livin2fish

I love mine.

Quick answer Paul, it has not held up. The 40# flattened and began to fray after not a lot of use. It was on one of my less used rods so was probably used less than 50 times.

^^^^^This will help, a lot. Bluebasser's method is Aces. I've seen too many fishermen trying down the throat method and killing the fish because they couldn't get the right angle. The longer you fish the fewer gut hooked fish you will have, using all of the previously mentioned methods for early detection of bites.

+1^

I don't even try flipping treble hook baits let alone skipping them when touching them. In the past I get in a nice cadence and then not let go of the lure at the right time and instant hook in finger. I am a slow learner, it has happened more than once or twice. I like to catch fish, but don't have to for a living or entertainment. My skipping will be with a mh spinning rod and appropriate line. That's just me. To each his/her own. Enjoy.

Sounds like you had a fun day. Isn't that what it's all about.

I've had two symetre's for years. One had the lockup problem, the other did not. The one that locked up mostly happened during the heat of summer. Started during second year of use. Sent it to a Shimano repair shop and they said they removed the friction ring. Both reels now over 10 years and are still used regularly.

I have a 17 ft aluminum Skeeter. Facing into the waves while on the trolling motor, I've had the waves come over the front of the boat a couple of times. I don't weigh much, 155 lb. I try to stay aware of "wake" boats passing and head the boat into the waves and move to the console just before the waves arrive. Only have to do this a few times an outing. The rest of the time, based on the size of the wake, I just prepare for the rocking ride. I do have ipilot with a remote which helps keep direction and distance from docks etc.

God bless!

Have a happy one!!!!!!!!!!

^^^^^This

Thanks Glenn. My morning routine would be seriously mundane without this site.

To keep tension on the braid, for me it is easiest to tie a simple surgeons knot in the end of the braid, loop it over the butt of the rod and sit on the rod butt while pulling the braid up like a bow string. When ready to tie the half hitches, just cut the braid at the surgeons knot. There's a you tube that shows this. Can't remember who's. Always for me, the problem is the half hitches coming loose after travelling through the guides many times. Rissoti(sp?) finish helps but is not a cure. Won't use super glue on the boat. Can't fish with my fingers stuck together lol. Going to try quick dry nail polish.

Yup, been there done that as well as other absent minded things.

I believe you have a plan^^^^^

I was thinking more about the "quality time" with family in Colorado during the Minnesota winter. Any winter fishing in Colorado would be a bonus.

We vacation there yearly so my experience is limited. If you are looking to wade fish for trout, the Tukaseegee River flows through Bryson city and into Fontana Lake just west of Bryson City. If fishing for trout, be sure to stop in at a tackle store (there's one near the train depot) to get the rules on where you can fish and what lures you are allowed to use (single hook or otherwise). NC is confusing on when, where, what and how for trout. Fontana Lake can be fished for all other fish where the Tukaseegee joins it, but due to winter draw down, steep banks make for very limited access to the water. There are quite a number of mountain lakes around that area and my suggestion would be use Google Earth as a resource (lakes near bryson city, nc). Sorry I can't be more specific. Lake Santeetlah is a particularly beautiful lake, and has some picnic and camping areas around it, which should provide access for fishing. A bit of a drive from Nantahala village.

Is Colorado in winter and Minnesota in summer out of the question?

I used a couple of spools of Nanofil and mostly liked it. Didn't have any problems with leader knots. Had a few wind knots, but the reason for changing to Fins Windtamer was, Nanofil being so light, I didn't like the way it ballooned in the wind. I do not feel the change cost me casting distance. May have improved my accuracy, which to me is more important. To answer your direct question, I never got a spool with bumps on the line. Don't believe I'd use it.

First, I do not have micro guides on any of my rods, baitcaster or spinning and only use leaders on spinning (15 lb braid to 8 lb leader). The only braid on my baitcasters is for frogging and punching with no leader. That said, the Alberto knot goes through all the guides on my spinning rods with no problem and I personally have had no experience of the knot degrading. Some put a drop of super glue on the FG knot to keep it from coming loose at the leader end of the knot. That is the only problem I've ever had with the FG knot. Properly tied, the FG is the best knot for going through small guides, but check regularly to be sure the "finish" knots are not coming undone. The Albright knot is a thin knot but for some reason I can't tie it with reliable consistency. Practice your knot tying until you find what works best for you.

This^^^^^^

Have had my stainless boat buckles for 10 years and have done nothing to keep them working. Love them.

I'll bet you could fashion a removable tiller that would help reduce the twisting as you paddled. A boat only has to be as big as each persons needs at a point in time.

I like Fins Windtamer 15 lb braid as good as any braid I've tried for 2500 and 3000 spinning reels. Almost always have a leader tied on. My reason for the leader is, it is very difficult to break off braid if snagged and I'd rather leave a short leader in the water than a long section of braid to get tangled in someone's motor.

I have not had any lost fish due to split rings on hooks, but have had two with split rings on line ties when using straight 15 lb braid. The knot was still there, unbroken, but everything was gone. My guess is that the split ring did not break, but the line worked its way through the split ring during the fight. I'm a slow learner, it should have happened only once!