captbob

Big reason for catch and release is to catch the same fish again. Even the retard Bass after he's stung often enough remembers that line leading to that great meal and shuns it, especially in high pressure lakes. I always want the edge of Fluorocarbon and often that's not good enough. Enough for a couple of wraps on the reel with fish by the boat--remember that knot is the weakest point. Check that leader for rock/branch nicks and where it "saws" the tip when casting, not being lazy will often save your day.

Ghoti: I used to dry my pork on purpose so I could soak them in Menhadden Milk--(NOT OIL) made them twice as good, have seen fish start to follow and when they got a whiff---CHARGE!!!!.

You don't make O rings you buy them in a hardware store, little black round rubber circles. Pick a finger the diameter of your senko and it should fit tight over the tip. It goes on the middle of the senko and the hook goes under it, when hooked up the worm will slide up the line and not get mangeled. I keep a lot of small rubber bands that work when doubled and are very cheap, use for carolina sinkers and lots of other stuff too, grips the line but will break away if hung up. For O rings get a hollow tube, copper or plastic that the senko can just slide through, put the o-ring on it and roll it off at the middle of the worm. Hope this helps, Capt. Bob

Have a couple of real old woodies I like, a Zara spook that can jump clear out of the water, and 3 old repainted flatfish that work when nothing else does on a learned retrieve only.

You can mist with fresh water, never a solid stream, don't use soap it contains salt & chemicals. I always use this stuff, immerse the whole reel in solution, takes the salt out of the line-(where it's buried)-and will not take away oil and grease. Read below-- Now for the really hard part!!! Unload your gear and get your trusty bottle of SALT-X. Mix 2 oz of SALT-X to every gallon of water (for those of us that only made it to the first grade because we went fishing instead of going to school)... Use the SALT-X Magic Meter Bottle which will help you measure the correct amount of SALT-X to use per gallon of water. For best results use a plastic garbage can that you can put aside and keep ready with the SALT-X solution. bullet Place all of your gear (not a good idea to insert your battery, wallet, or best friend) in the solution of SALT-X and commence doing 12 oz curls with your favorite beverage. This is a perfect time to tell the tall tales you practiced in step 3. bullet Remove all the gear from the SALT-X solution and just let it air dry! bullet Congratulations you just killed all the salt and protected all of your expensive equipment.

Kev my man: You're putting us on --right?? Try a tackle store, I ordered from Dominoes but they brought me a Pizza instead.

Baitcaster-Spiderwire Ultracast Spinning reel--Fireline

Bare hooks, like on wacky rigs with o rings, I like to use a short piece of very thin colored copper telephone wire, I think 22ga. Very soft and pliable. one end through the eye to keep it on with a twist around itself and the other twisted 3/4 turn around tip point of hook with sometimes a high bow that will push down with a soft bite. Push with finger to test tension, can pull right off hook point. I use red with red hooks, there's about a dozen wires in a white sheilded piece-(not the lead to the phone). Anyone works for phone Co. will give you free pieces. Do you have an effective method??

Place it in a very large tank then feed it an 8lb. largemouth. You shouldn't have to worry about it afterwards, replace the one with the smile in the lake. CB

I just use small rubber bands, buy in a CVS store for 1.50 bag of 100's, women use them in their hair-I think- if too loose just double them over, hold them open around two fingers while you lower the worm through. Lots of other uses for these rubber bands, can hold anything to a hook.

Fluoro is a must if you want max advantage. Never have your knot chaffing in the guides, this takes 15-20' of leader, remember that knot is the weakest point in your line and when the fish is at the side of the boat ready to land you want the knot on the reel plus several wraps over it. On a spinning reel knot should lay at the back of the spool so line going off at the cast does not hit it. If you want to fish top-waters and not have the leader sink the fly fishing floating line dressing will float it, get the kit with the cleaning pad.

Retired FDNY 22 years Capt. owner/operator 46' blue-water offshore charter boat in FL Keys--just got out after 15 years. Capt. Bob FL Keys

For me, the only standout that Berkley leads the competition with is Fireline Crystal and that only on a spinning outfit. No one dominates across the board and price doesn't always guarantee "the best".

"He swam away fine"---Right into the jaws of a waiting Pike. At least provide him a seeing eye frog or little --stick--cane.

Power Pro gets the most hype but on a bait caster I've found 20# Spiderwire Ultracast green beats them all, sure it's expensive, but lasts a life time and never wind knots. Can tie direct in cloudy water, make a loop with a huffnagel knot and pass it over the bait/hook. Clear h2o use 15# fluorocarbon leader tied to the loop with an albright knot, the braid never cuts this knot. There's another good knot like a uniknot with an over under weave with the two lines overlying, both take care but make small/tight knot. On a spinner I find Fireline Crystal in 14-20# is best, a little stiff when new but gets soft with use and like the above lasts!!, also overstrength, 15 is like 20#. CB

This is a saltwater tale: Had a 30# Barracuda leap over the transom (6' off the water) when a client lifted a snapper into the boat. Hit him in the chest with it's mouth open and we had to haul a-s in to get him stiched, he was multi lacerated and bleeding bad. I always stand to one side when lifting a fish and look behind for predators, this is not unusual!!. Capt. Bob FL Keys

The best cast is one that hits the target and avoids any obstacles. You have 180 degrees to hold your rod in & if that's not enough, -turn your body. I don't think a splash landing is bad--may even attract attention from a distance. NOW--practice--practice--practice--hit a can on the lawn--then go have fun.

I cut a picture out of a catalog and made a Nic-O-Bait patch which I glued to my bicep---DIDN'T WORK!!! ---Maybe one in Shad pattern???? CB

Reminds me of a bait from the 40-50's called a Crippled Shad. Shorter & wider laid on it's side and had a lip, looked like a minnow about to die that can't stay upright. I think it was by Heddon or maybe South Bend. Fair to good buy no crusher. CB

Most of the baits you've just seen mentioned here are topnotch, anywhere, anytime, anyhow producers. It's like dropping a live shad in front of a 15# bass, unless you're using clothesline, or doing a drum solo on the bottom of the boat right over his head, chances are very good you'll hook up. Other personal lures, techniques, etc. that we all stumble on or find by trial and error. I could tell you about--draw pictures--explain all the modifications for 10 different conditions, and it still wouldn't do you any good-(except by accident)-. The only thing that would help you is if I came up to WI, held your hand and personally tutored you for a week or so. And since you're not issuing any Visas, I guess that's out. CB P.S. The same goes for the secrets you'd give me, but you're welcome to come down to FL anyway. Who knows you may win one of our Tournaments. At least you won't have to worry about Walleyes.

I notice Sufix invisaline is missing from your chart. It's the best for abrasion resistance, rocks, branches, dock pilings etc. I put the whole 30M spool on top of braid for backing. For clear water a German line called Tectan beats the Fluorocarbons, could never understand why. But it's got no abrasion resistance, nice & supple for casting tho. Keep both on separate rigs and switch off. Have found one would catch when the other woulden't, with same bait on same piece of water. Every day is different, clear, cloudy, sky and water, but no day is "Bad".Switch and experiment you never know, don't beat a dead horse even if it was a top producer in "similar" conditions.

Hi Top: Costs reflect design and engineering, machining to closer tolerances, reducing friction as much as possible=bearings, quality of materials, testing and development, advertising and promotion and competition from other manufacturers balanced with consumer acceptance. You can make a better reel Ex. use titanium, but there is a limit to the number of units that can be profitably sold at the price required to achieve the volume necessary to maximize profits by lowering the mfg. costs. Plus if you don't recoup your tool and development costs before someone else captures that "high end market" with a better, cheaper model, you lose. Witness television's, computers etc. it's a race to make the best for the cheapest and sell enough to realize a profit.Whew!! what a mouthful !. Zebco probably makes more on their $25 reel just with volume + replacement sales to a large number of consumers who just want the cheapest thing that "works". I no longer buy $150 sunglasses cause leaving them behind and sitting on them makes it counter pragmatic. There are always the "fools" that "must" have the Cadillac even when the Buick is better, just so everyone will know they have more and spend more. Just read the tips here from the fishermen that use the products and find your own "comfort level". CB

I enjoy 3 kinds of fishing. 1. Fishing with someone better than me so I can learn something. Or fishing with someone who fishes different water so I can pick up a few tricks. It's a long process getting better by yourself by trial and error. 2. Fishing with my grandson or someone truly interested who wants to learn, and you can enjoy their company. Opposite of #1. 3. Fishing alone is great. Theres something to be said for solitude and contemplation. And fun to try out ideas and experiment with different tactics. Also when you have a tournament alone you always win which puts you in a good mood to go toast your success with friends and brag about the big one that made you a winner. Sometimes I use saltwater tactics on a lake, I once amazed a bunch of guys with Kite fishing. CB-FL Keys & N.Y.

You guys that are having so much fun fishing the simple "chips" way are spoiling all the fun Tackle Advertisers are having trying to catch Fishermen. CB-FL Keys & N.Y.

Avid: I'd rate it a toss up between those who want to eat the fish and those who want the fish to eat. Brookie: Just a tip--stick with trout, you've been spoiled for Bass--Always put on ice to preserve the flavor. CB--FL Keys & N.Y.---Guess where the Bass are caught??