SirSnookalot

Big difference between New York state and NYC, the state is beautiful with lots of outdoor recreation and there just isn't any place just like NYC, it's a wonderful place. South Florida fits me well, coming from an urban area I appreciate a lot of the NY influence here, food, entertainment, Broadway and cultural activities, a bonus for me is the diverse ethnic population. I just love Miami Beach, had a second home just north since the 80's before being here full time. I'm in Delray only because of gr children, further south would have been more to my liking. But it isn't for everyone, I'm a city boy at heart.

Been all over Mexico, best place I ever wetted a line, other resorts in the area too. http://www.costadecocos.com/fishing.html

Florida, lots of freshwater and salt water is never far away. Weather has been beautiful here, hi 70's to low 80's, it does get cooler in Jan and Feb which is not to my liking.

This would be easy, I use a weedless fluke most of the time in freshwater anyway and bucktail jigs are my most productive saltwater lures, I could even use the same 7'6 med spinning rod for fresh and salt. This is exactly what I planned on doing this morning, head out to the icw for some salt and do some freshwater on the way home, I'm taking only 1 spinning rod.

Works fine the way it is. I wouldn't mind seeing sub forum specifically for sponsors to advertise their specials instead of incorporating their information within a thread.

I like the concept of those saver rings, never tried them.

That's pretty bad

What shame it was discontinued, I have 5 left and use them sparingly, the gold and clown work great on peacocks. Blaze also changed the way the make their top water popper, the older one had a better action imo.

Takes a clever person .............http://blog.paperblanks.com/2013/11/writing-wednesday-when-does-ghoti-sound-like-fish/

I think Tom is right. I don't think on a technical level, 60 years of bass fishing has taught me just to react to the gear I'm using, weather and water conditions at the present time, yesterday is ancient history. The statement always arises " how do you know you're feeling all the bites", the answer is " how do you know I'm not". Not a doubt in my mind that I don't feel the vast majority of bites. Knowing how to keep slack out of the line is as beneficial as any rod you may use, I do think braided lines are a big equalizer too. The hardest part of fishing is finding them and enticing the strike, some days they're on and some days they're off. The techniques and the actually landing of fish is the easy part, IMO the equipment is secondary to experience.

I think Francho is right. I think expanding or rearranging the geographical forums is not a bad idea.

I don't believe discontined but having a hard time finding them, I did locate a few on line and made an order. Wahoo redfish key spoon, I use them for bass.

If June was my target date I'd wait until then to make a decision, my feelings could totally change by then. I don't find an argument with this statement. Maybe the most reliable and best performing reel I own cost $89, this reel is used in saltwater where not only the conditions can be harsh, the reel is only used for fish that run 15-40 #. The drag is as refined as any other reel I own at more than twice the price. A 5000 series reel at 12 oz on a mh rod is pretty sweet in my book. You catch fish like this on reel that never has had the need for service except a drop of oil and IMO you got a winner, the reel is in the background. http://s355.photobucket.com/user/stugoldstein/media/Saltwater/hu51e8_zps006ede24.jpg.html?sort=3&o=43

I snagged (by accident) a manatee yesterday, story posted in the general forum. Stopping it was like trying to stop a VW rolling downhill with 1 hand attached to the bumper, just keeps on going.

Being a Michigan resident for nearly 60 years and working outdoors I have an idea of what cold, snow and ice is. NO MAS ever again, gets below 70 here and I put on long underwear, ice is something I put into a beverage.

Another disappointment yesterday, not only did the cabinet maker come 3 hours late but didn't come prepared to finish the job. They promise to come at 8:00 am today and finish, I'm so po'd that 1 minute late I won't allow them in my home, a safe bet they won't be on time. I do not care how much money and extra time it costs me to get another cabinet maker to finish up, I won't let them make a red cent off me. I hope they sue.

I do all of my freshwater fishing from the bank, the areas I fish I can use whatever I wish, it's very open. I do prefer using a 7' med spin for high banked canals and 6'6 light or ml spin for ponds. I like casting with rods with longer butts. A good portion of my saltwater fishing is done from beach, sea walls and jetties, again I like the longer butt for casting and more so tucking the butt under my armpit is useful in handling some of the species. I have probably said this at least 100,000 times, I would never buy a rod for any kind of fishing with good foregrip.

Happened this morning at 5:30, casting in a rocky area thought I was snagged, tightened the drag and began to snap the bow to get my lure and a huge fin appeared. As more fin started to show the fin seemed to have short fingers, a sea turtle? Nope it was an adult manatee and they are pretty darn big. Stopping it would have been near impossible with a md spin rod and 15#, but the braid, 20# leader and loopknot held like a vise until the brute strength of this mammal pulled free of my xrap. The manatee was none the worse for wear, probably didn't even realize it was snagged, got my lure back and got a great 45 second rush.

My flood of 2 months ago is still not totally resolved, a new problem seems rise daily, contractors in Florida are notorious for not showing up. Some many un related situations have occurred as well don't have the energy to list them all. When I read about a miscarriage makes my situations just a minor inconvenience, even having the hook removed from leg wasn't really a big deal, a little blood, a needle and some time.

Giant trevally I believe are the largest fish caught inshore in the jack family, as with any member of that family of fish the fight is incredible. I have not caught a trevally but have caught hundreds if not thousands of Jack Crevalles, Permit, Pompano, Horse Eyed Jacks, as much as a fight as I ever want. I have had to chase them down on foot hundreds of yards to avoid spooling and that's only a 25 pounder. An amberjack is an offshore species, they get big 100# and more, most awesome fish I have ever caught.

Takes a lot for me to change hooks, don't really mind having only 2 of 3 hooks on my trebles. When I do replace hooks I use only 3x for freshwater (not brand fussy) and 4x VMC perma for saltwater.

Been hooked a number of times and can't count the times I've been cut by braid, honey sounds interesting.

I purchased an im 10 allstar med 8/17 spinning labeled a redfish rod about 4 years ago. The intent of use for this rod was bass caught from high banked canals, I owned this rod for about 2 days. The backbone on this rod had trouble with 1# bass, redfish rod huh........Took it back and exchanged it for a Calico Jack which I'm still using daily.

I'm with Rhino, I do not care for laptops. I did own a laptop many years ago strictly as a backup computer, seldom used but when I did use it a keyboard and mouse made the usage much easier. When I'm away from home my smartphone does what ever I need it to do. If I wasn't retired and traveled for business I certainly would own a laptop then, it would be essential.

Don't disagree as I've read many of those posts before. Other Shimano problems are well documented in on line forums as well, some of which I have experienced, rusted out line roller bearings, faulty bail springs, handles eroding, but in fairness those problems occur from saltwater use. My stradic 4000 fi's are nice reels and I like them (not that I don't like other reels I own just as much), but they do go down from time to time, not the most durable IMO. I do NOT think durability is much of an issue in freshwater catching the average bass for any Shimano reel, or any other reel manufacturer. It is near impossible to convince a die hard Shimano user that there may be something as good or better, no use in even trying. Part of my reel arsenal are 3 Pflueger supremes used in freshwater and Pfluegers medalist and arbor for saltwater, none ever needing anything but a drop of oil and never any down time.