blckshirt98

I use 2lb Vanish for my trout leaders and it works fine, I once reeled in a 4.5lb trout on it, no breakage. I've read the first batches of Vanish were brittle and caused a lot of headaches and turned people off but Berkley re-worked the line and the breakage issues no longer occur. But reading some of these other posts, maybe the heavier # test isn't as good as some of the other options available.

RIP Huddleston Those weedless shads keep getting pushed back month after month after month.

I believe the KVD ratting squarebills are a BPS exclusive, so other stores won't carry them.

+1 to omfishing for drop shot weights. Would buy again.

I showed some restraint and only got 13 packs, though I did wipe them out of their size 2 dropshot hooks.

Thanks for the heads up and also curse you because now I'm going to spend more money.

Can someone provide a second confirmation that gift cards work at both places? I'm asking this because Cardpool has Field & Stream gift cards at 10% off, but has Dick's gift cards at 17% off.

I'm curious too since these stores are relatively new (first one opened in 2013). Are they more like a BPS with a lot of in-house/major national brands? And how large are the stores compared to say, a normal Dick's Sporting Goods (which all seem to be the same size no matter which Dick's you go to).

I once bought a swimbait from a well-stocked eBay swimbait seller from Japan, and he threw in some candies and stickers. Unexpected but nice touch, and definitely makes the transaction memorable.

I'd def go with some modified bottom dredging system unless it was a rocky bottom in which case a diver would be the only thing I could really think of. For a $700 phone you can pay someone $200 and still come out ahead.

20# seems to be the cutoff for spinning/casting reels. Don't go above 20# braid on your spinning reels, don't go below 20# braid on your casting reels. For braid I stick with old faithful PowerPro and Sufix 832 - both are easy to find anywhere, usually on sale somewhere, and haven't given me a reason to switch to another brand.

Question for the reel maintenance people - I'm not one to take apart reels where I get to the gears and clean and re-lube completely, but I'll do the noob things such as remove spools, handles, and make sure they're clean. One question I have though is that I've been putting drops of reel oil (Ardent Reel Butter) onto the moving parts like oiling up a bike chain - for example in a spinning reel i'll put some on the shaft that goes up and down until the reel is smooth, and for casting reels I'll remove the spool and put some drops into the gear area of the reel. I'm not sure if the oil is the right lube for the job or if I should be using grease, but the reels feel better. Am I doing more harm than good doing this as opposed to a proper maintenance job?

I use the Plano fixed compartment to store some terminal tackle at home because the adjustable dividers always seem to allow some terminal tackle to find it's way into other compartments. When fishing though I like to keep tackle in individual small zip lock bags (I save these from tackle purchases) because it's easier to find for me. In particular I like to keep hooks in original packaging, I think loose hooks that are always moving around in a compartment might cause dulling over time.

I really like the Phenix XG series glass crankbait rods. I have a manufacturer made XG3 rod, and liked it so much got a (used) custom XG3 with a left-spiral wrap. I use it mainly for crankbaits and chatterbaits, and it's a great rod and casting it all day is effortless. Full disclosure - I did get a Megabass Orochi XX Swingfire for small-medium crankbaits (KVD 1.5-ish size) but for larger cranks (KVD 2.5 and above) and chatterbaits with beefy trailers, I do prefer the Phenix XG.

I wouldn't say more success, but there is greater satisfaction and sense of pride when you catch a fish on something you made or modified yourself.

I have an Original Buff that I mostly use but it's in it's 4th season now and starting to get beat up. I got an Original Buff XL to replace it but it's not too much bigger than the original size, but any bit helps so I don't feel like I'm getting stranged. You also might want to look into the Original Buff UV Masks because instead of being a typical straight tube, it's shaped to fit over your neck/shoulders which are usually a problem with a traditional buff that tends to clump up and expose your neck/shoulders.

I use the smallest size Spro Power Swivel to attach my FC leader to braid mainline (too many knot failures on a double-uni) and I'll use as much leader as I can to cast comfortably without letting the swivel hit the top guide, so usually around 30 inches.

Cooch just posted over the weekend, he's catching some tanks in the Delta right now, he says the females are in the deep grass (that might be tough to reach from the shore) - https://www.facebook.com/pg/Coochs-Fishing-100487170079719/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1167454990049593

American Legacy has Curado I 200's for $129.99 and Curado 70's for $149.99.

You can always go with a 2-in-1 Frankenstein setup and tie a dropshot rig but instead of using a dropshot weight, tie on a shakeyhead. I used to do this and it worked but stopped because I fish a lot of snaggy places from shore and got tired of losing a bunch of tackle every time I had a break off. Go with a size 2 hook and nose hook a 3.5-4.5" plastic for the dropshot, and a 1/8oz or lighter shakeyhead for the bottom. For a completely different style go with a cranking setup. Slow finesse can get mind-numbingly boring, cranking gets you involved with constant tactile feedback.

$400 per setup is treading into "enthusiast" territory. At that point I'd try to identify the 1-2 techniques you have the most confidence with, and just go for it and save up and get 1-2 technique specific dream setups that you'll use until the day you die.

Del Valle, Shadow Cliffs, and Los Vaqueros are primarily trout/striper lakes (all three are stocked regularly with trout). I do 95% of my trout fishing at Los Vaqueros, have been to Del Valle once (caught my first and only smallmouth there), have been to Shadow Cliffs once (didn't catch anything). Have never caught a largemouth at any of those places, though the only time I targeted them was my one trip to Del Valle. For largemouths you might want to just go up and fish the Delta from the shore (look up Holland Tract - take Byron Highway to Delta Road to Holland Tract Road), or once the water clears up, drive down to Anderson or Coyote Reservoir in Santa Clara. Don't forget to take into account parking/fishing fees - Los Vaqueros, Del Valle, Shadow Cliffs all are gated with opening/closing hours and charge for car parking AND a fishing permit, on top of your normal CA fishing license, so $10-12 per visit. Anderson if you fish the south side of the reservoir off of E. Dunne near the Woodchopper picnic area you don't have to wait for a gate to open nor pay to park. Coyote is open 24 hours a day but you have to pay for parking (honor system electric kiosk during off hours). Holland Tract you just park on the side of the road 24 hours a day.

For anyone near Columbia, PA, Susquehanna Fishing Tackle is having a sale event from 3/16-3/18 in-store and 3/19-3/22 online. I mention this because for the in-store sale starting tomorrow, first-come first-serve, their Loomis IMX rods are 50% off. That's almost worth camping overnight for.

I ran across this story and it says a lot about what we've all been talking about - http://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/closure-of-seattles-lincs-tackle-shop-a-sign-of-changing-times/

You don't need a "really good" setup, just a setup that you will fish and not replace. One thing you want to avoid is to buy multiple setups for the sake of having multiple setups, already knowing you'll replace them before you even get to the checkout line.