N.Y. Yankee

Not sometimes, USUALLY! "Sometimes" you will find a real bargain but that's few and far between now.

Yah, this is a great tip if you are out in cold climate. It doesn't get mentioned enough, even in "survival" discussions. Yes! This is a great thing to know! I bet not many anglers really know this.

The Fat Albert looks good too!

Do you like this soft plastic? It looks like it resembles a frog. How do you fish it? I have tried it a couple ways and didn't do well.

I do both. Watch the line and feel the fish. What I mean is I need the whole sensory activity, seeing what the line is doing and feeling what the lure, line or fish is telling me through the little impacts and resistance on the line. I feel I need both to judge if and when to strike. Somewhat like fly fishing for trout. You see the line move or the fish take the fly and you feel a slight tug, or maybe a strong tug, and your brain says to pull the line tight and let the fish hook itself. Same idea.

Wow, I've never heard of such a thing!

Do you keep hand sanitizer or any other first aid materials in with your tackle. I have a kit in the car all the time and a small bottle of high-percentage sanitizer in my boxes for the little cuts and pokes you might get spending time with sharp and pokey things.

Have you used it? Do you like it? I bought some 6-pound to try on a light spinning rod.

Webster's New World dictionary defines "car headliner" as N. A receptacle to securely hold hooks and lures while traveling to, or from, a fishing location.

Two words. Roof rack. ?

Everyone should have at least one spinning rod and one baitcaster, minimum!

Have you seen the knot that combines a Clinch Knot and a Palomar Knot? You double the line and tie a Clinch first but before you tighten it, you go down over the lure like a Palomar. Bring the loop up and pull the line tight. Looks like the best of both worlds for something like a slippery super line.

These are inexpensive and they're AWESOME! I have a pair in every fishing box and a few more in a drawer. I give them out whenever I meet another angler. There was a time when that type of knife was commonplace.

I have found that I very much appreciate a one-hand opener with a pocket clip. That way I dont have to dig around in a pocket and it is easy to get at. It feels like nothing is in my pocket either. Be careful with pocket clips though. If you rub up against your car you might scratch the paint. The benefits far outweigh the one or two possible problems. I use a folding-knife a dozen times per day. One hand openers are much more convenient than the old slip joint blades, however, the right design with a slip joint allows you to pinch the blade and catch the butt of the handle on your thigh and rotate it open. I like Kershaw, CRKT, and Spyderco. Check out Blade HQ and Knife Center.

I'll check out the Sidewinder!

Ever heard of or used this spoon? I saw it in a magazine and ordered two of them.

Walk in to Walmart and find the rack in the fishing department to be nearly empty (except for the fly-fishing gear). Yah, I think A LOT more people took up fishing this year while they are drawing their government unemployment checks.

What is your normal technique for setting a hook? Is it really necessary to set the hook so hard it looks as though you might tip over backward as seen on most any bass fishing show? I thought the whole point of using braid and fluorocarbon lines was the zero or near zero stretch as "no one" uses nylon mono anymore because it "stretches so much" for hook sets? If your hooks are sharp the fish should hook itself, you just need to keep the line tight. I don't see the point in the hook setting theatrics. This is something that just bugs me. When I feel a tap or a tug, I quickly reel out the slack and give a snap of the rod tip. Either the fish is there or it's not.

Sometimes, you just have to simplify your life.

This is a trick not many guys mention. When the line gets old or worn, flip it around and put the old part on the reel first. We're only using the first 40 yards or so anyway. and there are 2 ends on every line.

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I'm a pretty simple angler, at least, I try to keep things simple although I do use some modern rods and reels. This past weekend, I took my niece out fishing for an afternoon to an outlet stream where there are bass, smallies, rockbass, bluegill etc. We just grabbed a couple of old Shakespeare rods with Zebco 404 and 33 on them and a small assortment of Mepps spinners and some Beetle Spins. We had a good time just fishing, not worrying about lures, rods, lines, leaders and various stuff. We caught some fish and she even got a couple of small bass too. Sometimes it's fun to just go basic and just let it happen. Do you like to do this?

I think the store clerk put the line on in a fashion that makes the line twist badly. take it off and respool it yourself and you should be good. There is a right way and a wrong way.

Do you like it? Why or Why not?

OK so, I'm learning that the 100 yd is leader material and the name is STS for salmon, trout, and steelhead. I picked up some last night and I've decided to use it as long leaders with a braid main line.