5fishlimit

Hey now! Making fun of my Browns is like making fun of a special needs person.

Can you give us more info like the type of water you are fishing, are you fishing from shore or a boat, etc?

I love Daiwa reels, but the old Tatula is my least favorite reel of theirs that I have. The frame is awkward to me in how it fits while palming it.

You might also want to check out the spinning reels by Pflueger - specifically the President. They are around $50 and a great reel for the money. A LOT of people on this board - including myself - use them with zero issues.

I've got several reels spooled with Smackdown, and have been extremely happy with it. I've got 10# (spinning), 30#, and 65#. I love the 10# and 65#, but the 30# I'm not a huge fan. To be honest I'm using the 30# one my senko setup, and believe it's just a matter of me getting used to braid for this technique. I've noticed that the color doesn't fade as quickly as some other brands I've tried. It is very limp and casting is excellent. Noise is minimal compared to brands like PP and 832. Overall its been a winner for me!

Stopped in a local antique shop and saw these two little reels on a shelf. They were asking $7/ea, and I bought both for $12. Both are in good working order, but probably will make their way to my desk at work. The red color reel is a South Bend Perfectoreno model A, and the silver one is a Pflueger Akron No. 1893L. Any info appreciated as I don't know much about these reels.

Nope.

I would suggest East Harbor. You will have great LMB in the harbor, and if the main lake is not rocking and rolling you are a short run out to the islands and some great smallmouth fishing.

I am pretty familiar with certain sections of the Cuyahoga River - specifically the sections through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park by Peninsula, Oh and then up in my hometown of Cleveland. I know it's a bit late since you posted this in December, but I hope you were able to make it.

I had a small stain happen on a Daiwa TDZ 103 from a TW cover, but I think something was spilled on it that cause the color to stain. Regardless, it was enough for me to try the Rod Glove version.

I have this rod in the mag medium for when I am fishing smallies in Lake Erie, and it has been fantastic. For the reel I am using a Daiwa Fuego in the 2000 size. Overall I am extremely happy with this setup.

I cut a small slit in the front of the TW covers to allow for the line, but I have more recently been buying the Rod Glove covers and like them a little better.

I have been buying a lot of my backpacking/hiking gear from them for years with no issues. Steep and Cheap is the discount site for Backcountry.com who is as reputable as REI, EMS, etc.

If it's not cooked over an open fire then the only acceptable method for me is Chateaubriand. It's labor intensive, but in the end well worth it.

My next setup is a dedicated shakyhead rod. I've already got the rod - Kistler Helium 3 7'0" M/XF - and am looking to pair it with either a Daiwa Procyon or Ballistic.

75% Hungarian & 25% German.

I just got back from a weekend on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. I wasn't able to do the entire thing, and will go back to finish later this year. I had some amazing experiences at Woodford Reserve, Maker's Mark, Limestone Branch, and of Jim Beam. My best friend and I signed up for the Maker's Mark Ambassador program, and were finally able to dip bottles of bourbon from a barrel that had our name on it for the 6 or 7 years it was in their warehouse. I was then able to purchase the bottles with my name printed on the label! Limestone Branch (part of the craft distillery passport) was by far the most entertaining as the guide we had was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic. For those of you that love your bourbon it is well worth the time to visit and take tours.

I just spent a week in Iceland this past October, and it was amazing! I'm happy you enjoyed your experience, too! I've got you beat. I live in Cleveland. LOL

These will sink even more slowly as the ZMan products typically float, or are of neutral buoyancy.

My follow up is either a senko or a trick worm, t-rigged & unweighted. Either works just fine for me, and luckily one of the two (usually both) are always tied on.

You won't get nearly the warmth from your 3 pairs of cotton socks as you will from 1 good pair of merino wool socks. Something with at least a 70% merino wool content. As was stated earlier, the old adage of "cotton kills" when it comes to cold weather activities is 100% accurate. Wool will still provide insulation when wet. Cotton will not.

I'm a huge fan of the baby dbombs. I like the compact size it offers, and the colors are great for the waters I fish.

I am using your old rod for the same thing now, too. At first I wasn't thrilled with it, but it has really grown on me over the summer. I had actually sold it to a friend after a few outings, but bought it back when he was hurting for some money to make a car repair. I'm happy to have it back.

That's it? There's about 10 million in the Chicagoland area. In Cleveland we had just under 1.4 million show up for the Cavs, and our greater metro area only has just north of 2 million!

Congratulations to the Cubs on the victory. I'm so proud of my Indians team for accomplishing everything they did this season when nobody thought they would get out of the ALDS let alone make it to game 7 of the World Series. I hope we face the Cubs again next year!