SirSnookalot

Spinning only, no rod preference except to match the rod to the lure weight. I can use a 1/4 oz up to 1 oz.

The ones I catch in Florida are purely accidental. Much of the time I don't find them to be overly aggressive, but sometimes they are. I caught a few a couple of months ago, haven't seen any since, season could play a big part. A lot of fun to catch.

No question in my mind that the price will keep jumping around for awhile. I'm getting the feeling that the bottom is trying to be established. FYI, the abbreviation for barrel is BBL, why..................Rockefeller first started shipping oil in blue barrels, BBL became the standard. Futures at 9:00 am 52.25, longer range Dec contract @60.

I don't want to take my money with me, I want to leave as much as I can to my wife. I'd rather live with a little less now (not that I'm suffering) so she has her security.

Nice concept.

Do your own thing, in reality I don't think it makes a difference. 99% of the time a duolock doesn't open or break, the action on the lure is just fine, my catch rate is the same with or without them. The only time of the year I use them is now, my hands get a little slippery with the kind of weather we have. Once the weather warms up with more humidity I'm back to tying. Lures get a loopknot. In saltwater I always tie.

I don't fish traditional style bass jigs very often, when I do a Strike King with just about any crawfish trailer has worked well. I often times take a slightly different route, I do tie my marabou jigs but I like using a saltwater flats jig for bass fishing too.

Favorite lure, there isn't even a close second, Storm chug a bug. If I'm fishing an area with heavier vegetation it's a weedless fluke, I'm fishing on top and walk it. What I may catch the most fish on is an entirely different topic.

Personal choice. Mine are about 2'. Don't understand a 20' leader with the knot buried in the spool, unless one has no confidence in their knot. My bass set up isn't too different than my tarpon set up, 15-20# braid, leader size will vary 10# for bass and 20 or 30# for tarpon. Knot failure for either species isn't a concern. If I had a locked drag, which I would never do, I might consider another alternative. The right drag setting is what takes the pressure off the knots.

I hope it's better up there than it is down here, I'm pretty much bass fishing until the spring bait runs. My own personal take is like to target a species I don't normally catch at home, redfish would be a nice change of pace. From the gear you described you're fine.. Your average redfish I'm guessing is 4-8#, a 15-20# shouldn't pose a problem either. Keep your lures simple you don't need too much, most bass lures are going ok. If you choose to pick up a few items I would suggest jerk shad on a jig head (Zoom fluke will work just as well), gold spoons, Mirrorlure twitch bait, topwater and maybe some bucktails.

All people that fish must fish the species they have available for them in their region, we try and make the best of what we have. I do believe further north there are more freshwater species that can be specifically targeted. In my area of Florida (which is not the best for fresh or salt) I pretty much can only target LMB, peacocks and snakeheads, just like saltwater fishing there are seasonal limitations. If fishing was my only concern of where to live it wouldn't be South Florida. I first stated fishing Florida about 1980, the fishing today doesn't even come close to what it was.

Not only did oil turn around so did the market. About 3:30 or so the Dow was enjoying a 100 point gain due to Disney's performance. All of sudden news came over the wire that the European bank reported having no confidence in Greece, the market did a complete about face within minutes.

If it's just the guide go local 8-$10. I've replaced guides never saw any difference in rod performance between a generic guide and the one that came with the rod.

Why not if you want to. I'm both pro and con. When I'm offshore I always have 3 rods, a trolling set up, drift set up and casting and jig set up. I do change lures, leaders, etc, don't find re tying to be any kind of issue. On the jettie I usually have 2 with me, 1 for casting lures (retie again is no issue) and my barracuda combo. When fishing off the beach or bass fishing I'm on foot. I may have a couple of set ups with me, 1 stays in the car and I fish with the other. I like to travel light taking just a few lures with me, I find no effort in tying on a different lure. I'm there to relax and enjoy myself. I put no pressure on myself to be more efficient with my time or to compete. Being retired I've got nothing but time. I can go out for 30 minutes or be gone for 6 hours, just being out there is more rewarding than the fish itself.

My plate

Gators, snakes and many other critters are relocated, not killed unless absolutely necessary.

Time spent on any forum is YOUR time, spend it as you wish. Some of the best topics have been covered many times, they're brand new to a newbie and could be of great benefit. Even an old salt may come across a tip they never saw before, don't see how that's bad. All my years of fishing I never used an Alberto knot till I got on this site.

You guys get to go skiing or snowmobiling, sit by your fireplace with your golden retriever (which I do miss) I can't do that.

Of the buzz baits I've used compared to my poppers I can cast the poppers farther. Seems to me the longer the cast the more water I'm covering. Not only do I think I'm covering more water but doing it in fashion where I'm giving a bass more of an opportunity to focus, I feel I get many more strikes. Not that buzz baits don't work, but the bass have to be in an aggressive mood, IMO they are more often passive than aggressive.

I agree, I'll let the professionals of the DNR decide on what size fish is legal and if there should be a slot. If for no other reason than common sense, the big breeders should be released. Some may argue the gene factor or more eggs layed. I'd be more concerned keeping pollutants out of the water than bed fishing or under or over harvesting a fishery.

Futures are definately not for the amateur day trader. Just about the time oil spiked the market went into rally mode. As RW said that's yesterday's news, it only takes a few things to turn a market positive or negative, and it can happen fast. The last few days oil strengthened, copper may have it a bottom (very vital commodity for the economy), the dollar weakened a bit and some favorable news from Greece. Can it turn back around and head to $40 again, with all the volatility going on you bet it can. I don't care what the price is as long as there is stability.

Where I notice elitism, it that's the correct term for it, are the tournament fishermen. Anywhere from top of the line equipment, to multiple combos, fishing a variety of techniques, etc.etc.etc., like recreational fishermen don't do the same things. My perception is that they put what they do on a pedestal of importance with higher skill level compared to what the average weekend warrior is doing just to have some fun.

Good question about taking what's available or targeting year round, addressing the Atlantic as I have no real experience on the Gulf. Probably some of both as many species are some what migratory or they follow the bait, and certain weather conditions bring them in too. As far as targeting snook are very similar to bass. Snook are present year round but not too active in the winter, bass are the opposite active in winter and much slower in the summer, I target both species year round. Right now I target bass but still get out to snook fish, in the summer it's snook every morning, and still a little bit of bass fishing, ya gotta go with what's hot. The common fisherman fishing salt is no different than the bucket bass fisherman, same Walmart type of equipment, nothing too sophisticated. Instead of digging up worms they throw a sabiki to catch their bait. Most on BR tend to use artificial, for the inshore fishermen that chooses that route it can be quite affordable on any budget. For example a Penn Fierce mounted on a Calico Jack using Walmart spoons, $5.00 bombers and bucktails, all of that will get the job done for a modest price. As with 50k bass boats and 10 combos on the deck, that can be done in salt too. Price out Yellowfin or Grady White with 2 or 3 OB and the "right gear" and see what that sets you back. Bass or salt it can be reasonably priced or sky high, BTW Viking fishing yachts start about 900K, now your talking elitists.

Not enough 80 degree days, I really like it about 90. I have hard time going when it's 60 but I force myself, lol.

Try them both. I'm in the popper camp myself, pop and pause rules.