SirSnookalot

That happens with fish that inhale baits like a bass. It's going to happen and that's just the way it is. As said, don't take it too hard, the fish becomes part of the food chain, something is going to eat it.

You don't need a leader, I always use a leader and this is why, sometimes the line gets wrapped around the hooks, with braid it can be a pain to untangle, with a leader it's easy. For my freshwater fishing I use braid, leader and a duolock, I go thru very little braid that way. Bear in mind there is a difference between leader material and using mono line as a leader, only time I use leader line is offshore and it's because the nature of the species that we target. I use pline flouroclear as leader line for bass fishing, been happy.

I have 1 split grip, it's ok, it's an 8' that I use for light surf fishing with a small spinning reel (3000). I do prefer a full long rear butt.

My buddy Bassn Blvd knows where I fish, and redfish are rare here. Caught my 2nd one in 7 years fishing this area, boy was I amazed. Tossed a bomber in the ICW near some mangroves, not unusual to catch snook there, got hit on my first cast so it was nothing special I was doing (just luck), as soon as I got the strike I knew exactly what it was, the fight is different. Get it to the surface and saw that big ole head and spot on the tail and I was a happy camper.

In my day I just drove nonstop Det to Ft Laud, gas and a whizz every 3 hours and a quick meal every 6, usually around 22-23 hours. Never had a car more comfortable than my 79 coupe de ville elegance, made my MB's feel like a chevette. First time making that drive with my wife convinced me it was time to fly and get a rental car, a one day trip now felt like a week........... I hit the road at 3 am, she liked to leave at 10, she's looking for a john every 45 minutes and no driving after 6, she's checking in she's tired and I'm doing the driving, haha, talk about torture. Now at 66 I get tired driving an hour.......I need a nap, lol. Been wanting to get up to Sebastion, can't seem to find the energy to drive 2 hours.

Glad to hear.

With age comes some hair growth in places that are not appreciated, my ears. It isn't too bad if maintained, I keep a short bread, just a quick trim over the lobes and I'm good until the next time.

When it comes to watching fishing shows I like a variety of species that are targeted. I like bass 2 billfish with Peter Miller, most fishing locations are in Florida, places I can go which adds interest to me.

My first car was a 1957 ford 4 door sedan, that looked it was painted with a broom. Stick 6 on the column with rusted out floorboards, had to rope the drivers door shut so it wouldn't fly open while I was turning. Paid $45, I overpaid, lol..........after about 2 months the car died on the xway, pulled the plates and just left it there, hitchhiked home.

Could not agree more ! Being an owner, salesman, manager means you have to make yourself available whenever needed, your financial future depends on it. Your employment makes everything else in life happen. The people that take working seriously are the ones that have a better chance of advancement, the ones that say no, are the ones that just may be passed over at promotion time.

Complete the cast. I've caught many larger fish very close to the boat, shore or a jettie. You just never know, no reason to reduce the time the lure is in the water.

Had a 30" fish with a 7' med star rod med spininng rod from under a dock flipping a bucktail yesterday, all you need.

Braid for everything.

Like Rhino I've been buying cars a long time, in my case since 1962. Had a few used ones until I bought my first new one in 1967. My parents owned that lincoln, 8 mpg, car was enormous, made before cars were downsized in the 70's. The lincoln was a great car for it's day, but doesn't not compare to modern cars in safety and mileage, cars rust less today because of improved galvanizing. Can't expect to get much for 5k, the lincoln would be my last choice for a young person. 20 gal tank, 8 per =160 mile range for 80 bucks. bury that dinosaur, it's no bargain.

NCAA tournament still goes on, still televised and some team will be #1. The NFL news stories doesn't affect BB tourney in anyway.

It seems very out of the ordinary that a boss would send a text at 12:25 am., if the content of the message had been important a phone called would have been made during reasonable hours, not the middle of the night. Not everyone answers or even reads a text at that time. This situation can be approached from many different ways, everyone has a different feeling, I'd give no advice on what you should do. If it were me I'd be asking myself a few questions before I decided what to do. If I hated the job, I'd quit on the spot, chances are I would have done so long before this episode, being miserable in the workplace does not make for a happy life and successful career. On the other hand the the security of a steady income, a commodity that some find difficult to acquire in this economy, may put necessity over desire. No one is indispensable, even your boss if he isn't the owner. Owners just go out of business when business fails, that said everyone has their own pressures to deal with. When I was an employee I always did what was asked, but I was employee for just a couple of years before starting my own companies, and that's when the pressure really gets tough.

Bluegill magnets.............They are excellent for our mayan cyclids and peacock bass in South Florida too, I've been killing the LMB on them.

Have been doing quite well the last few weeks, but I think it's over as the last 3 days were nothing special. Humid afternoons means the bugs are coming and when they come I leave. I've been bass fishing the last 4 months, it's that time of the year to start concentrating on other species. Had a nice 30" slot yesterday.

Besides the obvious of not fishing and letting mother nature heal, which going to take probably 2 months, there are few things one can do. Arm braces do not heal, but alleviate some discomfort while partaking in an activity. Changing the way you fish may help, troll more and cast less, use live or cut bait, targeting smaller less fighting fish with a medium outfit. A heavier outfit will put pressure on the sore area and using too light of an outfit even is going to put pressure on the rod even with a smaller fish, which in turn is putting pressure on the sore area. I've not used an Alabama rig, but I've used umbrella rigs in the ocean and I also cast 4-6 oz lures with a surf rod, that heavier equipment is a prescription for pain, even more so if you happen to haul in 2 or 3 fish on the a -rig. Don't think for a second I take my own advice, I fish thru the discomfort.

The s/a around here have shrunk their fishing departments. I stop in there once in while for Wahoo jigs, I like that brand and they are hard to find. They still carry redbone rods, and sometimes discount them well, since Southbend has taken over redbone there is no more over the counter warranty. I haven't had a problem with those rods, but it isn't worth the trouble to send a $100 rod in for warranty, especially if you only paid $50 for it in the first place.

Glenn is right, imo distance may be the most over rated facet about fishing. There are not too many rods that do cast further than an ugly stick, if your lure weights are in the recommendation range for that rod you are probably getting the most out of it already. #8 mono or 10-20# braid is ideal for a reel that size, I do not get more if any distance from a more expensive reel with a better spool lip design. Enjoy what you have, just catch fish and don't worry about about details.

I needed to respool a convention offshore reel, all I had at home was a 595 yd spool of 25# big game, sitting in my hot Florida garage for 5-6 years. I was hesitant, but the line has been just fine, many cobia caught. No set pattern to my everyday reels, they all have braid and I never use backing. I've added a bit of line to my freshwater reels every 3-4 months, my saltwater reels get a complete respool when needed. Some combos require a respool much more often, those would be ones where I'm using spoons, fishing over rocks and coral and beaches, certain species are rougher on line too. The combos that are fished in more open water last a good deal time. Offshore, you never know, the line holds up, but I've been spooled about 5 times in the last 2 months.

boat ramp off nw 13 ave, but you can only go as far as Lawrence rd due to the spillway, but can go east almost anywhere. http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=26.47205,-80.169284&z=17&t=h&hl=en

Most of the fishermen on this site have a lot of gear, probably there is very little if anything that is a "have to" have or else. A responsible person should know the limits of their budget and spend accordingly. Hopefully the spouse is equally aware of your financial situation and is responsible too. A signed agreement is pure nonsense, mature people know what they need and can afford. For most, fishing is a hobby, recreational activities imo should take last place on the spending chain.

There are people that don't own a b/c and I'm one of them. I do everything from freshwater to inshore, to pelagic fish offshore with spinning gear. Using the appropriate sized spinning combo there is very little that can't be done and few fish that can't be handled. Whatever you are comfortable with, is the right ticket.