mllrtm79

amazon has 3000 yard spools of the xt for $46-57 depending on 10 or 12 lb test... I use Sufix Elite in 10# for my mono applications, and berkley trilene big game in 12# for backing braid ($6.79 for 1175 yds)

What ponds do you fish or plan to fish in Delaware?

Cope (original) pouches are my go-to in situations when I can't smoke, I got tired of the mess of long cut or snuff about 8 years ago. I guess nicorette gum would work too, but I haven't made that step toward better health yet.

Welcome!

I'm about 3 months into learning to use a baitcaster... It is difficult to keep up with what I've learned when I only get out about once every three weeks or so this winter. I ran across a fella that was selling his lower end combos cheap, so I got 5 baitcaster rod/reels and one spinning setup for $100. It's been a blessing to have several different reels to use, (one is even rh) to get to know what I do and don't like etc. before spending a lot of money. If you were closer I'd say swing down and you can have a vendetta and a black max to try out. My first day on the water with a baitcaster was "fun", but I at least was in open water bombing 5/8 and 3/4 oz lipless cranks for stripers, so I have worked on finesse since then.

we throw black and silver for stripers, and white, gold, or shad patters for lmb

I picked up an underspin last night, figured with all the swim baits I have been getting in the boxes lately I should try one out. I have some devil spears that I figured I'd try on it as well.

I got in and out of Gander mountain last night with only a couple jointed jigs, a underspin and a package of T-stops... Since I only had ten minutes before the movie started I thought that was a good time to stop in.

Not sure if this is where this should go... but there will be a Fishing Expo on Saturday Feb 4 at the Laurel Delaware fire house. I am planning on going, figured some of you may be interested too. From the Big Mouth Lures website: Big Mouth Lures Fishing Expo February 4, 2017 Big Mouth Lures will be hosting our first Fishing Expo February 4, 2017. Buy, Sell, Swap or Trade. Carlisle Marine as the Official Boat Sponsor will be there as well as other vendors and displays. Location: Laurel Fire House located at 205 W. 10th Street Laurel, Delaware 19956 Times: 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Admission: Adults - $4.00, Children 14 and under - Free Dealers and/or Individuals interested in aquiring table space may use the application below or contact Big Mouth Lures at 302-344-1827 or 302-745-4668. Space is limited and is expected to fill fast.

I'm going to the movies with my son this evening, can already hear the bait monkey screaming from Gander Mountain across the street from the mall... Tomorrow is my anniversary, so I have a decision to make

just a few (20ish) bags of plastics... and January LTB. Oh, and a couple of those jigs I saw for cheap...

snack crackers, Tastykakes (if you don't know, well... you just don't know), water, occasionally an energy drink or Gatorade, raw almonds... I used to consume 2-3 energy drinks per day as well as coffee in the mornings, but high blood pressure has cut me off of most of that. I generally don't drink much coffee on fishing mornings due to the access to facilities on the water.

With Wiser's up there??? I love me some bourbon, don't get me wrong, but I really wish we could get Wiser's Very Old in Delaware.

I suppose I am rather brand loyal, depending on the product involved... I have more Abu rods/reels than any other, mainly because of the quality/price, but my favorite spinning reel is a Lew's. I am cheeeeep, but I was given a Huk fishing shirt by a customer (they had sponsored something down in OC MD) and have since added them to the list of brands I like (now I have another shirt, a sweatshirt, and even a pair of their boxers). Gammy hooks mostly, Suffix line mostly (other than backing), and GYCB. If I am turned onto something that works well most of the time I stick with it, not chasing the next new or improved thing more than brand loyalty. In bowling it is Ebonite, I have only bought one ball other than an Ebonite in the past 12 years or so.

I was looking through old pictures yesterday and found this one, probably the last time I had gone bass fishing prior to the summer of 2016. Interestingly enough the guy who took the picture was new to bass fishing, and so I was showing him some things that I knew and hooked up on this 3 pounder. Just Sunday night we'd talked, and he is letting me be co-angler with him on a small pond circuit this summer... Funny how life will bring you back to things you're passionate about, and a bit of shared knowledge might come back to you as a blessing ten years down the road.

I am joining up with a small 6 tournament buddy circuit, so my goals changed a bit. Learn all I can, and expand my jig and crankbait fishing knowledge. I had never thrown a jig prior to Thanksgiving weekend last year, so I have a long way to go. This past weekend was nice enough that I got out for 4-5 hours and played around with a jig and a couple trailers in clear water, not really fishing as much as experimenting with how things looked in the water. I did have one bass follow the jig up to the bank at one point, so I must have done something partly right, now to get her to eat it lol

I've been outfished by partners with the same color of the same bait, there are too many variables involved to even speculate... Front of the boat vs back of the boat, better presentation, more accurate casts, hitting a stump an extra time from a different angle, floro vs mono, 3/8 jig with 50 strands vs 1/2 jig with 45, red hook vs black, 21" floro leader vs 17", I had my mouth twisted wrong, I was hungover, confidence. Wrong flavor Gatorade maybe?

DEZ CAUGHT IT!!! whoops, thought that ended internet disagreements...

I've noticed with several lure styles, crankbaits mainly and not as much with senkos, that a distinct color change on the side (laminate soft or chart stripe on crank) seems to trigger a reaction more than a specific color did at times.

I was watching this while my gf was screaming at the packers on tv yesterday afternoon, after enjoying the day down at a couple of my fishing holes: I don't know about ya'll, but this man has caught more fish in the last 12 months than I have the past 12 years...

For Christmas my usual boater (gf's stepdad) gave me a plano bag that has 4 3750 boxes in it. Almost perfect, and the outside pockets hold a small box with terminal tackle in it and a 3600 with senkos. I reckon he got tired of watching me struggling with just the BASS bag.

Given the time, energy, and money that I have invested in fantasy football over the years I can relate. I figure since I haven't done a baseball or nascar league in a couple years I may as well give this a shot. Nothing to lose (except my sanity). I may be one of those guys that'll bet on just about anything.

I have a buzz bait that I pinched the barb down on for throwing in one of the two local ponds that require barbless, I haven't noticed any reduction in landing fish on it... Maybe because I forgot to pinch down the trailer hook lol

up to 11 now, I'm in

I've worn Maui Jim's with prescription lenses for over 6 years now, and absolutely feel that they are worth the money. I had laser surgery done a couple years after I originally bought them, and replaced the lenses in the original pair the following year after missing them terribly. Since then I have bought a second pair of aviator style so that I have a pair in both of the vehicles. I use the wrap arounds while fishing but have considered getting a dedicated pair of amber lens sunglasses for lower light situations. (my gf claims I have a problem since I have $1000 total in two pairs of sunglasses and still want to buy another pair or two) There are several cheaper brands out there recently which I have wanted to try out. Has anyone tried the Shady Rays glasses yet? I was also looking at Spy, which I can get at a 50% discount through work.