blckshirt98

Huddleston Weedless Shad...if you can find them.

I've landed a few foul hooked bass but the worst one that I still think about to this day, was one I had hooked right through the eyeball. It was a big one too, 5+ easy but I didn't weigh it, I just wanted to get the hook out and let the fish get back in the water. It fought hard and I was pulling hard on it too, no idea how the eyeball didn't just rip right out the socket.

Reading Cooch/TNT Baits' FB pages he's been testing some new jig colors and instead of the Delta he's been driving up to Lake Camanche, so just confirming what J Bricker said about the Delta being tough right now.

Braid on all spinning reels, with poundage determined by what you're going to be throwing/targeting, and a fluoro leader. Exception is for trout reels where I'll get 2 or 4lb mono.

Just make sure you have a presentation that will cover power/finesse throughout the water column and try not to complicate/overload your tackle boxes with too many colors.

If you're just looking to catch numbers, you can drop shot almost anything and you'll catch fish. Dream shots, kut tails, roboworms, crosstail shads, anything small that you can nose hook that will have some action on a light twitch.

What I can't fix with Mend-It, I throw into the recycling bin.

Since you said under $200 I'll toe right on that line. Shimano Curado 300E/301E at Cabela's for $194.88. http://www.cabelas.com/product/bargain-cave/fishing/reels|/pc/105591780/c/105740280/sc/105742980/shimano-174-curado-e-baitcast-reel/1148885.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Freels%2F_%2FN-1102770%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_105742980 Buy Cabela's gift cards at Card Cookie for an extra 14% off - http://cardcookie.com/buy-gift-cards/cabelas Use the promo code 27FLAT for $5 shipping at Cabela's. I bit the bullet even though I didn't need the reel, paid $148.75 for the gift cards, so it came to $173.63 total. If you wanna get another $25 in gift cards you'll save almost another $3.50, and if you don't like the reel you can always sell it on eBay lightly used/near mint for more than what you paid for it. Subtotal $194.88 Shipping & Handling $5.00 Tax $0.00 Gift Cards Applied - $175.00 Total $24.88

Tackle Express is in the next town over, Canyon Country. i've never been to the brick and mortar store but have bought stuff from their website a few times.

Nanofil is terrible in my experience with it, I've had the line break on me when casting/hooksetting at random spots along the main line(not at a knot) where it looks like someone just took a pair of scissors to it and cut it clean. I used it one season and it was actually great, but the next season I started to experience all the problems. I have reels with PowerPro that's 3-4 years old without any of the same issues so I stopped using the Nanofil.

Cabela's has the Curado 300/301/301EJ marked down to $194.99/$209.88. Better than eBay price if you're looking for a proven swimbait reel - http://www.cabelas.com/product/bargain-cave/fishing/reels|/pc/105591780/c/105740280/sc/105742980/shimano-174-curado-e-baitcast-reel/1148885.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Freels%2F_%2FN-1102770%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_105742980 Also the LuckyCraft hardbaits have been discounted further to $5.99 - http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/hard-baits/_/N-1102771/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_105743880 Also $5 flat shipping if you spend at least $99, using the code 27FLAT Use gift cards and you get get ANOTHER 9% or so off...so tempting even though I don't need a reel.

Drop shot times a bazillion. Nose hook anything 3.5-5" with a thin tail.

I love Molix as a bait company, have yet to find a bait they make I didn't like. Yeah they are a little pricey but when I buy them I have the confidence they'll be quality.

For...boat? Home storage? Or are you gonna be lugging that thing along the shore?

Just make sure you're not the live bait in Florida, there be gators down there!

Shimano Curado 300 is being discontinued so they've been popping up on sale here and there. Here's the lowest price I've seen yet at $199.99 ($219.99 for the Power Handle version) - http://www.thelongfin.com/shimano-curado-e-reels.html Longfin is also a great local tackle shop to visit if you're ever in Southern California.

I use my Boomerang for all types of line but I'll agree that it'll lose it's cutting edge over time. I replace them every two years (used to be every year but I just change location along the edge I where cut my line now and can make it last longer). The retractable cord with the small loop is what makes it so handy - I have a small keychain caribiner I attach it to, and attach the caribiner to my backpack or ideally the belt loop on my fishing pants.

The Plano crankbait containers are amazing. One tip is try using hook bonnets so you don't have to worry about hooks scratching the finish on other baits. I use the Owner hook bonnets and I can usually fit 1-2 extra baits per slot.

Posting this with some hesitation because I can't speak of the rod quality, but a place I bought some tackle from, S&H Outdoors, has recently released some in-house built rods in the $99-125 range with a 30 day money back guarantee. If you're looking to get a deal on a full suite of rods you can probably talk to them for more details, or if you have questions on components (they do use Winn grips), and get a deal since they are the builders.

Boomerang hands down. I went through 3-4 different pliers/cutters then I got a Boomerang at the suggestion of my local tackle shop. Now when I go fishing I consider it as essential as my fishing license.

How fast do you need money? Maybe you can contact an American reel company like Avet or Accurate and ask them if you can intern with them. They're probably designing in-house on CAD software and cutting everything on CNC machines. Or you can find work with a company that does similar stuff for aerospace or the military (Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc) and who knows maybe one day you can buy your own CNC machines and make your own reels. I have a buddy who does machining work, got to the point where he was able to buy a warehouse full of CNC and other industrial machines to work independently doing contract designing and machining parts for larger companies. In his spare time since paintball was his hobby, he designed/machined paintball gun parts like barrels. I think he even reverse-engineered and machined an Autococker from scratch. You can do the same and start out with star drags or spools, then once you're comfortable enough can build your own reels.

I used to eat sunflower seeds but as a shore guy, I didn't feel good about spitting the shells onto the ground, even though it's biodegradable. Thought it would encourage other people who fish there to leave their trash, that might not be biodegradable.

I'll switch to steel/brass but this is a perfect opportunity for a company or entrepreneur to build a better mousetrap. Get a patent on an alloy or process and you'll be set!

Cabela's put some LuckyCraft hardbaits up for sale at $6.99 - they had a better color selection over the weekend but I forgot to complete my order and all three of the BDS colors I wanted were sold out Still got some alternate colors along with a couple of the G-Splash and LV 200. Don't forget to buy gift cards online for another 10% or so off before you pay for your stuff! http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/hard-baits/_/N-1102771/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_105743880

I'm in San Jose and fish the Santa Clara County reservoirs 90% of the time. I'll go trout fishing in the East Bay (Los Vaqueros/Del Valle) and on occasion will fish from the shore up in the Delta or San Luis Reservoir. East Bay is the best for trout - Los Vaqueros, Del Valle, Shadow Cliffs, Quarry Lakes, Lake Chabot, and San Pablo Reservoir are all good spots. I'll always make the drive to Los Vaqueros because I've had the most consistent bite there, very rarely not get bit. Stripers can found in the Delta, Del Valle, Los Vaqueros, and San Luis. I don't target them but reports I read are always pretty good. Bass I've had more luck in the Santa Clara County lakes - Coyote has the reputation for being the best bet for a DD(though this has died down some in recent years), Anderson has always been the best for numbers(though last year it also spit out some , and I've also had success at Uvas, Guadalupe, Almaden, and Lexington Reservoirs. Chesbro Reservoir and Almaden Lake Park are dead water to me, though I know a couple of people that kill it at Almaden Lake Park. If you're driving down from the East Bay the only two places I would recommend down here are Coyote and Anderson, if you go at the right time those places can be off the charts. Shoot me a PM if you have any questions!