SirSnookalot

I scan and save to file may of my receipts as some fade in time.

I've fondled the lexa a couple of times, based only on that I was very impressed. I see nothing negative at all about this reel, I'd buy one in an eyeblink.

Last thing I would do is be negative on an item already purchased, I don't see the point in making someone feel bad. The intent of the post is what to do about it. Back to the point, DSG in my experience have been good to deal with, no guarantee that you will get satisfaction but that would be my first stop, you may just walk out with a new rod and not have to deal with shipping and waiting. Pure Fishing as always been very fair to me, I would however use the phone instead of an email. I'm optimistic things will work out well for you.

I'd buy American if the products met my criteria, mainly being quality and value. I do own an American made Avet, but really have no idea of where the components come from or even the raw aluminum to be machined. As big as Alcoa is there are other global aluminium companies that compete on both price and quality. American made regarding fishing equipment is just a tiny part of the overall situation. Avoiding any trade imbalance or political comments, American companies whether private or public owned have but 1 goal and that's the bottom line. They will seek every advantage possible by reducing labor costs with the use of robotics and computers, offshore plants and labor, foreign suppliers, US Steel isn't even close to being as it's former self. In America trickle down means $$ for the shareholders, CEO salaries and labor last of all, CEO salaries have spiked and labor has been flat lining. Like it or not we have become a service and technology economy, not manufacturing. Even a large portion our beloved smartphones, computers, televisions and other tech items aren't made here anymore, support for them is India or Philipino based too. Quality is an issue for most people, I spent 30 years going into various plants of all sizes, both American as well as foreign corporations doing business here. There is a noticeable difference on the floor among the different companies.

3 hots and cot for a mere week on a felony conviction with a prior history is getting off very light, he'll probably enjoy that time away from his wife. Think he has a chance to become jailhouse attorney in that period and save the $75 public defender fee for his next trial, as it will happen again. Aren't public defenders supposed to be free?

I don't fish tournaments. The last couple of weeks been catching 10-20# fish most days at one spot, not that it isn't fun but sometimes a challenge is in order. Fished about 200 yds away from that spot, as well as other locations 10 miles a way and haven't had strike in 3 days. Am I bothered, not in the least bit, my day will come again.

In my neighborhood ponds this year we have had a lack of vegetation and the fishing has suffered, the fish are here as these ponds are landlocked. I approach it 2 ways, one way is do I want to catch fish, then I use a senko or jig and trailer. If it's fun I'm looking for then I fish nothing but a top water popper, which I've been doing for that last couple of weeks. I catch less fish but I enjoy it more, however I did use a senko 1 time and caught a lot of fish.

I would tend to agree with Baluga's comments. Fishing only spinning gear in freshwater, inshore both from beaches as well as elevated jetties and offshore in the ocean, comfort is important but not to the degree as to make it an obsession. For me anyway my lures that I use on my spinning set ups are going to vary in weight, my balance will never be constant anyway. Just the way I fish, my hand is on the foregrip above the reel and serves 2 purposes for me, it helps balances a tip heavy rod due to a little heavier lure and puts me in strike position for some of the fish we catch here. I don't advocate one model over another or even brand, a matter of personal preference...............only the fish on the end of the line matters.

I have both won and lost bids on Ebay, I don't care to play the game any more. If I like the price on "buy it now" that's pretty much the extent of my energy.

I get confused with too much choice.......even in the cereal aisle at the market lol. I grew up learning and using round B/C when I lived in Michigan, once I got turned on to spinning it's always been my choice. Never owning a low profile b/c I can't comment on quality, but have little desire to use one especially if on a rod with no foregrip. I've read numerous posts about braid digging in and the conventional wisdom is using heavier braided lines and stout rods, another major turn off for me. I mainly open water fish, I prefer to bass fish that way too, I do believe there is a spinning set up to match whatever I'm going to do with more bang for my buck. Not wanting to sway anyone away from using them but I haven't discovered why I would need one, even fishing Florida slop for bass and snakeheads, open water is not always available.

I believe overstock did state shipping may take a little longer than usual due to the sale. I order items from them before the sale and got my shipment in about a week.

IMO 15-30# mono is about the easiest line to tie a knot. I do struggle a bit more with thinner mono's and the heavier ones I may tie several times before I'm satisfied.

I doubt the scent will have any negative impact, may even help. If you feel the glue will give you a stronger knot there is no reason not to try it.

Conventional wisdom is to set the drag based on the mono diameter equivalent. 50# braid is about 12# mono, setting the drag somewhere near 3 or or 4# should work fine.

I check out as much information as I can before I leave home. As a rule my findings dictate my target species, location and the type of clothing. If I waited for perfect conditions I'd never leave the house, I go regardless, even if it's monsoon type rain, hell the fish are already wet. Some of my greatest fish have been caught when every factor was against me, that rogue just happened to be swimming around and in the mood.

It's true we get a lot of rain now but the spillways are open and the water in the canals around here is very low. Lots of floating grass making the canal fishing pretty tough here, on the other hand the ponds have been giving some decent action. All the freshwater coming out of the spillways into the ocean has affected the ocean bite, except for snook and tarpon at the inlets.

Not uncommon to use braid with a mono top shot in saltwater. For bass fishing the opposite is more popular, mono backing and braid main line. http://www.passionforthesea.com/helm/the-top-shot-revolution/

Rapala is the original inventor's name and he was from Finland. We have a Finnish fisherman here and he pronounces rapala by rolling the r.

Point is simple, if people didn't have problems with FC with knots, line management, kinking, and break offs they wouldn't be making those posts. How often I fish is very relevant, fishing as much as I do I would be prone to encounter more problems than others that fish less. The negatives of braid do not happen often if one has experience using it, don't snap cast, it's the line hitting the first guide too fast is what cause a knot, long flowing easy casts prevent that. Slack line issues, read about it but don't experience it, windy yesterday and I'm pulling bass left and right dragging a senko with braid. I don't fish the same kind of water a tournament fisherman does for a living, what they do is not pertinent to what I do, yet I manage to catch quite a few really nice bass, even with lowly spinning gear, does experience have anything to do with it ? I will recant my statement and say there is no place in bass fishing with mono and F/C for me.

Snagged an eyeball that was bigger than any snook eye that I ever saw, just wish it would have grabbed the hook.

The rod has a lot to do with it, much easier to get a good hookset on beefier rod. I don't set the hook very hard and using a fairly short leader there isn't much shock to it. Usually the fish I miss are the ones I don't want anyway, too small, and some of the bigger ones may not have had the hook in their mouth, they just let go. Snook (some call them saltwater LMB) are different, they are not nearly as aggressive and don't hit as hard as a bass, but once they have the lure they turn on the power and just lifting the rod to get a taunt line is all that's needed.

There's never a guarantee, but the odds are good as their is always something happening in Florida. I'm not catching that many bass this time of year either, but I'm not really totally focused on them. There are some very good bites going on now.

Good advice.

Joke? I read all the time FC line breaking while bass fishing and many people seem to have knot problems as well, having none of those kinds of problems with braided lines and I don't use anything over 15#. Mono works but I don't like stretch, my hooksets with braid excel with much less effort. Down here in Florida we fish 12 months of the year and I'm lucky enough to do it 7 days a week. Quite honestly an experienced fisherman down here barely puts a grin on their face at a 5# bass.

You caught the fish and landed it. Be happy you lost that lure as the lesson learned is far more valuable the cost of that plug, lesson being........don't get lazy with a knot.