Johnbt

I thought Jon boats were popular everywhere.

Blind Man's Bluff (1936) The story begins: On a stormy night on the moor they take refuge in a cottage... and something about a blind scientist. Okay, that's me, or close enough, stumbling around in the dark acting like I know what I'm doing based on some research or the other.

"Outlet Bait and Tackle has a 53% off sale going on selected items. Lots of War Eagle spinnerbaits included- come out to about $2.80 each." Thank you. What a deal. I bought enough spinnerbaits to get a free War Eagle hat. Okay, I bought 15. And some skirts. And with $4.95 shipping it was still less than $50. The package arrived today. Most of my favorite colors and sizes, too.

Two friends went and enjoyed it a lot. They bought some lures and a couple of rods. I was running errands with my wife. We should probably get a table or two and sell a few decades of accumulated gear. Maybe three tables.

"price drop, new price drop, bump, last price drop,... I guess I'll keep it". But honey, I told you I'd sell a lot of my gear and I tried, I really tried.

About 15 years ago we were fishing a 25-acre golf course pond and I hooked a large bass on a minnow. The line broke above the bobber when I got it close to the boat, so we took a break and ducked into the clubhouse for a hot dog. After lunch we headed down the bank on the other side of the little pier and after about 100 yards my buddy said, "Is that a bobber under that bush?" He cast a minnow at the bush and reeled in a 7.5 pound bass with my hook in its mouth and I got my bobber back. I lost the minnow though. He'd caught it the year before, too. It was blind in one eye - just a milky white eyeball. I prefer fishing with spinnerbaits and worms, but minnows have provided some excitement over the years.

I know a guy who just put 2 new diesels in his classic 44' tuna boat. He like to tuna fish and it's a long way some days from Virginia Beach to the tuna. It's his hobby; he doesn't run charters. It's only money if you're having fun. What's a hundred grand or two to refit your boat to your liking. A big tuna will tear up a cheap reel fast or wear it out in a matter of days.

" Wiha, just get the set." Okay, I love buying tools. Meanwhile, I've been using a Brownells Magna-Tip Super Set for 20-some years. They replace broken tips. And they can be ground to fit. https://shop.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/screwdrivers-sets/magna-tip-sets/58-bit-master-set-plus-w-81-handle-sku080112081-417-1909.aspx?cm_mmc=PPC-_-Itwine-_-Google-_-080-112-081&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6_7zlMLR3wIVBB6GCh2RIwzlEAQYASABEgIJz_D_BwE

Around here that's called First Class swamp carpentry - take what you have and hammer something together. Love the cork in the tiller.

www.rvautoparts.com/HB-200401-Hand-E-Blok-Trailer-Stabilizer-Jack-Stand-Use-To-Stabilize_p_5709.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp4W62OGj3QIVSx6GCh17KgK6EAQYASABEgIH3PD_BwE

I prefer full cork, but don't mind using split grips too much. Sometimes though - most of the time? - there's just no choice no matter which you prefer. I ordered 2 Conquests Monday and the 843C only comes with full cork and the 843S only comes with a split grip. They'll be here tomorrow. I'm old, Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me... Time for another night trip to avoid the 95*F weather and miserable humidity.

95*F here today and tomorrow. Whew. I could use some fall weather.

I cast a shiner yesterday and right in the middle of the arc it came flying off the hook. Excuse me a second, the police are at the door...

"phone book" ? Is that like an Apple sales catalog or something? :)

In the backyard, usually after getting a new reel, new line, a new rod, or maybe after servicing a reel...and not half trying while I fiddle with adjusting the reel...using a 6'6" MH/F and a Revo Premier, Metanium MGL, Steez SV TW or something similar...and Trilene XL 12 to 17 or maybe 30# braid of some sort... I usually manage accurate casts of 33 to 35 yards. I measured it once and standing on the walk it's 33 to the front of the little maple with the birdfeeder and 35 to the back. Of course, that's using a 3/8 ounce spinnerbait and a 4" curly tail trailer and not something streamlined. I have an 11' surf rod that will reach the woods using a 5- or 6-oz sinker if I put my back and legs into it. I've had to cut the line to get it down out the trees once or twice.

I love them, especially the 3/8th ounce. My buddy got me started on them and the fish love them. We usually fish them with 4" to 6" trailers. Chartreuse, white, and sometimes the dark colors. Here's a 10# 8 oz. he caught and it's not anywhere near his largest. It's about the size of my all-time best, but he's been largemouth fishing for more than 40 years - I've known him that long.

www.theoutdoorwire.com/features/231352 "Monday, December 12, 2016 When conglomerate Newell purchased Pure Fishing from fellow conglomerate Jarden earlier this year, Newell officials were quick to say that the acquisition wouldn't have any impact on Pure Fishing and their myriad of consumer fishing brands." "Newell has dismissed Pure Fishing's entire 30-person marketing staff headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. With the cuts also including experts in everything from baits to fishing lines, it looks like the company's R&D efforts are being slashed as well." "The prospect of seeing brands like Berkley, Stren, Trilene, Abu Garcia, Mitchell and Gulp! Baits coming available has Pure Fishing's largest competitors salivating at the prospects."

I don't know anything, maybe they cut their advertising budget. I fished 3 Premiers for a few years and then bought an SX a year or so ago. They're very nice and still work well and have handled everything I've asked of them. Then, after 5 years of retirement, I bought a Metanium MGL, a Steez SV TW and a Chronarch CI4+. I've fished mostly Shimano saltwater reels since the early '80s, along with a few medium Daiwas, so buying Shimanos is easy for me.

Sure, I've thought about buying a half a dozen of these spinning reels for presents for my buddies. What's not to like about a spinning reel with *** stainless steel ball bearings. The ad says it consists of 12 pieces of ball bearing plus one-way clutch. And only $16.98 with free shipping (over $25) There are cheaper reels, but I wasn't bottom feeding. www.amazon.com/Stainless-Bearings-Spinning-Freshwater-Saltwater/dp/B01D9IIFQK?th=1&psc=1

I'd use the casting rod for throwing small spinnerbaits or chatterbaits at the bank, trees, pads, etc. It's just the right size for sitting back in a small boat and running the trolling motor. I have a 6' Premier MH/F that I've used a lot in the past for 3/8th spinnerbaits with a 4" trailer. Even landed my 10+pound largemouth on it.

I buy a great deal of stuff on line, including ebay. My last purchase wasn't from ebay, but it was a new Conquest rod. Oops, nope, the last one was a Tatula LT 2500. Forgot about the 30% off email coupon I used. The only problem I've ever had was a few years ago on ebay. I bought a used Sustain 2500 for a reasonable price. I had contacted the seller to make certain the spare spool shown was included in the deal and he said it was. Everything looked like new. I got the Sustain box, papers and spare spool. The reel was a Stradic. Boo. The guy wouldn't return a message, so after 3 or 4 days I turned it in to ebay. They sent him messages - no response. They said to send it back to him and they refunded my money. Then the guy shows up moaning and groaning and saying it wasn't his fault he has somebody handling his sales, blah, blah, blah. He wanted me to change my review too. Good luck with that.

"My inexperience may be exposed, but I rarely reel the fish. I move the fish with the rod as much as possible, then take up line with the reel." I was taught that way back in the 1950s and that's the only way I've ever fished, both freshwater and in the surf with an 11-foot rod. Lift the fish, reel down, lift the fish, reel down... I don't how many times I've watched someone cranking hard on the reel while holding the rod perfectly still. Their rod is almost completely bowed over in a big U and when the fish makes a run or shakes its head there's no give in the system and the hook pulls free. Mono has some stretch of course, but braid doesn't. To each their own I suppose. I'm watching reruns of Wicked Tuna and they're winching in the 500-pounders by cranking the handle and pulling the line with a gloved hand. The biggest bluefin I ever caught was 50 pounds - lift with the legs, reel down, lift with the legs, reel down John

I'm pushing 75% or 90% or something. We have good shops around here: Greentop, Hopkins, etc, as well as a Bass Pro and a smaller Cabelas and multiple Dick's, but they don't carry the rods and reels I want at this point - the $250 or $300 and up ones. Sure, they'll special order a Legend Tournament Bass or a Conquest, but why should I drive across town to order it and then go back when it comes in, when I can sit at home and wait on the delivery truck? So when I'm ordering on line I go ahead and get line and lures and such too. I love sales. And free shipping. Of course, now that I'm on so many mailing lists I get good offers from time to time. Last week a boating goods outfit in NC emailed me a 30% off coupon good for ONE day on any ONE item. Not needing anything I prowled around the site and discovered they had Tatula LT 2500. What the heck, it's very nice.