related not only to gear ratio but to spool size. That said, you will have a hard time finding a 4:1 that takes up 31' IPT or a 7:1 that only takes up 22 IPT. Although technically true that ratio doesn't equate speed, the gear ratio is related to speed for practical applications.

I have family near Sarasota and a friend in Ft Meyers, is the fishing in those areas decent. FWIW you could take me to your favorite fishing hole and never worry that I would catch a fish, fish hate me.

what color, type of water (salt or fresh)?

I am going to become the youngest snow bird in history. Due to some injuries sustained on active duty, I'm now very sensitive to the weather and the cold. I'm looking for somewhere to go in the winter, from around Nov to Mar. Ideally the place I choose would have warm weather, high barometric pressure at least 31, low humidity, and good places to fish. I live in WV and would like to stay with in a two day drive anyway. Can anyone give some advice?

If you want sympathy look in the dictionary between sh t and syphyllis.

I have the PT version and like it a lot. The flippin switch is handy, casts well, seems well made and have not had any problems at all.

I've always been facinated by these toothy monsters, pike, musky, pickerel, whatever. Anyway are steel leaders a requirement or good insurance. Will floro be sufficient? If a leader is required how do you attach a buzz bait to the steel leader?

I am going to become the youngest snow bird in history. Due to some injuries sustained on active duty, I'm now very sensitive to the weather and the cold. I'm looking for somewhere to go in the winter, from around Nov to Mar. Ideally the place I choose would have warm weather, high barometric pressure at least 31, low humidity, and good places to fish. I live in WV and would like to stay with in a two day drive anyway. Can anyone give some advice?

I live about an hour and half from both of these lakes and want to know what month I should start fishing. BTW I don't like the cold and I'm not into freezing my butt of, but anytime starting in Feburary I'm good to go, just don't know when the fishing starts to pick up.

With the faster gear ratios being all the rage right now, it is getting a little more difficult to find a reel with a lower gear ratio. Some reels aren't even offered in anything but a 6:2.1, which although has its applications, I don't feel as though it is the ideal all around gear ratio. I can work a buzz bait on a 5:4 reel just fine, but I can't work a crank on a 6:2 reel as efficiently. I find it easier to speedup my revolutions on a reel rather than to try and slow it down. Seems that when I try to slow my retrieve down that it becomes jerky. What is your experience with this? Is it easier for you to speed up your retrieve or slow it down? I'm not asking what the ideal gear ratio is, but rather what you find it easier to do. I have reels in 6:5 down to 4:7 and would take a 3:8 if I could find one, in saying that however I would never try to work a high speed bait on the 4:1, there are limits.

FWIW on any navigable body of water as defined by the USCG, property extends to the highwater mark. Obviously landlocked lakes, canals and such do not meet this requirement and will have varying property boundaries. The people who fish the James river near Covington VA are facing this issue right now. A group of landowners have actually stretched a sign across the river posting it! I don't fish there but if I did, I would just float on through, the James was used as a navigable body of water to bring logs down to the papermill, and as a result the landowners can not legally stop fishing there. Although as I understand it, some more of the brasen landowners have fired warning shots at people floating the river. There was also an article in one of the major outdoor magazines a couple of years ago, that highlighted this issue in the state of PA, where a group of fishermen were leasing both sides of the river and then closing it to fishing, thinking they owned the rights to the river. I don't remember how the legal battles all played out, but there was a group of fishermen (not affiliated with the lease) who wanted to fish the stream and proceded to do so. Long story short they were arrested and the legal battle ensued. Maybe someone from PA can fill us in. In your case however, since you have permission to fish, I would fish, but not on other people's property. Ask one of the residence who gave you permission to fish if there is a common property boundary around the lake, or get a little canoe or something to access all of the water. Good luck

thanks, I understand better. Makes better sense, I know when I hook a big fish I slip my thumb off the reel and my whole hand is on the rod at that point, I also tuck the rod butt under my arms when necessary.

I asked the very same question two days ago, here is the link. And yes you got a good deal. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1232856368

You have typed that twice now, and I'm having trouble understanding why? When I palm a reel, my hand is big enough that it encompasses the reel, rod and my fingers almost meet on the other side of the reel next to the handle. For me I can't see where palming a reel weakens your grip on the rod. Am I doing something different than you when I palm a reel?

I know and the information I gleaned from that was awesome. My wife ordered me a Abu Garcia EXT Pro from reading that thread, my b-day present. I went with the round reel on a set up I am building for power fishing and larger fish. This rig will be my go to for heavier jigs, stripers, even a little topwater. If I like the reel as much as I think, I may be selling several lps. What I found to be the most beneficial information is that most round reels are all metal construction, easier to maintain, and built like tanks. I think there is a reason that saltwater reels are round, they are just plain stronger and last longer. From what I gathered a round reel will outlast a low profile. Please correct if this is impression is incorrect.