SirSnookalot

Fishing every day I don't keep track of anything, I know I only use a small handful of lures. A big bass for me is probably about 23", I've caught them bigger but don't know how big. I fish for strictly for fun, I'd much rather catch a 5# bass on a ul with a top water in a pond than a 10+ using a mh heavy rod pulling it thru thick vegetation. I know what I catch my biggest peacocks on, a crappie jig as it's my most used lure for them.

I prefer to fish alone.

My leaders are on the short side, seldom more than 2', don't feel there is much stretch with that short a piece. I don't use that brand, probably should have no problem with it. I use P line floroclear, Ande and Big Game for my leaders.

I've had mono stored unused in my hot year round Florida garage for years. Spooled up some 17# and went out and caught 15-20# bonita, line is still good. I would test it first, it it's weak that probably would show up on the end and not in the interior of the spool.

I've got Chinese reels, they are called Abu and Pflueger and they work beautifully. Would I buy a no name reel, not sure I would but they may be made in the same factory and be no different. For a few bucks you don't have much to lose. Do you get what pay for, that's it's own debate. I personally feel the law of diminishing return is ever present.

That's a nice jack she is holding. The key to catching jacks or any fish that is moving fast chasing bait is to cast not where they are, but where you think they will be. So often by the time your lure hits the water they are gone. Jacks come in all sizes, they catch little ones 2-3" and use them for live bait, and there are 40 pounders roaming around too. These phones are tempermental, I've got all the "bugs" worked out on kit kat. Everytime a new OS comes out there seems to be a ton of bugs. I think the camera episode was just an anomaly, only time it ever happened. Nice feature with camera it's voice acitivated, just say "shoot". If it wasn't for the larger display I liked my Motorola razr maxx better than this s4.

I watch Hard Core Pawn once in a while as I'm from Detroit. I lived not far from the location, when I lived I think it was a bowling alley called North Lanes, 8 mile rd and Greenfield. Can't swear to this, Les is around my age and looks real familiar. I may have gone to school with him, but I don't remember being friendly with him.

Global warming creates extreme weather conditions, more heat waves, more extreme low temperatures, more severe storms, droughts, the list goes on. The naysayers seem to be in this country and pay little attention to what's happening in the rest of the world. Believe what you will.

I suppose landing upwards of 40 tarpon in the 30-70 range in 2014 using the same line would give me a lot of confidence, that line is 20# original Powerpro. Quite honestly pulling in 6# bass or a peacock on any brand of 10# braid doesn't affect my confidence pro or con. This past year using PP, PPslick, Fins and US Braid, didn't see anything to take issue over any of them. No question some lines may be a bit quieter or smoother, could really care less about that. Windknots happen when I throw lighter lures, general the loop causes it when the line hits the first guide, with heavier lures windknots are nearly as rare as 20# bass.

Au contraire mon ami....................Shimano did it to me on my spheros 4000 a number of years ago. Just one of the reasons in a growing list of them that make me a consumer of other brands.

We went thru that with snook and peacocks down here a few years ago. I'm hoping this February cold spell does not have the same affect on those species.

Even better for tying up your tomato plants.

I could list the advantages and shortcomings of braid, could do the same for mono. See no point to it as most have already made up their own minds as I have. I prefer braid and that's all there is to it.

Braid is more about line management than strength, braid breaks much higher than than what's on the label. On small reels I'm using 10# braid, once I'm at a 4000 it's 15 or 20#. As there is no stretch to braid and very little with a shock leader using your drag is important. Too tight a drag with braid with a larger fish on will pop your knots. I may add when having fish on too big to land or fear of exhausting the fish, a good procedure to break that fish off would be to grab the spool with your hand.

Shimano's oil is mineral oil based, I suggest using it as they have be know to void a warranty for using other oils.

Only 1 favorite, for me it's a top water lure for any kind of fish that will hit on the surface.

I agree both tactics work, pretty much depends on where the bass are. In a pond I'll fan from shore line to shoreline, at time they do spook. Canal fishing I pretty much cast about 45 degrees and work it back towards the bank, being up high fish don't seem to spook near as much.

Went out to the ICW yesterday morning, had a premonition and for once I guessed right. I started off just before sunrise with a jerk shad on a jig head looking for snook, nothing doing. Just after sunrise I see jacks busting the seawall like tsunami, threw the jerk shad and had a strike but no hook up. As fast as the fish came in that's how fast they left, that's what jack fishing is. I tie on a 3/4 oz kastmaster, good lure for distance and fish chasing bait and casted towards some nervous water. Bam I get a strike, too my surprise it was a beautiful silver snook, why my phone didn't save pic I don't know, it clicked, lol. A few minutes later maybe 50 yards or so I see more nervous water, now it's jack, not big but still an excellent fight especially from that distance. The same exact scenario happened this morning but more intense. Caught 1 snook and 4 jacks about the same size as yesterday's,

Before I saw Redline's post I noticed Stormfront, I find the popularity to be very disturbing. At one time I checked it out.

I do find the history of some of the items to be very interesting. The show would probably be a flop without any scripting, pawn shops aren't really too exciting. I love the way Rick always has friend that's an expert. I'll keep an eye out for Redline.

Some of those responses are better than the actual topic.

I've been hooked by a small bass as I was lipping it, was handcuffed,spent some time at the ER. I was hooked in the lower leg as I pulled a bluefish from the surf. I was lucky enough to get the fish off pretty quick, but those #1 4x trebles took some doing. I'm very cautious, I don't put the welfare of any fish over my safety.

One of several reasons I always use a leader, much easier to untangle.

I love them but only for salt, not too much for bass, I have used them. It's a good lure for casting distances for fish chasing bait, the concept is quite similar to a metal jig fish. The metal jig fish is just as effective in saltwater as the waxwing at a fraction of the price, my guess it would be for bass too. I personally lump waxwing, jig fish, hopkins or an acme kastmaster into the same group, the movement is about the same for all of those. I don't think the waxwing has any advantage over the others for bass, for your scenario I'd be using a kastmaster.

I happen to use braid with a leader for just about everything. I say use what you like, it's your time on the water. IMO the only difference is how one reacts when they get a strike, it's only adjustment in your own personal technique.