SirSnookalot

I never had a bit of problem using Shimano for freshwater fishing, excellent for the sweet water, I just can't say the same using their equipment in the brine. Pure fishing sets the bar for customer service imo.

Irvine, Ca. I know many people are very content with Shimano. I think their equipment is good for freshwater and some of their saltwater gear is more than respectable, but their service left me flat,other options out there I prefer. I recently bought a new reel and compared side by side( several times with my rod)Shimano sagasso 6000 and Penn conquer 7000, I bought the Penn.

I elected to classify myself as "other". I fish for many different species and size ranges. From light spinning gear to deepwater conventional gear, I fish freshwater, inshore and offshore for pelagics.

My batting average with Shimano service is anything but good, have never been happy with them. They voided a warranty a couple of years ago on spheros 4000 as I didn't use their oil. Needing a roller bearing several months ago for my stradic 4000 they agreed to send me the part, order never shipped and they had no record. Sent reel in and they replaced bearing and cleaned my reel ( for free ), now the reel makes a racket but still smooth. Once this reel dies it's goodbye Shimano, for me there are better options.

I didn't get married until I was 45, when I was single I was at many of those beaches. A thick wallet is the best chick magnet. Many of those buffed guys at those beaches are really looking for other guys, like South Beach in Miami. At other venues where the emphasis is not on outwardly appearances or where the "10's" go, a quality sincere man will do just fine. Most women are looking for security, stability, a man that knows how to treat them right, those are the quality chicks.

I worked out hard for many years. My interest waned when I got married, too many other things took priority. As long as my wife loves me the way I am, nothing else really matters. To me what's important is how my total health is, that I have maintained. At 65 I'm still 135#, very active, spend nearly everyday catching the kind of fish I enjoy. I don't need the biggest fish out, just the best life I can make for myself.

What goes thru my mind if the fish is bigger than me.............hope I don't get pulled in, don't want to tangle with that critter cause I got him real p/off.

I agree with WRB. I'm just as happy watching some one else catch fish, my tackle is theirs to use.

West wind in the Atlantic means the wind are blowing from the shore creating or I should say not creating waves (flat sea), wind was pretty calm, which is not good. Zenyoungkoh descriptions are perfect except kingcutoffs. Kings pertain to kingfish and a cutoff is when the king bites thru your leader and your hook is gone, which may happen more than actually hooking them, but that's kingfishing. Wire leaders are taboo, kings very seldom strike with wire.

With live bait I may leave the bail open or on free spool. As far as drag everyone I know sets it by feel regardless of the target species. I've read here on BR that some crank that drag hard and others fish it light, sounds like " feel" to me. I set a light drag and control it by palming the spool.

60 years of fishing I have never met anyone tthat sets a drag with a scale. Many guys set a very light drag, the tighten it with a fish on, almost like freelining if not using a bbaitrunner.

All I use for everything, my knots never fail, unless tied bad. Caught 200# Blacktip today, ordinary clinch with mono. Try and second wrap on the improved clinch with braid, it will protect you better from pull thru.

Med hvy spinning rod and can't get a good hookset? User error, plain and simple, the equipment is more than adequate. Not being a smart ****, but get a lesson and keep at it, it will come to you.

Athletes getting paid......yes, Athletes looking to get drafted.......yes, Athletes hoping for a scholarship...yes This kid probably NO to any of the above. Good old fashioned common sense would have answered his question without a post.

Went offshore this morning and the prospects didn't look good, flat seas and west wind. Threw the sabiki and put a couple dozen greenies into the livewell and off we went. Prediction held true was a slow day, couple of king cuttoffs and some bonita. Caught a few hefty fish this week and my back was sore so I decided to fish conventional with mono. A good part of the morning was taken up getting this Blacktip in. Avet mxj, 25lb Star handicraft rod, 20# P-line florclear( some strong stuff) Got him along side and cut the line, we figure 6-7' just short of 200#

Tarpon are actually the largest member of the herring family. It takes a real expert to land large tarpon of fly, too much for me. Juvies, up to about 80# can be caught on spinning gear, better have a strong drag and about over 200 yds of line, leave that micro lite at home. Just about anything offshore requires some hefty equipment, although spinning is good for sailfish, they average 50-60lb, but still need a good 200yds of line. I never caught a swordfish but I see these guys going out with big Penn internationals 500 to 1000 yds of braid for them. Most of the kite fisherman are going for sailfish, a rubberband is place around the live bait and the hook goes under the rubberband.

Just to set the record straight, I'm not fussy regarding any braided line, they all work fine. Out dated Power Pro is just so easy to buy, the price is right and does the job on the kind of fish I catch. I put more emphasis in catching quality fish than the kind of equipment I'm using, there is no magic anything.

I suppose Flipper could have done it, but most likely was as Wahoo.

Lots of options depending on what kind of fish turns you on. Hawk Cay resort in the keys if my wife wanted to come along. Without her I would go to Xcalak, Mexico http://www.costadecocos.com/ For me nothing compares to light tackle spinning or fly on the flats with a pole guide.

I don't carry a phone while I'm fishing or any other activity, that wasn't the case before I retired when I owned my company. The business ran fine without me there, but when a company called there was a good chance they wanted to talk or see me in person, in a very timely fashion. I had been called on my high holy days, customers don't care and in my biz there was no true loyalty. So many times I had to leave the golf course or fishing even on Sunday. The nature of what you do for a living dictates the need to be in touch or not.

I use outdated Power Pro, it's available everywhere and I like the price. Not that I don't bass fish, I do and catch some mighty nice ones and it's a lot of fun, but the majority of my fish are caught in saltwater. Many people I'm sure have not read my posts or seen pics as they are in the " other species " section. With that said many of my fish are pretty hefty and strong fighters, all caught with nothing more than outdated 20# Power Pro on spinning gear. I don't seem to run into problems that I read on here, bent hooks, broken line, floating line, sinking line,use but 2 knots ( clinch & loop )the list is endless of problems that people seem to encounter. I just go fishing and don't think or worry about much, whether it be freshwater or saltwater, I just let it happen. "80% of life is just showing up"... Woody Allen

Any reputable store will take your word that a product is defective and will readily exchange it. If not they aren't reputable.

Anything in moderation is fine, too much of any 1 thing may not be so good.

Haven't fished for bass in a month, may get out there on the next cool down in the weather.

Most 5 pound fish are are 3 and most 1 hour battles are 10 minutes, I never look at my watch.