retiredbosn

Hidepounder you a latin king? Careful as alot of the more popular handsigns have gang affiliations, unless you are a gangbanger then you already know that.

You mean besides your million dollar smile for 5 grand ;D

I am now 72 hours without a cigarette!!! I have not even been grouchy or anything!! Before I've always said that I'm quitting, but this time I told myself that I quit period. Seems that the power of that word has helped me more than I could have thought. I've not given myself the excuse that since I'm just quitting that one wouldn't hurt, I've quit period. No more for me. Thats about 100-150 bucks a month I'll save, which goes directly to the new boat fund.

Don't know what size the opening is, but you can try a pipe cleaner, or when my kids had braces they had floss threaders that looked like oversized plastic needles that the floss threaded into and they were able to floss. The pipe cleaner isn't my idea as there was a thread a month or so ago where it was brought up.

If the lures you are using weigh around 1/8, I would use a ML 6'8" rod, I just like that size you will loose nothing using a 6'6". I would down size the reel to a light, one that holds no more than 125yds of 6lbs. The 2500 reel IMO will be to big for the rod, and make it somewhat unbalanced. As far as how I carried my lures I used a small plastic container that had dividers and opened on both ends, I used those webbed neck things that you see people carry their keys with or their employee ID's, I would either clip it to the wader suspenders or carry it around my neck. I used neoprene waders in early spring and fall, during the summer I just wore shorts and soft soled sandles.

X2

Most copolymer line is just a blend of different mono's, so there is no difference. Hybrid line is a differrent story it is a mixture of floro and mono. The reason the floro or a hybrid gets the cb deeper is because floro and hybrid are closed cell, therefore sinks and has less drag in the water. Closed cell construction simply means that hybrid and floro doesn't absorb water the way mono does. The main advanatage of floro and hybrid to me is the fact that it's breaking strength is not weakened when wet. Mono on the other hand gets weaker the longer it is in water. Floro's and hybrids are more abrasion resistant, also many manufacturers floro is just mono with a thin coating of floro, which to me is useless as it doesn't give you any advantage of floro and shouldn't not be allowed to advertised as floro.

I think Quantum gets an unfair bad quality rap. I have a 20 yr old snap shot spinning reel that I've never serviced works fine. I grew up with a Dad who cleaned his reels by dunking them in the river. I didn't know about bearings or reel oil until my mid 30's. I also have a Quantum Accurist PT II that I like very much, I have had it for three years now, no problems.

Confession time, when I joined this site I had two baitcasters, and two spinning set ups and was happier than a pig in slop. I now have 6 baitcasters and two spinning rods, and sometimes wonder if I have enough, and other times wonder why I have so many. Sometimes I am confused as a breast fed baby in a topless bar. Reading about everyone else's set ups always triggers the "need" for another set up. This website is awesome, there is always a reson to get another rod, reel. If you haven't been introduced to it yet there is a bait/tackle monkey that inhabits this url and will convince you of the need for every concievable set up. In all honesty there are times I prefer a bc setup, and notice I said prefer, it isn't a need. For me I prefer b-casters for crankbaits, large spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jigging and larger t-rigs. I like the backbone of a bc rod to force the hook through the plastic and into the fish with t-rigs and carolina rigs. But anything 3/8 of an ounce and less I use spinning tackle. I have made the ignorant comment before that the drags on spinning tackle are inferior, but I have since noticed that there are fresh water spinning reels (bass size) that produce 16lbs of drag, more than enough for bass. There are also rods out there that have enough backbone to set the hook on weedless rigged plastics. Good luck.

I don't travel to fish, if I would I would take my boat. Due to my health I don't hike into areas to fish, I can't wade fish anymore, so I'm in a boat all the time. All I want to know is if there is a glue that won't harm the graphite that I can use to glue the pieces together. I have had several rods come apart, some during the cast, I've also had the eyes to twist around when working lures. I built a rod rack in the garage, so storage isn't a problem. So if any rod builders know of a glue I can use let me know. I know there has to be a glue to use, as rod blanks are really multipieces made into one piece, isn't that why there are there bands on the rods, where the rod changes diameter?

Welcome and thank you for your service.

I agree that common sense will keep you out of trouble most of the time. But lets say that the other guy crashes into you from your starboard side. You did all you could to avoid the crash, there are no witnesses, just your word against his. Although you know he is at fault, guess who will be cited? Guess whose insurance is going to pay? There are rules that affect conduct on the water. I am glad that these will soon be a requirement. We have the resonsibility to act appropriately, and with so many people who don't know their arse from a hole in the ground, it is imperative that responsible boaters do all they can to avoid accidents. With that said though, we also need to understand that the rules will be enforced when the defecation hits the rotary oscillator! Another example, some idiot is doing a head on pass down your starboard side, he runs you into the bank, you have gone as far as you can to avoid a collision, but he hits you. There are no witnesses, your word against his. Who would be cited?

I have had them all come apart, I had purchased a brand new Shimano rod, don't remember the name, anyway, I was snagged on the bottom, and I was using the rod to break the line. When the line snapped, the top of the rod went flying off, and now lies on the bottom of the lake! I have quantums, shimanos, and shakespeare all come apart just from fishing. Should I use rod tip glue or super glue. I don't want to use a thick flexible glue as I am afraid of ruining the sensitivity.

I have a spinning rod that I like, but I despise that it is two piece. Been thinking about supergluing the ends together, and adverse reasons why I shouldn't?

I have four smallie rods, 2 spinning, both light size reels shakespeare tempests I think, hold around 100yds of 6lb Yozuri ultra soft, rods are 6'8" ml and 7 ft m, baitcasters I have a KVD signature 6'3"ml with a 05 size extreme baitcaster, and a medium 7foot crankin stick, with a accurist pt. Spinning rods are for the small stuff, the ml KVD rod is for light jigs all I use for smallies largest would be a 3/8ounce with a trailer making total weight around 1/2 ounce and hard jerkbaits. The crankin stick handles crankbaits, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, etc. All rods and reels carry Yozuri 6lb hybrid either Ultra soft or regular. Forgot my favorite depends on what the fish are hitting that day. If it is dropshots then it is the ML spinning, grubs then the M spinning, jerkbaits the ML bc, topwater the M crankin stick. I like them all.

Al, I hear ya brother, I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the people who run recreational boats, especially jetskis. After I wrote that I felt as though it was a moot point, as a lot of people don't know their port from their starboard. I think it is ridiculous that I have to take another safety course for boating, but I am glad that most states are requiring people to take it. I thought about starting a rules of the road, safety thread, but I don't want to come across as a smartelec know it all. FWIW I refuse to ride in a boat with anyone, if I'm in a boat I'm running it, I've seen to many idiots on the lakes. On the water especially the best thing to be is a defensive driver.

Reel Mech, do you service spinning reels as well?

I prefer river fishing, but due to the shallow characteristic of my local river I have been fishing lakes. But after seeing the riverpro video and set up I would love one of those. I am definitely looking into a jet propelled boat of sometype for my river fishing, I want to get back on the river bad. My only concern is the hull thickness on some of the quote unquote shallow boats, like the roughneck for instance .100 of an inch, think I would like more thickness and prestressed aluminum. Lot of rocks in the river I run.

The rule is if the boat is one your port side, and they are heading in a direction that would take them across your bow, you would be on their starboard side, you have the right of way. This is assuming both vessels are under power. Just the opposite going the other direction. Ever notice how your bow light has a green and red side? Simply if you are on the port side of another boat, or you would see their red light, they have the right away. Again this is assuming that maintaining course and speed would result in a collision. BTW that isn't the reason the lights are red and green, just sorta ended up that way. As far as overtaking or passing in front of or behind another boat the rule states that you must pass at a safe distance, but no minimum distance is specified, some states however do specify a distance. If you are running a river the boat going downstream with the current has the right away, as their steerage is compromised. Sailboats on a starboard tack have the right away. The NavRules are established by the Coast Guard. I am a Coast Guard Veteran and have taken the NavRules tests, there are other Coasties here that can verify this. Navrules books can be ordered from the Coast Guard or the Auxiliary, most states are in the process of adopting new rules regarding boaters. For example in the state of Virginia all boaters will have to pass a safety course to operate their boats, bass boats included. The statute is being implemented over time, essentially in the next 10 years all boaters will have to pass the course and be licensed to operate a boat. Here is a link to a downloadable version of the Navrules http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/navrules.htm

That is the type of river I run, shallow and rocky. Areas are fast some are not, I love smallie fishing in that river, where I grew up, in fact I didn't use my glass boat more than 10 times all last year.

As always the knowledge of those on this site is astounding, thanks to all who have replied thus far.

I grew up fishing smallies here in WV. From my observations, the absolute best big smallie bait is a crawfish imitator. I've caught numerous 3+ pounders all on a texas rigged craw, paca craw, chigger craw, also a double tailed grub fished like a craw. I finally broke the four pound barrier on black blue jig with a vibracraw trailer. You can bet every time I'm fishing I have either a jig and craw or a texas rigged craw tied on.

Do quality bearings have more bb's in the housing? Or what should we as consumers look for?

Ok I have a question, I have reels that have as few as four bearings and one with 10, everything else is in between. It should be noted that I am mechanically declined, I can't fix anything but can break an anvil with a glass hammer, (or so I've been told ever since I can remember ). Right now I have a reel that I have to ship to reelmech to put back together! I accidently knocked the springs from under the clutch plate and can't put them back. Anyway, when I table these reels, I really don't see much difference, there are bearings at the end of the spools, one on the handle base, and the antireverse roller bearing. I know the handle paddles have bearings but I don't see them. Where are all the extra bearings? Inside the spool? Or are there simply more bb's inside the bearing housings?

Secret Weapon Assassinator Clacker http://www.secretweaponlures.com/products/clacker.htm