SirSnookalot

A 10# bass is more than ok, it's really fine fish. Unless a fish is landed it is very difficult to determine how big it was. The water clarity may not be ideal for a visual, even with in a designated species not all of the fish are going to fight the same. I lost a fish last year, it was before dawn I did see it jump a few times and I knew it was a tarpon, but it was about 50 yds away. At first I thought the fish was maybe 75# which is quite possible. After losing it in heavy current the reality set it, I doubt it was near that big. Did make a nice Bullsheet story. I was telling people for weeks I had a 75 pounder on, lol.....I knew better.

Been doing it for 30 years, not so sure about boiling water I just luke warm tap water. I first saw this being done on a charter boat may years ago, the mate just soaked the line in sea water in a bucket. I've caught many large fish on mono lines without the line being compromised in any way. I've use KVD and it works but I don't use it any more, I limp my line out with the soaking method and troll it out before I fish, line is perfect.

Whether it's Chinese or not there are fish that can and will destroy a lure, the lure in this pic saw it's demise from a fish that wasn't anymore than 5#. Just a suggestion for a very durable lure that I have used many times, 6" Bomber windcheater weighs about 2 ounces. They make a 4" model at 3/4 oz which I have used for bass fishing.

That's a nice gar. This time of year we see a lot of them down here and you're right they are hard to catch. Either they are disinterested or difficult to keep buttoned. I caught one about the same size a month ago out of a canal, really nice fight.

I never had a problem moving as I would hire a professional mover, even going back to my younger days when I didn't have 2 nickles to rub together. "Friends" don't always show up on time for a variety of reasons or excuses. Using one of my trucks takes it out of the work force for that period of time, wasn't worth the loss in revenue. Renting a truck incurs it's own expense plus labor is involved. The labor can be a simple as few friends but you can't expect them to do it for free, just buying breakfeast or lunch and few beers doesn't put you all that far away from what a professional mover would charge. There is an issue of injury, I'd feel bad if one of my friends got hurt and I'd feel worse if I did, that may be time off my real line of work. I'm not concerned about a moving company's employee being hurt, that's what they get paid for and since they do it every they know how do it and probably don't get injured near as often. Sometimes we can be penny wise and dollar foolish.

Another one this morning 45", was curious did the formula estimate..........32#

I have no idea, I don't keep track of numbers or size, I'm sure it's quite a few fish. Most of my fishing is saltwater, again I don't keep track of anything but doing pretty good in the size department. I won't be doing much bass fishing until November.

This is the answer. You want big bass, have to go where they're at. Look what these guys catch in Mexico, California, Texas and Florida. You keeping go where the bass are small for the most part and the odds of catching big one is slim.

What's wrong with the Fin-Nor? It's a very good reel, why spend money if you don't have to. Many reviews are from users using a brand new reel, that's why they are favorable. A review worthy of note is one where the reel has been used for a substantial amount of time, catching a lot of fish helps too.

If I catch 2 or 3 cuda in a month I'm pretty happy, in the first 3 1/2 months of the year I've caught maybe 7 or 8. Don't know what's happening but I've had 3 in the last couple of days. I twisted my side yesterday on my last one and handed the rod over to a guy I met from Maryland. A striper guy but he never caught a cuda and did tell him if I hooked one I'd let him reel it in. He's going home today so I was real happy he landed a 40 incher.

If I haven't be banned, everyone is safe.

Looking at the leader board Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth are 3 back, I'm still going with my Adam Scott pick. Furyk could be the dark horse surprise.

This ! How about a 68 year old too.

I use braid every day, haven't had a lure break off on cast in years. I suppose an anomaly can happen like a bad batch of line, which I've yet to experience, or a nick in a guide which I have experienced maybe once or twice. Other than that I can think of only 2 reasons, the line was weak due to an abrasion or the knot was tied poorly.

I'd sooner commit suicide before I'd spend $250 on a freshwater spinning reel, but your money do as you wish. I mainly use 2 reels for bass fishing one is 7.4 oz and the other is 8.8 oz., both reels are buttery smooth and cost less than $100. The larger of the 2 reels, about the same as 2000 or 2500, was a salt water reel for about 2 years, catching 10-20# snook and jack crevalles. No 10# bass is ever going to put the demands on a reel like these fish do. I couldn't count the number of 10+ pounders I've caught with this reel, with no more service than a drop of oil in the handle bearings.

Doesn't make any difference If Dean Rojas is catching fish or not, only thing that matters is if you are catching fish. Some days fish are on and others days they aren't, it's that simple. I've got a lot of nice bass in the canal behind my home and canal fishing is as easy as it gets. The other day a guy was fishing a live worms and bobber, not a strike, I caught only 1 on a fluke. The day before the bass were jumping onto my hook, and yesterday they just followed my EZ swimmer and veered off.

Mainly snook and tarpon from the jettie I generally fish, usually short casts with 1/2-3/4 oz lures and jigs. Quite often we have fish where a 75 yd distance is benefical (cover more water too) with 1.5 ounce lure that's attainable as I'm already doing it with most of my combos. The only reason for the change is I don't care for the feel of my present rod, seems bulky to me.

Just about every small $50 spinning reel today are smooth and perform well. The more you spend will buy refinements and weight loss, which does not relate to performance but ease of handling and balance. Too light a reel may yield a set up that is tip heavy. As far as a lighter rotor, I have 6000 and 8000 reels with traditional rotors that crank every bit as easy as my smaller reels do. Shimano make a good product.

If you want to catch bass you listen to a bass fisherman ^^^^^^^^

Stripers yes, bluefish not so much.

How some on could estimate pounds and ounces from a photo is beyond me. If you think that fish is 8#, that's good enough for me. It's a beauty.

For the last several weeks I've been looking to replace one of my 8 footers, tested a couple of them. Most 8 foot rods I've been looking at are fast taper, just isn't what I was looking for. I believe they would be wonderful tossing light baits from a boat or surf, but that isn't what I plan on using it for. In the end I decided to buy what I already owned, I have Star stellar lite 7' mh that out casts my 8 foot rods, so I ordered that rod in a 7'6. Normally I do not like to order on line, especially a sight un seen product. I ordered from West Marine, free shipping to my home and 7'6 was not considered over sized. Additionally they have store a few miles from me in case I incur some kind of problem.

Long Island is a sensational place to fish. Your rod should be just fine, in a perfect world I may opt for a surf rod quite often distance is needed there. I've fished Montauk many times, most of my Florida friends come from that area and we get tons of snowbirds from there too. 30# braid on that Pflueger is a good choice, if the bluefish are in I'd be using metal jigs, they can literally bite thru hard lures. Stripers are really nice but bluefish take you to entirely different world. I would not recommend that set up. Straight braid 20-40#, should have some where around 200 yds, you may need it. I would never use backing on an inshore set up, 12 lb mono on that size reel is not a good choice IMO, not enough line capacity and that diameter may produce coiling and line twist. When fishing saltwater think like a saltwater fisherman.

No favorite hat. What I won't wear any more are bucket hats with straps, I get strangled. The most interesting hat I've seen isn't really a hat, it's a guy with a shaved head with the globe tatooted on it.

My level of excitement is not what it normally is with TW not in the field. A sentimental pick would be Mickleson, I'd really like to see this young kid Speith, no question he has the game and the nerves. I think Adam Scott is poised to be a repeat champion, it just could be him.