spokey9

My buddy and I used to have a bet for every trip out...but we kind of got too old for for it ? The bet was last one to catch a fish got smacked in the "jimmy"...didn't matter what kind of fish as long as it was alive...there's some serious motivation to get that first fish on the board ???

Try a Santee Cooper rig. It'll hold your bait up off the bottom, away from the mud bugs

Cut a couple of gills...not as messy as gutting...and he'll still bleed out

I did pretty good with a LT jerkbait casting for coho off the pier in WA...got it as a gift and when I lost it, I never replaced it...price was too high and you tend to lose a lot of gear during the coho run there ?

I just use maxima ultragreen and red label seaguar. Nothing fancy but both work great.

I just run straight 4lb mono most of the time for trout...occasionally I'll run 2lb in super clear water that gets pressured. If there's a fairly strong current and good shot at big fish (10lb plus) I'll run 8lb with a 4ft floro bumper.

If you were satisfied with service he provided...I'd say a tip is in order...if not, don't feel obligated...

Those are great rods

Longer rods tend to cast farther but as far as better overall...that'd come down to the build quality or how a rod fits your particular needs. I got about a dozen catfish rods varying between 7 and 12ft. That's mainly because the places I fish cats can be a small ponds with eater sized channels to the Mississippi River where I need 8oz or more to hold bottom and everything in between. I got too many different bass setups...and trout setups too...just so I can fish how I want when I want ?

At Academy.com they sell H20 live bait rods for 15.99. The 7'6" model comes in both spinning and casting. They're decent rods, I got a couple I use for fishing cut bait in culverts and sloughs and can't complain how they've performed. Truth be told most combos would do fine targeting cats in that size range. Don't go with too heavy action rod or you'll miss fish...cats don't always hit like a truck. A soft tip and able toss a 1oz sinker should be about all you need in Southern Cal.

1st generation revo inshores are solid and easy on the wallet these days

I got a couple rovers for catfishing and they're ok, but I'm not sure I'd wanna be constantly cast them all day though. I initially bought them to give a try since the price was right. They're getting replaced this winter with abu 6500's though?

The spacing of the guides is more important then overall number in my opinion.

The c3 and up are still great reels...anything retailing cheaper then a c3 is a throw away reel. A calcutta with basic maintenance will last forever...I have a 250 I got new years ago that's still going strong.

The okuma sst trout spinning rods have worked well for me

Can't beat the classic black body/gold blade...I haven't found many fish that wouldn't hit one...

The split ring will help with a fish throwing the hook somewhat but it'll also make it easier for the hook to catch your line when casting. Those spinners do look fishy. I bet there's some winter runs that would love them later this year.

Like bulldog said a fine wire hook is the best thing for gar. I use a number 6 or 8 octopus hook when my kiddo wants to catch them. A piece of bluegill fillet about a foot or two under a small bobber. Wait til the the second time they start swimming with the bobber and set the hook. Usually by then they have towards the back of the nose and there's just enough skin there to get a hook stuck. I've never gut hooked one like that.

Where do I get a hand shaped swimbait ?

If it's legal...cut bluegill makes excellent catfish bait

I think the 8ft would be better all around.

It's probably not the same everywhere because of other factors. I just hate these group holding up the decline of of NW steelhead as an example to drive membership. They played a role in the collapse there.

TU, WFC,and a couple other alphabet groups have hurt the recovery of steelhead in WA state...their constant lawsuits or threat of litigation pushed steelhead to the lowest priority for wdfw. The cost of the lawsuits such up money that was earmarked for habitat restoration. And the threat of litigation constantly over their heads has given the the commission (who wdfw answers to) the excuse not to be more proactive. I spent all but the last 3 years of my in WA chasing steelhead and I can honestly say the more the "advocacy" groups stepped up, the worst things got.

Another thing that helps get solid hooks up (and is easier on the fish) is to swap out the trebles with a siwash hook on spinners and spoons. The hook will hang back a tad bit more and will hold better if you hook something with an attitude ?

A small marabou jig under a float is fun and effective. Rig it just like float and jig for steelhead but size it down