SirSnookalot

Being in a business where a scale is the lifeblood of the operation, I can say for a fact the scales are checked by the state. As far as I know it's done on a random basis and you don't know when they are going to show up. If one is using a 5 lb bag of sugar or flour to check accuracy it's most likely near perfect, in Michigan a legal scale is +/- 1 %. I can't really address fish scales as I don't use them, but the ones I do own or have owned in the past were all spring, accuracy is something I can't attest to. I have had scales ranging from truck scales that weigh over 100k, platform scales weigh a few thousand pounds and small scales weighing precious metals in grams or pennyweights, each and every one I owned was a spring scale, many with balance beams use springs too. I did have digital but that was only the display, the scale itself was spring.

Florida is very high on the list of areas where shark attacks occur, kayakers venture out into the ocean in droves here. What alarms me more than sharks is boats. Kayakers will be out on 2'-3' waves, a boat running with it's bow high can't see them or the small flag, IMO they should have a strobe on a higher mast. Quite often when a bleeder, like a bonita is caught a group of 6 or more bull sharks can appear, it's unnerving even in a small boat, a kayak even more so, but doesn't seem to stop too many from going out. I'd be as fearful in Florida in freshwater, gators and mocs is a good reason not be dangling your feet there either.

Get's my vote, the next 5 years I'd pick Eddie Murphy as my favorite. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live_cast_members#Timeline_of_cast_members

I agree. Once I moved to Florida where most of my fishing is now in open water, I no longer enjoy slowing down to fish. As productive as some baits and techniques are for bass fishing, I'd rather catch bass, or any species, in a fashion I find more stimulating.

I don't think gear ratio or IPT mean much when fishing wacky, it's a fairly slow methodical technique. Wacky fishing is pretty easy and simple way to fish, doesn't require much expertise. Any med power rod is going to work just fine for me whether it's 6'6 or 7'.

I wish I could help you, my area hasn't been producing as it has in years past, I'm not far from Lake Worth. If it's a public spot I always share, not so if it's private as I don't want to run the risk of being asked to leave for something another person has done. I hadn't been on my saltwater forum in a while, this time of the year a few of the members fish freshwater until the saltwater bite picks up again. I've seen photos some beautiful bass and peacocks caught recently, the degree of smugness and "In your face" I thought was way over the top.

Many chat rooms breed hot debates that easily run into arguments, personal attacks and language not suitable for everyone, that's the way chatrooms are. I don't feel BR is a conducive arena for a chatroom. Chatrooms don't seem to work well with too much moderation.

When I did fish for smallmouth I used the same rods that I used for LMB, back then the selection was more limited. I catch a lot more fish now than I did when I lived in Michigan, I fish more often. I think there is more fish here (larger too) and IMO much easier to catch. We have no smallmouth here but we do have peacocks, not a bad fish from a fighting standpoint. As I did years ago I fish with the same gear for all my freshwater fish, an all purpose spinning rods, I do not use a different rod for different types of baits or techniques.

I put tape on the spool even if it's a braid ready reel, no slip problem.

I avoid ordering a rod on line, I much prefer to buy it in person. I have ordered 3 rods on line, 1 came broke in 3 pieces, another was just not the right rod for my needs. Not that it was a huge hassle but having to contact the shippers, repack and send the rods back is more than I care to deal with, the savings isn't worth it to me.

Didn't realize it's cyber Monday, but I made an order this morning on an item I can't find in stores anymore.

If one has not fished every rod manufacture and all the different models, no one can say what is the best rod. All that can be said is what one's preference is. My criteria in a rod is feel, butt and foregrip length, I have been both pleased and disappointed in a variety of price ranges. On average most of my rods are somewhere in the $100 area and I'm more than satisfied. 2 things I never worry about, feeling the bite and landing a fish.

I use nothing but spinning gear myself, I don't feel bass sized reels hold enough line to worry about the need for backing. Using a leader helps to cut down on using up too much braid and it can always be turned over, that's like a brand new respool.

I believe this to be true. Not only it is difficult to stock much of what an enthusiast wants as far as rods, reels, lines and lures, but so many buy their merchandise on line or from a big box store that have larger inventories. A small tackle and sundry operation has to rely on the walk in trade. Considering the initial set up cost and on going expenses the return on investment may not be that great, just a few bad business days in a month can put you behind the 8 ball. I would never discourage anyone from attempting to have their own business, some times they really click, but more often they don't. Many people believe business owners make a ton of money, the reality is most don't. Studies have shown that employees earn more money than the average business owner, especially when the benefits are factored into the equation.

Anyone catching 8-9 lb bass ought to be giving advice, sounds like you already have a winner.

2 brands make up the majority of my saltwater rods, I do have a couple of other manufacturers represented. Main criteria is an ample foregrip and decent length for the butt. My freshwater arsenal is 3 spinning rods, light, ml, and med, 3 different brands, all inshore enabling me to find one with foregrip and non split handle easy to find. Usually I fish 1 at time, today I fished with 2 for salt and 2 for freshwater, no adjustment time needed.

Usually the deal if it it's a significant purchase. Local stores are good for a quick fill in item and I don't mind spending a few extra bucks on something.

I would use it for all techniques for everything within the limits of the rod parameters. An entry level combination like this is a great tool to learn how to fish before getting yourself confused on technique specif gear. Learn how to fish with this, then everything will fall into place. I fish with pretty much the same thing except a higher quality of spinning gear and I've got over 60 years experience.

This Thanksgiving was extra special being as it was the first night of Chanukah as well. This will not happen again until the year 2070, the catch phrase has been Thanksgivukah. We went up to Jupiter and had a marvelous dinner that included dishes representing both holidays.

At least I'm not posting the photos anymore, lol. You just never know when lightning is going to strike, some of my most memorable fish have been when the odds were totally against it. Couple of years ago I catch a permit on a jig from shore in the current of an inlet, they are not supposed to be there. Not a big fish by permit standards, I did have to run it down just short of 300 yards to avoid being spooled, amazingly the braid was not severed as it was rubbing up against the seawall. Yeh I already posted the pic, don't have to do it again...........hahaha. The only times when I do alter my plans is when the water is too rough, I'll then find a place from shore, but I don't let bad conditions stop me.

To each their own, my interest in taking pictures is waning. Not that I have never outstretched a fish, I certainly have and to say that I was not trying to embellish the photo op would be a complete lie. Some of these beautiful fish make spectacular photos when they appear to be 20#, is a distortion of reality non the less, but fess up to it and don't tell us the arm is always bent when the photo clearly shows it wasn't. I've never been much into weighing fish either, no difference to me if a bass is 9.9 or 10.1, the fun was probably about the same.

This particular mh 1/4 -2 oz rod is just an example of the availability of rods with a wider range of usable lure weights. I would not use it for bass fishing, not because it's spinnning as that's all I use, I don't feel the comfort is there for me to use for bass fishing. Just from my observation it appears to me the rods with wider lure range are in the inshore section, not the freshwater, I may be wrong as I don't look in the freshwater area of the store near as often. I use inshore rods for my bass fishing and prefer to use a med 7' 8/17 spin as my heaviest.

I fish every day.

I don't think there is a lure made that doesn't catch fish given time.

As mentioned the appropriate size rod is needed for the weight of the lure. Offhand I can't think of too many mh rods that will not comfortably handle a 1 oz lure. There are mh rods that have a wider range of lures that can be used, I have in addition to my 1 oz max rating med heavies that are 5/8-2 or one that's 1/4- 2 oz, just love this rod. In freshwater I like to stay within the parameters, in salt water always overload them, the casting does not have to be as precision.