Tim Kelly

Hope it's not windy down there!

Please post what the repair people find. I remember seeing something similar when I took one of my reels apart, but never thought anything of it. I think it's the reel that sounds really rough, despite extra greasing.

Wow. Sounds like hard work to me. I like the take, then to see the fish, the fight is just anxiety inducing and I want it over and done with before the hook falls out!

I've never had any sea fishing where the species are that explosive. If a fish genuinely pulls 150 yards off you, what are the chances of you actually landing it? Seems like they'd be fish you'd be likely to lose no matter how much line you have, but I've never done it.

With you all the way. Always good to have something in the diary to be looking forward to.

Ha ha. You're as bad as me with the countdown to Bassfest 19. Starts as soon as the flights are booked, 6 months + ahead of the game. Look forward to your reports.

I would think a rod rated up to 7oz is hardly going to load with 1.5oz. Did you try lengthening the drop when you are casting? I still think your line is the biggest part of your problem though. 30 Samurai is way too thin, it's about like 10lb power pro. I would get a spool of 65lb power pro and put that on instead. I bet it helps things considerably. Absolutely no sense in putting 300 yards of any line on a reel used for bass fishing.

I think they all stretch more or less the same amount really. Going up in diameter overcomes the stretch issue in a lot of ways. 20lb appears to have more sensitivity and hooksetting power than 12, but the presentation is compromised by the thicker line. Depends what you're trying to do.

As above. Also, if you're new to using braid it's important not to overfill the spool. Leave a good 1/8" to the lip. Closing the bail manually, making sure the line is taught before you start winding and keeping an eye out for loops of line on the spool are also important. All lines have a learning curve to them. Mono is the easiest to use, fluoro the most awkward, braid is in the middle, but offers many advantages once you get the hang of it.

My last couple of bass trips have confirmed to me the worth of the megabass visions. I threw a 110 jr in Spain and it was demonstrably better than anything else I was carrying and recently in Canada the 110 +1 was an absolute stand out. The vision 110 baits work with far less angler input, which makes long jerkbait sessions far less strenuous. The KVD and Lucky Craft baits would do pretty much the same thing, but needed much bigger rod movements and effort to get them to dance.

Living in the UK, with a very good, though obviously not perfect national health system, I can't imagine the terror of living in America with the constant possibility of being forced into bankruptcy just because you have the misfortune to have an accident or get ill. A friend of mine who has a very good job and could easily retire is kind of forced to keep working just to keep the healthcare insurance for him and his wife until they're old enough for medicare. Universal healthcare seems like it should be a basic tenet of a civilized society, especially in developed countries, from my European perspective.

Needs more lead.

We had a great day. Still blows my mind drop shotting in 20-50ft of fast flowing water, boat control is key. We didn't get any beasts, though I had the best fish of the day shoot up to the surface as soon as it was hooked, jump so it could show off it's impressive size to everyone in the boat, then give me my hook back. We had around 25 fish to the boat, mainly deep, but some shallow fish too.

Well that was the most fantastic fishing trip. I've had some great ones, often with Tim, but this time we really surpassed ourselves. The weather was, on the whole, perfect. Warm days and slightly cooler nights, only a couple of little storms, and even the deer flies weren't too annoying. The fishing was probably more difficult than on previous trips, but that was almost advantageous as it made us try a little harder and expand our range of techniques and styles of fishing. Early in the week we discovered some crappie, which have always been an enigmatic fish on the lake and as they're so delicious, they became a bit if a target when we were in certain areas. We never fully worked out how to catch more than the occasional one out of the schools, but that was good enough for a couple of meals. Later in the week as the largemouth became more awkward we discovered smallmouth and finished the week in absolute style with a 20lb bag the morning before I came home. What a way to end the trip! Lots of memories to keep us going while grinding away at the day job. The mantra for the week, when things were getting difficult, was "What would Lenny do?" an homage to Lenny Devos who fishes the RBT in Canada and was completely dominant with his partner a couple of seasons ago. Kept us amused. Massive thank you to Tim and Mary Johnson for making it possible. Very special times, hugely appreciated.

If the motor cranks when it's tilted but won't when it's down there's probably an issue with the wiring. It's losing the connection when you tilt the motor down.

Charlton Heston's favorite brand.

He's a great guy. We had a day with him the last time I was over a couple of years ago. Be interesting to see what the high water does to things. It was high two years ago as well. In about 30 hours time I should be at the cabin on Newboro lake, near Westport Ontario. JUST TOO EXCITED!! ?

I have a very expensive, phenomenally light, Japanese ultralight Aijing rod that is borderline unpleasant to use some days as the minimalist handle is so thin.

I'll be up there in a week. Having a day on the St Lawrence with Dean Meckes, can't wait. According to Dean's facebook page they seem to be having a few decent days. Hope the weather and fishing gods smile on us for our day!

I came to it from pike and muskie fishing too, but a thin handle still makes my hand ache!

I find most Japanese spinning handles uncomfortable and in fact any reel seat that's too thin. I put American tackle Aero seats on all my rods. I find them the most comfortable as they fill my hand. Too thin and my hand starts aching.

Not sure how a completely inflexible material in direct contact with your screen would offer much impact protection, but the anti glare and easy clan properties sound good.

Error

Fish undoubtedly have a sensation of feeling. Attributing pain, in the sense we feel it, to them is a little naive I think. You only have to see fish with horrendous looking wounds swimming round and eating to realise that they can't possibly experience pain in the sense we understand it.

I've had the same experience, makes for a depressing day when you realize that you really have to fish super super slow to catch fish, yet you've no idea quite where the fish will be. Concentrates the mind on where your next cast is going, in about 10 rather dull minutes!