Darren.

PP orig, and SS8 in yellow for visibility. Prefer PP8 these days, and I've got a large spool of it. Braid is expensive so I stick with what I like. Haven't tried 832, but have tried a number of other brands including Sufix Performance Braid, TufLine, Spiderwire, Fireline, etc. PP SS8 is my fav of all.

I can swim. All my sons have been on/are on swim teams. 2 of 4 are life guards, and guard at the Coast Guard base locally. We still always wear PFDs in our kayaks at all times. On boats, it is more nuanced.

Holy smokes, that's funny! Colin Ross!!

Heck, you could use a stick and some line tied to the end if you wanted. In my quest to go all-and-only baitcasting a couple/few years back, I found I could easily do nearly everything on a BC that I could do on spinning gear. Yes, the lighter drops you do have peel line off with a BC. For that, spinning is better. Really light baits go further, usually, with spinning gear (unless you're tuned and have the right rod on BC). But my quest ended with me realizing spinning was simply easier. Wind, backlashes, skipping, etc., are the domain of spinning gear -- NOT that you canNOT do it with BC, but me, I find it easier and less prone to day-wrecking headaches.

Welcome aboard, Michael! 1969. A great year!

A 1000 would be just fine with braid + leader. 10# or 15# braid with leaders from 4-15#. My usual leader sizes are 6, 8, and 10# either Yo Zuri Hybrid or Gamma Edge FC. Honestly, I've *never* even been close to being spooled even after a LOT of bass over 6 pounds, hard fighting striper, etc. 1000 size Stradics are all I use. 2000, 2500, 3000 are all fine, too, especially if you use a longer rod and want better balance. I just prefer smaller and lighter setups (and shorter rods). @roadwarrior (correct me if I'm wrong), uses straight fluoro on his 1000 Stella.

While I've not been out recently on fresh water, I can say the weeds were scaling back in November. Methinks there'd be little out there. Only possibility is the small side of Harwood's Mill Reservoir. If roads are better tomorrow I might could pass by and give it a check. I'd be interested in testing, if I have some water that meets the weedy criteria.

Welcome aboard, JT!

Yeah...this can be seen as rather questionable, especially with some play callers in the NFL right now they passed on...hope that McBeane will have a great draft this year.

Longer yaks will tend toward a truer tracking line, and often a little more speed.

No joke on that. Would have been a potent mixture. I wish we'd have kept Schwartz, but with D coach Rex...

This is so right. And right now, I want a new Offensive Coordinator. Dennison wasn't McD's first choice, and I understand why after this season. Even tho we made playoffs. I'd take Chan Gailey again over Dennison. He would have taylored the offense to TT...

Go Bills! Woooo!

Welcome aboard, Zak!

My condolences. Lost my Mom 2 years ago. I understand.

Yeah, I've toyed with the idea, too, Nate, but I've played it safe and kept my TRDs in original bags and in the second (larger) compartment of my guide box. I would say @Scott F is right with the Plano box advice.

Welcome aboard! So many opinions on the matter that it is really something that boils down to you and what feels good in your hands. For reels, I prefer Shimano. I've had great experiences with their Stradic and Chronarch lines. I'd not hesitate to pull the trigger on a Tatula, either, so I think that's a fine choice. In the $100 range of rods there are an awful lot of really good rods that could fit the bill for an "all purpose" combo. You don't need to drop a few large to make it work for you (unless you want to). Get to a local store that has the Tatula, ask to put it on several different rods to get the feel of the setup in your hands.

Definitely less than previous years. Simply didn't get out as much... No numbers, don't always keep track, so they'd be inaccurate.

Yes indeed!! Hail the Bengals!

They needed a miracle and Miracle Max provided one!! Can't believe it.

Probably because they can Me? Not a chance -- unless I won a lottery

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Thanks! You, too! Yeah, Hedges should have been in the list...ah well I'll check out Reed when I have a few. These past few years I've not played much, but my 2nd eldest son who's a high school senior, has gotten the bug and I've been teaching him Open D (so easy), which became my default tuning after a lovely fingertip injury. (Lesser tension) He's enjoying it, learning a few songs here and there like Summer of 69, and some other "classics". I used to be a worship leader at various churches for 20+ years. So a lot of my stuff is "church" and not "dead" funeral dirge church, but lively. My main influence I'd have to say was Phil Keaggy growing up and learning to play. Though I'm a hack compared to him - or any of the guys on the list. Any concert I go to - especially Tommy E, I don't want to touch my guitar ever again, LOL.

Welcome aboard!