TLHSS

River Rock Custom Baits 3 1/2 inch Jake’s Craw in Pumpkin Pepper. Fished on a VMC Ned Rig Jig with a conical keeper. 1/8 oz with barb removed.

I’ve only purchased a reel. It looked as if it was never used.

In the context of the original post … I would not switch lures. When fishing with kids, I want them to land fish, not me.

I carry the 160mm Knipex. Just a little longer than 6 inches. Not cheap, but I didn’t have much luck with cheaper, wire cutter type tools.

As I age, it has become a big factor with me (without sacrificing balance). It's not only a factor for me for rod and reel, but for all the equipment that I pack in a car, travel with on an airplane, or walk the bank. Lighter and less is better (for me). Over the years, I've changed the way I fish and approach fishing based on weight, so I can continue to fish as long as possible.

Solo canoe trips in isolated, out-of-the-way places? No ... not for me. Why you may ask? I also have an unhealthy phobia of banjo music ...

I don’t overthink it. Sometimes the bass need to win. I appreciate an opponent that fights back. Makes the hunt more enjoyable.

Always fishing from the bank. I carry two. One 5’4” E-glass spinning rod. One 6’2” E-glass 2wt fly rod.

I've gotten to the point where I net every fish, regardless of size. Take a quick photo of the bigger ones in the net. Return them to the water in the net, and let them decide when to take off again. Some rest before going. Some take off immediately. I don't lip them any longer. I don't give them a toss like a piece of trash. Late in life, I've realized it's a gift / blessing to be able to fish, and I try to act accordingly.

Here is what I use: Hemostats, which I always wear on a lanyard with line nippers and my fishing licenses. A set of long reach pliers for fish that are deep hooked. These don't get used much since I use single barbless hooks. A small set of jewelers needle nose pliers for crimping barbs on flies and working with split shot. A set of Knipex mini bolt cutters. When needed, they cut thru hooks like butter.

Happy Birthday Tom!

Inside the bag I use small meiho boxes.

I use the small 6th Sense Bait Bag.

Keeping you and your wife in my thoughts and prayers A-Jay ...

I only fish barbless. I crimp with needle nose pliers. For flies, that's as much as I do. For hooks used with plastics, I also use a Dremel with a bit used to sharpen a chainsaw. I also always wear eye protection and a mask. I don't want a metal sliver in my eye or inhaled. I also wish there were better options for thin wire barbless hooks. Also I would love to see more options for hard baits with thin wire barbless single hooks vs. trebles (vs. me having to change my own).

Animal House, which has a pretty interesting back story. In order to get the film made, they needed one known star. Landis got Donald to say yes. So the film would not have been made without him. And the film kicked off the careers of many young, unknown actors. But Donald didn’t have much confidence that the movie would make money. Given the choice to earn a fee of either 2% of the film’s gross profits or his typical day rate of $25,000, he took the later. Over time, that ended up being roughly a 14 million dollar mistake 😊.

Only an opinion ... I only UL fish. My main rod is e-glass, 5 foot 4 inches. Weighs 2.9 oz. I don't throw any lure over 1/8th oz. I use a Vanford 500. Everyday line is 4 pound copolymer (Leland's SOS). I also carry a spare spool with 2 pound copolymer to throw very light lures (flies with a 3/16th oz bubble float). The reduced weight of the Vanford balances well with the light, short rod. This to me is an important factor to check when you look at the different model reels to purchase. I think line management with the Vanford is better than any other spinning reel I've owned. In the rarer times when I've hooked larger fish (for example, a surprise river pike last week), the drag allowed me to play the fish with the lighter line with no breakage. The reel new is pricey (for me), but I was able to find a used one on ALF at a very reasonable price (and it was mint, unused). To be fair, I have not fished the other reels listed in the posting.

Like in Glenn's video, if I'm not fishing a senko weightless, I'm using a split shot rig. It's actually my #1 confidence bait technique. It just catches fish (at least in my area).

UL fishing is what I do most of the time. My everyday set-up is with 4lb line.

I always use snaps (no swivels). VMC Duolock. Size 0.

It's that time of year on my local lake when the bass have left their beds, and the bluegill take up residence. I have a great time catching these fish on my 3wt fly rod with an old school click and pawl reel. Catch and release throwing a barbless Bully's Bluegill Spider.

Not unpopular with me. I moved to barbless a couple of years ago. Also moved away from trebles. I’m sure I miss some fish, but I’m good with it. It’s been better for me (a lot easier to remove hooks and less worry about hurting myself with my old fat fingers) and easier on the fish.

I don't consider it unethical. But for me, part of the fun of fishing is "fooling" the fish to take an artificial bait .... whether it's a bass taking a soft plastic craw, or a bluegill taking a dry fly. I've even moved that way for saltwater fishing:

I'm a 1. Bank fisherman. Ultralight gear. I carry: One travel rod (spinning or fly depending on the conditions). A JDM landing net designed for bank fishing (handle extends from 12 inches to 5 feet). A tackle bag that's roughly 9X5X4. A folding camp stool to rest my bag once I find my spot (so I don't have to bend down so much to change out bait. Old man problems). Weighs less than 2 pounds. I didn't always take this approach. But over time, I've found this works great for me.

It's not mine ... I wish it was . Or maybe not since I'm a UL fisherman I'm on the email list for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the story of this catch was in their latest newsletter. Here's the full story: Fellsmere Reservoir (Headwaters) in Indian River County joined an elite list of Florida waters when its first Hall of Fame bass weighing 13 pounds or heavier was approved in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) TrophyCatch program. Angler Doug Smith from Canada caught the 13-pound, 2-ounce bass while fishing with Captain Nate Shellen on April 6 and submitted the required fish-on-scale photo clearly displaying the fish’s weight to successfully verify his accomplishment with TrophyCatch. The fish was released alive in accordance with program requirements to continue reproducing and possibly provide a catch of a lifetime for another lucky angler. Captain Nate with Shellen Guide Service said Doug’s catch was the “biggest of my career and I’m amazed and blown away that I saw it eat the bait. It was incredible!” “Fellsmere has benefited from a number of enhancements that contribute to producing trophy bass including special regulations, habitat reclamation, vegetation management, and stocking,” said Regional Fisheries Administrator Scott Bisping. “It’s especially gratifying to see this fish come from one of our new Florida Trophy Bass Project waters.” Over 150 Hall of Fame bass weighing 13 pounds or more have been approved into TrophyCatch since the citizen-science program was launched in 2012. The minimum catch weight is 8 pounds to participate in the program. Anglers are required to photograph or video the entire fish on a scale with the weight visible in order to qualify for prizing from fishing industry conservation partners including Bass Pro Shops, AFTCO, and Shimano. Hall of Fame winners also score a free customized fiberglass mount representing their catch from Gray Taxidermy to commemorate the memorable event. Doug Smith landed an additional $50 Bass Pro Shops gift card by documenting the fish’s length, which provides more information to biologists about the health of this rare catch.