SirSnookalot

Like this one.........

I read the OP yesterday and thought about it, IMO it's way over the top for a beginner, just too much info to digest, for the seasoned fishermen, he/she already knows what they are doing, not saying we don't appreciate the effort. For the most part I agree with 0119, I'm with the " Fly" all the way. For me it's braid for just about everything fresh and inshore fishing, no backing ever and I use masking tape, goo from tape is of no issue as I never remove the tape. I no longer turn line over, when it's respool time, it's all new line, I have around 20 fresh and inshore combos, not to mention the offshore ones that I use braid on as well. Much of my fishing is done at the inlet from an elevated position with a lot of current, that being the case I probably fish a bit heavier gear and line than 0019, usually 15 or 20# braid, beach gets lighter gear and 10 or 15# braid. Not always but much of the time I don't tie to the arbor, I just tape it, if I have a fish on that can spool me there is a good chance the knot won't hold anyway, all that will is happen is I lose my line which was going to happen anyway and no damage to my reel from a big fish(or boat, lol) We catch some pretty powerful fish here, 10-20# line does the job, I think 0119 will back me up on that.

At least you caught dolphins and kings, trout aren't bad either, those may have been photo worthy pictures. There seems to be a misconception of what a junk fish is in the brine, so many of them are great sport, or good eating, and make great bait, as long as there are legal of course.

@James, I agree with regarding the alberto catching the rod guide, especially on a lighter spinning rod. That's one reason I seldom use, except for species that will hit a swivel as quick as a lure, like Spanish Makerel. When I do use it, the knot is always outside the rod top, resulting in a shorter leader but I never mind tieing a new one. either the knot holds or it fails, it's like being pregnant, either she is or isn't. I looked at a video of that triple surgeon, to me it appears to be a 3 wrapped loop knot cinched all the way down. This may or may not be a good knot for joining lines, but for lure attachment, the loopknot excellent, I use 2 wraps not 3 and it holds my tarpon and snook without failure. For the over whelming majority of my fishing, it's swivel not alberto, for leader attachment and my ordinary or improved clinch knots have no higher a failure rate than any other knot I've used. My line doesn't enter the water unless I feel the knots are perfect. I say, go with whatever works for ya, knots should automatically be tied, not sitting over and pondering which one to use, tied correctly most work just fine.

Even back in the days before I used braid, leaders were always used. Ones own option to use swivels or tie line to leader, for me the use of leaders uses up very little mainline. Duolocks are used in freshwater which aids in leader conservation and quick change, big pluses if I'm traveling with only 1 rod.

If a line breaks at 11# a 6 pound bass isn't going to break it when the tension is removed with a proper drag setting. A 6# bass is a nice bass but it's only a 6# fish that doesn't strip out much line and tires very quickly. The biggest fear is the fish getting hung up in slop and if that's the case you're using heavier line to begin with. To put it real simple, keep your cool, never get excited and you will own it, I don't see any problem in landing it. Best to keep a tight line rather than stripping line out. I've never tried Yozuri line, I'm sure it's good stuff, I do use p line floroclear 20# both on an 8000 spinner and the same line on an Avet mxj, this line has landed 50# amberjacks and cobia, many hard fighting kingfish, this line has performed well with good line and knot strength. The important thing is not break strength but how ones plays a fish, Ande lines have a low breaking point as compared to the number on the label, yet they hold countless numbers of IGFA records.

I do own more than 1 freshwater combo but when I'm out fishing I have only 1 with me. Sometimes a second rod may be in my car strictly for back up due to a chance malfunction. Supreme 35 with15# braid on a med 8/17 Calico Jack, handles any technique I do and any fish I may encounter in freshwater. If I choose to head over to the ocean after some bass fishing that very same outfit works well for snook and jacks off the beach.

Hey watch it buster..................

Welcome, I'm sure you will do fine job.............. Is this an addition or replacement?

Which ever knot is used make sure it's tied correctly and it should not fail. I use either the alberto of no name knot which is similar, I use a max of 6-7 turns only and it's solid. I make sure my knot is always outside the rod tip, I don't like a knot passing thru the tip, especially spinning. My leaders are on the short side ( repetitive cast and retrieve), only times my leaders are around 4-5 feet is drift fishing, I prefer picking my fish up by the leader not the main line, especially a braid main line. Using 30-60# leaders the weight of the fish poses little problems in hoisting them up, thrashing fish and toothy critters, a gaf or net is SOP. I've been reading some very positive reviews on the triple surgeon knot, but haven't used it yet, looks real easy to tie too.

Toss out a piece of bread or a red worm, the bluegills will appear quickly.

I saw the Avengers, if it wasn't for the fact the movie was in 3D, it would have been a waste of good fishing time. The Florida prices are pretty much the same as the ones in the Detroit area. The Paladium in downtown B'ham is still the nicest modern theater I've been to. That said City Place is quite the "outdoor mall", it's a great place to go.

In 9 years of living in Florida full time I've had only 2 encounters with snakes while fishing, I regard every snake in the world as a water mocasin or coral snake, I'm not excited about having a 3 rd vis a vis. I have been to many places with underbrush, I don't do that anymore, it's pretty much community ponds where the grass is mowed.

This topic regarding Shimano popped up yesterday on my SW board, unlike BR it is not as much pro Shimano. People were looking for alternatives to sending their reels back to California. Satellite centers do ok work but they may run into a parts problem as well. A couple of years ago I take a reel into an authorized center, not only for Shimano but other brands as well. I needed a bearing replacement for my brand xyz reel, the bearing was not in stock so the tackle store just swapped with a bearing of lesser importance, they told me that. If they will do it on brand xyz, they will do it Shimano as well. I won't mention the tackle store's name, except to say it's a big operation in Palm Beach county, with a great reputation, I'm sill looking for an alternative.

I use Eagle Claws for several reasons, Walmart is open at 4 am, they are inexpensive and most important they work just fine. I use their worm and ewg hooks for bass fishing and for my heavier fish their 4/0 circles have performed flawless on cobia and amberjack offshore and I use the same ones inshore bait fishing for snook and tarpon. The hooks stay sharp and they are strong, do I need something else? Other brands perform just as as good too, don't see the reason to spend more for the same success. There is a Magworm EWG L098RG which is heavier than their Wide gap worm L7092RG, both have worked just fine for me.

My experience with Shimano service has not been good, in fact not good at all. Like the OP one of my reels was not in the system, finally got it back 6 weeks later only to be denied warranty as they said I did not use their oil. Another time I needed a line roller bearing for a stradic, the part were on back order until Feb, I called in October. I've had good communications with some of their reps, and very poor ones with others, Shimano is a last resort option for me. This is not a reflection on their products, some are very good.

The problem with residential lakes is that most are private with no access to them. Even if you can enter a non gated community you have to walk behind someones house to fish, I have seen very few residents willing to let you walk on their property. I have 6 ponds and a canal where I live, in the cooler months I catch quite a few 3-5#, I've caught up to 8# in my ponds, now with the heat fishing is pretty dead here now. If you want to bass, fish canals or public parks may be your best bet. Personally, this is the time of the year I focus on other species

According to Wikipedia all sawfish van live both fresh and saltwater. Bull sharks have be know swim up river as far as 2000 miles, in the Amazon and India. The other day I was walking at the the Boynton inlet and saw an enormous dorsal fin, as I was 100' away I couldn't get close enough to see what it was. As the fin lowered into the water it was obvious it was a shark, not that long ago a 14' great white was in Ft Lauderdale area. This fish appeared to be bigger than 14', but we'll never know.

The vast majority of my fishing both freshwater and inshore salt is done with 10-15- and 20# braided line. I do use some mono and copoly but I never use those applications for bass fishing. Braid does everything I need it to do, I generally use PP. I'm of the belief that the breaking strength of the line is the pound test you are actually using, the number on the label is just a guide. A thin line like 6# breaking at nearly 12# is great, best of all worlds. My rule of thumb for a good portion of my fishing is doubling the number on the label for my leaders, example 10# braid and 20# leader. If bass fishing I'm still with a 20# leader even if I'm using 15# line, which is heavy as I go for bass, 20# braided line and heavier leaders are used for other species, I haven't found the need to use anything heftier.

I do not see the point of using braided line for a leader. I use mono or f/c leaders for a few reasons, braided line getting tangled in the lure hooks can be a nightmare to untangle, best thing to do is just take your bic out and burn it off and retie. I also like a little bit of shock, my leaders never exceed 24" and they are attached via a swivel. I understand the concern over losing lures, we all lose them, for strength my typical set up is 10-15# braid with a 15-20# mono leader, I don't lose much in freshwater. Many people have success all braid and no leader, so there is no right or wrong way. Why the line was eaten up can't be answered without being there. To my memory I can't seem to remember having a cracked guide on any freshwater rod, it has happened in saltwater, but rarely is the insert cracked, it's the outer shell of the guide getting corroded from the salt. A rinse down after each outing of the rod is as important as rinsing the reel.

I enjoy bass fishing very much but I don't get excited. If I stick a good one 6, 8, 9 # I'll have a little smile on my face that will last a few seconds, those fish don't get weighed, I don't carry a scale. I'm desensitized to this size, weight and PB thing, I just fish for the enjoyment. On the other side of it, I don't get depressed if I get skunked or get dinks, that's fishing.

I can honestly answer that and say no........... I would't be dreaming about a 5# fish even if Moses was with me. If I'm going to dream, which I don't, I'd be dreaming about catching a 150# tarpon on fly rod. A totally mute point as I don't have the talent nor the strength to do it at my age.

I have a time share at the Villa del Palmar in Cabo, I haven't been there in a while we've been going to other destinations. I can't specifically recommend any charter, it's just been too long to remember. The fishing is excellent there (golf is great too), striped marlin being one of the main targets. Best fishing trip in my life was right across the water in Puerta Vallarta, 100# amberjack (hardest fight of my life caught many fish way bigger but none fight like an a.j.), 25# red snappers and big dorados. Every muscle in my back was strained, I couldn't lift my arms to brush my teeth for 2 days............but was worth it.

I'm not sure where you catch the boat to get to the island, but I know there are 1 or 2 tackle shops on Blue Heron near Broadway. If I were fishing there I'd be using mh 10/20 spinning rod and 4000 reel, my spinners have 20# braid but that's enough. The jack I posted had to be run down with the boat. I have a spot not far from there where the jacks run even bigger, I use a 30# rod and 8000 reel, it's barely enough.........That gets me excited, lol. Give ya tip about jack fishing, jacks just swim all around looking for bait, then crash it hard. You can wait all day for therm to show up, sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.

I've fished there dozens of times. Never from the island itself but I have trolled and casted on my way in and out of the inlet. This jack was caught there. If I were fishing from shore on the island itself I would be looking for jacks and cuda, I've caught them also. If memory serves me correct there will be current around the island, not as fast the inlet, but current non the less. Depending the tide the water gets very low there, best all around lure would be a silver spoon, I'd use wire. The jacks are known to run big there. That inlet produces some great snook too, but the prime spots are fishable by boat only.