SirSnookalot

That's exactly my point, most fish don't pose much of a landing problem, it's the lure and the water conditions that dictate the gear. Muskie are fragile and lack stamina they should be landed as quick as possible, it's a magnificent beast that should be handled with care. We handle tarpon the same way, they can go belly up, conversely there are fish that after 30 minutes look at you as if to say " is that all you got?", and swim off unphased.

I fish with 1 rod (poles are used when sitting on a bucket), I retie when I change lures or need a fresh leader. I stick with a lure quite a while before I change, a retie is no big deal.

I'm going to pay attention to experts in the field of infectious diseases, they have had experience and I've had none. I'm on the fence restricting air travel, if necessary do it. Where it gets complicated is that it just isn't flights from West Africa. Certainly not out of the realm of possibility an exposed person enters the US from a different part of the world via another airline. Do we restrict all flights, if so that would have a terrible impact on the economy.

It's the nature of cable news to report the same story 24/7, not all people are watching around the clock. If you've had enough just change the station. I'm not hysteric but I want to know what's going as soon as it happens. The threat is real, but the risk is minimal, precaution is vital. Nigeria is right in the mix, yet they are doing an outstanding job against ebola with entry screening and rapid isolation Dr. Anthony Fauci said on tv that closing borders could have the reverse effect and make matters worse. Not allowing health care workers in or out may possible allow the disease to spread more in Africa. It was also mentioned the effect on the economy by not allowing business people in or out. We have seen already some negative affect on the stock market, some of it attributed to ebola but in fairness that isn't the only issue. The administration did say that while monitoring the situation if necessary will curtail flights. I'm comfortable with steps that are being taken, I'm not finding fault.

Nice set up but certainly not needed for 50" or even 50# fish. The rod is needed if using lures up to 6 oz and if the fish has to be pulled thru vegetation. 50" (barracuda) and 50 pounders (tarpon) have been caught by me many times using a mh spinning rod, 4000 reel and 20# braid, I'm not using lures more than an ounce or so, most fish here are caught in open water.

Line twist, then the line hist the first guide and creates a windknot. No perfect solution but to help reduce it try using heavier lures and casting with less force. I get them almost everyday using my freshwater gear, hardly ever with my saltwater stuff, same braid poundage but my lures are heavier and I make long flowing casts, not snap casts, I actually cast farther too.

I have 2 main brands that I buy, I do try others at times. I will not order sight un-seen, I've done it before and it isn't to my likening. I have an opportunity to use other people's rod, that helps a lot. I have returned several rods that I saw in person at the store, once used didn't care for them. Bought an 8' terramer made just a few casts and went right back and returned it for a tidemaster, that one lasted 2 days. Not bad rods but not what I was looking for. I wound up getting a rod I already owned just with a longer length, very happy with it. I don't take the cellophane off until I know I'm keeping the rod.

Braid with a mono leader for all species I fish for, jigs get an ordinary clinch knot. For the most part the knot is excellent, but any one fishing 7 days week will have knot failure some time, we don't always tie them perfectly. It doesn't make any difference if I'm fishing for bass or tarpon, the set up and knots are the same.

As far as catching fish it doesn't make a difference. I personally do not use snap/swivels or duolocks, I tie everything. I have friends that do use the cheapest snap/swivels, seldom retie the knots, and use no shock leader and use wire, a set up I would never consider. Have yet to see one ever fail due to corrosion, btw they catch just as many fish as I do. What ever works for you.

Same answer every time..............a bucktail jig, from peacocks to bill fish and everything in between.

Apx. 70# tarpon, super fluke mounted on 1/4 oz jig head, 20# braid mh spinning rod. Caught off a sea wall in the inlet, current running about 8-9 knots, took about 30 minutes.

I was at DSG in Ft Lauderdale last year, the associate was a man about my age. He had a fish album on the counter of some outstanding fish he had caught, the store being very close to the ocean it was all saltwater fish. That fish album was a great sales tool.

Post # 10 first paragraph by WRB is as complicated as it's needed to be. The IPT changes with the amount of line on the spool. I don't know how anyone else fishes but I work my lures with twitches and pauses, the retrieval speed varies quite a bit, IPT isn't that significant to me. Sure when using a spinnerbait or crankbait the speed is more constant, I've never thought past reeling faster or slower, which is usually done by feel with no thought invloved. Is there a case for IPT when landing a fish, at times yes. When a fish is swimming back at you with some speed a 34" IPT compared to a 30" will take up the slack better, again something I give little thought to. A longer handle I believe does give more cranking leverage, but how often do I need that extra leverage. Even some of my smaller inshore reels have the same handle length as a typical bass reel. Whether you have a 1# or 100# fish on the line, nothing to think about except landing it and that technique is built in to each of us.

What would have done with It? I do remember apx. what I was paid, it was well over $100. At 2014 prices I wish I could resell it, I bet it would be worth 10- $15 lb fresh off the boat to a restaurant.

My wife went a few times, told her where to throw her senko (10' was her max cast), she caught a few 2 pounders, she now has lost interest.........I'm thrilled that she did. She isn't about to fish as early as I do, don't think she could handle the fish here any way. I have bud, his wife always fishes and she is darn good. Have seen her land 30# kings, large snook and she had a 40" redfish a few weeks ago, I saw the pic.

Don't like to create bad karma by discussing good or bad past experiences. Knowing what you are doing when hooksetting or attempting to land a fish is going to be beneficial in the end. Got to know your limits and the limits of your equipment.

I don't think weight savings is over rated but where it matters may be the type of fishing one is doing. Using spinning and 14-20 oz reel on a mh or hvy rod is not tiring at all, using it for bass would kill you. I do appreciate some of my lighter set ups for inshore and for bass absolutely. Bass fishing the casting has to be more precise, the better balanced combo aids in that.

They do say they taste great, I wouldn't eat anything out of these Florida canals. Snakeheads are fun to catch but I don't fish for them anymore, prefer peacocks for my freshwater fishing.

Must be something about those NY bass. I catch a thick 22" yesterday, guessing in the area 6 pounds. Considering the water is still warm the bass may have been a bit lethargic and was caught right near the bank. Back reeling, drag stripping runs, the fish may may have run 10' only because I let it, I basically just lifted it it out of the water, used light power spinning 25 supreme reel. Nice bass and it was fun, but certainly didn't require every bit of my landing expertise.

I can imagine it, it fact I've done it several times. About 20 years ago I caught 100 # AJ in Bandaras Bay, Mexico, along with that jack close to a dozen 20# snapper and several bull dolphin. I was so sore I couldn't raise my arms to comb my hair that evening, simply because at that time of my life I wasn't fishing much and was out of shape. Fast forward 10 years and I'm living in Florida fishing everyday, now I was in fishing shape. Had many a day catching 1-2 or 3 fish that battled me an hour plus, wasn't sore or tired. At 69 I don't care to do much of that kind of fishing anymore, I am slowing down but still relish those 50# tarpon. Back in 1975 I caught this cobia on fresh water spinning (didn't know ya needed salt gear then, lol), at 30 y.o. it was in good shape. Sold this fish to a chef in Key West and won the pool on the boat, pretty good day for the pocket book.

I wish I still had this one, a generic that cost me about 2 bucks that caught an uncountable amount bass and saltwater fish.

3 drag stripping runs, pretty potent bass. A 7# isn't out of the norm here, I'd like to see one own me.

Being in a kayak is a great advantage, however it does make site casting for them a bit harder. Peas like to hang out right near the bank, walking the shoreline at times gives a better visual. There are people on this site that know Lake Ida/Osborne by boat better than I do. I do know by experience fishing near the PB airport @ Osborne holds peas, especially near the Lantana bridge, peas like to be near or under bridges. I know of a few spots in Lake Ida, which is closer to my home. If you do get to Miami not only are there bigger peas for the most part but the chances are good for snook, tarpon and some nice jacks in the same water. I don't think there are peas in the keys.

I'd say don't fish like a bass fisherman, but that would depend whether in a boat or fishing the shore and wanting to be mobile. Most I know including myself generally fish 1 rod from shore carrying a minimal amount of lures. Being in boat one can certainly take along several rods and tackle bags, in the end only few of them are used. If the fish are there using the "right" lure isn't the problem, they all work. I've never seen those gulp products used, does seem to me that they would be awkward if one chose to cover a lot of area on foot. The issue isn't whether they catch fish or not, plenty of fish will be caught without using them.

At times there are hard to find in South Florida, pier rats love them for mackerel, jacks and runners, snook hit them too. I use them for peacock bass, have caught many a lunker bass with them too.