SirSnookalot

Some of the suggestions that have been mentioned are excellent cost saving measures, but not for me. If I'm spending several hundred dollars on a rod and reel, I'm not shy to spend a little more and get the line of my choice, if it's on sale all the better. Not to debate favoring 1 brand over another, which has been beat to death already, I want line in healthy condition on my reels and don't care how often I have to change it. If I was overly concerned about total cost I'd be buying a more moderate priced outfit with the best line on it, not the reverse. I prefer not to use backing at all with my braid, in the case of some of the smaller reels like a 30 floog it isn't that much line anyway. Reels that I'm using to catch fish that are capable of some long runs, I don't care to risk losing a great fish due to a knot failure or being striped down to the backing. If your fish is strong enough to go 50 yds, it can do a 100 yds just as easy.

Only as good as my last fish, 10 days ago 50 inches, mh spinning 12# mono.

I'll be in a classroom all weekend taking a continuing education course for my real license, not real excited.

I have fished some and caught fish. I don't like them anymore, I've seen gators and snakes, not worth it for me.

^^^ I have no doubt they will work ^^^

I was at Cypress Park a few weeks, gotta say I've never done well in that area. Even my hot spots in my neighborhood have slackened off the last week or so. I've been just going thru the motions to get out of the house in the afternoon for an hour or 2, not serious about bass fishing now. I've been putting my efforts into barracuda fishing, haven't seen one in 2 weeks (seeing doesn't mean catching), not abnormal for that species this time of year, for me well worth the wait.

Some of these posts are treating this situation like a VP from Exxon having a dispute over his golden parachute. It may be a significant amount money to Scorcher but in reality it's small amount of money. Not that case like this would ever see a courtroom but if it did only the question of what is owed or not owed would be dealt with, the tax issue would not be addressed at all. I'm waiting for Car Wash with Richard Pryor to come on TV, put this situation into real perspective..lol. Sounds to me like some may be perfect candidates for employment with the IRS as auditor, the most feared person in the world.

I'm not a bass fisherman (b/c I only use spinning , lol) but I do live in Florida, not far from you, and fish for bass nearly everyday. The calendar may say winter but it's spring down here and this is bass time. The last couple of months has seen some pretty good bass fishing, true the last week or so has been slow, that will change just have to be patient because it's totally out of your control. What you can control is where you are fishing and the baits being used. Off the top of my head I would say there are 3 types of Florida canals, wide major ones with depths maybe 15', secondary ones that you can cast across and they may be about 7' deep and feeder canals that are 2 or 3' with a lot of slime and vegetation. Being a bank fisherman I prefer the secondary type canals, like I have behind my home. This time of year we have a lot of sea lettuce floating around so I'm mostly fishing weedless, either a jig and trailer or a fluke, casting either along the shoreline or in the middle and angled back to the shore. Casting on the opposite bank and pulling your bait back into the water can work well too. It's pretty hard to beat a plastic worm, I don't fish them often, I get more of a thrill watching a bass come up on top hitting a weighless fluke. Some of the best areas to fish these canals are at a junction where 2 canals intersect. We also have a ton of ponds, most hold some nice bass, these for the most part are not lakes, they are man made community ponds. Some are barren and others do have some vegetation, that's seems to be controlled by the HOA, mine sprays every couple of months. I'm using lighter gear and moving baits in these ponds, what you have already will work just fine, jigs, plastics can be used as well, whatever you are comfortable with. When the fish are "on" it's easy and when the fish are "off " it just takes a bit more work and time, relax, don't pressure yourself and just let it happen. If I could give 1 tip it would be this, don't caught up buying every bait on the market, you have plenty already, learn to fish with what you have first.

I fish braid and spinning nearly 100% of the time, for me it's 10-20# braid, bluegill 2 billfish.

We get the spring bait runs starting about April, I wouldn't overlook fishing for snook.

I'm still going with the wheel as the greatest invention and fire as the greatest discovery.

Rootbeer, I appreciate some of the knowledge you have obtained thru your schooling and have shared with us. If I'm not mistaken you are about 19 or 20 yo, which would indicate a fairly short history of investing. Considering the Dow has risen from 6547 to nearly 14000 in exactly 3 years a chimpanzee with a dart board would have been successful, in fact that was done in the dotcom era. If I remember correctly the ape outperformed some out the Wall Street gurus. Over time it ain't always this easy, why do think I'm bald, lol.

I believe that's from the Peter Lynch philosophy of investing (Magellen Fund) buy what's popular in your everyday life, not remotely close to what he said, but that's idea. Soon after buying my first computer in the early 90's I see 2 words plastered all over the place, Microsoft and Intel, I bought them, a few years later Apple was the name, bought that. I won't bother with the losers.......lol. There are a ton of technical analysts and investors with great track records, a system as bit complicated for me. I've always done my research based on fundamentals, but that isn't perfect either. Growth stocks can turn into value stocks, still have a great balance sheet, yet sometimes a their stock goes no where for years, case in point MFST.

Whether an employee on the payroll, independent contractor or cash under the table the situation remains the same, you feel he owes you money and the $40 was not enough compensation. I agree about moving on, it just isn't worth the effort. Maybe he'll come up with a little more money if you see him dace to face, but don't count on it.

Not a purists but picked up a Pflueger arbor last year and it's seen a lot of action. Smooth with an excellent drag, my main cuda reel, caught a 50 incher with it last week.

I'm not going to suggest a knot or line to use, whatever works for you is the one to use. For testing purposes I wouldn't be fishing for bass, seeing as your in the midwest I'd might be going after catfish or carp. I'd want to test my knots and lines on the biggest and most powerful fish available to me, if they hold for those fish, bass won't be a problem.

I very much agree with this. I fish 7 days a week, my fishing muscles are in shape, even at 67 yo I don't get tired or sore. I use a 7' inshore spinning rod for my 90% of my freshwater fishing.

I've been an investor for 40 years and I've done it both ways. I've made some good investments on my own, but some bad ones too. To do the research on your own takes a lot of time and knowledge, blind squirrels do fine a nut once in awhile. I personally no longer manage my own portfolio, I'm in my brokerage's managed accounts, at times I do resent the performance and fees, but in the long run I'm probably right about the same. I'm for letting the professionals do it, my broker eats sleeps investing 7 days week 12 hours a day, he may not always be right, but more right than wrong.

If you have been receiving checks for time worked then you have not been paid under the table, your claim is valid. If your employer has not furnished you with a w-2 he is violation of both IRS and the State of Michigan, I believe w-2's have to be in the mail by Jan 31, the time limit may have changed, and you are required to file by April 15. That being said taxes are a separate issue apart from the case at hand. Two questions arise, how much money is involved and is it worth the time and expense to try and retrieve your compensation? Small claims courts in Michigan are under the jurisdiction of their respective counties and the amount you can file for varies. No you cannot file for pain and suffering due to any hardship by not being paid, only the money can be sued for, filing fees are quite nominal. Obtaining judgement only means you are entitled to the money, doesn't mean you are going to be able collect. That's whole different issue in itself, all the employer has to do is close out his checking account and open a new one, you won't have the info to attach it. Any type of mechanics liens don't apply, in other words, you're screwed. Your only revenge is filing with the credit bureau, that won't put money in your pocket, only a black mark on his credit, and that will probably cost you a little money too. If we are talking a larger amount of money, an attorney is the only way to go, but that won't be cheap and doesn't guarantee collection either. Probably the best course of action is to have vis a vis and try and collect ( make a trade, the key for cash, if he hasn't changed the locks already), if not move on and forget about.

As Roger Maltbie says, "You want play this game ya gotta know the rules". Florida recognizes many federal restrictions on fish, can't speak for other states. There is a long list of sharks that are prohibited to keep. So many sharks do look alike to the non expert, not a bad idea to release them all unless you are 100% positive, it isn't worth a fine. Grouper are fair game when of legal size and in season, Goliath grouper aka Jewfish and Nassau grouper are prohibited. There quite a few other species of fish and invertebrates that are prohibited as well, too long a list to jot them all down.

It's a beautiful fish, why don't you use it for your avatar.

I don't fish the same places that pros do and they don't fish where I do, how to fish IMO is more important than what's in your hands. I don't give recommendations nor do I pay much attention to other's, professional or amateur.

My rods of the day are selected by my target species and locations like beach, jettie, sea wall or boat. I prefer 7' when it's windy and 7'6 when it's not. I do fish for bass most afternoons (not in the summer) but I target a number of different fish in the mornings, this time of year I may use live bait a couple of times a week, don't have a favorite, just the tool for the job.

IMO higher end watches are status and jewelry, I do not feel they keep significantly better time, I wore higher end watches for years. Being retired and in shorts and a t shirt or casual shirt most of the time (acceptable dress in most Florida restaurants) my nicer watches get limited use now. Every so often these watches need to be serviced and or cleaned, I've spent $100- $280, which is just no longer worth it to me. My Timex goes bad I'll buy another for 30 bucks......

I only fish spinning and braid with a leader (with a couple of exceptions that don't apply). 10-15# in fresh water with a slightly heavier leader so I can hoist them from hi banked canals, about 20" and I'll use a duolock, no retieing. Swivel or knot, your choice, I don't like a knot going thru my guides.