Josh Smith

Not anymore. Not for a while. It used to be I'd get fatigued but that was, oh, 20 years ago maybe. For a while there I could fish forever without a break. Now, it appears I have slight ulnar and carpal tunnel. (Numb pinky for the first; numb thumb, first and middle fingers for the last.) For this reason, a lot of the action comes from my fingers these days. I sort of roll the reel in my hand. I split the wrist to finger action about 50/50. My elbow only comes into play if I'm doing high lifts of a jig, or if I'm setting a hook, or something else that requires medium motor movement. Actually, when I set a hook, my wrist comes up, my knees bend, and my back arches. I don't know that my elbow even moves when setting a hook if I'm standing up. When I'm burning a lure, I keep my arm and wrist locked and turn at the waist. Regards, Josh

There's a lot of new stuff out there that I, like Raul, have used for a long time. For example, the drop shot method I keep hearing about here. I did this as a teenager. When I considered its origins at all, I wondered if anyone else did this. It was just a way to get the worm to do what I wanted. Spinnerbaits and such have not changed much. Josh

4'6" to 6', depending on action and construction. Short and/or pistol grips are best. I prefer accuracy and precision. I might get five more yards out of a 7' rod, but I don't think so. I've been fishing since I was 2 and casting since I was 3, and I learned on pistol grips. I recall my tendons being sore at the end of practice or after a fishing trip. No longer. Five hours with a 5'6" MH/F rod and a 1oz lure is nothing. It's what you're used to, not what's "best." Regards, Josh

The chicken bone method has pretty much been disproved. Josh

Oh, yeah, I know... but sometimes confidence breeds messups. Josh

When I was down in Southern Indiana from about '98 to about '02, I seem to remember ice storms more than anything. Josh

I just did the other day. I was tuning a reel and felt the line begin to fluff almost immediately on the cast. When I went to control the spool, I ended up with a nice friction burn. Turns out I thought I'd adjusted the tension but it was it was actually 360 degrees out of where it should have been. Josh

I've been thinking about building a 5500D for this. It backreels but a drag controls the backreeling. Been forever since I did this, though. I took the dog out of a 5000 once and tried it for a bit. It gave me no advantage over the drag for the time and place I was fishing, so I put the dog back in. Regards, Josh

Hello, About all I use are centrifugal brakes. I have one reel that is both magnetic and centrifugal. The ones that have mag only I don't use, though I do have a couple Quantum reels. I run mine dry. In fact, when I take them apart (which is often) I clean the brake plate ring with denatured alcohol on a Q-tip. If I have excessive braking, I go to lighter brake blocks or turn off a brake, depending on the model of reel. Regards, Josh

Your only mistake was not building a car fast enough to outrun the cops...

Try twitching it erratically. Josh

Thanks Raider. Let me expound on this: I've been to college a couple times for a couple things. First time was a cluster because I got involved with a chic and some other things, but it was for the best. My major was law enforcement and I was getting jaded with the "us vs them" mentality they were forcing on us. That is the number one thing that separates the civil servants from private citizens (not civilians; police are civilians as well. They're not military.) Second time around was a double major in industrial electrician and industrial maintenance. Sometime in there I got my CNA certificate. Homes, from what I saw in both clinicals and OTJ treat their "residents" like hell. I won't be doing that again and didn't pursue the field. Through all that, there was the interest in guns and gunsmithing. At this point in time, I'm expanding the line of things I make and in about two years I'll be getting my FFL07 so that I can work on and modify (vs simply repair) the firearms that interest me, like the 1911. Degrees are excellent for some things. However, my dad, who is an electrical engineer, could not wire a house with the same legality as an electrician. There are just subtle differences there, and if a tradesman can do something that cannot be done by someone with a degree, well, hell, that tradesman has a degree as far as I'm concerned. Regards, Josh

Mike, the fiberglass Lew's isn't even fished anymore. It is Dad's and though I can use it, I don't want to. That thing is sensitive for fiberglass! I'm finding I like rods a step or two down in stiffness from the most modern high-graphite rods. The first BPS rod I had snapped when it shouldn't have, and though the new one feels a lot better, making me think that there was something wrong with the other one, it still feels... interesting. I think I might actually prefer these hybrid rods if the Cherrywood is any indication. If that's the case, I might modify my future order a bit from what we discussed. Let me do some more research and I'll PM you. Regards, Josh

Thanks, guys, I'm having to look up some terms here so I'm slow to respond! Josh

Raider, while not technically a degree, I count skilled trades the same as having a degree. Maybe I shouldn't, but there's not enough difference these days. I was trained by an old-timey retired gunsmith who had a bunch of old 1911 frames and slides and rimfire parts. It's not bragging but rather fact when I say I'm better than most my chosen specialty, and this includes new gunsmiths with these "gunsmithing degrees". On the other hand, I really bite at things like the AR platform. They just don't interest me. I know what you're saying about the trades. They should count as degrees in my opinion. Josh

Hello, I've mentioned before that I have debated fishing a local tournament if I can find one. Co-anglers are not something I was aware of. How does one choose a co-angler? Does one have to have a co-angler? I'm thinking that if I do this thing next year, I'll look for someone who is better with, say, spinnerbaits than I am. Someone who will make up for weaknesses I have in fishing. I seem to be good with crankbaits, creature baits like jigs and Texas rigs, and topwater like the Zara Spook. I am not all that great with spinnerbaits or buzzbaits. No idea why, but they don't work well for me. I don't believe I'll look at the person's rod/reel/tackle. If he is comfortable with what he has -- even if it's a Zebco 33 combo! -- I'm not one to judge that. If it's evident he's not comfortable with whatever he's using, then I might pass. Making money doing this isn't important to me. Fun factor is. Heck, if I thought he could stand it, I'd let my 6-year-old be co-angler, but I think I'd need someone with a bit more patience. I'm just trying to figure out how all this works. Thank you, Josh

I wondered. That belt he has -- it doesn't fit with what the Mennonites here would wear. I love the straw hats ya'll have (or, they have around here, anyway) but it's been no joy finding one as they're made within the church here. Anabaptists (Amish, Mennonite, Brethren) have my tremendous respect. The Amish saved our butts when I was only a couple months old during the Blizzard of '78. We had an all-electric house in the country, the power went, and the Amish came and got Mom, Dad, and me using a sleigh after the snows let up. The Brethren are some folks we're involved with, especially my wife. They help out women in need; the ones who are on drugs, on parole, etc. We were married in the Brethren Church. You Mennonites... never had much dealings with you all except to know that most of you are upstanding, humble, and respectful people. I'm afraid I embarrassed at least one of your faith when I asked where to get the hat. Ah, well. Such talk is likely not allowed here so I'll leave off. I only wanted to share my positive opinions here. Regards, Josh

Probably not on this vehicle. It looks too new, 2000 or newer. There's a VSS (vehicle speed sensor) which tells the computer what the speedo should read. Ditto the tach -- I believe those signals come solely from the computer now. If these readings were correct, the check engine light would trip and the engine probably wouldn't run. I'm saying there's a common ground for the oil pressure and tach that's shorted. That's my best guess knowing GM stuff but not knowing the particulars of this vehicle. Josh

Dad was an engineer before he retired and was making six figures. He went to college while working full-time as maintenance. Mom was a stay-at-home with three kids. Yes, go to college. We need a middle class. Josh

Men think primarily with logic. Women think primarily with emotion. If you're going to have a successful relationship, you have to have a strong friendship foundation. I made it simple. I married my best friend's sister. Josh

Just a word of caution: you will feel sort of wrong liking rods that inexpensive! It's just weird if you're used to being around higher-dollar stuff! Josh

I don't know that I've ever had bass. I probably have but didn't know it. Mine's a fishing family. When dad and I wanted food, we'd specifically target bluegill, crappie, or walleye. Dad said he didn't like bass. It tasted too strong for him, so if I have had bass, it was at an extended family campout. (The Smith side used to reserve several campsites and spend the week camping.) I don't have anything against anyone who eats bass. I would if I felt like cleaning them. I don't doubt that some taste like grass. I've killed deer that taste like shagbark hickory and acorns, especially in the fatty areas. If you get a squirrel with some fat on it, chances are that fat will taste like acorns or hickory nuts. Just trim the fat and it tastes decent. If you take bass out of a lake that has a lot of grass, you might let the fillets soak overnight in a bath of salt water and ice cubes. That should leach out the worst of the taste. Josh

I know a guy named Scott who is in law enforcement. He's not in SC, though.

I have heard this. CCI and Federal are both owned by the same parent company, but their ammo is markedly different. In the end, though, it's all Made in China. There are a few I'm looking at that are not. Josh

Hello, I like the Cherrywood HD. I left off serious fishing in around 1998, and came back to it in 2013. There has been a lot of progression, and I don't like a lot of it. Some of it's awesome. I have a newer 7' Lightening Rod. It's a good rod, but long for what I like. The Cherrywood HD I bought is 5'6" and more of what I think of when I think "Medium Heavy, Fast". Today's fast rods are more along the lines of what I think of when I think "super fast tip." The Cherrywood is a hybrid design like the Ugly Stick, I believe. Still, it's super sensitive. To answer your question, my MH/F Lightening Rod is a good rod. It's not the best nor is it the best for my needs, but it does fill a certain niche role. The ones I fish regularly are a '90s Daiwa MH/F graphite, the Cherrywood HD MH/F, a modern Daiwa M/F 6'6", a BPS 5'6" MH/F, and a Berkely 4'6" graphite ultralight rod. All have Ambassadeur models on them except for the ultralight, which is a spinning outfit using a Pflueger reel. Regards, Josh