SirSnookalot

Now you're fishing in my pond. I fish snook 365 days a year with spinning gear and do quite a bit of bass fishing. I see people using a host of methods, equipment and baits. I do not think there is a wrong way to do it, whatever you like works fine. This is what I do. I use a medium 8/17class 7' or 7'6 rod with a 4000 series reel, in most scenarios this is all you need but exceptions do apply. My choice is 15# braid and 30 or 40# mono leader. Flurocarbon leaders are flushing you money down the toilet, it doesn't apply to snook fishing. Snook mostly hit in dirty water anyway, not near as often in clean incoming tide. Again exceptions apply but using plain mono leader still catches them just fine. The Xrap is a great lure and I use it much of the time but snook will hit anything if they are on, if off they will hit nothing. Try 1/4 or 1/2 oz bucktails, soft plastics on jig heads,rattle traps, topwater and about anything you use for bass. The techniques to catching snook are very similar to bass. I would not use this equipment setup for bass, imo it's just too much. What you are doing is fine, maybe just a little tweek to improve the numbers. Shoot me a pm if you would like me to go into detail.

The foreign aid given Israel comes back many times over. The United States gets intelligence, military tactics,weapon innovations and security ideas. Also coming back is medical equipment, technology and some of the finest trained doctors. As with all allies, it's give and take. My ex uncle ( I didn't marry his niece ) was an advisor to Nixon regarding Israeli affairs. Much of what I remember him saying in 1970 has been coming true the last 10 years.

I've yet to go to any park in Florida where trash containers are not furnished, that said so may don't use them. Florida has so many parks and the people treat them terrible.

Such a thing as a tilapia tourney?

I believe the US women won Olympic gold, now it's time for the men to be recognized globally. Soccer is a very exciting game to watch and players are athletes, this is one tuff game without pads. I agree, I'd put grass growing right up there with watching a blue gill tournament on tv, then going out and catching a few trophy 4 inchers. Should I use a cane pole or a stella?

IMO Raul is right on the money. Since 1952 the US has been avoiding another confrontation with N. Korea, they know it's a war that they may not win without total use of nuclear weapons. N. Korea has a huge well trained well trained military. India and Pakistan is a real problem, both are allies and they hate each other. Maybe the best course of action is to stay on the sidelines for a change.

It's difficult for me to take one side or another concerning teachers and unions. Michigan has a high salaries( my home state) for teachers and I support it, in fact I do they they are underpaid. I have families members that are devoted teachers, that being said even my family members have an attitude that I find despicable. I could agree or disagree with every corner of this issue. Just the other night we had dinner with 2 NYC retired teachers.......omg, what an ego trip, but being in Florida we see the difference between east coast and midwest personalities. I'll save my opinions regarding unions in business for the right thread, as a business owner I have had plenty of interaction with them. Not theory, but reality.

Any place you want, except where you might get hung up, like heavy weeds or reefs.

I use braid exclusively ( PP) and do not have any negative issues. Using mono is out of the realm of possibility for me.

I've eaten and seen chubs in delis for years. smoked and absolutely delicious.

My medalist is my barracuda and bonita reel, now they very hard fighting fish 10# + and really pull that drag, the reel has performed flawless. My president was ok but not in the same league. I cannot comment on the president xt. It boils down to your target species, for any size bass the president is more than adequate.

I use 10# PP and 20# mono leader with swivel about 18", works fine.

Never a problem with BPS on any issue. The fishing dept manager in Dania Florida knows how to interact with customers and is knowledgeable regarding the products in his department. Much of it has to do with how you approach the situation and how well you can communicate.

Spinning or casting? I have a ml lightning spinning rod( braid) and it's ok, worth the money but for a few bucks take a look at a shimano clarus.

Sweetwater Pflueger trion 20 ul 5'6 ml rod 4# mono P Supreme 30 med rod 6'6 10# braid Abu Cardinal 802 med rod 6'6 10#braid Saltwater-inshore P Supreme 35 7' Hurricane redbone17# class 15# PP snook small jack Abu Soron 40 7'6 Hurricane redbone17# class 15#pp snook, jack, bluefish Shim spheros 4000 7' Hurricane redbone 20#class 20#pp tarpon Shim stradic 4000 7'6 Hurricane redbone 20# class 15#pp all inshore species P medalist 7050 7' shimano muskie rod 25# class 20# pp . barracuda Saltwater -offshore Avet mxj 7 Star boat rod 25# class 20 mono, kingfish Shim spheros 8000 custom 40# class 20 20# mono. bonita, tuna, cobia Abu cardinal 807 penn pursuit 25# class20# mono, 30# gorilla braid Shim torium custom 30# class 20# mono, sailfish, wahoo

There are reports and then there are real reports. Most reports on tv or radio are from bait & tackle stores and/or guides, each has something they want to sell you. I get word of mouth reports from actual fisherman either by email or forums. As many know I'm a primarily saltwater fisherman and on one of my forums guys/gals share info and exactly where they are fishing, right down to the blade of grass they are standing on. Any report that is 24 hours old may no longer be up to date anymore.

I use a 4/0 wide gap skin hooked. I avoid being impatient before setting the hook and make a med firm hookset, I don't want to jerk it away from the them. My drag is med to med light, I just hold the line with my fingers.

Always have the option of using a 4 or 5000 spinning reel, I often toss 5000 or 8000 reels, 20 oz for hours at a time.

Heat and humidity has been extra tuff this year but the lack of wind for me is the killer. I don't freshwater fish in the summer anyway, but the beach has been terrible. Very slight west breeze which blows the noseuums out. 2 weeks ago I was killing the snook, this week with the lack of wind and high temps have yet to catch one.

The key to buying any equipment is what it's used for. I would not buy a graphite frame for saltwater. Most people on this forum bass fish and unless you're from California you're not catching really big bass, most are thrilled with a 5 pounder. A graphite framed reel is going to handle fish 5-10# with no damage, personally I'd pay more attention to the rod. If you are targeting pike or muskie, I'd go aluminum all the way. I think it's easy to get caught up in over buying for ones needs.

I have a bad feeling about canes this year. One of the key factors is high water temp.

Only check tide ,that determines what species I am going to target. Checking the wind determines what gear I'm going to take. 20 mph and under I' take 7'6 rods, over 20 I prefer 7'.

I prefer them out of high school anyway, you? I'm interested in what you use the shine up that noggin, I may need it in 10 or 15 years.

It's one thing to sell them out of your home to pick up as few extra bucks, but another to open a bait store. Lease commitments, equipment, taxes, insurance and the list of expenses goes on forever.........imo a road to disaster. Catching your own bait is not difficult, it's a mainstay here in Florida, both fresh and saltwater. I see may guys tossing cast nets in canals for freshwater shiners and in saltwater I bet 80% of the people catch their own bait.

I use spoons all the time in fresh and salt. Biggest complaint I have with most spoons is they don't stay under the water that well. My remedy for that is either to use a Mepps, imo best one made and lately I've been using a Johnson weedless in saltwater, stays underwater beautifully and I love the welded single hook design. I'm a big fan of siwash hooks on my spoons.