MN Fisher

These were lost in a move - but years ago I lived by the following books Freshwater Fisherman's Bible Bass Fisherman's Bible Fly Fisherman's Bible Trout and Salmon Fisherman's Bible Now I have a copy of 'High Percentage Fishing' and working my way through it.

One shore spot on Minnetonka is filled day-after-day with people out for sunnies/crappies. Same people, week after week. When I lived in MA, my uncle would take us (me, 3 cousins) out ice-fishing specifically for Pickerel...he thought of them as 'tasty gamefish'.

Okay - where are they then? My past 2 outings have been like a desert. While I'd like to catch a new PB, just getting some that are eating size (2-3lbs) would be wonderful.

If I was going to get another spinning reel it'd be a Pflueger. The two I currently use have performed flawlessly, and my old 640 is still usable despite being over 40 years old.

Normark got bought by Rapala - and in any event, the Normarks were just re-labled Rapalas. I've got two Rapala wood-handle knives. One is close to 40 years old and despite the handle looking a little beat up, the blade sharpens up to a razor edge with my oil-stone. The other one is newer...only 15 years old.

I switch off between trailer-less or having a Rage Bug on it.

I've got 20# PP on my President BC - no issues with dig-in.

(shrugs) That's what I have on my Trion...using KVD I haven't had any issues with it. To each their own...

Personally? Yo-Zuri on both, 10# on the Medium, 6# on the Medium-Light Don't forget the KVD.

Basic steps I do when using KVD 1) Soak the filler spool and let dry before putting on the reel. 2) 1-2 quick spurts on the line the night before you're going out. I use it on my mono (Avocet 8# and Nitrous 12#) and my Yo-Zuri Hybrid (Trion 10# and Pres-25 4#), no issues and the line remains limp with almost no memory and great casting.

Even less expensive rods work well with braid when spinners or chatters are tied on. Even with my Aird-X/President combo loaded with PP I can feel the vibration of the blades during retrieve.

A search for 'peacock bass in Lake Okeechobee' yielded numerous results of guide services that do just that...hunt Peacocks in Okeechobee. So I'd say that 'yes, there are Peacocks in Okeechobee'.

I built this rack from some MDF and 2" PVC - took about an hour not including paint-drying time.

Closing in on 60 myself and while I don't go 'whole-hog' like @A-Jay does, I do work with lighter weights regularly. Also, side-arm casting is much less prone to aggravating the shoulders...I get 30-40 yd casts regularly tossing sidearm.

Remember that the weight limit includes everything that isn't a part of the original boat. Motor, battery, people, gear, added seats, coolers...anything that isn't original counts towards the weight limit.

Go up $20 on the reel and get a Diawa CA80 - the Pro Max is a graphite frame whereas the Diawa is an aluminum frame.

For finesse work, I switch between my Pres-25 (slightly smaller than a 1000 but bigger than a 500) and my Avocet RZ-2000

Given my last two trucks have been Chevy's I might be a little biased. I'm also in the salt-belt, so take this as it is. The first one was a '98 WT-1500 that I bought new, had for 18 years before it was in an accident that totaled it (other driver took the blame at the scene). I had 197k on it and it still ran like a champ. Rocker panels were rusted out and some rust around the rear wheel-wells, but that was basically it With that experience, I went with a used '01 Silverado LS with the insurance money. Had 197k when I bought it, has run like a champ since - over 200k now - and the only rust is the rocker panels and a bit of surface rust above the passenger-side rear wheel-well. Regular washings, proper care, and it should last a long time. If in the future I have to get another truck, you can be sure it'll be a GM product.

Forgot to answer this one earlier - I'm heavy into Symphonic Metal right now...Within Temptation, Nightwish, Tarja. Note that these artists are almost unknown this side of 'The Pond'.

I have a music app running in the background on my tablet - which is my GPS/Mapping unit. Low enough to hear what's going on around me, but loud enough so that sometimes I'm singing along with a favorite.

I'm a righty who casts with his left and retrieves with his right. No switching involved.

Soft cloth wipes for the majority of it - if it needs a 'deeper' clean, I spray on the same stuff I use on my computer screens.

Google searched it - comes directly from Berkley's site. http://www.berkley-fishing.com/Berkley-ae-power-vs-finesse.html

"Welcome to DSG's customer service...take a number...we'll ignore you until you leave." I don't do any business with them for a number of reasons.

I'd agree with the Fuego - but pass on the Ugly Stick. For just a little more, get a Diawa Aird-X. On my list is replacing the Ugly Stick my Trion is on with an Aird-X...much better rod for not much more $$.