Big T

I use to have some ugly sticks that I used for inshore fishing. My rod arsenal now: 7'Mh Shimano Claurus SpinningPaid $59 or $69 dollars five years ago 7'h BPS ExtremeSpinning-Paid $59 at the Spring Classic last year 6'6" Shimano Convergence Baitcaster-$39 6'6" St.Croix Triumph -$60 I may purchase another Ugly Stick for lipless cranks, but I doubt it, when I pick one up and compare it to my other rods it seems so heavy. I do however like the Lites for saltwater fishing.

More than most people realize, unfortunately there are some people in this world who will do anything to win, especailly when money is involved. Look at MLB Baseball and the steroid factor and you will see what I am talking about. Just my opinion. Tony

I have not gone King Makeral fishing in a few years now,as my back cannot take the pounding(back surgery). The price of fuel is another factor as most of my freinds and I have gotten smaller boats. Back a few years ago when gas was $1.50, we were spending 45-70 dollars a day a fuel and we were only going 10-18 miles offshore. Anyway getting back on topic, alot of inshore tourney's are artificial bait only but thefact is when it comes to the saltwater game, nothing beats live bait. For instance when fishing for King Mackeral it is almsot a given that a boat fishing with live bait will outfish a boat who only has frozen cigar minnows or is trolling plugs. Tony

Try this one on for size, I have seen adds in my saltwater magazine advertising 30 foot Fountains for 600 dollars a month on a twenty year loan. It is no wonder alot of the guys I use fish with offshore had to split the gas three or four ways, and this was 4 or 5 years ago when gas was aroun $1.50 a gallon ;D. I stick with my 16ft john boat with a my 25 horsepower four stroke. Tony

I'm not trying to bash on anyone and I am not that old myself, only 34, but here is my take on this subject. It is a problem that plaques a lot of younger people, they have no respect for other people's property or their self for that matter. This goes against everything that fishing is supposed to be about. Fishing is supposed to be fun, relaxing, and sporting in a good manner. It is supposed to be an example of an activity that kids can due with littlle of no atheletic skills, it is supposed to get them outsdide and away from the Tv and video gmaes that expsese them to enough viloence and crime,it supposed to be an alternative to getting in trouble and being menace to society. Futhermore I think this tread sends a bad message to some of our younger board members, because it suggeting that it is all right to engage in crimanl behaivior and be disrepectful of others. Sorry if I offending anyone, but this is just my take on this subject. Tony

Flounder are o.k., inshore saltwater I love Sheepshead and my favorite offshore fish are Dolphin, Yellowfin and Wahoo. I would not turn any of these down. I am a big steak eater but I would eat fish three to four times a week if I could get them fresh everyday. Tony

Back about 5 or 6 years ago there was a team disquafied ftom a local King Mackeral tournament for stuffing cigar minnows down its troat to increase the fish's weight. They got caught when the tournament communities biologist cut the fish open an six frozen cigar minnows in a fish that was barley cold. Loosers > Tony

bassboy1, I do not think this guy was restoring his boat, considering it looked brand new, also he was right in the middle of the one of two deep water launches, and considering there was five 20+ ft center consoles waiting to luanch I am surprised he did not get an earful. Around here tempers get short when it gets hot, especially at the Wildlife ramp. Now at the other end of 1/2 mile cut from the Water Way to the Cape Fear river lies a state park, it costs $5 dollars to launch but it is alot less crowded and the people that launch there are a little more relaxed. I luanch there just because it is a nicer ramp, paved versus dirt. It is also where I taught my wife to load and unload our boat. The problem around here is that people buy the biggest boat that they can get financed versus what they can handle, therefore you get people who have never operated nor owned a boat trying to launch a 25 to 30 ft offshore boat. And they can not understand why people get testy. Tony

If I had 250 -350 dollars I would get these combos:http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_59174_100003002_100000000_100003000_100-3-2 http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_74456_100003001_100000000_100003000_100-3-1 Get the Spinning combo in medium action with the 2500 series reel. I like this reel as well for $80. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_52966_100001002_100000000_100001000_100-1-2 Although I think you get a better value with the combo. You are essentially getting the rod for free.

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't sure how the Gulp baits stacked up with the powerbaits. Like I said the Gulp Saltwater Shrimp are very popular here. Kind of expensive, I mean you can almost buy a pound of fresh shrimp and rig them in the same fashion on a jig. I will deifinaltely buy me a pack of powerbaits and give them a try, hopefully this weekend. I do not know, Saturday looks iffy, Sunday is definately looking good weatherwise. Thanks, Tony

Thanks for the input guys, I will definatley try the powerbait worms, I was sure about the Gupl. I know it is real popular around here with the saltwater guys, alot of charter captains use the Gulp shrimp when they are not fishing with live bait. They are very deadly on Redfish and Speckled Trout. One more qustoin is there a particular color thaat you like. I am thinking of maybe something like a pumkin seed or purlple with the orangish red tail. Thanks again.

I like my BPS Extreme, however I did get it on sale for $59. But for the same price my Shimano Clarus is still my favorite. I like it almost as well as I do my Key Largo that I bought inshore saltwater. Althought this rod makes a great rattle trap rod. Tony

I am with Rolo on this one, Shimano Symtre all the way, except both of mine are 4000 series. One is a 4000 Fh and the other is a 4000Fi that I just purchased.

Ok, as my screen name implies I am mostlly fish inshore saltwater but I am going to give Bass fishing another shot this spring and fall. I was wondring if anyone has tried Berkley Gulp worms or the power bait worms. I know that the Gulp is popular in the saltwater environment, but I was just wondering how it stacked up in the freshwater world. Also is it better than Berkley Powerbait line of worms. Any advice would be greatly aprreciated, also if anyone has another brand that they like feel free to include it as well. Thanks, Tony

Last weekend, we had a guy with the cover off trying to work on his motor. Bad move, for one the boat ramp is not the place to make sure your stuff is going to run. Plus, the boat was a big offshore boat, you would have to be almost stupid to head out in the ocean with a motor that will not run properly. Tony.

I may be wrong but I think that the Suffix superior is a saltwater trolling line.

I ordered a new Minn Kota fron Bps two weeks ago,I odered on a Saturaday I checked my account the next Monday and it said it shipped form Sprinfeild, Mo. I recieved it that Wednesday morning, and I live in Southeastern, NC.

It looks and feels like a good reel. I would not pay $139 for it because for that price you could get a Stradic or aTierra.I was at Dick's today and saw the new Pfluger Supreme spinning reel. I liked it and would buy one but for the inshore/freshwater duty that my reels see I like Shimano Symtre's better.My wife has a Pfluger Gold Medalist that I bought for her to use, I hope it holds up better than her last one. I do use Pflueger trion ultralight reels when I fishing for panfish.

The Dick's sporting goods here has that same reel for $79.99 and the combo for $139.99. I have never seen that particular version anywhere otheer than Dick's sporting goods. It maybe a reel that was made by Daiwa for them.

I'll agree to that.

I agree! ;D

Doa shrimp are very popular. I won a DOA Mogan Kit as door prize a couple of weeks ago. They are supposed to be very effective on red drum, trout, snook or anything esle that feeds on shrimp. I can't wait for the water to warm up a little more here in SE North Carolina so that I can try out my kit. Another option is to get yourself a couple of packs of Bekley Gulp shrimp in the white or new penny colors. These are very popular and effective. You can either use it on lead jig head or rig it on a Carolina rig. I have even caught fish with these on a two hook bottom rig when I ran out of real shrimp. Hope this helps, Tony

Two Words: SHIMANO SYMETRE ;D

bassin 1887, Congrats on your reel, I think you will like it. I have one that is five year old and never had to do anything to it, I purchased another 4000 series Symtre Friady for inshore redfish and trout. I thinking about getting a 2500 series to replace my Sahara. I do not relly use flourocarbon. I recently switched to 20# Power Pro. I think Seagar would probably work, I going to get some to use a leader material.

My wife bought me a Penn 450 ssg in December for my birthday, well I have only used it 3 or 4 trips and the bail spring has already started to malfunction, so I returned it today a bought anothe Shimano Symtre 4000 series for my inshore setup. This reel is smooth. I already had one of the 4000 fh Symtre's but this new one blows it away. I guess I should have bought it to begin with. You know the old saying if it isn't broken, don't fix it. P.S. This brings my Shimano count to 2 Symtre 4000's, 1 Sahara 4000, 1 Clarus Series rod and 1 Convergence Casting rod. I believe I am a Shimano freak. ;D