Evan K

I'm hoping someone who lives around the area can help me out with this. I live not too far from LOZ but have never fished it. I don't have a boat and so I'm pretty much stuck to the shore most of the time. Does anyone know of some decent spots for bank fishing? I know the topography and dock/condo/private land situation is not ideal for it, but I'm hoping there's an area or two that might be good.

Are you talking about a spinning reel or casting? The 3000 part makes me think spinning. I just paired a CI4+ 2500 size spinning reel with a Powell Max 3D ML rod and they balance beautifully.

Jealous of that Levante! I just received my Shimano Stradic CI4+ from Tackle warehouse (sorry, meant "another site"). It pairs almost perfectly with my ML Powell rod- balance point is about 3/8" past the bail. The whole combo is nice and light and feels like it will be pure joy to fish some finesse baits with!

Half the sites you can buy from will be censored as "another site" by Bass Resource, so don't expect too much variety. :/ I have yet to find a consistently better place to buy brand new in box reels than ebay- almost always a "Buy it Now" item for a decent little percentage off MSRP and average store pricing. Sales and specials aside, of course.

I'm going crazy too. Most of the small ponds I fish are frozen solid and probably aren't going to thaw till Spring. My nearest lake that isn't frozen is probably a good hour drive away, so that precludes "evening after work" fishing. And my Saturdays have been packed with work. Some Saturday here I'm just going to have to head up.

Thanks all! I wound up taking advantage of a bizarre Tackle Warehouse deal and got a Stradic ci4+ for $147. Still thinking about the baitcaster though.

Well, I think we're talking different things. Indeed it is the rod that launches the lure, as an extension of your arm. But the quality and smoothness of a bait casting reel has a tremendous impact on the cast, much more so than a spinning reel with its stationary spool.

@Jrob78 puts it best.

Lol. The voice of reason.

Kind of not the case with baitcasters. Spinning reels yeah.

Whew, slow down man! No need for half a dozen combos all at once. And did you really just buy a boat too? My only bit of advice is to use braided line when starting out with baitcasters. It's limp and easy to work with, easy to pick out backlashes as well. Good luck.

...And my DSG was a disappointment as always. Virtually nothing on sale.

OK. I was looking at the VMC DuoLock snaps recommended by DVT. They come in number sizes from 00-6? or something.

What's a good all-around size for a snap?

Oh my. Wish i had that old catalog- bet that's a lot of fun to browse through!

It can be as expensive or cheap as you want it to be. I have a set allowance for any personal spending I do per month. If my focus is on my fishing hobby that month, that's what I'll spend it on.

Sounds cool. Mine is going on my new Powell Max 3D.

Mine shipped today too. Yes!

Wow sure enough, that was brief. Reinforces the thought that it was a mistake. I sure hope they honor it. I'd be pretty disappointed if they don't.

I think it's a terrible shame that he did what he did, but he was not ignorant of the rules, and knew that it would cost him a place in the HOF. He made a choice that he regrets now, but he's a grown-up and must live with the consequences.

Ouch! That looks really painful.

Well huge kudos and thanks to @smallie.mike for alerting me to the fact that the Stradic ci4+ 2500 is currently $147 on Tackle Warehouse. Incredible deal and I've already ordered one. Thanks a lot!

Hm, I do like the sound of an aluminum drag knob! I don't like the chrome plastic ones. Guess if I could find it for $10 more than the ci4+ that'd make it worth it to me.

Ha. I've seen lots of sales on ebay for Otto's, never any that low yet. I'll keep my eyes peeled. Sounds like great service. Thanks for the tip.

Wow- where'd you get that??