MitchIsFishin

Speed, For what it's worth, my 40 yrs of experience in photography has taught me to buy 'around the lenses'. Examine what you'll be doing photographically and if you think you may expand into a larger system, plan your glass purchase first. The bodies of most dslrs in their respective price points are similar and offer most of the same options. That said, obviously Nikon/Canon/Pentax all offer good basic packages. A D60 (or D80/D90) can work well, but a D80/D90 will allow the usage of older AI nikkors. Keep in mind that unless you are using full-blown Photoshop and/or performing pre-production work for publication, most glass will serve your needs. Good luck For reviews, check: http://www.dpreview.com/ OR http://photo.net/

I've never used their rods or any of their bc's. I have one cheapie spinning reel (a Dicks Sporting Goods special), 5 years old, I've beat it to death, but kept it serviced. Strange, but it is as smooth as my 2 year old Symetre, and decently built inside. The few I know who use them relegate them to 3rd/4th tier status, yet they do the job somehow.

x2. I've bought 'em, replaced the hooks, tune 'em up & they work great, I throw them often when I don't know what the structure is like. Snook, sorry to hear they are $2.50 down there - been $1/each here for years.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I have M/MH spinning rods that easily handle 3/4 ounce with no problem. Comparable in backbone as well. Regarding the drag issue, probably, but there are higher end spinning reels that have high drag limits. I would be fishing my bc for worms, senkos, jigs anyways, but a properly matched spinning rod/reel easily handles crankbaits up to 3/4 ounce. And again, it is what someone is more comfortable with. 8-)

x3. Hating the player & the game. 8-)

Zero. Zilch. Nada.

If Paula isn't eating a pound of butter of day, she's not getting her daily allotted allocation of fat. Can't stand that women. ;D

I don't agree with this at all. Too many I know can both outcast with spinning reels versus bait casters, and pull fish out. Depends on the person. I do agree there are more crankbait specific rods in bc versus spinning, but you'll need to explore, research & choose your rods accordingly.

Micro, I have one from a batch of 8 like yours. Emailed them 4 times, no response, so I won't buy anymore, found another brand. >

x2 on Big M's cranks. I don't have any yet (no money), but would hope to buy some in the future. Everything he makes is gorgeous and is meticulous in craftsmanship.

Paul, excellent post. I've never personally had anyone confront me while fishing, but I did a few years back while buying some lures. Two young women were looking at the lures and commenting on how nasty the hooks are & how they 'damage the fish'. I'm picking out my lures, and one of the girls approached me & asked why I fish. Told her. She said she felt it was a cruel activity and thought it should be outlawed. I advised her that no one in this nation was going to put a gun to her head to make her fish or accept fishing, but it is an activity that many like, myself included. She then inquired wasn't there a more humane way of catching the fish without using hooks, and had also admitted to being a vegetarian. I told her yes, I could shoot them with my glock .45, but it makes catch & release really hard. She didn't know about catch & release. I took my lures, paid & left.

Your money. Or, THEIR money. Got a job? Great! And you're complaining about what?

The XR50 is great, found it because of folks here. As far as the original rat-l-traps go, I won't be buying anymore.

The question is how many on the people page are members here.

The revos are nice, but $168 for an mg? That's insane. You need to grab that up immediately.

Problem? I see none. HHAHAHAHAHAHA! Actually, I feel for ya, lived in NE Ohio for many years & moved. It'll melt eventually. ;D

x2. Also, both a little grease & oil go a long way. Don't overgrease the gears and only 1-2(at most) drops of oil WHERE oil goes, such as bearings. There are a few websites via google that will give you the very basics of maintaining a reel.

If you don't lose 'em, MAC or Snap-on. IF you think you'll lose them, craftsman or kobalt. 8-)

Ok, you got it! You're crazy. I'll bill ya later. Nice rods though.

Wow, don't even know IF I should express an opinion here, but I will, and if necessary, Glenn can obviously delete it. Will America eventually collapse? Yes, no doubt about it. Our children and grandchildren will never be in a position to pay off the 'debt' owed. Neither will a missile, nor a bullet be fired to collapse America. It simply won't be necessary. Is our government corrupt? Absolutely! Our government has been corrupt for many decades. It will never change because of the intrinsic nature of 'representing the constituents'. They look for what works for their agenda, part & parcel of their job. You & me are just at the bottom of the totem pole. Will Obama succeed? No & Yes! He will not solve the problems we have by government spending. He WILL succeed by convincing people that government spending is crucial to solving our problems. All, without solving our problems. Government programs will be increased, spending will continue to rise at an enormous rate, and those, later on down the road, will be called upon to pay for it. Am I a pessimist? Yes and no. I have watched many decades of poor leadership (if you could even call it that), poor decisions, decisions made for an agenda contrary to what was in the best interest of America, and now, liars and thieves. With that said, we are in need of a new revolution. Will that happen? No, we are too lazy and content for that. :'(

I, personally, think Loomis rods look like poop, but that said, they are great. ;D

Snook, if you'll apply some U40 cork sealer or Birchwood & Casey gunstock oil to the cork you can just wipe them off with a damp rag. Protects the cork too.

"...are very bad. On occasion after a night of drinking and smoking, some of my friends who smoke menthol cigarettes will cough up a small amount of blood in the morning. Has this ever happend to you?" No, not me. But, with two friends, yes, it happened to them, but it went away once they died.

Just like the gearheads for photo gear (duh, Canon/Nikon/Leica/Hasselblad), or even worse, guitarists. Try debating Santa Cruz, Collings, Lowden, etc. Fishing seems to be no different. :

This is an excellent question, I've wondered this myself. Especially after looking at LC's and these Kopper Live lures, but Bandits/Bombers/Rapalas catch fish as well. $12 versus $5, hmmmmmmmm.