SirSnookalot

That isn't enough extra weight to be concerned about. I load up 1/2 oz over the specs all the time, never an incident. IMO for bass fishing I don't see the need to use lures that really exceed the rod limits. At least when I'm bass fishing I'm casting more to a target area with less emphasis on distance. I'm also closer to the water so I'm not having a problem keeping the lure under the surface. If fishing off an elevated pier or jettie, distance is much more important, a lighter lure or spoon will just bounce on top especially if there are some significant waves, that's when I'm using a heavier lure. Going too light is probably worse, rods don't load up as well.

Where I come from the xmas tradition is going to a Chinese restaurant.

Had no idea of what a Yule Log was until I googled it.

From what I understand you are supposed to rub the dryer sheet on your skin. I've tried most of these remedies, my blood is so sweet I'm always being attacked when others aren't bothered at all. One of the better repellents is Avon skin so soft.

I agree with Rhino. I'm a bit unaware of the fashion trends in rural areas, but quite familiar with the way people are in metropolitan areas. Living in Detroit plus spending lots of time in Manhatten, Chicago and Toronto not only did I see the latest trends but partook in them myself. My occupation required " work clothes", but that ended when my work day was over. I liked being Metro, manicures, latest clothing, salons instead of barber shops, etc. At 67 I no longer cat around looking for prey, it's fishing, napping and going out to dinner with my wife, clothing appropriate for what I do now. I have no problem with what others are wearing, spending time on their Iphones and tablets, it's their world, let them enjoy it as I enjoyed mine. I'm just waiting for the day my Peter Max ties come back in style.......lol.

Despite my original prediction my cabin fever only lasted a few hours, I did skip the ocean but did some late morning bass fishing and it was pretty nice out. Back to my normal routine today, I got the jones on for a snnok or tarpon.

Sure everyone wants to use the best equipment they can afford, myself included. But this is the reality, I don't catch more than 1 10# bass everyday, in fact I may only catch a few around that size all year. My lowly spinning gear has held up perfect for years of bass fishing regardless of the material used in construction. If I were on a budget I'd have no fear with graphite.

As far as dual use fresh and salt, Shimano's web site no longer lists the newer sahara, saros and symetre as approved for saltwater. Considering there is no salt water in Ohio, I would't let the non salt approval sway my decision.

Given my choice I'd buy aluminum over graphite, as NBR said it's more of a gut feeling than actually having any problems. Stradic's have a graphite sideplate not frame and I've never heard issue with that. There may be something to the thickness of a graphite frame, Shimano TLD's are graphite framed lever drag offshore reels, popular with Charter Captains because of a sub $200 price and good performance.

I think the place where a spoon shines the best is saltwater, not that it isn't effective I fresh. Spoon is more a generic term, they come in a variety of shapes and profiles, one of my favorites would be a variation called a " gotcha", a simple metal cylinder with hooks attached. I fish them all sorts of ways, jig them, vary retrieve, and some times as I'm lightly jigging them I let the movement of the waves work them, works well for fish that swim in the " swash". IMO more experienced saltwater people will use a bucktail and less experienced tend to use a spoon. I do not fish freshwater much different than saltwater, a fish is a fish. Bass strike no different than snook and pike hit the same as a barracuda.

I only fished for 30 minutes yesterday and didn't go to the ocean this morning because of high winds and cool weather, I already have cabin fever.

4 ?...........I don't use that many now. I carry a pack of flukes and a couple of extra hooks inside the pouch, and a beat up xrap. Med spin rod with 15# braid, pflueger supreme 35. Inshore fishing I carry a bucktail, spoon, hard jerkbait and DOA flukes, covers the bases pretty well. Usually 4000 reel on a 10/20 rod with 20# braid.

I personally would not over analyze it. From my own experience I set the hook on autopilot and don't give any thought to "moving line around". I have never broken a tip on a rod, but if I did I would replace it. I use 7' max for bass fishing, I mainly use but 1 spinning rod with any kind of lure, exposed hooks or not, I'm taking thought out of the equation and I instinctively react. I think a shorter butt makes working a top lure a bit easier, my longer butt rods are use in saltwater where it's common practice to place the butt under your armpit to handle some of the larger fish, that technique is something I have never had to do for bass fishing.

I don't think the thinness of the bail wire is an issue. Some very good reels have been mentioned, I personally don't give specific brand recommendations, not that I don't have my own favorites. Just about any newer spinning reel from $60-$200 is more than adequate, drags are good on most and they all seem to be pretty smooth. I would be looking to buy a reel that felt good on my rod, balance may be more important than the actual weight. I would not buy blind on line unless I absolutely knew that the reel was right for my rod.

There is no wrong way to fish a fluke, IMO the simplest explanation is that a fluke is nothing but a twitchbait. It can be weightless or weighted, it can be t-rigged or hooked thru the nose or put on a jighead, it's whatever you want it to be and fished anyway that works for you. In my list of universal artificial baits I'd rank it #3 behind bucktail jigs and spoons as far as what catches the most amount of fish. Whether it's a 6 oz fish or 60 lb one, a fluke will catch them all. I don't recommend they be used for toothy critters, but they will catch them too.

The forecast is 16-23 mph gusts in my area, temp may reach 66 degrees but won't feel that warm. I will most likely take my first day off from fishing in many many months. With 8' waves coming in I'm tempted to hit the ocean, but only tempted, lol. The last couple of weeks the bass fishing has been pretty good, although this past week it seems to have slowed down some.

Any one remember Columbine, there was an armed professional sheriff present. "On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 students and one teacher at Columbine. On the scene that day was Neil Gardner, an armed sheriff’s deputy who had been policing the school for almost two years. As a CNN report describes, Gardner was eating lunch when he got a call from a custodian that he was needed in the school’s back parking lot. A few minutes later, he encountered Harris and the two exchanged gunfire. Harris was not hit and ran back inside the school. At that point, “Gardner called for additional units to respond to the south parking lot of Columbine High School. … While he was on the radio calling for assistance, five other Jefferson County deputies already were on their way, arriving only minutes after the first report of a ‘female down’ at Columbine High School.” Later, Gardner saw Harris again, through a broken window. Once again, he fired. Once again, he didn’t hit him. Though it’s possible Gardner distracted Harris enough to prevent additional carnage, that’s ultimately unknowable. What does seem certain is that a single armed security guard had little chance that day of preventing a pair of heavily armed killers from doing what they set out to do." With over 130,000 schools, not to mention malls, theaters, and places of worship, funding is near impossible to have trained people in place. I personally don't have the answer, but 1 thing is undeniable, other countries that have the same movies, video games (Grand Theft Auto was created in England, not here)and books don't have near the gun violence. One of the very few men who can stop these assaults is Harry Callahan and he's a movie character, he ain't real and didn't deal with assault weapons. All that said I'm certainly not against anyone protecting themselves at home if they feel the need. IMO armed untrained citizens would have little effect and quite possibly could add to the chaos regarding these acts of terror. A person with a well thought out plan and armed with WMD's (a military assault style weapon is a weapon of mass destruction), is almost unstoppable.

That's a great outcome. Nothing short of the experiences I've had with them.

With a closing of 120 points didn't feel so bad considering -212 in the futures before the market opened. In the last few weeks there have been several triple digit days both up and down, just trying to take it in stride. Hopefully a deal will be made on the fiscal cliff, but I'm not so sure, keeping my political opinions to myself.

Zoom flukes, I use them for bass, snook, jacks, tarpon and just about anything else, simply because they are available anywhere, day or night. My catch rate is the same regardless of the brand. With the exception of a bucktail jig I can't think of anything that catches more and larger fish in any body of water than a fluke.

If there ever was a company that had a liberal repair/replacement policy, it's Pure Fishing. A simple explanation on the repair form is all you need to do, warranty or otherwise a receipt is not needed. I have never been disappointed with their customer service.

I was thinking of something that was more of a serious nature for me. Bear in mind, it's 4:30 PM in Japan, so there is only 7 1/2 hours left until tomorrow.

Appears to be pretty much the same rod as the Blair Wiggins s-curved signature series rods. I am seeing this rod all over the place, 100% (that's everyone I've talked to) just loves this rod. I have not heard a negative comment yet, my only apprehension is split grip and no foregrip, but I may succumb, very tempting as I've seen the rod in action catching snook and crevelles. Built with t-glass, carbon yarn, graphite and PBO fiber, whatever that is. Not a recommendation, merely an observation. I've checked out their flats rods too and at face value seemed too bulky to me, but on the water it may be no issue. Not knowing this before I discovered W/M owns trokar, eagle claw and some other brands.

Bigger things to be concerned about than the End of the World.

At least ya got a power handle on that reel.