Darren.

I have some control, then I lose it, then I get it back, then I lose it again. Slowed down a bit on fishing gear though, because these days it's all about power tools... Milwaukee has become my best friend. Home Depot knows me by name. At least I am FINALLY finishing projects around the house. So I pay for tools and do the work myself rather than pay a carpenter waaaay more to do the work...and have no tools to play with afterward! So right now I'm suffering from a Tool Monkey attack.

Welcome aboard! Don't fish NC often, so will defer to the folks from NC to give you advice

I know the feeling. I worked for a telecom in Rochester, NY in the 90's that was bought by a very flamboyant and not too great of an owner...who ran the company out of money. I took a RIF as did my entire management line (I was an IT manager)...tough, wasn't really fishing much then... But these things happen. Good luck finding a new job, and enjoy what fishing time you can get with it!!

KEEN Men's Waimea H2 Sandal Saved my toes a bunch of times!

Welcome aboard, David!

So glad to hear they were wearing PFDs and no life-threatening injuries. Agree with @hunterPRO1 that it likely could have been a much different outcome if not wearing them!

My guess is the dye has changed. I haven't used red in maybe 4 or 5 years

I definitely wouldn't go for red Power Pro - unless their dye has changed. It bled all over my Quantum baitcaster...haven't used red since.

x2, got these, as well as Boomerangs with me on the yak.

Yeah, daydreaming about fishing then a rude awakening always snaps ya back to reality. Been there quite a few times. In some ways we're like this:

Could also be the patent has expired, assuming the R2S was patented, which I would think so. Kinda like generic drugs, gotta wait so many years before we can buy them after a product first hits the shelves, but once that patent expires, it is game-on. If it even works like that for fishing lures...

They're falling for your wiles, laddie! Keep throwing sweet nothings at them and they won't stop! You might need to call Larry Dahlberg and give him some tips on Muskie fishing!

Welcome aboard!

Boomerang snips are excellent, but there something else you may not even think about: Kid's Fiskars scissors from Walmart! They really do work well.

Thanks, it worked this time...odd that. The way he thumb-bars is what I was thinking it was, and how I do it. So good on that. And man did he bring in two fat bellied bass!

Palming a spinning reel for me is either to add to the drag, or to stop the fish from taking line. When I use my thumb on the bait caster I'm doing something very similar, exception being ability to reel in with added pressure as can on a bait caster. Not the same, but almost the same in principal. Regardless, I still see no need - in how I fish - for back reeling. Based on how others describe it, I feel my overall technique does the same, with drag. I.e, being able to slow a fish down and turn it. [[BTW, the video page would not load for me, security issue apparently. Either the redirect was being intercepted, or their security cert expired...either way, I decided not to pursue. Chance you could embed it in the post?]]

I know of "thumb-barring" I do it myself, but not always. What I consider the equivalent on the spinning reel is palming the spool....

That's a *great* question! Drag is good on one, not the other?

4" for me. I've caught tons of 6 plus lbers on down with them. 5" was my PB, though, but I just don't have as much success with 5's. I've got a 6" that I rarely use.

Welcome aboard! Your setup looks fine, tho I'd probably go for a MF or MXF rod. To your quoted question above, yep, its mostly preference. I'd only recommend one if you want to learn how to cast and fish with one. But honestly, it is not necessary to simply enjoy the sport of fishing. I went the baitcaster route and have only one reel with 2 rods left (one rod is MH, the other ML - for diff techniques). I still fish it, but not as often. And I spent $$ on the reel - a Shimano Chronarch 50e with upgrades (had 2, sold 1 - have other brand casters, just never use them, or passed along to my sons). That said, I like having learned and become skilled at using one, but after all the time I spent doing so, even with the goal of going all baitcasting, I ended up back in the spinning gear camp for 98% of what I do. Spinning is just (to me) simpler, less worrisome with windy situations, equally as accurate (you have to learn accuracy for either). Both are tools for a job. Both work, both can "hammer", both can "drill", etc. On a particular technique one may be better suited than the other, but that doesn't mean you can't do said technique with the other.

Doesn't bother me. I don't backreel, never found the need as I feel I've got pretty good control over the fish when I'm fighting with drag setting/line choice/rod power, and so forth. I respect those who do back reel, just don't see need myself. Have both reels (in 1000 size) @A-Jay shows above, as well as a 1000 FK. The drags on these are nothing short of outstanding (IMO). The newer CI4+ model is amazing.

Ouch!

Welcome aboard! Nice ride Several NoVA/MD yakkers on the forums. I'm sure someone will chime in soon.

Thanks. That's what I was looking for. Saves me a call. Guess I'll end up replacing it eventually, when I have a spare $85 + $15 s&h laying around...

Yes, fully registered. I'm doubting the downgrade, too, but keeping hope nonetheless... The LT was actually an upgrade from an Avid....