Bubba 460

Yes, thanks. I like the color but I have all the baitcasters I need. I only use baitcasters to throw big baits like rats, bigger swimbaits and boot-tails. Prefer spinning for everything else.

Got wanged ~ BAM!

I carry daily and have done so for over 40 years. I have a carry permit in both Alaska and VA. I carry a custom, full size 45 , 1911 Gold Match Kimber in stainless that weighs three pounds. When fishing I carry a Ruger SP 101 in 357 Mag (also stainless). You don't need a gun until you need it and when you do, you need it RIGHT NOW! ~Who ya gonna call?

That there buddy is the Binford 5000 XT Ground Pounder 2 and sometimes hovercraft.... Strap-in

I can't understand all the words to most songs. I didn't know that "The midnight Special" by CCR was a prison song until a couple of years ago. Or that the Midnight Special is a train

I'll post a photo of the hook keeper in question... It reminds me of a little story; My buddy and I were out fishing one day and there was a middle aged woman in a small boat and she kept fiddling with her spinning rod. We thought she had a back-lash. As we were passing her using the trolling motor she called out for some advice so we went over to her. She said she had just bought the rod and reel combo that morning and didn't know much about fishing but wanted to start. She said she could not get the rod to cast very far, like 5 feet and wanted us to see if she had it set up right. So my buddy took the rod and found the problem right off. There was a hook keeper on the bottom of the rod, she had ran the line from the reel through the hook keeper then through the guides. My buddy re-did the line properly and when we left she was casting much better!

Is this really the right forum for this?

You're suppose the attach the hook under it. I usually break off all hook keepers on my rods, all they are good for is having your line get caught on them at sometime or another and usually at the worst possible time. I use the first guide as my hook keeper, keeps lures away from my hands when I'm handling rods. We don't need no stinkin' hook keeper!

I have a little different take on shorter rods verse long rods. Having started at a young age fishing for bass, my limited range of rods were from rods being 5 foot 5" to 6 foot 5" and all was hunky-dory. Fast forward to the early 70's and my move to Alaska. Now fishing for salmon instead of bass I soon learned that a 6' or 6.5 foot Bull Whip bass rod or a Fenwick "Lunker Stick" I had brought was not an ideal rod to handle a 20 pound silver or a 40 pound king salmon in a heavy current. The amount of force they can instantly put on a rod like that will make a believer out of you. They will either break your line, break your rod or wave by-by as all your line is ripped off. Most well versed fishermen there use heavy fly rods for river fishing, 9, 10, 12 wt fly rods They have the flexibility and also the backbone to withstand the shock these fish can generate on gear. Your hand is the drag applied when and how much is needed. This way the fish fights the rod, you don't fight the fish ~ much easier.

Funny you should mention those... I did look at them and it's a nice looking reel, not crazy about the "flat"handle and I sure don't want Ik's name on "my" reel or anyone's name for that matter. But yeah, I like the looks of it other than that. I think the price was $228.00 "Everyone must row with the oars they have." ~ Love it Thanks

I don't often listen to the Hollies but when I do...

Thanks but I thought it was a Shimano but it wasn't... No wonder I could not find it. Just lucked onto the photo.

OK ~ I finally found it after looking on line for an hour. I was the Quantum Energy PT Spinning Reel (there were several variations and designations. They were made about 18-20 years ago and no longer sold. I found two used on on eBay that were beat to death, I'm talking rough and the bidding was over $150. Nice looking reel (when new) but I'll find something newer. Thanks

I have an interest in learning the model of a Shimano spinning reel. I've never owned a Shimano but this one caught my eye. All I know it that it is somewhat expensive and its color is an iridescent that changes as it is turned. I don't know if it's even made anymore as it was several years ago that I saw it on eBay I was under the impression that they were highly popular at one time because the bidding was high for a used reel. Any information, good or bad about them is all so appreciated.

Yeah, but if you do that, how do you tell who's who?

Only one ~ and I had to buy it... I'd have to go with a 7 foot MH Saint Croix spinning rod and Pflueger 9535 Patriarch Spinning Reel. Like the two I have now.

You can normally add on a little more braid than you would mono but it looks good to go and ready to launch!

Try a blood knot with at least nine wraps each. But if the level guide does not move on the cast an it is set to one side or the other on the cast , that could cause extra wear. Try setting the level guide in the center before each cast and see if that helps. Or if could be a reel discrepancy not addressed properly for casting a knot repeatedly the level guide?

It's a Dang Ugly Bug. I think Arnold summed it up nicely in the movie "Predator" when the helmet came off.

OK, I sense some deeply ingrained childhood issues here that need to be addressed... more so than you already are ~ dressed that is.

I was just talking to my fishing buddy about this a couple weeks ago ~ My choices are; The New River, the James River and the Shenandoah River all in Virginia. The year, about 1600 before the colonization of the eastern seaboard. And as long as we're "wishing" I'd like to have a modern jet boat and modern fishing gear. Don't need a truck and trailer cause there will be no roads. no buildings, no dams, no nuttin" Pluses" ~ No trash, no noise, untouched, pristine waters. Negatives ~ Might get your head stuck on a pole.

I'm still seeing some bass on beds here. If the usual tactics such as hitting the shoreline and shallow structure, grass isn't working like it normally does, time to switch it up. Try fishing a little deeper water, particularly after the main spawn. Hit the 5 to 10 foot of water off gradual points or deeper flats. Throw a Texas rigged worm, creature, Ned or jig and you might have better luck. If you are seeing a lot of surface action out there throw top water too.

Hmm, I don't always fish alone, but when I do, I fish by myself. I like this post because I have always been a loner and fish by myself most of the time. Yes, I have a couple of good friends I fish with at times. Either I in their boat or them in mine or we all take our own boats. Especially in this last horrible year of, "The Plague". You can just do more serious fishing when you're alone, quiet and concentrating. But I also enjoy a day on the water with a good friend, lots of laughs and sharing adventures together. Whether being accused of trying to knock their bass off the hook while netting it, patching up a musky ripped finger or just witnessing an awesome top water hit together. Plus the big bucks that changes hands ($5) for the biggest bass of the day. So whether alone or with a good friend any day on the water is better than "almost" anything. But being with or even around the wrong people... yeah, that could be a burner.

It was only a joke and wanted to make a funny post about Tom's massive bass. Plus the Capt Jack Sparrow photo was the perfect venue. if you had watched that scene in the move it was funny. From what I had read of Tom's post he seemed very knowledgeable and humble. I'm very happy with my bass for Virginia, in fact I broke my PB TWICE that day! Top five bass that (cold January morning) weighed 36 pounds if I remember right. Caught the most bass on a spinner bait including two over eight, lost some big ones too. Caught the big one on a shad swimbait ~ wonderful things happen when you're there at the right time!

Yep ~ gotta come out, just do it, only takes a second.