desmobob

I use JJ's Magic on plastics when I remember to. Otherwise, no. Every time I see threads on attractant, I put a tube of Megastrike in my TW shopping cart but I never seem to end up ordering it. I believe that the right attractants can make fish hold on for a little extra time, at least. But I always think of one thing: I can't remember ever seeing tournament footage of pros fishing where one of them applies attractant to their baits. I'm not saying they don't; just that I've never seen one use it... Tight lines, Bob

For you, maybe... I have eight spinning reels on just my ice fishing rods and God knows how many more on my soft water rigs. Since I have long lost track of my reel inventory (I just found a brand new, unused, still-in-the-package fly reel today), I have decided it's time to catalog them. Some time this week, I'll try to make a record of them. You can never have too many reels! Tight lines, Bob

It looks like we have another full week of cold weather before it stays above freezing day and night. I have now spent every available penny on new rods, reels and tackle. If I don't get the boat in and start fishing soon, my future fishing trips will be to the little pond at the poorhouse... Think Spring, Bob

The eBay seller who has been selling Lew's Tournament MB reels for $109 (listing says $139 with a line through it; click for price) has a 20% off coupon today... that means you can pick up a Tournament MB for less than $87. An excellent deal on a nice, lightweight reel with centrifugal and magnetic braking... Tight lines, Bob

You're very welcome. I have a fly fishing buddy who had a great career and did very well for himself. He's retired now and spends almost all his time fishing, all over the globe. He said his most enjoyable fishing is for redfish on the gulf coast. Sounds like you better start hooking into those things... they must be a whole lot of fun! Tight lines, Bob

Mossbak, You mentioned using the reel for some saltwater fishing... I forgot to mention that I use my Daiwa SS Tournament in saltwater for at least a week every year. I rinse it each day, service it carefully at the end of the trip and it's been holding up fine for years. The Daiwa Opus Plus also has seen plenty of saltwater action with no ill effects. Tight lines, Bob

I'd love to catch big channel cats on crank baits all day long... if they were easier to unhook! I guess if I knew I was going to be catching them, I'd mash the barbs down on my trebles; they sure have tough mouths! Tight lines, Bob

I have a bunch of budget spinning reels. Off hand, I know I have a Shimano Symetre, Sahara and Sedona, a Pflueger President, a Daiwa SS Tournament and Opus Plus, a Penn Battle, a couple of Okumas, etc. All are sub-$150 and all have performed well for me. I don't use spinning reels a whole lot, but my ultralight rigs get a workout. I don't think you can spend $75-$150 on a name-brand spinning reel and NOT get something pretty darn good. My next budget spinning reel (if I ever need another one!) will be a Daiwa BG. I have read a lot of great things about them. Tight lines, Bob

He was a great guy and awesome casting teacher. He was also a kind and caring individual behind a funny, cursing persona. A guy I have fished with a few times was a friend of his. I have some of his books and one of his casting videos. I always wanted to get to meet him... he was one of the all-time great ones of fly fishing, for sure. Tight lines, Bob

We older folks had no problem making it through the first forty or fifty years of our lives without carrying a phone around with us... I figure I don't need to start now. BUT... the fact I don't have a phone is now occasionally becoming an inconvenience to my friends. And, as I get older, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a phone in the boat with me. I may cave in on the cell phone thing eventually. But until then, I'm free! Tight lines, Bob

+1 I just got onto Facebook this fall.... Instagram, Twitter, etc. are still the unknown for me. Still don't own a cell phone, Bob

I like reading reviews. In the past, I chose a few reels that received Tackle Tour's "best value" rating and was very happy with them: Lew's Tournament Pro, Daiwa Tatula, Abu Orra Winch. Check out Tackle Tour's review archives and take a look at their excellent tests and reviews. Something might catch your eye. Tight lines, Bob

You won't know what you like best until you try them all! :-) Trying different brands can be an eye-opener. Tight lines, Bob

You are correct. I always think of WWoS when I think of Gowdy, but the fishing segments were on American Sportsman. Later on, I really liked the In-Fisherman TV shows, too. I still like to watch and read the stuff the Lindners and their gang produce. Tight lines, Bob

+1 "Gone fishin' instead of just a-wishin'" And in the pre-cable days, Curt Gowdy did some fishing segments on Wide World of Sports once in a while. We were starved for fishing shows back then... Tight lines, Bob

For me, half the fun of the sport is buying and trying new tackle. I'd guess I could get by handily with about 10% of what I carry. Everyone is different. For some, it's fun to be minimalist. For me, it's fun to look in my tackle boxes and find stuff I didn't even remember I had... Tight lines, Bob

When I was a kid, Rapala minnows; floating and "countdown," were our cherished lures. They were effective (and all we did was cast and crank them) but very expensive for a school kid. As I got a bit older, I used the larger and jointed floaters for lake trout and salmon trolling. The classic Rapala minnow bait had always had a respected place in my tackle boxes. Sadly, I can't remember the last time I used one. This thread has inspired me to get a few Rapala floating minnows wet this season! Tight lines, Bob

Catfish and drum both have the same favorite color of TRD: whatever color I happen to be using. I've never fished for either of these species on purpose, but my personal best of each has been taken while Ned-rigging with a light or ultralight outfit. Tight lines, Bob

My 7' MF Veritas 2.0 micro arrived today. It was ordered from Fisherman's Factory Outlet and sold as "reconditioned." It arrived promptly and was safely packed. It looks absolutely perfect; I examined it very carefully and could not find any evidence of it being anything but new. Actually, I was pretty impressed with the fit and finish and surprised how light the rod was. I put a Tatula 100H on the reel seat and took it out in the back yard for some casting on the snow. I have to agree with popular opinion that the rod is under-rated. It feels like a MH to me. Anyway, it casts great and I noticed right away that the rod seems very sensitive. The majority of my rods are currently Kistler; most all from their KLX line. For a rod selling for less than half their price, this Veritas seems like an excellent value. The proof is in the pudding, and I'll have more basis for my opinion after I get to fish with it. I'm looking forward to it... I'm hoping I'll be able to get out on the water in a couple more weeks. Come on, Spring! Tight lines, Bob

I think I have enough Kalins' grubs to last me the rest of my life. Fish catchers! Tight lines, Bob

I'm at the very bottom end. South Bay is open around the boat launch and the narrow section is open north towards Ticonderoga. BUT... we have a week of below-freezing temperatures forecasted, with lows in the single digits for a couple of nights. It's not supposed to get above freezing here until Thursday. There's a vey good chance the open water will freeze up again. Hang in there, Bob

Our forecasted low temps for Saturday and Sunday night are 5* and 6*. After tonight, it's not supposed to get above freezing until next Thursday afternoon (after the next forecasted snowstorm!). Maybe I should stop messing around with my bass stuff and get my ice fishing gear back out... Tight lines, Bob

+1 As crayfish-eaters, I had figured that a 1/4 oz. skirted jig with a craw trailer would clean up on smallies but, in my experience, they definitely seem to prefer tubes. Tight lines, Bob

Hi visibility colors surely help. I use yellow but will definitely try pink in the future. I have always tried to pick a easily-visible line since the old days of glowing Stren mono. Tight lines, Bob

Heddon Torpedo, Tiny Torpedo, Smithwick Devil's Horse, and Yozuri 3DB Prop are all in my box. I STILL haven't bought a Whopper Plopper yet! This year.... Tight lines, Bob