SirSnookalot

Nothing like real water experience to know for sure. Seldom do I have a tackle shop load up a new reel for me, as they remove the spool and place it on a machine then spool it up using a tool, a perfect line placement is always obtained. I've seen that go awry once I got onto the water. Un even spooling is a common problem, if it wasn't many companies would not include shims with a new reel.

Getting cut off by a toothy critter is a fact of life, it's going to happen regardless of the type and size line being used if you get enough strikes. Being a spinning only user I don't use anything heavier than 20# braided line and always a leader. Whether it's steel leader, mono or FC, swivel or tie line to leader connection will vary based on my target species, not the size of the fish. In the event live or cut bait is used I would stay away form circle hooks and use a longer shanked j-hook.

For open water use especially with bait like a frozen sardine or greenie, it's referred to as a stinger rig, a nice set up for toothy critters, for bass in a vegetated area I'd pass on using it.

I own at least one spinning reel from the major brands and they all perform well, spinning is all I use. For freshwater fishing I don't spend more than $100 for a reel, I just don't see the need. I would be buying a reel that fits both my rod and my eye the best whatever brand is selected.

Without a doubt. Tiger woods uses putters 2 (I think 1 is a Nike and the other is Cameron or Titlest) with Ping grips on them, the last couple of months I've noticed the Ping logo is blacked out.

Good idea. I keep my loose ones in a plano box. For my trailer rigs I use a round styrofoam flotation tube (used for floating while swimming) cut to size and stick my hooks in, then keep it in a zip lock bag. I keep only 3 boxes in bag so the tube keeps the boxes upright too.

I prefer to stick with a saltwater lures for saltwater species because the hooks do not rust as quick and are stronger.

Happens to me too, at least you are using a leader and that will make untangling from the hooks easier. Try not using a snap swivel and tie a loopknot, making the loop as small as you can without hurting the action of the lure.

X2 Fish are fish, I don't care what they are and where they live. My jig and trailer sometimes is an old worn out jig with little hair on it and white plastic zoom worm, snook and tarpon love them.

Yes, the drag is what tires a fish out. Some that use very heavy line do lock it down all the way and just crank them in fast, not my brand of fishing.

I own that reel myself. What are the target species, boat, shore or pier use, not all 25 lb fish are the same. I don't own one but if there is rod that more popular than an ugly stick for that reel in South Florida, I don't know what it is, although I think a 50 lb class rod is too heavy. I have used that reel with a 7' Hurricane redbone mh 10/20 rod and it's handled that sized fish, with a lure max weight of 1 oz, no problem in exceeding it a bit, may not be my first pick. I have Star steller lights, a mh and and heavy, good rods for the $$ with a more flexible lure range. My sleeper pick is a 7' Quantum Blue Runner about $55, mh 25 lb line and lure weight 1/4 to 2 oz (off the top of my head), this is my barracuda rod, a powerful fish that goes between 15-40 lb, handles them quite nicely. The casting distance is excellent. I bought mine at DSG. For me, the freshwater rods you mentioned would not be a consideration, do not have enough range for lure weights for a general use rod, for a specific use it's a different story.

One of guys that I fish with is a retied Walmart store manager, he has told me it's up to the individual manger to order stock. Whether that procedure is still in force, I don't know. When I first moved to Florida my local Walmart was fairly well stocked with both fresh and saltwater gear, rods and reels were dismal however. Year by year the fishing section has deteriorated quite a bit with less offerings, it serves the purpose for a quick fill in on the something.

If a fish is pulling out more line than it should for it's size, just tighten up the drag a bit as you've done. I like my drag just tight enough for a good hookset, they can take out all the line they want after that, chances of getting spooled is pretty remote.

My next endeavor in life will be violin lessons..................

Most of the time when others are inconsiderate the duration of the episode is usually short lived. Best to just shrug it off, getting aggressive may lead to escalation and isn't worth the hassle. In the eyes of the law the boater had done nothing illegal, unless there are local laws in place, in Florida it's 500' from a pier, but I fish a jettie and there is no restrictions, we just have to grin and bear it. Casting that 1 oz teardrop makes you the aggressor and if someone were to get hurt, you might find yourself in some trouble.

I know quite a few charter captains here and most of them to my knowledge us Power Pro. Power Pro IMO is reasonably priced and it the middle of the pack as far as strength to diameter goes. The 2 strongest lines that I have read reviews on are Triple Fish and Spider Wire ultra cast, this would be 1 site's opinion http://www.sportfishingmag.com/techniques/initial-dry-break-strength. For the most part I'm a PP user, I like the price and I like the fact I can buy it any where any time, and it's served me well. On a lark I bought a spool of Zebco braid, it's on seldom used outfit but have caught some really nice barracuda on it, for the $$ I can't complain.

I have 2 DSG in my area, 1 that is on my way home every morning has a good selection of what I use, the other has a better selection, being 20 minutes away I hardly go. I like both Gander and BPS but each of them are a 45 minute drive, I only go if I want something specific that I want to see face to face, otherwise I'd order on line and save the time and miles.

After 60 years fishing confidence in a lure is the last thing I think about, I will catch them on anything providing they are turned on. If they are turned off no matter what I use it's going to be a slow day. Worms, jigs and trailers probably produce as good if not better than anything, 2 baits I don't use very often, I don't care for that brand of fishing.

I'm in South Florida, my gear is kept in the garage year round, including my plastic baits. I keep them in the original package housed in drawers, nothing has suffered due to heat. I keep a few packs in the trunk of my car, again no issues with heat.

It's availability for me, my catch rate doesn't seem to differ much from brand to brand. I don't use too much in the way of soft plastics, just don't care for jig or worm fishing, but flukes are a real mainstay for me. I probably by Zoom 90% of the time as can get them anyplace at any time of the day. I am bit fussy for my snook, I use nothing but DOA 5.5" jerk shads, hard to find that size in the store so I order direct from DOA, I only use pearl with a red tail. As fussy as I am they do not catch more fish than Zoom bass style flukes, other guys catch as many fish as I do. Little trick we do here is securing the fluke to a jig head with a plastic cable tie.

Thought I'd post this if anyone had interest in diamond jigs and tubes. http://www.fishingunited.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&p=37974

IMO the chances of toothy critters may be a bit more prevalent in freshwater, pickerel, pike and muskie, even walleye. The popular fish caught from shore in the Long Island area are stripers and bluefish. Stripers have similar teeth to snook and bass, sometimes barely noticeable (striper guys get bass thumb), bluefish do have teeth but not the kind that would force me to use wire, although it wouldn't hurt, they have incredibly strong jaws. I would opt to use singe hooks for them, unhooking a blue with a treb in the upper and lower lips can be difficult, single hook will do less damage to the fish as well. For size gimme the striper and for fight gimme a 15+# bluefish. Only time I ever use wire is on my cuda lures that I make, and I don't believe cuda are in those waters. For offshore fish wire leaders quite often inhibit the bite. I don't use them and getting cutoff is part of fishing, hardly an outing goes by when it doesn't happen.

I have read a report about snakeheads being in the ICW not far from the Hillsboro inlet, can't verify it. Don't know what the snakeheads will do to other fish populations, but as long as they are here why not fish for them, especially if they are in your own "back yard". It's an enjoyable diversion from other species, they give a good account of themselves and some say they are quite tasty. The invasive species that's getting a lot of ink are Lionfish. The worst crock of crap I ever heard in my life is game fish vs "trash" fish. I'll take a hard fighting, good eating "trash" fish over a less aggressive game fish any time.

Absolutely ! There is no need to rebuild a spinning reel that's in good working order. For 50 bucks or so you can get a new sedona or president that's going to be smooth and should perform well for many years. I've got quite a few sub $100 reels that have been going strong for years, all sizes of fish in both fresh and saltwater with no more than drop of oil every now and then.

The primary difference between salt and fresh lures are the hooks. That said we see guys fishing for moonfish with 10 for a buck crappie jigs and catch a 10# snook, the hooks don't straighten out, reason being is ninja hooksets are not required. I get many PM's asking me about various types of saltwater fishing, my first response is always this.........think like a saltwater fisherman and not bass fisherman, meaning leave most of your stuff at home, you just don't need 6 jam packed tackle bags. The important thing is not the lure but if there is a presence of fish or not, 90% of water has no fish and in saltwater it's true. All you really need are spoons, jigs like the flairhawk already mentioned, jerk shad on a jig head which I would not use for toothy critters and topwater like a like a zoom popper, poppa dog, spook or a mirror lure twitchbait. The difference in Long Island and Florida is casting distance needed to get to the fish, down here most are caught very close to shore. Up there have to cast past the breakers, a longer heavier rod than can handle a heavier lure is best, buy a diamond jig, hopefully maybe you can find one with a surgical tube tail, I make my own down here with limerick hooks, they destroy stripers and bluefish. I buy most of my stuff from Terminal Tackle and they happen to be on Long Island.