Fish Chris

Yea', I'm in the same boat ! I just "found" an old, but brand new rod that I think will be perfect for my Striper fishing. So, I took the reel off of my other, broken down old Striper rod, and put it on this brand new one.... and it's not that this new rod is so much more sensitive than the old one, it's just that its a brand new rod, and the first thing I noticed after putting on the old reel, was that it was getting a little bit grindy. Well that sucks. Can't have an old worn out reel, on a brand new rod. So, I've already picked out a new reel for it...... Just figuring I should probably pay rent, fill my gas tanks, and buy some groceries first Peace, Fish

Man, that sounds like some really fun catchin' Congrats, Stay on em' ! Fish

Thanks for the replies Christine, not so much my index finger (you mean from the line ripping past it, right ?) as my shoulder. But even that is only an early season thing. I get conditioned to it pretty quick. Couple weeks maybe. Peace, Fish

Well first thing.... I bought some of that 30 lb Big Game line for my leader material, and just from spooling it onto the smaller (slimmer) spool, it felt fine... very similar to the Maxima Ultra Green, I'm hoping to replace with it. Then I was thinking, now all I need is a spool of 20 lb Big Game, for my medium weight bass gear leaders. As I go to put away the rest of the 30 lb, I'm like, "What's this" ? ...an almost full spool of Big Game 20 lb ! Ha ! Don't ask me where it came from, or how long I've had it ? I'm wondering about the shelf life now ? (need to go read that recent thread) and maybe put it through some bench tests.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Next, remember I was asking about heavy spinning rods ? Mainly for my swimbaits.... but I can use the same rod for Stripers too. Well, I was looking at my rod rack, and I was thinking, "I do have that one brand spanking new Okuma Guide Select rod, that was just a little light for 5 oz swimbaits... But how light was that rod anyway" ? > 10-20 (my swimbait rods are the next one up... 12-25) So then I pick up the rods I've been using for Stripers (including one that is about to fall completely apart, and just lost a guide) and it's, drumroll please... 10-20 ! Ha ! I got a brand new Striper rod, sitting right here on my rod rack, and hadn't even thought about it Wonder what else I have lying around here that I could possibly use ? After the screwed up day I had, it kind of seems like a fair payback Peace, Fish

Ha' ! This is pretty funny ....my landlords mother, who is close to 70 years old, and has spent her whole life in the Fiji Islands (a small group of tropical islands in the South Pacific) is visiting, and has been here for about a month. I'm sure she is already tripping on all of the crazy modern technology we have here in the US... But anyway, just now, I called her to the door of my room, and said, "Mom... Watch this.... and I played the Pipe Dream DVD in HD wide screen format, on my 46" LCD, for her" She watched the whole thing, and the look on her face was priceless I'm sure she had never seen anything like it in her 70 years.... especially living in the Fiji Islands She doesn't speak much English, but she gets the point acrossed pretty well, and she was just like, "Wow" ! Fish Yea, Jamirique is cool. That guy has more soul than most black guys He should get together with Joss Stone. I like her too though. And the Squirrel Nut Zippers, also cool Oh.... so can somebody teach me how to post vids directly, like is done here above ?

.dsaavedra., that was fantastic !!! I love it ! video 9 music 10 But her voice might take a little getting used to... the sound of it anyway. I do love her singing style though I saved the link to that vid.... Now I want to check out the rest of their stuff. Much thanks, Fish

Actually, these are recorded with a lot of ultra-low bass frequencies, that really need to played on a high end system for the full effect.... be it a high-end home setup up, or in a vehicle. But again, I listen to a really wide range of music anyway.... like say going from this stuff, to Celine Dion, to Korn, to Michael Jackson, to Beck, etc, etc, etc. I've even been known to play a country song or two..... Then back to some kind of techno-bass tracks Peace, Fish

I just can't see the words "quality" and "spincast" being used in the same sentence. Just kind of an oxymoron LOL Peace, Fish

It's called Animusic. I've been cranking this stuff up on my truck stereo for quite a while now. I got the DVD + CD, and both are just phenominal Not sure how you guys get the actual little video screen to show up... but this should take you to the vids anyway... Pipe Dream 2 http://www.youtube.com/embed/v9ySRK3poq8 Planet Groove Oh, and if your one of those guys that "only" listens to country... or "only" listens to this, that, or the other, don't even bother. This stuff is as different and whacky as I am Peace, Fish

Hey A-Jay {how funny is this... their is a HairClub.com info-mercial on TV behind me } Your right about a bald head getting cold in cold weather, but no amount of hair will keep your head as warm as one of those fur-lined bomber hats I posted about, a while back. I'm going to get 1 or 2 nicer ones next Winter Anyway, I wish I could make what hair on my head, I do have, stop growing ! 1) It's a PITA to have to shave, and 2) I hate the shadow that says, "Yes" I'd be bald on top, with a receding hairline anyway..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oh, but hey, the original post said > Reseeding hairline..... Uhhh... I dunno.... do they make seeds for that ? LOL Fish

Well SirSnook.... On a micro-light... easy. On a plug, quite a bit tougher (so far in this area, impossible) On a plug on a micro-light... good luck. .......although about 5 miles from my spot, I had an old buddy who was throwing a little, tiny 3" fluke, on a long, flimsy, steelhead (I think they call them, noodle rods ?) I believe with 10 lb mono, and he stuck the most beautful, fat, 48", 45 1/2 lb Striper I've ever seen ! That was at night though. As long as you have a line in the water, anything is possible. Oh but hey, I have been thinking about videos lately... and looking at some cameras.... Peace, Fish

Alpster, well yes, they are keying on shiny minnows, but those shiny minnows are often 12" to 14" long ! That's why I always come back to an MS Slammer. Another thing I've been thinking about, is throwing a #16 Hud, in spite of the fact the water is so shallow, and just burning it back as fast as I can, to keep it from sinking into the soft mud bottom. We all know that a person just can't crank it too fast, for a Striper to catch it..... I remember burning rattletraps, a million miles an hour, and having Stripers blast it while swimming a million mile an hour, in the opposite direction ! ....and I was using braid no less ! Talk about the most bone jarring hits of my life ! But again, that was in other times and places. I've just never seen Stripers SOOO freaking selective / picky, as they seem to be in this area.... which in one respect is probably a good thing. As even the guys that find out I'm sticking good ones in this area, have such a hard time catching the Split Tails in the first place. I guess I'm just lucky to have that part of it pretty dialed in. They can be tough sometimes, but I've never failed to stick a couple nice ones, every trip this year, anyway. Hope I didn't just jinx myself ! Peace, Fish

Well, I'm 46. Up until age 18 or so, I could reach around, under either arm, and grab the end of my hair behind my back... maybe about 6" over my belt. But at about 25 it started thinning way out. Around then, I cut it short, and pretty much always covered it with a hat anyway. Even people who knew me well, would trip when I'd take my hat off.... so I hardly ever took my hat off. Then, about 4 months ago, I started shaving my head. It only felt weird, or awkward, for a week or two, but after I noticed that nobody was paying any attention to my bald head, it felt totally comfortable. Now, I only wear a hat when I have too (at my work, or if it's too cold to not wear one). I just can't wait for Summer, so I can get a good tan on my head Don't know about your area of the country, but around here, bald is so popular, you will see lots of young kids (18 to 25) who are bald.... and obviously don't have to be. Fish PS, Maybe loud stereos caused me to lose my hairing

Ehhh..... Not exactly the music for me, but to each there own. I do listen to, and enjoy such a wide range of music though, that I can appreciate a TON of different stuff, even when it's not the stuff I'd typically listen too. Hat's off to any young kid that has made her own video, and has 20 million hits already. Fish

I think we can ALL relate to that one ! ;D Fish PS, Crestliner, their's a bunch of cool lures on that site. Link saved. Thank you.

I've never heard of live Eels for sale anywhere in Nor Cal. In the last few years, frozen Lamprey Eels have come on pretty strong for Sturgeon bait. I used to be able to get them for $5.95 from one local place.... but at regular bait stores, they can go anywhere from $15 to $30 each ! Once I was using a cut strip of Eel, for Sturgeon, and hooked almost certainly, a nice sized Striper, but it came ubuttoned before I got to see it. Somewhere it seems to me that I've seen large, soft plastic eels (6" to 9" ?) that could be rigged on a jig head, or even a wobble head, then casted, and retrieved.... and I'm not beyond trying this, but these Stripers just seem to be SOOO keyed in on those bright silver Split Tails.... Hmmmm..... Just hope I don't get weathered out Mon and Tues ! Eels.......... Fish

In my Striper spot, I can and do nail the Stripers consistently, on live Split Tails. Obviously, this is the prime forage for the Stripers in that area. .....and I have caught Stripers in the past, on artificial lures (Rattle Traps, Hair Raisers, Flukes, etc + night crawlers and other types of baitfish) in other areas. But I can't seem to buy a Striper bite, on anything other than a Split Tail in the hot Striper area I've been fishing the last 3 months ! I've thrown wakebaits, swimbaits, rattletraps, you name it ! I've even stayed after dark a few X's.... but not so much as a touch, on anything but, a Split Tail ??? So next week, (if I can find a break in the rain ) the tide is a great one ! My shallow Striper bay will have a BIG outgoing, and drop all the way down to -0.8 feet ! This means that the part of the bay where they stack up, will probably get down to 8 inches ! (shallow enough to get me stuck if I'm not careful !) But this also means, that if (another big if) it's not windy, and choppy, I will actually be able to see the wakes, and even in the murky water, be able to tell exactly where the fish are at, so I'm able to crank my wakebait right in front of their noses ! So, yet again, I'm thinking, "Why wouldn't they hit an MS Slammer" ? I mean especially if I'm fishing in 1 1/2 feet of water ! They should, right ? It's just that all of my past experiences have shown otherwise. Why do you think these fish are so single minded ? Your thoughts and suggestions please. Thanks, Fish PS, One nice thing, here in Cali, we have what's called a two rod stamp. So, I can still have one rigged Split Tail out there kicking and thrashing, while I use my other pole to throw artificials....

http://www.vhemt.org/ Every single word I've read over so far ! All just 100% truth ! I've been saying this all of my adult life. But rarely have I met anyone who agreed. Then to actually find a website, about a movement like this.... I really thought I was one of the only human beings who cared about the destruction our species is causing. {I'm not finger pointing here.... I'm talking about human beings as a whole, myself included ! And every additional human being, poses an additional problem.} In a lot of respects, I enjoy being the oddball, who thinks for himself, and goes his own separate way, in spite of the masses.... But on the other hand, it is kind of comforting to find out I'm not the only one who thinks this way. May we live long and die out Peace, Fish

Yea' buddy ! What a great catch ! And a great photo too ! Whooo Hooo ! Congrats ! Fish

I'm not really worried about weight. I mean, I don't want it to feel really heavy, and clunky like an Ugly Stik, or something, but anything lighter than that, and I'm fine. I can / do balance every rod I ever own, with rubber but caps (table leg caps) and quarters. Works great. Cheap and easy. Of course I'm still looking for a pre-built rod that will work for my purposes, too.... But it seems to be a tall order ! Fish

so again, I really need at least 1 (for now) but eventually 4 or more rods, which are apparently nearly impossible to find.... leastwise, for under $100. The rods I'm using now, which work great for my purposes.... both for throwing 5oz swimbaits (Huds) and for my Striper fishing, are my Okuma's, which are rated as follows; {oh, and of course these have been discontinued } Spinning 7 1/2ft (up to 7' 9" would be fine though) 15-30 lb mono rating 1-2 oz lures 1 piece, of course. ....for under $100. The closest I have found, are the St. Croix's, which do meet all of my criteria, except for price... about $150. Have I overlooked any possible choices ? Thanks, Fish

Hmmmmm.... Alpster, I went to that link you showed, and it would seem like this one; MHISK-6 CIS80ML 8' 12-20 1/2 - 2 1/2 oz. Fast HLG, HLGSF Cork $99.95 .....would be the one for me, shortened 3" of course Granted I would still need some guide wrapping thread, and epoxy.... and the machine to spin the rod would be nice... not sure if it would be mandatory... But the other big "possible" issue I might have, is this; I always tell people > Never buy a rod based on spec numbers and actions you see listed in a catolog... You have to pick one up in person... even if you turn around and order it online, afterward. So, I even went to the Lamiglass website, to see if they used this blank in a finished Lamiglass rod, so that I could possibly find it somewhere, and hold one in person... maybe even hanging a Hud off of one first.... But no. They do not list a rod of these specs on their website ? So how could I be sure that blank would not build a rod that was too heavy, or too light ? Of course if I could ever get this all straight, I'd really like to have at least 4 of this same rod (two for my swimbait rods, and two for Stripers).... and maybe 1 or 2 more in the future. So, it's not like I'd be going through all of this trouble for just 1 rod anyway.... Fish

Much thanks guys ! Alpster, I will look into those inshore kits now. Oh, and I appreciate the offer on a rod build.... but yea... shipping on over length packages... parts.. etc. I know it would be hard to keep the price down. RW, well, if I'm either building one myself.... or, having one built for me, and I'm allowed to be particular (which I guess is okay with a custom rod, right ? ) I'm looking for a 7' 9", heavy action rod, rated for 10-25 lb test (mono rating) 1-2 oz lure weight (although heavier here might be okay. Heck, I do commonly throw 5oz Huds) Quality guides, black in color, that are good with braided line. As for finish.... a black, or natural carbon blank, with a single color, non-metallic wrap... I dunno... dark green, dark rust brown, or maybe that very dark black light purple.... Anyway, building one myself might be fun, and the kits are probably the way to go.... Peace, Fish

Thanks again guys Breezy, well, under it's skin.....but obviously, you don't want it to go too deep into the flesh. These things are amazingly tough though ! If you don't get bit (on a bad fishing day) they will usually live all of a 10 hour fishing day ! And I know it seems like you are rigging them backwards.... but when you think about it, a Striper always takes a bait fish head first.... So with this rigging, you don't have a line, trying to pull it around the wrong way, and the hook is already in the setting position Oh, and it's better to have a photo in which the fish looks bigger than it really was.... then, the angler gives the actual weight, which is smaller.... Than for it to look smaller in the photo, and the angler gives the actual weight... or worse yet, his guess of its weight, and that # is bigger, right ? I mean, who's going to lie and say it was smaller than it really was ? ;D {actually, I've been catching a bunch of 30's and 40's.... but I didn't want to act like I was the shiznit... so I've been shrinking the weights LOL} Shimmy said, "I'm winning" ! ;D ;D ;D Peace, Fish

That price doesn't sound too bad. But I think that might be a little light for my puposes. The Okuma swimbait (spinning) rods I use, are rated for 10-25 lb line, and 1-2 oz lures (although I throw 5oz Huds on them with no problems at all). Hmmm... Fish