Tweek1106

Thanks guys, much appreciated. Boomstick how would you check to see if a reel is a cheap knockoff? Are there specifics to look for or is it pretty self evident when you see them?

Getting ready to make a reel purchase and every retail site has a Tatula CT listed at $129.99 while they're available on eBay for $99.99. My question is how do you know you're getting a Tatula CT or just some knockoff? Would hate to get my new reel only to find out it's a knockoff "Fatula" or some reel that's been refurbished 8 times. The seller is considered "top rated" and add says that the reels are "new" but wanted to get the general opinion here on purchasing from that site.

Know the feeling buddy.... I live in Pittsburgh and it's been a horrible winter with no signs of ending. I definitely take the winter to "reload" my tackle. I hate buying anything not on sale and take advantage of the discounts on black Friday for a large shipment that's all between 25%-30% off. Also do all the rod and reel maintenance while I'm waiting for the cold gray death outside to leave. Thank God above that this will be my last winter in Pittsburgh..... moving to Jacksonville FL in July and will never look back.

Thanks for the advice everyone...... settled on the 7'6" H lighting shock. Came in the mail today and it's EXACTLY what I needed. If you're wondering about the odd furniture I had it shipped to the doctor's office I work for.............what the wife doesn't know can't hurt me!

Need to cut down the glare and won't get into it but contacts aren't a reliable solution for me so wanted any advice on a type of prescription polarized lense (have heard of sports versions with anti fog, anti scratch, etc) and a sports/outdoors style frame.....and if you happen to remember where you got them from that would help too. Comfort, durability, and functionality are equal part important to me. Thanks in advance guys. (Admin if you need to move this I understand, wasn't sure where to put the thread)

What would be the best speed? 7.3:1 Or 8.1:1 ?

About a month or two ago I asked for suggestions on a affordable but serviceable all purpose heavy rod that could be used for various applications around light to moderate vegetation. I'm a extremely frugal (some would say cheap) fisherman and I want to get suggestions for a reel I could pair with this rod in the $150 or less range (be even better if you could recommend one less than $100). I won't be punching 3oz weights through 12" of jungle but would like to be able to use it for frogs and some vegetation work. Thanks in advance

Hey guys, need some input. Wanted to add a H power rod to my lineup for frogs/jigs/pitch/flipping..... currently only have MH power and lower. Really want to keep it under $150 though, I'm a stickler for price and refuse to spend a lot of money. Just for example, I fished the majority of the season using a $14 MH 2 piece baitcasting rod this year........so when I say affordable I actually mean cheap. (Don't laugh too much, I flipped a couple hundred bass with a rod that costs less than a case of beer). Suggestions?

Lol, dirty. Thankfully that will be me next year...... moving from Pittsburgh to Jacksonville and can't wait. I do a decent amount of retail therapy to stock up for the coming fishing season. Just pulled my tackle room apart this past week and have been reorganizing and will now start tearing down all my reels to clean them. Basically trying to not go insane with boredom.

Me and a buddy keep track every year and I wanted to see if anyone else knew how many they caught for the year. Personally I finished at 315 bass of various species (300+ LMBs with a sprinkling of smallies, rock, and spotted bass). *Disclaimer* I fish mostly golf courses, and small ponds so most of those were in the 1 - 2.5lbs range.....not many lunkers at all. How'd you guys do in 2017?

I actually owe almost everything I know about bass fishing to YouTube. My father passed away when I was only 9mo old and I didn't have a male (or female) figure in my life that knew how to fish and could show me the ropes or pass down their knowledge. A buddy of mine lives on a private reservoir and kept begging me to come fishing with him. Finally did, landing a couple nice bass and I was hooked. Unfortunately for me it's lucky my buddy fishes a almost untouched private bass heaven because I came to find out that he's desperately lacking in overall bass fishing knowledge/techniques. YouTube introduced me to pretty much every aspect of bass fishing and without it I don't think I would have nearly as much success as I do.

Me, my wife, and two daughters (6&2yrs old) will be moving to Jacksonville FL from Pittsburgh PA and need more information regarding best/affordable places to live, best school districts (and just what exactly a magnet school is), and generally any insider info you can give me. We both work in the medical field, so jobs won't be too much of a worry (her a RN and me a MA working on my RN) and pull around 80k combined right now. So basically looking for the typical 'middle' middle class lifestyle. I know that we won't be living anywhere in the 32209 zip code for obvious reasons but are there any other areas to avoid? Any up and coming areas that are worth checking out? Basically any and all information is welcome and thanks in advance!

I don't normally bump a topic of mine that goes unanswered but I really want to see if anyone has an opinion on them.

Bought a couple with my holiday stock up order and really like their shape, color, and feel but notice that they have a ridiculously stiff weed guard and wanted to see if anyone had experience with them or opinions on how they fish.

Ehh, I'm moving from Pittsburgh to Jacksonville FL in about T minus 7mo. I'm just going to hunker down and forget that cold water fishing is a thing.

Dick's did me dirty. They knew that I wouldn't be able to resist 20% off. Now I have a shipment of bait arriving at my work because there's no way I'm going to try and explain ANOTHER tackle purchase this close to the holidays to a rage filled wife. Plus the doctor I work for said it was cool to ship to the office anything I ever didn't want the wife to know about....so those are definitely making a covert entry into the tackle room.

Do you need any training or certification to be a marshal?

Was watching a video regarding the odds of a bass making it to double digit weights and was shocked to hear just how few make it. I think it was 1 bass out of multiple millions of eggs... Just wanted to know how many of you have caught a 10lb+ bass and in which state?

That's crazy, do you ever eat them?

Yeah, just found him on YouTube and really enjoyed the frog fishing vids. I'll have to try your technique too with the foam or felt

Lol, I honestly can't find a fishing buddy. Most of my friends who "fish" are extremely casual anglers (3-5) trips a year total and the endless string of no's finally had me quit asking. If I'm not with my 6 & 2yo daughters then I'm fishing alone. Moving to the Jacksonville FL area next year and should be able to hook up with some quality anglers.

Had a question..... Would a large and healthy population of frogs be enough of an indicator that it would be safe to consume fish from a specific body of water? There doesn't seem to be nearly enough information in my area about the edibility of fish from local bodies of water. Also I fish a lot of super small ponds that aren't even named or on any map but would love to keep some of the sunfish/bass I catch but never do due to not knowing what the water quality is. If the body of water has a abundance of frogs (and healthy, not with 5 heads or glowing in the dark) would it be enough to assume that the fish is edible? Thanks for any advice!

Just watched a YouTube video the other day of a guy in Florida doing a 'catch and cook' style video and he walked down to his backyard pond and started pulling out huge bullfrogs left and right using.........a top water frog. (Believe he had a baby pad crasher and some type of mini or micro frog) These things were literally chasing down the bait as he's dragging it on top of pads and scum. I had never heard of or seen this before and wanted to know if this is a common technique? Anyone else try this before and if so any tips/tricks?

Conversely fishing doesn't HAVE to be expensive. For $100 I can take you to Walmart get a spinning combo, baitcasting combo, and enough hooks and bait to get you started. Literally the only thing you won't be able to do is punch heavy vegetation with that equipment. Just my 2¢

I have caught bass in some sketchy places. In my short time bass fishing I've been absolutely amazed at where they can survive and be found. Give it a shot. Worst case scenario.....no bass.