SirSnookalot

Braid isn't the future, it's the present and who knows what's coming down the line in years to come. I use braid and spinning nearly 100% of time for my fresh and saltwater use. I always use leaders and if for no other reason getting braid tangled in treble hooks can be a nightmare, a mono leader untangles much easier. Additionaly even a short leader like I use does supply a bit of shock, I find that helpful. By filler I'm assuming you mean backing, I personally never use backing. I will add braid using an alberto both in freshwater and inshore fishing, but offshore ocean only gets a total respool. My lines don't last long, the natural act of spinning by wrapping around the spool will put some twist on, further amplified by the kind of lure being used, that does create wind knots for me when I'm not careful. Inshore my lines take more of a beating, I'm always adding or respooling, but I'm not negative on it, it's still my line of choice. The only sizes I use are 10-15 and 20# for all of my fishing.

My only expriences with P-line florclear are using 20# offshore on a conventional reel using an ordinary clinch knot, have caught fish upwards of 50# amberjacks with no breaking issue. I also use that same 20# as leader material for some inshore fishing, snook, bonefish, bluefish and jacks plus bass fishing in Florida canals, again an ordinary clinch knot with no issues. I have had very few negative issues with mono or copoly lines of any brand, I don't recommend of favor any one in particular. When I have a breakage problem it usually isn't the line at fault, it's me. A fish that is allowed to take out drag generally will not break the line, it's when the drag is too tight. Kid yourself not, if you are using line labeled at 6# and it breaks at 12, you are really using 12# test line, should be fine for most spinning reels when bass fishing IMO.

Plenty of places for me to fish bass in Florida, glad the ocean is still open. It's very good now, snook, tapon, jacks, spanish macs, bluefish and the mullet run hasn't started yet. State parks should be open without employee layoffs, except for budgets cuts that aren't part of the federal shutdown.

I've always heard academia uses apple and business uses pc's. I've always used pc's and not that it's been trouble free but for the most part has worked just fine for me over the years. At present I have an HP desktop and my wife has an Asus laptop, both have been problem free. My kids and gr kids are pure Apple users, with 1 exception my son in law. He owns his own law firm, real estate broker, insurance broker, stock broker, help pay his way thru law school repairing computers and making web pages, he's a pretty bright guy. Uses his PC quite extensivley in his law practice as well as in the court room with Power Point presentations, videos and that sort of thing, he's now learning to be a programer and has made a few programs. He eats and sleeps computers, PC's are his choice.

For the passionate bass fishermen there is a lot of valuable information in this thread. Like Paul's friend I've been more of the opportunist bass fisherman over the last 10 years. Even still some local knowledge is required for me, times of year when I bass fish and times I don't. Techniques and lures that give me the most enjoyment and success given the type of places I fish, I learned what I need to do by fishing over the years.

I don't quite agree. When I watch the professionals on tv I see them literally dragging a bass in at warp speed, with no fight at all from the bass. IMO that technique serves this purpose, to get the fish in fast and get on to the next cast, heavier lines and rods look as though the fish has little or no chance. That's fine if the object is to be at your workplace earning a living and competing against other fisherman. As a recreational fisherman my competion is the fish, I'm more than willing to give a fish a chance, to me it's a lot more sporting. There are times when I do need to use a bit heavier gear, med spin 8/17 rod and 2000 reel with 15# braid, I never fish heavier than that for bass. I'm not against what other people use, they fish the way they see fit for themselves. Being primarily an open water fisherman I want to fight the fish, not heavy vegetation. I get no thrill dragging a 5# fish in with 10# of seaweed on it, I prefer that15# to be a fish pulling out lots drag, pretty common scenario around here. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy bass fishing, I like it a lot. That's my relaxing time to fish, bass are one of my easier challanges...........it's fun.

On Jose Wejebe's video he does not run the line thru the loop to start the alberto. He places it underneath the loop then makes his wraps and runs the tag thru the loop to compete the knot before cinching. I have done the knot both ways with the end result being the same.

I just love the name for smaller bluefish, cocktail blues, they were hot and heavy this morning. On a scale of 1-10, jacks are a 9, blues a 6 and peacocks a 4. Lot of fun on 2# fish.

Yep............I like 10# PP even better on that size reel.

Technique and as David P says maybe 3/0 hook, other than that you are good to go. I didn't notice if you are using spinning or b/c, assuming it's spinning with a light rod and 10#PP............perfect set up IMO. I don't use 65# braid for tarpon, why I would for bass fishing is something I can't understand, especially on a light set up.

My leaders are about the same and most of the time I use a swivel. I do not like a knot going thru my top guide as I'm casting but I do use the alberto for some specific species. Whether I'm tying on a new leader with an alberto or a swivel it only takes seconds.

That's a pretty place, I'd be opting for a fly rod. I have major experience with saltwater stripers but no experience with freshwater ones except the hybrids we have in Florida, sunshine bass.

Yes it was sitting in a pan but I didn't have a leak, the side seam ruptured sounding like a bomb and spewing water like a gusher.

Good luck. I'll say this to the day I die, only real thing that matters is the fish being caught. Where as I like nice gear I won't allow myself to get too hung up on it.

With all due respect these reviews are worthless to me, appears more about spending time on line rather than really testing the equipment. As far as I'm concerned a brand new reel cannot be fairly reviewed (I don't care who the manufacturer is) until it has been fished with for several months under all types of conditions. One component of a review is it's durability, how can that be determined from 1 outing. I appreciate the inquisitive mind in wanting to know how a reel is constructed, my mind doesn't function that way. All I want to know is how a reel is fairing in a year after lots and lots of fish are caught. I'm eagerly awaiting a review dated 10/2/2014.

Yeah..........I posted this to Facebook this morning, mind you this is the abbreviated version of the events. A bit of chaos going on over here. This past Sunday morning at 4 am I hear a loud bang, my hot water tank burst. No basement here so I have Niagra falls gushing into the house, I was able to stop the major flow but still some leaking. Between trying to find a plumber at that time of morning and vacuuming water (I'm so sore I can't move) I have major stress happening, doing this all alone as Marsha is out of town. I get a guy over at 8:30 and lucky to do so he stops the water and starts water extraction. Under duress I sign something, he claims a contract for restoration, I didn't like this guy from the git go but by the end of the day I have a new tank and sections of drywall cut out and loud fans drying the place out. Insurance claimed filed and waiting for adjuster I'm nervous about this guy, so I get a recommended professional company Monday and decide to go with them. #1 guy is ticked and won't sign a release, another snafu I have to work thru, he comes over and removes his equipment while the adjuster is in my home. That's all done and I leave to just make it in time to get Marsha at the airport. Tuesday new company puts there fans in place and does a lot of drywall cutting, this place looks a bomb went off. I move my computer and then set it up an hour or 2 later so I can function, it won't connect, 3 calls to comcast and they say I need an upgrade modem. Waiting at Comcast for 2 hours I get my modem, set up and it still doesn't work, finally starts working but the wireless network and telephone isn't, tech coming today, and I run out of vodka.................the next 60 days are going to interesting living of of cardboard boxes. I did catch a nice snook yesterday morning, had to get out of the house for a few...........lol.

They aren't the only ones. Star rods is lifetime over the counter as well, if the store is out Star will ship a rod to the store for exchange. One does not have to ship back to the manufacturer, which I think is a real hassle. Star makes a darn nice rod and they are extremely popular here.

I replace only with 3x trebles for freshwater and 4x VMC perma for saltwater

Is Shimano's warranty longer than that of a Pflueger? Pure Fishing is about as good as gets with warranty and repair, I have not had the same experience with Shimano. My Shimano's from time to time have repair issues, not at all with my Pflueger's, they work like the day I bought them. In fairness my Shimano's are used only in saltwater, they 4000 and 8000 reels, they take much more of a beating than my freshwater Pfluegers. New out of the box performance I don't think there is all that much difference.

4:am I hear a big clank, looks at my water tank and it's flowing like Niagra. Got the gushing to stop but still have a lot of water leaking out, just glad I was still home. Cleaned up as much water as I could, then had a plumber come over at 8:am. Got all the water cleaned up but a lot soaked into the walls and he cut about 30' of wallboard out. Be back soon with a new tank and put the dryers on. Need drywall work, painting, carpeting, maybe kitchen cabinets and a few other things. Insurance adjuster should be coming in a day or 2, have to see how this one plays out. Do not want mold !

He did say he weighed and measured it. The scale could be off but a tape is always accurate, chart weight most likely a good call. Photos do not indicate size, fully extended arm and thrust out shoulder make for the near perfect photo op.

Your first mistake is asking this question on a forum. By the time the dust settles on this thread the number of recommendations will be overwhelming, just adding to the confusion, there is no best only personal favorites suggested. I would go to a tackle shop that has experienced help and get some one on one advice, that store may not have every rod available but will have something that's going to fit your bill. Many of the older fisherman learned how to fish without new technology and did just fine, modern equipment only enhances what we already know. Learning how to fish IMO is going to land more fish than any equipment one may be using, once you have the basics down pretty well, you will know what to buy. I personally think sensitivity is vastly over rated.

Set your reel to 10# of drag, then pull the line out by hand and you will see how hard you have to pull, yes 10# of drag is a lot. I understand the nature of the OP, dealing with vegetation rather than saltwater fishing which is mainly open water, and it's true that some powerful fish can be landed with much less drag than one may think. When I'm pulling a fish out of some thick stuff I do not adjust my drag, I grab the spool and move the fish with my rod, then it's business as usual once a bass is in open water.

Not that I do it often but it's a good idea to sharpen or replace hooks. Much of the time bass do not hit hard enough to set the hook themselves.

Outside of replacing bail springs, line roller bearings, septon handles and a bail arm, the maintenance port works well on my stradics. I would caution not to use anything but Shimano oil if under warranty, I had a claim rejected some years ago on a spheros as I used another product.