Florida Cracker2

I don't use a scale, I just measure on a ruler sticker and go by length. Not accurate...but hey, it's my fish story.

Learn something new every day. I catch a lot of drum and sheapshead, but the saltwater variety.

I started out with medium gear and progressed to ultralite and super ultralight. Still have my punching/flipping gear, but ultralight is a ton of fun. I like to troll with my med. gear while casting my ultralight along the shoreline for panfish and the occasional bass.

I have a spinnfisher V 4500 on a Ugly Stik inshore select and it balances and feels great. It's $60.

I bought my father the president (smallest one) for his ultralite rod and it is a great little reel. Smooth as my NASCI and Spinfisher V for less money.

Penn Fierce (all metal) or President.

I have two inshore selects that have the foam grips...now they have the cork grips, they work well for saltwater. The Elite have much more selections.

I tried it again tonight and the bail needs to be raised about an 1/8 of an inch to get a proper line lay. There is no room for washers as the spool sits flat on the assembly.

I would love to catch a Peacock bass. They have them in Palm Beach which is due east of me. I would think if they thrive there, they would here.

It's good to go with a nice baitcaster reel. As for rods, I have cheap fiberglass noodles to high quality graphite and they all have their uses. I also have spinning reels from the 'coffee grinder' to the ultra smooth, but baitcasters you don't wan't to skimp on.

Seems like there was always one in the garage when I was growing up and its always worked. Pretty sure it's the working one I have now. Have it on an old fiberglass Garcia rod. The era before ceramic inserts and skirted spools. Also before rear drags, but that has come full circle to front drags again.

Year before last, my wife bought me an Ugly Stik Elite 6'6 rod and a NASCI 2500 for Christmas. At first I thought...oh no, wife bought me a fishing combo I had a couple other Ugly Stiks over the years and wasn't overly impressed with them, but I was surprised at the light weight and sensitivity of the Elite. And that NASCI is a very smooth reel. Last Friday I had some birthday money I hadn't spent so I went to BPS and purchased two more. A 7' M and a 7'ML. I had to inspect about 7 rods before I found two that were nice and straight, but for two rods for $100, you can't go wrong. I put the NASCI on the Med. and a Shakespeare Cant Twist 50/30 on the ML. Already 'got blood' on the ML with a small snook withing minutes of putting on the reel. Anyhow, if anyone is on a tight budget (like me), check them out.

Thanks for the reply. It must be the bail because I fill my spinners upside down with the filler spool on the floor and it filled nice and even. I might have to 'tweek it'. I thought a washer might solve the issue, but it builds up at the bottom instead of the top and the spool sits down on the spool assy. and can't go any lower unless I shave the bottom of it; which might be a solution.

Didn't consider putting a washer inside the spool assembly. I'll give that a go, if I have enough thread space.

I have 3 of these reels, two 300s and a 308. One of the 300s works well and I use it off and on. The other two were retired many years ago by the previous owner who gave them to my father some 20+ years ago, then given to me. I went through them removing the hardened grease, cleaning, getting the bails to work...etc. Even sanded, primed and repainted the 300 making it look new again. They both reel smooth and quiet, but has serious line-lay issues. Line spools on level, but after a dozen casts it cones up on me. It's not a simple fix with a washer on these reels. I compared the bail height with the good one and they appear to be the same. The 300 did have some slop on the slider pin, but the 308 has a planetary style of line leveling and has no sign of wear at all. Anyone have any ideas on a remedy?

I have a couple rods with the Tennessee handles that pretty much balance with any reel. If you like that style handle.

I've been skunked many times fishing Lake O. Some days you can catch them on anything you toss out there, and other days you can't. Same with the Caloosahatchee River. Going smaller and slower helps.

Wow, I'm almost too embarrassed to say after those totals. Maybe 20-25 at 5-6lbs and lower. But I did catch a lot of snapper and quite a few snook during my saltwater excursions. I started keeping a log book a few years ago, but didn't keep up with it. When I get my house addition done I will have more time to beat the water a little harder.

Same here on the Caloosahatchee. Never had one take a lure, but foul hooked several with bottom running lures. Supposed to be excellent eating. I read that they are best cooked whole and broken apart when time to serve. Obviously you have to gut-it first.

They will eat about anything. We have some that come and eat bread floating on the surface. Their depth perception is bad. They often miss and have to back up and align up on it again... usually another fish will steal it from them.

They look like they should be in a display case or above the mantle instead of fishing. Very sharp looking.

Looks like everyone has covered the hazards. So I will mention a fishing tactic I use for canal and pond fishing, approach with the sun to your back...but don't cast a shadow across the water. Move slooooowly. You spook the birds, you spook the fish.

I can walk out in the back yard or side yard and fish. Sometimes I fish for a half hour to an hour in the evenings in a jon boat and trolling motor. I don't fish much from my yard because my wife feeds the fish bread every evening at the main dock and forbids me from catching her babies. My daughter and her have given some of the 'regulars' names. I consider it saving for 'hard times'.

Been very happy with my 12/36 jon. 17lb troller moves it well and a 15 Evenrude makes her fly. Stable enough to stand up in and light enough to drag completely on shore. Also slides in and sits flat in the bed of my truck.

It's a case of 'too many is barely enough'. I just love rod and reels.