SirSnookalot

That's a nice Pea

That's killing machine, I'd want one if I lived in Somalia.

Well said. I have 5 Pfluegers in active service, all have some age on them and still perform like the day I bought them, with no more than a drop of oil. Not only do they catch bass, but saltwater species too. I like the smokes but I would not spend more than $100 for a freshwater spinning reel. A $100 buys a light, smooth well performing reel, with precise drag settings, I don't know what else is needed.

Every second your lure is out of the water, you chances of catching a good fish have been reduced. I see no reason to record data, measure or weigh, or even take photos of small fish, unless something very unique has occurred. It's one thing to have app for a weather alert, but knowing the forecast and looking at the sky works pretty good too. I like playing with toys, but not when I'm fishing. I can just picture myself with a gopro on my head catching a 5# fish that took all of 30 seconds to land.

I've got 3 supremes, a medalist and an arbor. Over the last 4 years or so I have only oiled the handle bearings and the line roller bearing, all of the reels are perfect. I would suggest "don't fix it if it ain't broke".

My sentiments regarding their service are exactly the same as 0119's, parts on back order, items never shipped with no record of the order ever being placed. Back to the reel itself, I like the stradics, they just break down quicker. I'd buy a 4000 for $130, I don't it's worth anymore. I'm sure the 2500 and under are going to fair much better, the environment and fish just are not the same.

HaHa...........any hot spot here the guys know about it long before any app. There isn't much going on that everyone doesn't already know, word gets out fast. Only time I ever see hat cams, apps on phones, are not from the seasoned fishermen. If you aren't prepared with information before you leave home, whether it's gear, weather, location or knowing how to tie a knot, you just ain't ready to go fishing, no phone app in the world is going to help you.

Anyone ever hear a fish make a noise? Pretty common here with a number of species. I stepped on a fish a little too hard, good sized tooth critter that will go after your leg in heartbeat, and the fish squealed. I do think they feel pain or some kind of discomfort. I'm not concerned about.

I only use a small handful of different ones, so the answer is no I don't give up on any of them.

Don't recall too many reels of any brand where the stated line capacity was accurate. I've had reels spooled up with a line counter at tackle shops and the numbers were off. If planning on using 100 yds of braid on a 2500, probably won't need as much backing as you may think, don't spool right up to the top.

I'll second the snakes, stay away from rocks as they absorb heat from the sun on a cooler day, the snakes like to regulate their body temperature there.

First off I wouldn't change a thing, been a good husband, father and provider. I have loaned money many times and have not gotten it back. If someone needed 10 -15 or even $ 50 bucks, that isn't a loan I'd just give it to them. I've made loans or investments in business knowing up front it's all greed motivated, where reward is involved so is risk. Don't regret any of my losses, I took a shot and didn't work out, but some did.............

I pretty much agree. Out of the box for a year or 2 the stradic is pretty decent. For bass it's a really nice reel, but no better than a reel priced less. As I type this I'm at the cross roads of deciding of replacing 2 reels, both stradic fi 4000. Reels are still smooth, drags are fine, but there is a structural problem. Both of these reels have a floppy bail, lots of play and not tight and rigid as they were new. Both reels have had to have the line roller bearings replaced, the reel I'm having the most trouble with has had the entire bail assembly replaced by Shimano about 2 years ago, not worth investing any more money on this reel. Being objective these reels do catch some larger very powerful fish in conditions that can take a toll on equipment. Still being objective, the same fish caught in the same conditions using other brand reels, do not experience the problems that arise with the stradics. Down here you just don't see too many of them, they are referred to as "sand magnets". I like very much the line management on the Shimano line up, the weight and line capacity on a 4000 or 5000 reel is to my liking as well. I would buy another for $130, but the chances of getting a 4000 or 5000 for that price isn't going to happen, if it did I know I have nice reel for maybe 2 years, then the problems start all over again.

Weedless fluke, will catch bass as well any other fish that swims anyplace any time of the year.

Barrel swivels are no more than line connectors, I've seen some of the cheap ones pull apart but that is pretty rare, the one I saw was by a tarpon. Cranes are only slightly better, they don't revolve a lot either. Power swivels aren't too bad, some have incredible strength for their size, I have small ones that are 90#, some not much bigger are 230#. BB are at the top of the list, Sampo and Spro considered to be the best, I have bought other brands not as expensive and they worked about the same. Smaller BB's usually will have split rings and some of the larger ones have welded rings. I use swivels almost 100% of the time, only real exception is targeting spanish mackerel, they can strike the swivel as well. I mainly use about 20" or so of leader, retieing a new leader is quite easy and fast with a swivel. Getting a wind knot with braided line that has to be cut out, then attaching a new leader can be a pain if it's very windy. Also better have something with you to make a close clean cut, I don't carry much in the way of excess baggage. I never found any difference in catch rate swivel to non swivel.

Not everyone holds a spinning rod the same way, depending on where the hand is placed relative to the reel the balance will be different. I hold all my spinning reels above the reel, that's why I only buy rods with a foregrip. Once you have your set up, the balance always changes when different sized lures are used. My own take, as long as I have a fairly comfortable set up the balance doesn't have to be precise.

I guess I'm an old timer, been doing this fishing thing along time. Many of my fishing buddys are around my age, retired and fish nearly everyday. When a newbie shows up at the jettie or the beach, whether they have moved here, or on vacation we show them ropes. We give tips on certain species, what to use, tides, and other places to try. We do a lot of barracuda fishing, since we make our lures we always give them away. It may be more exciting to see a guy catch a big cuda for the first time than catching it myself, I've done hundreds of times. The old timers here are a pretty unselfish lot.

Saw some impressive pics of peacocks caught in the Miami area yesterday, crappie jig killed them.

You mean to say you don't help people, especially new to the area or just on on vacation?

Mine is model sjs 70 h, 1/2 oz - 3oz 12-25 line, it's a freshwater rod, at least that's where shimano puts it on their website. http://www.tunafishtackle.com/shimano-sojourn-spinning-rods-127p/ http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/products/rods/freshwater/Sojourn_Spinning0.html

See if you can find a Shimano sojourn, about 30 bucks, this rod is a reel sleeper. I have hvy spinning 25 lb rod that I use for barracuda. Have a friend with a Van Staal on the same rod as mine, he must think a lot of it to put an $800 reel on a $30 rod.

I've got 10# SS on light spinning, as well as original PP 10-15-20-30# on a number of other reels. What I do like about the SS is wind knots pull thru easier, other than that I don't feel one being better than the other. Being as I tie my knots correctly and use my drag, strength isn't a concern for me, whatever line I'm using.

There are forums, I happen to be a member of one, that are geared towards the shore fisherman. Many people do protect their spots, I'm not one of them. For the most part I'll direct people, especially out of towners, to where they may have a good chance of catching fish.

I use a medium duty inshore set up. MH 10/20 7' spinning rod, 4000 reel with 20# braid and 30# leader.

Line is never a waste of money for me, it's one of 2 things that are essential, 1 being a hook and 2 what the hook is attached to........line. I'd opt at any time to respool with the line of my choice rather than spending money on an array of lures just because they look like fish will like them. Line I need, 200 lures I don't.