Tokyo Tony

Well, just got back from Cabela's. I ended up with a 7' ML Fenwick HMG and a Pfleuger President 35 size. I had 35 bucks off with various promotional things, so the total came out to $133, including 150 yards of yellow 10 lb Power Pro. I have to say, I'm very impressed with the HMG for the price, just by handling it in the store. It's obviously a quality rod, and it actually seems higher-quality than the Shimano Compre, which is $15 more. Of course, I haven't used the HMG, but you can tell a lot just by handling it. Anyway, thanks for all the advice guys, especially Mr. Muddyman 8-)

Well I offered to buy that Avid, but he said he had second thoughts about selling it, so I guess that's not gonna happen. I'm looking for a ML anyway, but for that deal I was gonna go with the M. Back to the drawing board - Fenwich & President is looking pretty good right now unless I can find a deal on a Crucial.

Thanks guys, I will absolutely look into that. Does anyone have experience with the Fenwick HMX and the Crucial? I have never used a Fenwick, but I do have several Crucials and love them. Just wondering if you think it would be worth the extra $ for a Crucial. I'm definitely leaning towards a President for him.

Hi Gents, Looking for a ML spinning combo for my brother for Christmas, want to keep it between $150 & $200. What would you recommend? I really wanted to get a Crucial 7' ML F with a Symetre 2500, when they were selling for $55, but I think all of those Symetre deals are gone now. I'd prefer to spend a little more on the rod than the reel, and I'm open to any suggestions. Oh, and preferably a rod with a good warrantee - my brother tends to break things. Thanks 8-)

Crazy fins

Some of these pictures are really cool. I've experienced a couple of these types of ice storms, and they're great opportunities to snap some photos, especially if it's sunny the next day. One of the best days of my childhood was when I went sledding around a local golf course the day after an ice storm. Great times. http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Northeast-Ice-Storm/ss/events/sc/121208icestormneweng

WOW - great pictures! I can't believe the kind of preparation you do the night before. That looks pretty intense. A "little brown" for you is a big brown for me. I'm torn between making the trip to the SR and just hanging out in CT. It would be awesome if we ran into some steelhead, but it gets freakin' cold there and I HATE dealing with ice in the guides and on the reel. It would be worth it if we ran into some fish, but making a 5 hour trip each way, fishing in freezing temps with egg sacks and a good chance of not catching much of anything just seems like a big gamble. Maybe I'll wait until spring... 0-0? Get on your game - focus! Nice pics man.

Yup. Apparently they stock about 500 salmon each year from 2 to 30 pounds. This year it was in two rivers and two lakes. They disappear after December 1st though when people start keeping them. There are a lot of snaggers too, even though I'm pretty sure it's illegal, because a lot of these big fish just sit in shallow water and hang out.

Note to self: never go to Greater Mekong. Ever.

You're right Muddy. Although there are some places much better than others. I grew up in Miami, FL, whose women are just ridiculous-looking. And I mean that in the best sense. Moved to CT before high school. Huge drop, but liveable. Went to college in NH at a school where the females are notoriously not-awesome-looking -- another large drop. Now I'm back in CT, and in a few years back down to FL. I think after that maybe Brazil or Argentina? ;D Actually, I heard that Minnesota women can be absolutely gorgeous. Can any Minnesotans attest? I went to Mardi Gras when I was about 10. What were my parents thinking? ;D I don't remember the girls' beauty so much, but I do remember some boobs I mean things. Ok, back to topic: NYC

That's true - I was in Manhattan. However, I'm just not a city person. The whole feel is wrong for me. I just feel anxious the whole time and need to get to some open space. There's probably a name for that "condition". I will say that there is a very high percentage of beautiful women in that city. And I'm talking in the streets and bars and restaurants - not just in the aforementioned clubs...although the same phenomenon applies there.

"The basic technique for using swimbaits is to cast you line as long as possible and reel it in as slowly as possible to create more lifelike movements. It's also important to use a large diameter line, since thinner lines tend to sink too quickly." Cast me line as long as possible. Check. Don't use 6 lb test because it sinks too quickly. Check. What the crap kind of person is this? I don't know why, but I'm kinda p'd off after reading that. Yes, like most of you, I had to keep reading until the end. I guess I'm grumpy because it's past my bed time.

There aren't any more rich d-bags than poor d-bags. You're either a d-bag or you're not. It has nothing to do with money, but it's more noticeable and less acceptable for a rich person to act like that.

I can't stand New York City. I could never ever live there. It's a good time I guess, but I need some grass and trees and ponds - more of those than of buildings and crowds. Last time I was there was for a friend's bachelor party. I actually paid twenty dollars for a pack of smokes. To be fair, it was in a gentlemen's club, but still. Ten dollar drinks. Can't even imagine what Lucky Crafts cost there

IMO, this is the winner. Not only was it a gift certificate to McDonald's, but it was for $3. Them's fightin' words ;D

Great fish man! If you can't tell, rest assured, I'm jealous. Very jealous

Nice chunk Paul I was going to try bass fishing this past Sunday because of all the warm rain we got late last week, but we decided to cancel because although the lake was mostly ice-free Saturday, the water was extremely muddy, and there was thin ice on the whole pond on Sunday :'( I'm gettin' some serious cabin fever already, but it does me well to see your winter catches. Are you pretty much able to fish all winter?

People use the "F-Bomb" every fifth word because of they don't have a firm grasp of our language. It's also a result of the deterioration of family and moral values in the country. I'll admit that I use the word, but only when I'm really freakin' ticked off 8-)

Good to see you're doing well Craig, and congrats on your new life with the baby I guess there are more important things than fishing. Although... that canal in one of your pictures looks like an absolute bass haven. The baby looks adorable and healthy. Keep up the good work!

Actually Bush looked pretty smooth dodging those shoes - pretty impressive.

Little stones with inspirational words like "hope" and "success" engraved in them. Honestly, as a straight male, what the deuce am I supposed to do with something like that?

No, I let it go. It's too much of a hassle to clean them, the meat's probably not that good anyway (stockies), and you couldn't keep them until December 1st.

We're in for a treat tonight. I just hope it's not cloudy. Where was this full moon during the spawn? ;D http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/weather/article5327206.ece

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/12/ice_storm_leave.html Hope the Mass and NH guys are doing ok and staying warm.

Josh - it's just a little river in CT. The state stocked two rivers and two lakes with Atlantic salmon this year. Unfortunately, starting December 1st, you were allowed to keep them. The weekend after I caught this fish, I went back, and most of the fish were gone - I didn't see any of the fish I saw the weekend before. They would just sit there in the current and hang out. I caught a little 4 lber and that was it. People fished out the whole place all week. Sucks.