Whatever

Bulldog, the reel foot length is 2 15/16". My Triumph salmon rod reel seat is about 2 1/2". I am not sure why they reduced the length from my old Fenwick, I am guessing modern reels are somewhat smaller in dimensions. On the Triumph the seat hoods are too small to accept the reel feet as well. I guess a split seat would work. Do you just buy the components separately, and just put a large diameter arbor between them? If that is the case, I can just make another rod to fit, I have a 7' med hvy glass blank that might work. Or buy a alum reel seat and install it on that blank. I do not know what an "L 3 gap" means?

I think I saw this on YouTube---They were researching WhIte SHark feeding behavior off the Farrallon's!

Years ago, I was working a lot in AK, and fished a Penn 650 SS with a Fenwick 8" salmon rod. Now I need a rod for my 650 SS, as my ST Croix Triumph 8'6" heavy does not have a large enough reel seat for the 650 Can you guys recommend a 7 -8 foot spinning rod, heavy action, (for pike) that will accomodte a 650? I am in the $100 price range.

That makes sense, gents. I can't check it as I have no line on the reel, but should get some today. Thank You!

I recently bought a used 650 SS. It has two "selector swithches" on the reel body. One is the anti-reverse swithch that I am familar with (at the rear of the body) . There is also a switch located on the bottom of the reel body, forward, at the base of the spool housing. Can anybody tell me what is the function of this 2nd switch? I have several other Penns, and none of them have this feature.

For installing ferrules, what is the easiest, preferred method for cutting a glass rod blank? Are there any problems with sp;intering?

A man is heading home from a fishing trip, and decides to stop for gas. He buys an instant lottery ticket and immediately wins a million dollars. He calls his wife, and tells her "Pack your bags, honey! I just won a million dollars!". She excitedly asks "What shall I pack for? Europe? The Far East"? He replies "Pack everything, baby. Cause you're out of here"!

For local native species, I have never caught burbot (aka ling), or sturgeon. And there are a few lakes south of me that have introduced Golden Trout, at 8000 ft elevation. We have Walleye now as well, but I have never caught one. In Eastern Montana, they have native Paddlefish, and Gar, and I have frequently thought about targeting them.

AS I count the days to ice-off (about100), and curse every cold spell, it occurs to me that the big resevoirs about 3 hours south of me don't freeze completely solid. Have any of you had a lot of experience with cold weather, cold water (34 - 40 degrees) pike fishing? I fish them in spring and summer, but I hate ice fishing, so never target them in actual winter. Even if it is just sitting on the bank and soaking dead smelt, it would get me out of the house. Any ideas?

Reference "Knowing Bass", by Jones--about $250 on ebay. Evidently it is no longer in print.

Years ago, I served as a DFG "judge" for a local fishing tournament, for Lake Trout. It was a catch and kill situation (the fish are not native here), and there were cash awards, but not big money. We had a state certified scale, and another required tool was a metal detector. It was amazing how many trout are swimming around gobbling large lead pellets!

"That's sad as they are among God's most amusing creatures." Well said, Sir! They do seem to have a great sense of play, and curiosity.

I should clarify that----it is not one lynx per trapper. After one lynx is turned in to F&G, the season is closed statewide. The season starts on 1DEC, and typically ends on 2DEC. If anyone catches one after that, it belongs to the state.

I mostly served on surface ships. I always wanted to go to sea on a submarine. Once. I honestly could not do that duty (I am claustrophobic). My grandfather was a bubblehead in World War One! I can dive deeper with scuba gear than he could in his "boat"! If you ever read "Blind Man's Bluff", it will make you hair stand up!

You have a valid point. When I was a kid, (in the 50's and 60's) a beaver hide was worth about $20. And now a days, a beaver hide is worth about $20. But we have lots of beaver! (the limit on lynx is one. For the entire state!)

In the mid 70,s, at the height of the cold war, I worked in a National Level Top Secret Facility that tracked Ivan in his back yard (the North Pacific). We had continuous, no fail, 24/7 functioning for 16 years. Until a rat chewed into a 440v feed line, and shut us down completely. We went "cold iron" for 5 days. The best laid plans of mice and men! (the rat had no known terroist affiliations)

Are any of you fans of Gordon McQuarrie? I have several of his books, specifically "the Old Duck Hunters" series. He provides a phenominal chronicle of the golden days of angling and waterfowling, in Michagan, during, and right after the Great Depression, Those were the days when boats were powered by oars, a 200 mile drive was a major event, and catching fish or shooting a limit was a prerequite to cooking dinner. We will never see the like of those times, or those people again.

TN River46---"I even fish for trout every now and then and I hate everything about trout fishing."--- C'mon, Seriously???? You are killing me, brother! I am (gasp) dying.

Bulldog, that is gorgeous water, and beautiful fish!

I am curious on how many of you Bass anglers prefer fly fishing, and why? I pursue fish with a variety of gear, but fly fishing has always been a favorite. If nothing else I cry far less over losing a fly I spent 15 minutes tying, versus breaking off a $10 lure. Anyone else have thoughts on this subject?

2020 --- The year the "Left Coast" discovered fly-over country, by virtue of not being allowed to fly.

I grew up in the era before "catch and release", when fishing was as much food gathering as recreation. When younger I spent 10 seasons working commercial boats in Alaska, and the seafood was phenominal. But the finest fish I have ever enjoyed was fresh caught Yellowfin Tuna and Wahoo, straight from the sea. It was usually accompanied with fresh caught Spiny lobster, and it was just exceptional!

After a long miserable day in a cold, wet saddle, I cannot imagine anything finer than sitting by the stove in a warm tent with a hot buttered rum. Myers was always a favorite, but dark Bacardi was an excellent substiture. It has been my preferred backcountry drink for 40 years.

In 1975, I was sitting in a 12' Boston Whaler, discussing with my dive buddy whether to dive the 30' deep hole we were drifting over, for lobster, or another spot 5 miles across the lagoon. With the sun in my eye, I noticed a large shadow approaching the boat. A minute later a 14' Tiger shark (he was longer than our boat) casually swam by at a twenty foot distance. We went to the other spot. I really don't remember the dive that day, but I have the image of that shark locked in my mind forever.

I had a friend who ran a backcountry / mountaineering store. Everyone who worked there had an absolute passion and extensive knowledge for their given sport, whether it was kayaking, ski mountaineering, rock-climbing, what ever. They worked in that industry because they were wholeheartedly involved in that sport. He said most people would come in, take up their time asking questions, trying on clothing and boots, then go home and order exactly the right item off the net to save $20. Internet sales were killing him.