Choporoz

I'm lazy...and lack sewing skills...and patience. But if I were motivated to make my own, I wouldn't use weave material. I would try light fabric and or polysomething material. Plastic weaves are better than nothing, but those without visible weave are so much better. I would buy one from Rosie's Rod Pockets and one from 6thSense and try to replicate one or both.

10# Yo-Zuri Hybrid. WITH KVD Line Conditioner

I use yellow Stearns PFD. I ALWAYS fly a blaze orange Yakattack VisiCarbon flag/light. And I use paddles with bright blades that I hold up if I'm worried some can't see me, or maybe is driving into the sunrise/sunset

Coffee, water, generic breakfast bars and cigars....rarely anything else. And as often as not, I forget to eat the bars

Agree with all. Been pretty bad last several weeks....any weekend days where the temp goes over about 42, something triggers major wind events.

I prefer fishing for fish. But, I never caught a magnet, so maybe worth a try. Seriously, though...if I can't get it after a minute or two with my Big Ugly Plug Knocker, I'm leaving it for you guys. My time on the water is more valuable to me than most any lure.

I got a pair of those from Austin last year. Tremendous value, imo.

I got a pair with each of a couple different Thule racks. You can get Thules ratchet ropes separate, but it will cost you

Funny...they are a ratchet mechanism At least mine are that look identical...you can release the ratchet without untying anything

After transporting a number of different kayaks in a number of different rooftop configurations over thousands of miles, I would say that it depends. However, I will say that even with my most confident load, I have put bow/stern 'insurance' straps, like those above, when travelling over a couple hundred miles each way. My current Hobie load configuration, I use them every time. I transport upside down now, and there is more risk of fore/aft slipping then I ever had in the past.

Years ago, I tried Norman's, but found them hard to use for me old fingers. I've tried the newer ones like these and Spros, but, honestly, I find tying, faster, more reliable, and easier than any of them. OP mentioned problem of shortening leader by re-tying, but I have never 'used up' an entire 6 foot leader in a day of lure changing.

40# yellow Power Pro with 8-10# YZH leader

I toss my jigs into the nastiest brush and trees that I can find. I need a brush guard. If I am specifically fishing weeds any 'grassier' than reeds, then I'm using different jigs... or different lure, altogether. Lots of apples and oranges mixed together above, I think.

Tough to say...but I think that if I were forced to fish with only one rod...using the lures you mention....well, a 7'1' MF Mojo spinning rod would be a solid choice, I think.

I've never handled any of those, so I defer to others. Couple of thoughts...if one or two of those have different braking systems, consider against getting one magnetic and one 'other than magnetic'...if all similar, then it isn't a consideration. I don't have that Smoke, but I have a bunch of others. If I'm ever looking at a Smoke vs something else around the same price, I'm probably getting another Smoke.

Then, my answer would be to handle them and decide for yourself.

In store? Or online?

Sure....you can change where the knot is...and what lines you're using. But, I have the same red flags as those above. Don't wait another day to learn to tie your leader well. Sit down tonight and tie braid to flouro knots 20 times....or more. I don't care whether you use uni's or alberto, or fg. I use alberto, but others work well. Whichever you choose, practice tying it until you can do it nearly with your eyes closed. Then, learn to trim the tags with sharp tool so that there is nearly imperceptible tag when you run your finger back and forth over your knot. I generally tie a leader of around 5-6 feet. Typically, I don't want the knot on my spool. But, I use lots of rods with micro guides and the only times that I have problems with knots and guides is when I have cut a sloppy tag. There may be times when you find your leader length just happens to put that knot exactly at the tip when you're pitching. You may get some ticking or even a bit of a hang-up...but it should be rare and trimming the leader down a couple inches should solve that.

That, right there, is worth a good tip. Way too many striper trips come if after limiting, IMO.

First thought was that the father cut off the camera before the spankings commenced....but after a bit more thought, I'm guessing the kid has rarely been punished in any manner.

That is how I approached this discussion. After reading @Catts posts, I understand that some think of luck as something different....something affected, even if slightly, by experience, knowledge....or ?? To me, luck is a flip of the coin...nothing more. I am the cynical, skeptic who is the opposite of this guy. Every fish I catch, after even a short drought, I find myself questioning every possible variable. I rarely immediately conclude that I simply chose correctly....color, changed lure, speed, etc. Instead, I'm wondering about variables in location, tide, time of day, sun angle, fish activity turning on, etc. I dont believe luck is a factor, but at the same time, I still have some trouble crediting skill.

My father's last summer was getting rough for him, particularly with mobility. The whole extended family rented a cabin on a northern Wisconsin lake. We rented a pontoon boat which turned out to be ideal. We sat him out front and he fished all week. He even caught a bass on one of his old Bass O'Renos. Ultra light spinning gear allowed him to fish for hours at a time. Very memorable week for all of us.

I have a Pfluger President XT spinning reel that I love, but for one problem. The big red screw that holds the cork handle knob is always backing out. I'm surprised that I haven't lost it yet, as it has come all the way out 3 times. Now, I'm anally checking it, and tightening it throughout the day. No apparent room for a washer and I don't have any plumbers' tape, or lock-tite. Any suggestions as to how best to tighten it without just forcing it to stripping point?