SirSnookalot

I wish I knew, peas have been tough around here and live bait seems to be the ticket. Have been thinking about road trip, waiting for solid 80+ degree weather.

Didn't mis understand the comment at all, just looking at reality. The reality is that most fish that most people catch are average at best, just how many 10 pound fish are caught by the average angler fishing a few times a week, my guess not many. In today's world smooth reels with excellent performing drags at a modest price are easily obtainable. What should set an upper tier reel apart from an average priced reel is the durability factor over an extended period of hard use. That being said people should by what they want to meet their needs.

Pretty much only braid and spinning used, I don't use any backing, from reels that old about 100 yd to some over 300. Use masking or electrical tape on the spool and I'm good to go. Nothing wrong with backing, just not my choice.

Don't think I'm any of them. I never get excited when I catch a nice fish, I'm always disappointed it wasnt' bigger, see no smile like most of my fish pics.

Assuming one is catching great fish..........For me anyway a 10 or 15 pounder is nice fish but nothing special, fighting one for 5 or 6 minutes is fun, but nothing out of the ordinary. My criteria of a great fish is somewhat different. I judge reels used nearly 7 days a week, used in harsh elements for a good 6 months before I even consider durability. Most of my reels have passed the grade but not all, they are not $600 and many of them are 5 years old. I used a bailess Van Staal today, I'll stick with my gear. What some spend is their business and it doesn't affect me. I spend what I think is appropriate for me, don't think for a second I'm not enjoying.

I wouldn't care if a male or female hosted a fishing show, I'm interested in the content. I hardly ever watch a fishing show anymore, except if I'm surfing and happen to come across one. I had no idea who this Izumi woman was until just now, and she is pretty good looking. I know some women here that more resemble Dick Butkus, but could teach most people how to fish, I'm always shooting the bull with them. WIGuide makes a good point about watching a well known personality. In my location Mark Sosin is an area resident, he's well known and does some shows in our local waters, makes it interesting for me.

For you young men and women, don't get overweight and out of shape in the first place. As a young man I liked fashionable clothing and wimmmen, great motivation to be in shape. Once I got married at 46 I didn't work out too much anymore, but I remained active, wife made sure I ate right. Eating right wasn't enough for me not to get diabetes 4 years ago, history in my family. I'm 68 and have been retired from day to day business activity for 10 years, I have fished almost every day for those last 10 years. My diet, non sedentary lifestyle is keeping me in reasonably fit condition, at least from a fishing standpoint. Don't often get tired or sore but I don't push myself, age does have it's limitations. For the people losing weight, keep up the good work.

Whatever you do is purely a personal preference and there is no right or wrong way. I use swivels and leaders about 99% of the time. Only exception are fish that will attack a swivel as quickly as lure like spanish mackerel, but most people on here never fish for them. My swivel size will vary depending on the diameter of the rod tip guide, don't want swivel going thru or getting stuck. Leader length on average will be about 20".

Unless you plan on making repeated trips I wouldn't invest too much money, although changing your line I think is the way to go and that isn't too expensive and it's useful where ever you'll be fishing. My intent was purely meant to save your reel from being damaged, it's a nice reel for what you use it for.

I would enjoy just about any reel I received as a gift, except something I had no use for, in that case I'm sure the presenter would have no problem with that. When it comes to me purchasing equipment, it's totally about the fish, why else am I out there. Given the choice I'll take great fish on an average gear over average fish on great gear every day of the year. That's the enjoyment that fits my mindset.

Firstly just because a celebrity fisherman catches a nice fish using a certain reel doesn't make it the best choice and we never knew how many fish were lost before viewing the final take. If you have ever seen tarpon tournaments on tv you may notice that they are using reels that do not have level winds and most have lever drags. I have heard the commentators mention that they use 50 lb braid with drags set about 15 lb. Most of those fish caught are 100-175#. Not that a fish that size can't be caught on lighter gear but that's what the professional tarpon fishermen use. You have described different types of fish and different areas to catch them. In bass fishing it's not uncommon to have a number of combos tailored for lure types, techniques and so on. The case is the same in saltwater but amplified much more, unlike bass fishing the fish out there can run from 1 # to well over a 100#, different species when hooked fight differently. Some run on the surface jumping like billfish, others like amberjack don't jump and run deep. There really isn't a 1 combo fits all. All that said, your present combo will work fine in the ICW, it's usable offshore I would put on 50 lb braid so at least you'll have line capacity and 60 lb leader should be enough. I'm still not excited about it for offshore, or would I be with any level wind reel, but use what you have. I'm a spinning user for the most part, 1 of my combos that I always have with me offshore is a 7' 40# rod, 7000 Penn reel (never set that tight but has 32# of drag) with about 300 yds of 30# braid, I use 40# leaders. Have caught everyone of the fish on your wish list with it.

As a kid we had a cottage on an 1100 acre lake. Before I had an OB I rowed and trolled the drop off around the lake. Caught bass and other species too, I always enjoyed rowing and fishing.

You never know until you try something whether you like it or not. Don't rely on opinions of others, decide for yourself.

I'm pretty much with Flyfisher. I have a Razr maxx with a skin on it, not slippery at all and still slim. The majority of time I have it in a belt pouch, it's a Fellows and holding up very well, other times I just put in my pocket. I'm very cautious with it, always step back from the water when I take it out, quite often I don't take it with me if it's raining or high surf. The phone to me is more vital than taking a picture.

I agree...........everyday here isn't the same, some days that spoon works fine other days no, yesterday wasn't near as good as Saturday with it, too much floating grass, I do prefer the sharper hook of the Clark. You are quite right about the intended use of that spoon, down here they are Spanish Mackerel killers, especially when used with a rattling bobber. That being said I haven't met too many lures I couldn't use in both salt and freshwater.

I'd sooner get rid of my more expensive rods than my Calico Jack, I may buy another one (MH)just for snakeheads.

Not enough information. What's your target species, are planning on casting lures, trolling, drifting with live or cut bait, boat (private or public and size), beach or seawalls? First of all an 8' rod if you are fishing a center console boat, bimini top can get in the way if you are casting a lot bigger boat may be ok. Even many cabin cruisers the fishing area in the back is limited, I think the rod is too long. Had to look it up, but that reel holds only 140 yds of 80# braid, not enough line IMO and 100 lb leader, overkill unless you are targeting something like yellowfin tuna, then your reel is underpowered with an insufficient amount of line. The reel has 2 little cranking knobs, not 1 larger power knob like just about every pure saltwater reel I can think of. Your reel is fine for muskie, but you aren't fishing for muskie here, the unexpected can happen at anytime, it's different ballgame, it's using your drag with line capacity here. If I were making my first trip to the salt, sure I'd take it, but fishing in saltwater for 30 some odd years I recommend you leave it at home, just trying to save you from some trouble, just seen it happen too many times. As I stated it's all about the target fish, water and style of fishing, your outfit IMO is just not a deep water outfit, it would be ok in the back country. Believe me a 100 tarpon can easily strip out more than 150 yds of line, I think your line is too heavy and not enough of it.

I've been within a few foot a several times, 2 twice I was right next to one. Fishing a pond I stepped within an inch or 2, moc didn't move, I thought it was dead......whew. another time I took a step and a snake shot straight up in the air, sacred the crap out of me, in hindsight I don't think it was a moc.

The reason to spot Rays is that when they move their "wings" in shallow water, they kick up crustaceans off the bottom, cobia love to trail the rays to feed.

I personally would not use an ugly stick in freshwater, in the price range I think there are way better options. BUT....... that really isn't the case down here in the salt, more ugly sticks are used than about anything else I see, some very good fishermen I know use nothing but. Bear in mind these rods are not light, the opposite of what many bass fishermen prefer. Commonplace here is a 20 oz penn reel on a 30lb ugly stick, sounds heavy but for the kind of fishing that's done with them it really isn't, working a freshwater jig is more tiring than a long flowing saltwater cast.

Works for me....... Fished bass over 50 years, did ok. The change in my bass fishing was due to my interest in SW inshore fishing. Revamped my entire thought process, I fish simple now with a minimal amount of equipment, not only has my numbers increased but size too. Being in Florida certainly does not hurt, in reality you are as good as the water you are fishing on.

What makes a reel worth $600 or more is the customer base that's willing to spend the money. Factoring in the R & D, materials being used, shipping, advertising, etc, I would be very surprised that a $600 reel would cost 10 times more to manufacture than a $60 reel. Only the user can answer if it's worth it to them. If I were fishing offshore 5-6 days a week in my 200k yellowfin, I'd have nothing but Penn torques, stellas or saltigas, but that isn't the case for me..lol.

A little update about spoons. Had a spoon in the trunk of my car I hadn't used in a year or 2 for bass fishing, on whim I put it in pocket yesterday. Caught a few bass using an xrap, then a storm wild eyed shad, then decided to put this spoon on. Not using this style spoon in quite some time it took a few moments to remember how I used to fish it. A saltwater spoon called a Clark spoon, single hook much like a J spoon, the hook still razor sharp and it's replaceable via a set screw. Like the J-spoon it's pretty weedless despite no weed guard. Fished from a hi banked canal I angled it back towards the shore, fishing it just sub surface, with a slowish retrieve as not to bounce the lure on top of the water and let the spoon work. Thinking a bit outside the box, at times I reeled the lure in with my finger on the line, giving a different action on the spoon.........fished loved it.

I didn't think Cobia got that big. I do my share of Cobia fishing, most of the time they are fairly shallow 10-80 fow. We look for Cobia trailing Rays, bucktail tipped with squid. I caught this one when I was young man with fresh water spinning tackle. Caught in Key West and sold it to a restaurant chef.

Hate to make the owner of the one I didn't care for feel bad. I will mention again, only my Pflueger's have never seen a repair facility, for about a 100 bux I'd probably at another floog.