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Siebert Outdoors Black Friday Sale 15% off everything. Use code BR15. Code is good from 11/24/2015 until 11/30/2015. Thank you Mike Siebert

I am programming one right now. It will be 15% off everything. Use BR15

I used to be a HUGE fan of the E series reels, citicas, curados, and chronarchs. That is until I tried the curado I and Chronarch CI4+. They just feel much more refined. Didn't think it could be possible since the curado is no longer made in Japan but I have yet to have an issue with mine. Slowly upgrading all my E series to I series. Not looking back, but to each is own.

And if you do, be ready to pony up more than it's worth. I have several E series and a few of the new I series. IMO, the I series just feels tighter and better connected like Jrob said. If you get a good deal on a used E series then absolutely pull the trigger, but if you're buying new, I'd go I series all the way.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and take some time to remember those that are away from their families during the holiday to keep us and our families safe. I think this may be the first Thanksgiving in almost 10 years as an LEO that I'll have the full day off with my family

They are great reels and I have a few. That said, I like the I series better. To me, the I palms better and has a better connected feel than the previous versions. It's probably going to be hard to find a new 200E.

Hopkins Shorty. I don't really have any others - never needed anything else.

Started with the uni to uni, never had a reason to change. I can tie it quickly and it's a simple knot that holds strong as long as it's tied correctly.

Alberto knot

This past Friday I fished a small New Hampshire lake. We had got an inch and a half of heavy rain as a front was moving through the area. The forecast was for a high of 55, calm, and cloudy. A cold front was predicted to move through in the afternoon clearing out the clouds. After several windy days in the mid 40s it sounded like the perfect day to fish in mid/late November. I arrived at the lake at 10:45. It had just stopped raining a couple hours before I arrived. I had one spot in mind that has been producing a number of 3-4 lb smallies with a couple largemouth mixed in. The plan was to fish in 15-35 feet fishing a blade bait around schools of smelt. I launched my boat with the surface temperature reading 46 degrees. Motoring over to the one spot I wanted to fish I retied my line on the 5 set ups I had brought with me. I knew the blade bait was going to be the best bet but I also had a drop shot, a deep diving crankbait, a jig and jerkbait tied on. The particular spot I fished is a hump tha comes from 40 ft to 3 ft that is composed of rock, gravel, ledge, hardened clay and boulders. With in the first few minutes I had caught my first fish a 3-12 smallie. With the skunk out of the boat and practically no wind I made cast after cast after cast to specific spots on the hump I had marked with my gps. The fishing was great. I was catching a fish about every 15 minutes. I couldn't have asked for a better bite. I was catching by casting out a blade bait and slowly hopping it on bottom back to the boat. I had noticed several arches under my boat using my down imager. I watched as my bait went towards bottom as the arch came up and slammed it. It turned out to be a decent largemouth at 4-2. I hadn't really had much experience using my down imager to catch fish while being directly over them. Every time for the rest of the day when I saw an arch I would immediately reel in and try on drop my lure right on the fishes head. It seemed I would catch that fish half of the time. The bite was consistent and pretty good most of the day. Around 2 pm a front moved through pushed the clouds out and the air temp dropped about 10 degrees. Not to be discouraged it was time to add another layer, dress for ice fishing. After the front moved through the fishing slowed considerably. In the last hour I did mange to catch two fish a 3-6 and a 3-12 smallie. I fished from 11 am until 3 pm catching 3 largemouth and 12 smallies all on a blade bait. Two of the largemouth were over 3 lbs, the biggest being 4-2. Of the 12 smallies I caught 9 were over 3 lbs and the 3 fish that weren't were all 2-12 or over. Lunker smallie for the day was a tie with two weighing 3-12. Biggest 5 fish for the day weighed 18 lbs 14 oz. I cant ask for much more then that for November 20th. Some great fall fishing. I am going to try and get out there atleast one more time before the end. Plenty of fish still willing to bite. Got to be out there to get them !

If you think "finesse" means "small baits", think again. Check out this finesse technique using big baits in this video: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/big-finesse-baits.html

How about a short bus.

If you always wanted the Curado 200E in a 6.3:1, you need to get a Shimano Scorpion XT1500. It's the same reel in a different color and its 6.3:1.

In my opinion the I's are the best curados made so far with the E's a close second. I agree they just feel better built.

I just checked my tracking. Mine shipped out of Wadsworth, Ohio. Was it a store model display? I don't know, but I'm doubting that it was. I've seen and even bought a few floor display models from DSG before, and most of them do show/look slightly used. However, the Stradic I received looks flawless. It still had the little paper "C" clip on the handle, as well as the clear rubber elbow cover as well that Shimano puts on all their reels from the factory.

The family is going to eat out this year. But in keeping with the spirit of the season:

I agree with Jrob and Bluebasser, the I is a better reel than the 200E and I know it's not worth anything, but I think that the I is the best Curado ever made.

I use it all the time with braid-fluorocarbon leader and have never had that happen. If it does, I will look into other knots.

I'm 16 and I fish in a club where you draw a partner for each tournament and you compete as a team. It's definitely a great format, if not the best for club events IMO.

Oh ~ and GREAT HAT . . . A-Jay

I've caught some good fish deadsticking a jerkbait in very cold water. It's difficult to do unless I'm positive there's fish in the area. Deadsticking a topwater can be a killer. My biggest swimbait fish ever was caught deadsticking a Slammer about a month ago. I cast it out under an overhanging tree, let the ripples die off and gave it a little twitch and just sit there. After a solid minute had passed, I was just about to twitch it again when she plowed it.

The fish head spin has been producing for me all this fall as the water is too stained for jerkbaits. I find that when the water temp was in the upper 50s, a small swim bait seemed to work better and as the temp has dropped into the 40s the fluke has been the dominate body to draw strikes.

That would be a nice setup. The club I fished in was individual effort and there was no boater/non-boater separation. It was everyone against everyone, even fishing against the I was in the boat with.

For me I think most is confidence like scaleface said. I have used them since I was a little kid almost always some success. Also like PourMyOwn said it does bring back good memories as a kid as well. Everything just feels right when I am putting one on. I also agree that some newer more popular bait companies worms more than likely wont be a upgrade for me. Although I have fished a whole lot of other brands I just like the blend of toughness & softness as Catt puts it.

This guy fishes smarter and harder. I'm always impressed with your fishing reports!

I just got an email from tackledirect about the exos being 50% off there. A lot of small local company's are doing some big discounts around me.

These most recent ones have almost all been caught on heavy baitcasting gear (Denali 7'4" XHvy w/Shimano Castaic and 16# Toray SH fluoro) throwing swimbaits and large soft plastics. I've been fortunate to be properly geared to handle these more recent fish, but you still pretty much just hang on for the first minute or two hoping they don't take you somewhere bad.

Once again AJ hits the nail on the head. Either spooled the line in the wrong direction and/or overfilled the spool.

One of my favorites is one 00Mod recommended, Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bottled in Bond. It's only about $30 a bottle and really, really good. I also like plain old Makers Mark. It's a great cheaper bourbon that I don't get aggravated over people mixing with Coke.

Great day. You do know how to catch 'em!

Nothing beats a good jig bite...It's definitely my go-to, and favorite bait to use year round. Nice catch!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Bill, better leave a drum stick out for BF!

Any must haves?

Turkey with cranberry, sausage, mushroom, bread stuffing. Mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, yams, corn, vegetable melody. Salad, mixed greens bannana peppers, olives, onions, tomatoes, olive oil Italian dressing. Fresh homemade bread. Raviolis or homemade pasta sausage, meatballs, cheeses, Baked garlic bread Fresh pies Apple, pumpkin, blueberry. At grandma's house it was a seven course meal, home made Italian soup. Each course was 45 minutes apart. You didn't rush we talked a lot.

I carry an old 5'6" baitcasting rod-pistol grip-in the car for piscatorial emergencies. I really can't stand two piece rods, but they may have gotten better in the last 20 years.

I'll have to admit that I haven't read the "advertising copy" on that boat to learn what the claimed benefits are...but from the photos it just looks like an "answer to a question that no one asked"...

Nice fish!! Congrats.

Those are some great fish Meatloaf. I too suffer from jig addiction.

well done I love jigs too

They are not better nor are they worse . I have just used them for so long that I have the most confidence in them . I'm use to the thickness , action and softness . New mainstream plastic worm by the more popular current manufacturers is not an upgrade .

Just got back from the OBX. Arrived last Saturday. Sunday through Wednesday the fishing was fantastic. Biting the double drop with mullet for bait on top, shrimp on bottom. My big accomplishment was catching a keeper Red Drum. My friend cooked it up for us and I must say that is was the best tasting fish I have EVER had. Cooking it within an hour or 2 of catching it makes quite the difference. A storm came through Wednesday evening with winds in excess of 20mph at times. Totally killed the bite. FWIW - I also caught my first red on artificials. Gulp mullet dragging it back. That was cool. I think I found a new way to love fishing.

Ditto Mike

Bimini twist knot.

Albright

Would suggest one that has the boaters compete against each other while the co's compete against other co's. Makes it a more level playing field, which is a lot more fun. It is a great way to learn.

MIGHT pull it, Probably wont stop it.... Jeff

Tight lines, Bob

The other day I sat down to tie on a spinnerbait, I put a trailer hook on and I tossed it over the side of the boat. Unfortunately I missed the important step of tying the lure on the line.