SirSnookalot

Right, the only time I would pay attention to those numbers is using mono or copoly in hopes of avoiding too much coiling. 100% agree, some may be surprised at how big a fish can be landed using the drag properly, even with lighter lines. I know many people lock that drag down (see it on tv tournaments) and drag that 4 pounder in a few seconds with heavy braid..............that isn't sport fishing, it's not sport at all, sporting is giving the fish a chance. Heaviest line I use is 20# braid and that's for saltwater, 15# is my top for freshwater, a fish pulling out drag won't break the line. Sorry for the rant, just irks me to no end seeing 50# line for a fish that seldom goes more than 10 pounds.

I appreciate the recommendation and that's a really nice outfit, I may buy something like that when I slow down and start taking it easy. At 68 I'm still young and healthy enough to challenge myself with the likes of juvenile tarpon, jacks and permit on light spinning or fly. Not that I don't enjoy bass fishing, it just doesn't take center stage over these fish for me. I will always bass fish, but will always target inshore salt species first.

Not in the market, have what ever I need and want to catch anything I target.

Don't come to South Florida, when I first became a snowbird in 1980 the cost of living was very reasonable, but that has changed. Our first place was on a saltwater lake that led into the ICW, fishing was really good then with a variety of species. If I were to move there are places in Florida I might pick other than where I'm at, I'm really attracted to Southern California too.

I pretty much agree. Only my own personal observation but some of the people that seem to hawk certain brands as being the best, aren't really catching the best fish or they don't have a camera. Some of the nicest fish I have seen on line or in person are being caught on modest equipment. Don't hate these "experts" as I've never met them, I do have a hard time giving much credence to some of the recommendations. If I didn't love fishing I wouldn't be doing it everyday, I accept things the way they are, especially when out of my control. Even though this is freshwater time in South Florida I'm not enjoying it as I once did, I force myself to go, I just need to be outdoors.

Better than even chance that a fish caught 50 years isn't around any more, if a lure worked back then it's going to work now.

I can't say I hate fishing cause I do it everyday, but..................I have lost a lot of interest in bass fishing. I no longer fish from a boat in freshwater, been there and done that for many years, don't want another freshwater boat. Fishing bass from shore I'm getting tired of the snakes, fire ants, slow fishing, lack of open water, less challenging, less fight, not many fish over 6 or 7#, reduced public access. All said I'll keep doing it everyday, it's still the easiest game in town around here.

I'm not forgetting these people either.

Not the best season I've had, but not focusing too much on bass. What little freshwater I'm doing now is looking for peacocks.

Not any more. Many years ago my dad went in for emergency open heart surgery Friday 13 in the evening, not much staff in the hospital then. As he was being rolled into the emergency room he sees a calendar and said " oh sheet", 7 hours later he pulled thru in great form........it's a good luck day for me.

Saleen, not bad at all.......

I've used the swivel to secure, don't anymore. I just use a standard worm hook for my weedless flukes, don't fish with worms. I put a little hump in the flukes back, bait seems to swim more to my liking that way, doesn't turn over as much.

No sentimental equipment, don't even know what happened to my gear, bought all new when I moved to Florida. I did catch a 61# cobia on a freshwater Shakespere (red reel) in 1975, reel was bought much earlier. I was a lot younger and stronger then, I'd like to try it again.

I have 5 Pfluegers, 3 supremes, a medalist and an arbor of various sizes, hardly a day goes by I don't use one of them. I catch bluegill to barracuda on them, perform at a level of reels I own that cost twice as much, only brand I have ever used that never has required anything but a drop of oil.

I caught mayan the other day while I was catching peacocks, thought the mayan was a better fighter for it's size. If I had a choice, which I don't, I'd be moving up Juno/Jupiter or close to Miami, better fishery both fresh and salt.

Prior to the freeze peacocks were every where in West Delray, now I'm only seeing them near the Lake Ida chain in east Delray. Biggest I caught a few years ago was around 4 # and that was in the canal behind my home, lately they have been quite small. I used to catch quite a few of them in and near the St Andrews canal.

I feel bad for all of you..........

My first mustang was a 69 burgundy 400 + cubes mach 1, wish I still had it. Got a neighbor with a 351 69 mach 1, custom paint and side pipes, looks good but no longer stock...........killed the collectability value.

As with any species knowledge is power, I've been consumed in trying to catch peacocks from shore in Delray, haven't been targeting LMB at all. Fishing all over Delray and Boynton I have a good idea of where peacocks should be, that doesn't mean they are. I have yet to see any west of the freshwater spillways, they used to be there, found some places I thought ideal. The place I found to be perfect didn't pan out in 2 days of fishing, but I know they are there, but I did finally catch some yesterday and a different spot, now I need to catch big one. Didn't really mind getting skunked, I like the challenge.

A mystery to me is why the need to use 9.5# or more of drag, I can understand wanting to make the operation of moving the star easier, but I wouldn't use that much drag.

I took a power handle from an Abu soron 40 and put it on my soron 20, what a difference. The reel is on med 7' 8/17 rod, I don't use it for bass too often, mainly when we have bluefish, lady fish and jacks running, the fish in my avatar was caught on that combo. The handle has given me more cranking power and much better level of comfort IMO.

As far as scoring fish seldom do I not catch fish when using a jigs or senkos. I pass up a lot of opportunities for fish because I don't use those baits too often, I don't enjoy fishing that way. For the places I fish I only use a small handful of different lures.........flukes, jerk or twitchbaits, top water popper, gold spoon, that's my freshwater arsenal, carry them in pocket.

No reason why not, bear in mind an older size 40 reel may have a bit of weight to it and not balance that well, but that doesn't mean it can't be used. I would not put a nickel into the reel except to clean, oil and lube on your own. If my intent was a daily use reel I would opt for a new budget reel, preferably a smaller size. For some occasional casual use go have some fun with it.

Don't hate or not jealous of anyone, I get to fish every day. I am a bit envious of people that fish in areas with a better fishery. I can think of places in Florida from a fishing standpoint I'd rather live, but I can drive to those places. I really have nothing to complain about.

It's a myth, there ain't no fish in Florida, don't feel bad.