NYWayfarer

I carry a Gerber for the same purposes.

The only reel under $100 that I have that I would recommend is the Abu Garcia Black Max. It’s actually under $50 I find I use it more than some of my $100+ reels. Caught my PB pickerel and smallmouth in 2021 on it.

Love the Bear Grylls knife! My bank fishing tackle bag is half fishing, half “bug out” bag. I got everything I need in case I get lost in the woods. Food, emergency blanket, multitool, pepper spray, sunscreen, bug repellent, whistle, flashlight, fire starter, first aid kit, etc. Chance of me getting lost in the woods, 0% I fish most of the time 10 feet off of a very visible walking trail ?

Nope on the heated vests. Layers and hand and toe warmers get me through a fishing session.

I love a good pasta fagioli soup. If you must have store bought I recommend Rao’s which comes in a jar.

I have the Tournament MB now know as the Tournament MP. This is a great reel IMO. Casts great, smooth and durable. I usually run with 1 of the internal brakes on and dial the magnetic brakes as needed.

The wife has a garden at her parents place together they grow Tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers and herbs. They prepare and preserve it in many ways. My favorite is always the zucchini bread. My wife makes a bunch of loaves slices and freezes them so I have a stash over the winter.

I caught my first fish on a snoopy spincast combo the year the NY Jets won their last (only) Super Bowl. I was three years old and it was a Bluegill at a reservoir. Been fishing every summer since then. Primarily back then for whatever bites. When I was in my 20’s I switched to targeting Bass when freshwater fishing and I haven’t looked back.

I grew up in a house where my mom did all the chores. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, ironing, etc. She was always and still is physically fit while my father has “broken down” with age. If for no other reason I do some chores just to stay in shape ?? Seriously though, I do chores because they have to be done. My wife and I both work full time jobs and divide the housework that needs to be done when we are home. It’s only fair.

I read reviews on all the fishing products I buy. I am looking for reviews that might confirm my suspicions about a particular product I am thinking of buying. For example the new for 2022 St Croix Bass X rods. I remember the old version was “tip heavy” I looked for reviews that mention if the new version has the same trait. I also look for the same complaints on a particular item. If a lot of folks complain about the same thing I would have reservations about buying that item. For example the Abu Garcia Revo SX has the same bad reviews about the side plate falling off. Bad design made me wary to buy one. I did anyway and have no issues with the side plate.

I gravitate towards St Croix. I also like Fenwick, Abu Garcia and Lew’s rods.

My lineup, Spinning Abu Garcia Zata 20/St Croix Bass X 2022 version med light 6’10” xtra fast Abu Garcia Revo X 20/Fenwick HMX med light 6’6” fast Abu Garcia Elite Max 10/St Croix Avid med light 6’ fast Abu Garcia Roxani 30/St Croix Triumph medium 6’6” fast Baitcasting Abu Garcia Revo SX/St Croix Bass X 2022 version medium 7’1” fast Abu Garcia Revo X/Abu Garcia Vendetta medium 6’6” fast Abu Garcia Max Z/St Croix Reign medium 6’6” fast Lew’s Pro TI/Lew’s Custom Black medium 7’ mod fast Lew’s inshore LFS/St Croix Bass X medium 7’1” fast

The same can be said of their Triumph 4 piece travel rod. The noodle and the droop. I bought it for my Florida trip later this year. It should be fine for certain types of baits. I bought a Fenwick Eagle 3 piece which is much stiffer and will handle the rest of my fishing needs.

Ice storm here today. I can deal with the snow, ice is the Devil ?

Sorry to hear about your family. Hope everyone recovers soon. My wife works in a local hospital here and they have 200 employees out with Covid or Covid protocol quarantine. My job has over a quarter of the staff out for the same. It’s been rough on those of us that are able to go in to work as we have to take up the slack. Longer hours and more stress are causing other health related issues. It’s a really bad start to 2022. Hope it gets better soon.

I use sandpaper on wine corks. Then I mix some Elmer’s glue in the cork dust and use a popsicle stick like a trowel to fill any holes with the mixture. Has worked fine for me for years.

20 years married and my wife stopped asking a long time ago why I need another rod or reel. These days she is glad I never got into golf.

Biggest Largemouth on a GYBC 4” green pumpkin Senko Biggest Smallmouth and Chain Pickerel on a Z-Man TRD TicklerZ

Thanks. It’s been great so far. I have had the reel for a few months, the rod is brand new. I read all the side plate issue reviews before buying. I have not had a problem with it. Casts like a dream and far, caught lots of fish with it. I am happy.

Canadian Mist and Coke Zero. It was on sale for $11 with a $3 rebate. Couldn’t pass it up. It’s like most Canadian blended whiskey’s , basically brown vodka.

I hit the banks today as the air temps were in the 40’s. This is what I found… At least I got to play with my new combo, Revo SX baitcaster on a St Croix Bass X rod. Bouncing lures off hard water…thank goodness people were recovering from their New Years celebrations. If anyone saw me they would have thought I was nuts.

My local Walmart had fishing stuff in the clearance isle today. Some 2 piece Zebco and Abu combos and line Stren, Sufix, Trilene, Spiderwire. Also a gift set which had an assortment of Booyah, Smithwick and Cotton Cordel lures. I picked up a few spools of the Stren High Impact for half price and some pony spools of 6lb Trilene XT also half off. And one of those gift sets mainly for the suspending rogue in it.

Z-Man TRD TicklerZ on a 1/0 worm hook with a 1/8 oz tungsten bullet weight. broke my PB Smallmouth Bass and Chain Pickerel on this bait in 2021

St Croix Bass X would be my recommendation.

Grats on the new reel and I hope you recover soon. Blood clots on the lungs sound extremely scary.