YakPirate

great story , would also like to see some pics ... nice retrieve for the win!

wow.. curious about that also , if true then i'm getting all my fellow retiree's together to sign up and maybe start a frat on campus! ...just like "Old School"!

I don't believe fishing is an olympic sport in any way , shape or form .. way too many outside variables to consider and out of the athlete's control. Although , if they include quaffing copious amounts of alcohol and witty banter .. i might tune in. Maybe if no boats allowed, bank beaters using artificial lures only...run 10 miles , bank fish for 15min in pre-determined beats, mandatory lure/rod change between beats...oh , and you have to carry all your gear.

Carnac the Magnificent has seen enough .. it is 5.9lbs ....exactly

this week's EDC for me is the Benchmade Striker... light and versatile .. A.G. Russell has what you need. https://agrussell.com/knives from dinks to full custom..

you are probably right about the adjusting aspect, i have the centrifugal brake set on 2 of 4 , and generally leave the external brake alone , and just calibrate each different bait with the tension knob . Yea , i only had the reel for 3 months so i may need a little more trigger time. you identify "over-runs" vs "back lashes. I may be having more over runs than back lashes because i can generally get them out with no problem. but they are frustrating to say the least , but it hasn't damped my like of the reel. I need some fall action to pickup around here as it has been skunk city lately. i have been practicing my baitcasting primarily from shore to get the hang of it , normally i'd be in the Yak, but it has not earned my confidence yet to be welcomed on my ship.

i'm new to the baitcaster game and currently using a lew's tourney MB, spooled with 15lb mono, and throwing jigs, cranks and heavier baits in general. Struggling with backlashes in 1/25 casts. Leaving the lake with more cut off line in my pocket than on the spool .. : /

Those belong on a wall,under glass, in a gilded frame of gold , properly illuminated on a 24-7 basis very nice!

i carry this in my edc bag ... https://www.amazon.com/PhysiciansCare-First-Aid-Only-90458/dp/B00O9QKKAQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1473185229&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=PhysiciansCare+PhysiciansCare+by+First+Aid+Only+90457+Mossy+Oak+Challenger+First+Aid+Kit+(Pack+of+48)by+First+Aid+Only+90457+Mossy+Oak+Challenger+First+Aid+Kit+(Pack+of+48) YEA! .. i said it .. MY EDC BAG! ... or my man purse (aka 'Murse)

4'' Berkley Power worm Pumpkinseed ....BOOM! (mic drop)

Lew's Tournament MB is new to me still as well .. we are still hot and heavy! But she knows she still needs to perform if she wants to stay in my top 5. Sometimes, i hear them argue in the locker room about who is the new number 1 !!!! ...haha

I really just enjoy being outdoors and the solitude plays a big role , and now that i'm Yak'ed up , i don't mind getting lost for a while on the water ..take it around the next bend

inhaled it! --- when fishing alone Nom Nom time! --- when fishing with the kids

i believe you are right , says it came with longer handle.. it just feels a little short still ...i guess custom is the only option

nice , i'll go have a look see .. thanks Billsman

I'm kind of new to the baitcaster reel scene, been a spinner guy all my life. I just picked up a Lew's Tournament MB in 7.5:1 and learning to love it. while i like the speed of the retrieve the handle feels a little small/short to me. Is it possible to get a longer handle for it? .. is it a pain to swap out? thanks in advance

Congrats Bill on a catch of a lifetime!!! ... although i would have preferred to hear/read the story from Bill himself.

Not enough apparently , cause I ain't catching ***** .. no really , i'm at about $800 annually.. i try to get out 3x a week if possible ... bite is very tough up here right now

i just picked up a Lowrance Hook 4 with a $50 rebate , i think that deal ended recently but they are now offering a free lake or Nordic Insight chart card if that works for you http://lr.factoryoutletstore.com/cat/68405/Lowrance-HOOK-4-Series-Fishfinders.html

Crocs make my feet smell,(pretty sure it's the Crocs) and i'm in the same boat with the guys who can't stand things between their toes (flipflops) .. i have a pair of Zeko and they are very good, but found these to be lighter and dry faster. http://shop.bodyglove.com/r/en/product.php?product_id=65880

Maybe it's a cultural thing , a geographical thing or maybe it's just me. I was brought up on the notion that the LMB was a game/sportfish to be sought after for the fight and to be released quickly so the next guy/gal has a shot at catching it next time. Law is the law and says you can keep certain fish at a certain length/weight, but i just don't get why you would. that said, i have had fresh fried crappie sandwich on an open fire during a fishing all night'er and it was awesome!

it depends, if left in a high traffic lake/pond, i may take it and leave a note with contact info , or if in a desolate area, i probably leave it thinking the owner will return once realized.

i don't care much for dismemberment photos, this one is particularly disturbing. what nightmare's are made of! get well soon!

Never used leaders in the past and have been somewhat successful as well. Just didn't see the point of adding another link in a chain that was long enough already. Also , can't stand the thought of a knot of any size passing through my guides every cast. shudder at the thought!.. but i do understand it makes sense in some conditions, but those crystal clear conditions are a rarity in my area.

depends on what your fishing for. If for bass , i'd stick to black/dark worms / gold colored spinners / dark colored jigs and such...