SirSnookalot

I have 5 Pfluegers, 3 used in fresh and 2 in salt. None of them have ever needed service of any kind and perform like the day I bought them, cannot make that claim for any other brand I own. Not an endorsement just a fact.

Barracuda maybe the toughest fish I have ever fished for, not from the standpoint of the fight, although they will test you, but there are so few opportunities. There are several of us that cast for them nearly everyday, quite often we may not see one for a few weeks, doesn't mean they aren't there. You need the right conditions, calm smooth clear incoming tide water, and a few other factors, even in the most perfect conditions they still may not show up. Either you don't see them for long periods of time with countless numbers of casts, but when you do see them they may just follow the lure then veer off. If you do get a strike much of the time they miss the hook, if lucky enough to hook them the first place they head for is the pylons, can be an instant cut off. Casting about 2 hours each day since 1/1, I can't estimate the number of casts, I've landed only 4 and I think I'm having a great year so far. When a newbie sees us doing this, some get addicted real fast and start making their own tubes too. You have to have to be patient, it isn't for the fisherman expecting to catch 5-10 or 50 fish in an outing. In another month or so the snook and tarpon will be hitting artificial, I'll jog my fishing time based on tides and weather conditions. My favorite days are fishing for snook before dawn and as the tide changes at sun up fish for barracuda, and if I've caught 1or 2 fish it's a great day.

This tube is fashioned more from a striper tube than a barracuda tube. Some umbrella rigs have multiply surgical tubes very similar to what I use. These tubes not only catch barracuda they catch stripers, kingfish, bluefish, jacks, cobia and the occasional snook and tarpon, I've made small versions and caught LMB. There about 6 of us that make these lures, we see nothing that out catches surgical tubes for barracuda. Any style works well, I just like to make them like this, it's a work in progress as I'm always working on making improvements, tube fishing for cuda is one of my favorite things to do.

I can't specifically address the line in question, only to say why be hesitant. I posted a pic today of a fish I caught using Zebco braid, bought it on a lark. It has a larger diameter than other brands, ties a great knot and strength was of no concern, and it casted as far as a thinner line of the same # test. This line did exactly what I expect a braided line to do, my point is I give anything a chance, the worse thing is I don't like it. Now I'm waiting to see what this Tuf line will do.

Must have had a defective swivel, even a small sized inexpensive one shouldn't snap on a 4 lb fish. From your description it sounds like you are putting a snap swivel at the end of your line to connect your lure. Nothing wrong with that but IMO there are better options. Whether you use a leader or not, a duolock type snap to connect your lures is a good fast way to change them, I've never had one break or open. If there is a negative it might be using one with a top water lure with a concave face, a split ring on the lure takes care of that problem.

I would have had more joy watching Diggy land this one.

I don't follow tournaments but I do know not all follow the same guidelines. Some tournaments are based on points given, either for weight, length and some for numbers released. Many of the saltwater are team events. I'm pretty familiar with recreational snook fishing, over many years both the bag limit and slot size have been reduced. Probably because the bigger ladies produce more eggs, I think the snook fishing is fairly healthy, but I hear all the time from some of the old timers, it ain't what it used to be. Personally I know I don't have the same water access as in years past plus, with all the population growth pollution may have a bearing. I've been catching them for 30 years ( I was a snowbird), but not everyday like I've been for the last 10.

Knowing the kind of fish Diggy has been catching lately it's no wonder why he wants to downsize. I can think of only a few reasons why heavier rods and lines are used. Pulling fish out of thick cover, handling a heavier lure and getting them back at warp speed to get on to the next cast if in a tournament, none of which is my preference. Most lines today break well over the number printed on the label, even a 10# line is really like fishing anywhere from 10-30% stronger. Not much difference in the lighter lines but the difference gets very dramatic in the heavier lines, in essence we are fooled into believing we are fishing lighter than we really are. As long as your line is in healthy condition with well tied knots, beefy fish can be landed on the light gear, that's where the rubber meets the road. I will be taking Diggy with me to see if we can catching something special.

I can see 400 South Floridians there today...........lol. Snapped a swivel ?, hmm.

^^Can't be topped ! ^^ May as well just lock this thread down.

That's a good method, but I personally go straight braid.

I used to put a 20" mark on freshwater and 28" & 32" (slot for snook), but I don't do it anymore. Fishing purely for recreation and releasing them, the measurement and weight are just numbers that aren't that important to me. If I hook a big one, someones is usually around with a tape measure to satisfy the curiosity, I wouldn't bother measuring a fish around 30", unless I was giving it away.

I personally forgo much of the scientific information, there almost is always a contradictory article someplace and I stay away from marketplace hype. I stick with braided lines and leaders, 10-20# lines (which is a heck of lot stronger than that) wherever I'm fishing and for just about all species, I use nothing but moss green.

I agree with WRB, I buy rods with lifetime over the counter warranty, also many of my rods are bought at a local bait and tackle where the service is more personalized and they will bend over backwards to please you. Luckily I have yet to advantage of a warranty as a rod has never broke. I have replaced guides but that is an inexpensive repair with a quick turn around time. I have quite a few mh rods, they are not all created equal. Mh is going to vary between manufactures, I pay a bit more attention to lure weights than I do line weights. I have 10/20 mh with lure wt max 1 oz, and others max 2 oz or so, do they handle larger fish, I don't know as I've caught the same fish on both rods.

I've had no horror stories because with only 1 exception did I buy a rod on line. My exception was not a defective rod but a rod I didn't care for, the hassle of shipping it back plus the wait time in the first place negates any reason for me to buy a rod on line.

Haven't bought too much, one of my buddies became a Rapala dealer, I bought some xrap magnums MSRP about $14, for 6 bucks a piece.

For financials I don't keep them much more than a year before shredding. The norm for me is wanting to access my info very early in the morning, there have been times when their server is down for maintenance or some other technological reason. Being in business all those years it's just common practice for me to be totally backed up with both hard copy and my computer, I wasn't computerized for business until about 1992, I still have my business files from 30 years ago, ya never know. Rewards do work, just 2 examples are a cash back card I have that yields me a few hundred every now and then, and another I have we get free airline tickets a 2 or 3 times a year. Not knowing what one's credit limit is, there is no reason not to carry the card. If your limit is say $2000, that's like walking around with 2k in cash, doesn't mean you have to use, doesn't mean you can afford something, but it does mean you have the means on the spot to handle an emergency if needed, all that's required is self discipline.

I keep a few bags in my trunk, being as they aren't used much some have been there for 2 years or more, no problems with zoom flukes or senkos.

For a light lure it's a 3x and heavier lures get 4x, my sizes range from # 6 to 3/0, perfectly happy with eagle claw or mustad.

Blame it on the computer age, things like this are going to happen beyond our control. I was a State Farm member for the last 25 years or so, never had any kind of problem with them. About a year ago I was playing around looking for insurance quotes, I found nothing at the time to sway me away from S.F. 6 months ago I get an email from another well known company quoting me a rate at half the price with a better plan. I call them and my rate was based on being a senior with a record of being with 1 company for a long time, driving record, and a limited amount of claims where I was not at fault. Passed the 6 month mark and I get a good driving check in the mail. When I went on Medicare a few years ago I went with AARP, United Healthcare, I am very satisfied. My wife goes on Medicare in 3 days, as things would have it she hurt herself yesterday, I may have to take her in today to the Dr or hospital, I know my wallet is going to be a lot lighter, lol, that's life..............

Interest free money for the duration of the billing period, what could be better than that. Credit is essential and the better it is the better off you are, not only are loans easier to obtain but you can get a bests rates too. As mentioned there is no interest charge if paid in full and that does keep your credit in better standing. Fico scores are based on a few factors, payment history being the most important and secondly the amount of available money that can be borrowed, personal assets have little bearing except mortgages and personal unsecured loans. Having several credit cards with a good amount of powering borrowing power with an excellent payment history is golden, scores over 800 is where ya wanna be. Being a young person establishing credit is vital and what you are doing is a good way to do it. If you are mature enough to get a card I won't preach on how to manage it. More than ever in today's world more than 1 card is needed, with identity theft, lost or stolen card and disputed charges. There are times when that card can be put on hold, I've experienced that myself, having other cards to use my lifestyle was not affected. The only gripe I have with BOA is paperless statements, it's for their convenience not mine, plus they are saving a bundle on postage by going green, the do send hard copy in the mail for credit cards. True statements are online but only goes back maybe 6 months or a year. I keep all my statements from all sources for quite a few years, being in business I'm used to having files for everything. I do not like being in the "clouds", puts me under some one else's control, having hard copy I don't have to hear "that information is no longer available".

There are probably dozens of fisherman on just this site alone that were catching tons of bass back when the equipment was not near as good. Old world philosophy coupled with modern technology is a big plus.

There is a spinning rod made for nearly every type of application and species in wide price range.

Old world remedy, soak the line in warm water with a little bit of liquid fabric softener.

Call Pflueger (Pure Fishing). I have 3 supremes and have replaced 2 handles so far and need to replace a third, just haven't taken the time to call, they were not overly expensive. I have tinkered trying to put a medalist and an arbor handle on the supremes ad they did not fit, but they were larger reels. The knobs have gotten very slick with continued use, it isn't bad in warm weather but when it's cool out I'd like to have a bit more grip.