SirSnookalot

Being a business owner for over 30 years I've seen similar situations, an employee telling an owner how to run a business that has been successful for many years. Quite often these employees don't stick with a company that long, whether it's their choice to move on or the employer's not wanting them there. This may not apply for this particular scenario but recalling some past threads seems there may be a pattern forming. With all due respect to Raider, he may be better suited to run his own business. I don't mean this to be disrespectful.

Too many variables come in play picking the best. Being a Detroiter it's hard for me to argue against Barry Sanders, we loved him. Sanders was an unselfish player that was not into spiking or touchdown dances and not into records, had he not retired early he may have been the all time ground gainer. Emmitt Smith had an offensive line, Sanders did not. Smith was on a winning team, Sanders on a loser. Sanders lacked size to punch it over for TDs and 1 st downs. The Lions wasted his talents by not building a line, but that's the the Lions. Had he not retired and chose to go to another team, he would have held every record, his career was not lengthy. Best back ever, pretty hard to over look Dickerson........he had it all.

I agree with Raul, I would opt for a bit larger size reel for a med 7' rod, more durable with less wear and tear. The balance is going to vary from brand to brand or model to model of the same sized reel because they are all not of equal weights. One of my set ups is a 7' med spinning with an 8.8 oz reel size 35, very comfortable combo that can be used for a wide range of species and techniques.

That's all it is, in theory you can use any size line you wish. Mono lines over 12# on any of the reels would be awkward but there is no rule that they can't be used. I would be selecting the reel based on the rod you will be using in hopes of achieving balance and comfort, the min. and max lure weight of the rod will indicate your lure parameters. 20# braid being 4# mono thickness can be used on any spinning reel.

I like to start off with my rod and reel having a comfortable feel. Using so many different types of lures with a wide range of weights makes balance virtually impossible, it isn't much of a concern to me.

The rod and the lure give me max distance. A 7'6 med spin rod with a thin profile lure like a jig fish (every company has different name for them), making an educated guess based on how much line is left on the spool, may be around a 100 yds. A buddy of mine with a 7' med of a different brand casts by me. These sling jigs are the hottest thing going now, you can troll them, offshore vertical jigging and cast them.

I fished a feeder canal about 6 weeks ago, water was high and fairly void of vegetation and thought the area around the culvert may produce some peacocks. No peas but I did catch a 22" LMB, that I quickly introduced into one of my ponds, may have been one of the largest I ever caught from a tiny canal, since then nothing to speak of.

Of the 2, Earl Campbell.

I hardly ever see anyone freshwater fishing, my places are a bit private. Fishing saltwater everyday I'm pretty well known from Hobe Sound to Jap Rock, that's about 60 miles of beaches. I talk with a lot people but I go with my gut feeling, I can size them up pretty good. A young kid or an inexperienced fisherman/woman I will always stop and chat. I'm a pure artificial user, I don't care to talk to any one that has a sabiki or a castnet, pretty much only spinning and fly users.

I have owned quite a few of the braid pliers and the cutters always seem to go bad after awhile, I don't care for the ones that are not rubberized. I'm using a $12 pair now, been working fine for a couple of years. One of my buddies buys his at Sears, gets a little rust and it's a no question return and exchange, he's been doing it for the last 15 years. I buy Walmart pliers for $1.88, lasts 6 months and I pitch them, I did find an inexpensive pair pliers a few years ago freshwater fishing that have lasted real well. I burn my braid, not hung up anymore about about the braid cutting pliers.

If I'm using a light leader I'm pretty cautious cinching as not to burn the line, it hasn't been proven to me burning weakens the line, but why take a chance. When I'm tying a heavier leader 30# and up I'll wet it down at home, by the water there seems to be enough humidity that spitting on the line isn't necessary. Pretty common practice to use a pliers or place the hook on an immovable object and cinch the knot hard.

Doesn't float mine either. Can't I post my fish pics in the BR gallery, photobucket or facebook?

I'm not against larger lures or expensive ones, it's the tool for the job. My freshwater areas are not conducive for large swimbaits nor do I care to use a heavy rod for bass fishing. I do use some heavier gear for certain species caught from a specific location, I can use anything from $3.00 bucktail or a fluke on jig head costing me a buck or I can use a $20 lure, my catch rate doesn't vary it's just what I feel will get the job done at that time. I personally have never owned a lure that has lasted me 5 years, I lost one the other day brand new out of the box on the very first cast (a snag), just the way it goes and nothing to get upset about and not the first time it's happened. As a rule my lures are lucky to get a month's use, either I'm getting cut off or the saltwater just ruins them. At present the 2 hottest things going right now for me are sling jigs and Shimano waxwings.

I have been successful catching peacocks on gold spoons, spinnerbaits, in line spinners, a variety of hard jerkbaits, crappie and bucktail jigs and top water lures.

The only time I go on any forum with my phone is when I'm waiting for rain to pass before I get out of my car. Once I'm fishing, that's all I'm doing.

I'm anal regarding business and financial records, I have them all computerized going back 40 some odd years, I really never look at them, but I got em.......lol. BTW Ben Franklin was not a president, nor was Salmon Chase, although not many people have had a $10,000 note including myself. I don't think I have any other quirks, my wife would ague that point. Not a quirk but very selective on who I fish with.

There is a fairly lengthy list of sharks that must be released in Florida, your's may gave been one of them. A 15' fish is going to yield a lot of meat, what were the plans not to waste the remaining fillets and steaks after a meal or 2?

Looking at the video of the GT knot I don't see how it's thinner than an alberto, with both knots it's basically one line over another, I'd think the total thickness is the same or very close to it. It may be in fact a very strong knot and quite useful for some of the larger pelagic species. The alberto ties in seconds, and the GT looks way more time consuming than I care to deal with. I'm not so sure how powerful the bass are that other people are catching, but the alberto seems to hold fine for the bass I catch and my snook, tarpon as well.

Nice fish

I appreciate it. I'm not saying 2 week notice is right or wrong, it's the situation at hand. If a new employer wants you to start ASAP that's what I'd be doing, I wouldn't let the chance of someone else being hired if they could start right away and you couldn't. Otherwise I would give 2 weeks notice.

If money is tight as you stated in the OP I wouldn't be buying anything. Sounds like money you can't spare is burning a hole in your pocket. Doesn't look like you will be missing many fishing days with what you already own.

Billfish are very dramatic.

Pound for pound a bluegill might be near the top of the list. I'd probably pick trout and smallmouth because they are fun and the fight is decent. If I wanted hard fighting fish I'd take a vacation.

Only to be a devil's advocate there are 3 sides to every story, yours, his and the real truth, we have heard but one side. Being a third party to what's going on I couldn't begin to say what's best for your future, only you can make that decision. In an altruistic world an employer is looking out for the worker's best interest and the employee is doing the same for the company, that is not reality for the most part. If you feel your present boss is a jerk, he probably feels the same about you and if you left today there would be no love lost. Protocol aside one has to make the best choice for themself..

LOL, close but not yet. I paid my dues and we both sacrificed when needed. Now being retired the pressure is off and I can have about anything I want, that doesn't mean that I'm out of control over my spending habits. There is no reason for me to hide anything from my wife, if I couldn't afford it I wouldn't be buying it.