skillet

After all that rambling about BD saying so, I forgot to say flat side up! I think the Chronically Bewildered Syndrome (CBS so called among those afflicted with this chronic and rapidly advancing disease :'() must have kicked in about that time. Sympathy is much appreciated but fishing gear is what I really need ;D... As Ever, Skillet

Unless some one wanted to elaborate a little, info doesn't come any better. IMHO I like StrikeKing 3X chunks and I usually have only 3 gears when using jigs slow, real slow and durned near stopped ;D As Ever, Skillet

Not really a rediculous question, but maybe a rediculous answer, because Bill Dance said so. No really ;D, back when I first started using jigs and pork that's how he rigged them on one of his shows. Don't use pork anymore, but still rig soft plastics the same way... As Ever, Skillet

I bought a Symetre 2500 around the first of last year (never owned a Stradic, so can't comment on it). Listening to what the other guys have said, for $40 I would hope to be able to tell a little more difference. I think my Symetre is GREAT... As Ever, Skillet

I have (since new) a 1982 Garcia Ultra-Mag and just had reelmech clean it up for me. He did a great job and it works just as good as new, if not better! It is a 5 to 1 gear and I got a Citica 200D, 6.2 to 1. You can really tell the difference when trying to work a buzz-bait or after you've hooked a fish and getting him in. I only have those 2 set-ups and if I had more, there would still be a place for the older reel. Granted you can get spoiled when you up-grade that much that fast, but I still really like using the Garcia 1. It was a great reel then and still is. 2. The untold number of hrs. spent using it and the memories that come with it. After this long it is amazing how well my hand knows the reel and vice-verca . Before I go would like to say WELCOME to the Forum... As Ever, Skillet

Really nice healthy looking fish. If you don't mind, could you write and tell us something about your weather and geography? That way we would have something on this side of the world to compare it to.... As Ever, Skillet

I guess if anyone ever put us together in a boat it would be "2 old mooks in a boat" : As Ever, Skillet

CONGRATULATIONS, You've just got a lot to say my friend . The place wouldn't be the same without your "input" ;D As Ever, Skillet

Steven Wright's mind must travel on a different wave-length than the rest of us. Having to think about something for a split-second to get the full effect is his middle name. I love it when he gets so tickled at himself that he can't hold that straight face... As Ever, Skillet

The folks before me gave some great starting points. I'll just say WELCOME As Ever, Skillet

Am not much of a Metal person but thought "Appetite for Destruction" was GREAT!! It was Axel's voice and everyone else's craftsmanship, the whole ball of wax. I was sitting here thinking about this and remembered how much I liked ACDC, Uriah Heep (really old band) and a few others along that line. Maybe I need to rewrite the first half of that first sentence ;D. This is from someone on the outside looking in (don't play an instrument let alone belong to a band). IMHO to do the things they do on stage, the fans and the adulation heaped on them, they would have to have HUGE ego's (not a bad thing in their cases). I don't see how bands in their catagory stay together as long as they do... As Ever, Skillet

I was so young (for some reason, mine started coming really early at a strange angle) when they took them. It is one memory I don't mind being unable to recall ;D. My thoughts will be with you my friend... As Ever, Skillet

IMHO. I doubt VERY seriously if any of us would have replied to this thread, if we didn't believe the very same things ya'll have said. When I signed up, I wrote something to the effect of wishing to share a boat or pond with everyone here. I still feel the same way.......except X3... As Ever, Skillet

Well, here we go. I'll muddy up the muddy water a little more ;D. I have used the same weight and brand of mono for ever (might get some giggles here, 12lb.). I keep my drag set pretty light and use my thumb if needed for extra pressure (nothing I couldn't handle yet, so that's why I stay with it). I try to go straight up (as opposed to side arm if limbs and stuff will let me). Reel down to take up slack and then I have used everything from setting the hook with the wrists to one that would do Bill Dance proud ;D. That depends on where I think the bait and fish is in relation to snags and such. If it is really nasty, I want the fish at least looking in my direction after the hook set... IMHO!! As Ever, Skillet

When I worked on the River we considered bailing wire temporary and duct tape permanent for a problem ;D! Wish I had heard before about the auto parts store solution. When our first grandson was born, we were going to drive to Ft. Hood. About 150 miles out of Memphis that infernal light came on, so 1 more thing to worry about all the way there (if it weren't for bad luck wouldn't have no luck at all :'()... As Ever, Skillet

CONGRATULATIONS You'll have to start thinking now on a great handle for when he joins the Forum. (and final ) Glad ya'll finally figured out what was causing these problems ;D! Really HAPPY for you and your family... As Ever, Skillet

WELCOME to the forum! Never fished in Florida(I realize things cross over between places) and don't know what she got you. Bass-Brat had some good info especially No. 1. I don't think we've lost anyone of the members yet :'(... As Ever, Skillet

I may not be the best one to jump in on this post :-/, having only owned 2 Shimano reels (Symetre 2500 and Citica 200D). Have never owned a Daiwa. If I am understanding you right, both of mine are tight as..as tight as..as tight as..annnyway they are really tight (went and looked).IMHO they make a great reel, especially for the money. I've been really happy with both. Can't comment on the long haul they are pretty new. Someone is bound to post with more experience. Hope I am not speaking out of turn, but if all else fails, ask reelmech. Hopefully you get it resolved, hate to hear bad things about Shimano :'(... As Ever, Skillet

Really liked that one. Even though is always great and gets the old heart working better, sometimes a good smile makes your day. That shows how preconceived ideas color present thoughts. Thanks ... As Ever, Skillet

I've found that what senko77 said even applies between different ponds and small lakes that I fish (some crush, some tap and with some all of a sudden you feel nothing :-/). I tend to stay on the smaller side with jigs 1/4 mostly, some 5/16 and 3/16. IMO Strike King 3X chunks make pretty good trailers. If you've ever watched a crawfish in clearer water moving around, I try to copy that exactly. When you learn what you are feeling (and watch your line constantly) you can tell when your line is pulling the jig over a limb, branch, root or something. When I get it to that point, I've even danced the jig between the obstruction and the bottom. I caught my personal best doing this ;D! Hope this long winded reply helps some... As Ever, Skillet

I fish a lot of really skinny water. Rapala floaters Mann's 1 and 4 are about the only diving baits I use... As Ever, Skillet

Am not familar with that rod but wanted to add my 2 cents about boron. I know my memories of the rod are colored by the fact that I had always used 'glass or some composit before it. The rod was a 5'6" M Diawa ProCaster. This was "82 and the tech. was still new (maybe, just to me). I thought it was the best thing since someone came up with the idea of doorknobs. The sensitivity was amazing and it wasn't as stiff as graphite. I still roll my wrist under with pistol grips to get under low overhangs and because I'm not trying for the distance that a lot of you have to have. You didn't have to roll the boron, you could actually work it with your wrist (that's probably clear as mud). We 've got a Boxer that was real destructive when he was a puppy. He ate my rod all the way to the handle :'(! Egg sucking, biscuit burning hound. I am usually a pretty forgiving person :, but I still carry a grudge over that >... As Ever, Skillet

Glad you started posting, the more the merrier WELCOME you're right about the folks that are around here... As Ever, Skillet

There hasn't been a bait made that I can't lose. Today I went to a pond near my house and it had started covering over with that green (for lack of a better word ) snot looking stuff. It does it every year and I break out the hollow bodied frog and have a ball. I hung it up and lost it :'( it was the only one I had :'( and I live like 9 mi. from Wal-Mart :'(. Hope this helps you decide when too much is too much..... As Ever, Skillet

I had bought some of the Yum craws when they first came out. I thought, durn those are so realistic looking they HAVE to catch fish. T-rigged them with 1/4 oz. weight and 2/0 EWG hook. Live and learn but IMO creature baits such as (not the only kind) Brush Hogs or Baby Brush Hogs work better for me. Rigged the same way. Would also like to say WELCOME to the forum. Really nice bunch of folks on here and we've already asked the really dumb questions , so ask away... As Ever, Skillet