NYWayfarer

Evan Williams Honey Reserve over ice.

I am anti-social media. I do like to know what is going on in the world though. I watch a lot of different news media channels some of which are in direct opposition to one another. Getting multiple views of the same events I can see that the truth always seems to be somewhere in the middle.

Stay away from their spinning reels. I have 2 of the Creeds and both suffer from the same problem. Line gets under the spool after awhile. Only reels I own that have that issue. I like the Defy Black series of rods. At $60 they are a good value rod. I like the old version with the cork handles. The new version is all Foam.

Of course, it’s where Joe Namath played. Special place in my heart for Alabama because of Broadway Joe

What do you manly fishermen spray if at all and how much? I got a Curve Crush gift set for Christmas (Cologne, Aftershave balm and deodorant) I have been using it since opening it Christmas Day. I was using original Curve but Crush is fresher and lighter. Over the years I have used and abandoned scents like Polo, Drakkar Noir, Cool Water and Brut. I use one spray of whatever I am wearing as I don’t want to be “That guy” that leaves a vapor trail behind. Especially at the office.

Bar soap, I use Kirk’s Castile original fresh scent. Good in the winter for its simple non-drying ingredients. Body wash, I use Old Spice Deep Scrub with sea salt. The matching deodorant stick is the best I have ever used. It has lemon essential oil in it and made me kiss anti-perspirant goodbye. If you suffer from dry skin get some unscented Vaseline body lotion and rub it in after a shower.

I like Eight O’Clock Coffee Colombian Peaks, Starbucks Morning Joe or Green Mountain Dark Magic brewed in my reusable K-Cup black with 2 Equal. In a pinch, McDonalds McCafe or Tim Horton’s will do.

Lew’s is a good value. It’s hard to compare them to Shimano or Daiwa as Lew’s “flagship” reel, the Pro Ti is $350 a great reel that looks and performs way above its price point. That’s “value” to me. Shimano are great reels but you are paying for x-ship, hagane, paladin, etc. I read a lot about longevity on these forums. Guys that want a reel to last as long as they are alive. I like trying new things and new technologies. Sure my original Mitchell 300 still works but it’s not as light, smooth or silent as my newer model reels. There comes a time to put the old reel on the shelf and enjoy yourself with a newer model.

Let me ramble for a bit... I like spinning gear for: lighter lures up to 1/8oz lighter lines up to 8# no fear of backlash love of spinning reel drag system I like baitcasters for: heavier lures 1/2oz and above heavier lines over 10# no fear of fighting a fish. I can horse a fish in if I want with the heavier line and rods I use while casting. I always carry both but my spinning reels see more action. Early spring and late fall are almost exclusively spinning reel time for me

Only one way to find out. Watch them on the circuit and see what they use. Consider this, If they are sponsored by Lew’s the flagship reel of that company is $350 so unless the pros they sponsor fish Pro TI reels exclusively then they will be using some “budget” gear in the $150 and below range. “Budget” gear use by pros is not unheard of. I remember back in the day Roland Martin was sponsored by Mitchell. He also used Johnny Morris BPS stuff in tournaments.

Shelves are stocked here. I am going to start buying some terminal tackle every week to get ready for ice out.

Medium casting rod 1/4-5/8oz 8-15lb line Medium spinning rod 1/8-3/8oz 4-12lb line Medium light spinning rod 1/16-1/4oz 4-10lb line

11.5 here and two of the stores in my area had plenty in my size.

A hopping retrieve off the bottom. On occasion when the bait is close enough to my kayak and I reel it in Catfish have followed it up.

Yes it catches fish, Bass, Catfish and Pickerel. I have watched big Channel Cats follow it to my kayak and turn away when they see me. I adjusted my retrieve accordingly. I slowed down and stop on occasion to let it drift back down. This accounts for a lot of the strikes I get. I plan on using it a lot more in 2021. I discovered it’s effectiveness halfway through the season last year.

I go online and look for deals on fishing gear. I binge watch a lot of shows I missed in the spring, summer and fall. When it gets closer to April I start hiking to spots I want to try when the ice is gone. January and February are my least favorite months of the year. I did make a trip down to Florida 2 years ago and caught Bass and Bluegills. It was great. Might do it again someday.

My soft bait arsenal from spring to fall consist of the following baits Zman finesse TRD Stick bait (Yum Dinger GYBC Senko, etc) Rage Tail Baby Rage Craw Rage Swimmer or Storm 360 swimbait search bait Tubes (Strike King coffee tubes or Zoom super salty tubes) Dropshot bait (Roboworm, Strike King Dreamshot, etc) All bases covered right there.

I have been using the Lew’s Speed Spin reels for my Smallmouth river fishing. Great reels for $59.99 Size 100 with 4# line on Light action rods, 200 with 6# line on Medium Light rods and 300 size with 8# line on Medium action rods. As far as Kastking goes, I have the Sharky III spinning reel and would recommend it.

Clear or green. I was using green more than ever in 2020. Clear Big Game was sold out in my area.

I started using it because it’s weedless. I keep using it because it was magic.

Both my PB Largemouth Bass 5.26 lbs and my PB Channel Catfish 9.18 lbs came on the same lure. The Z-Man finesse TRD on a tiny child rig.

I have been able to dress in jeans and sneakers at work since going back to work from the pandemic. We have no visitors so it’s been dress down all the time instead of just Fridays. I find Dick’s has great end of year clearance sneaker sales. They have a colored dot system on the boxes. The colors represent the percentage you get off the lowest ticketed price. I got a pair of New Balance all terrain running sneakers for $23 on a 50% off sticker and a pair of Adidas for $3 on an 80% off sticker. These year I wasn’t as lucky. Got a pair of Adidas Terex sneakers for $31 not bad but not as good as last year.

Mine was most likely an old Penn level wind used to catch Bluefish on party boats off of sheepshead bay or Long Island NY

I was going to ask the OP if it’s cold where they live and if the reel was delivered by mail. Any reel I got delivered in the winter has been stiff. Usually loosens up after a few days at room temp in my house. This include my new Lew’s inshore LFS holiday purchase. Would be sooner if my wife didn’t keep the temp set to “arctic cold”

What color is the blank underneath the black paint? If it’s white or a lighter color, I do the ole “you might be a redneck if you...” and take a black sharpie to it.