Crestliner2008

Understand that regardless of the size of the fish you target, it's up to the angler's ability to play the fish properly (according to tackle limits) in order to successfully land it. That being said, I've caught some large trout on UL equipment. It just takes a bit longer. In your case I would probably suggest a light action spinning rod in 7' - 8' length. This should give you a decent fight with the smaller fish, yet will suffice for any larger specimens you latch onto. Any UL to light spinning reel, with a good drag, will match such a rod. Fill it with any quality 4# test mono and you're good to go. If you are well experienced in fighting larger fish on light tackle, you might even want to consider an UL rig.

I prefer the feel of the "electric shock" that I receive with braided line. It makes the entire rig come alive....to me anyway. And why do I need heavier line if this is doing the trick? I tend to be a fanatic when it comes to true "UL" presentations. Similar to how fly fisherman become after years of fishing with ultra light tippets. I may try 1 pound test soon! Edit: One more thing. To me line is just another form of depth & speed control. The diameter dictating the depth under certain drifting conditions. So it may in fact lead to higher catch ratios? Too early to determine just yet.

If you are experiencing a lot of pecking, it's probably more than likely to be bluegill. If a bass takes a Senko.....it's been took....period. No need to wait or think about what it is.

Yep, you heard me correctly. Fireline Crystal now comes in 2# test. I now have four 6-hr. fishing trips under my belt using this super light braid. During those trips, I've caught hundreds of crappie, bluegill & yellow perch. I've been a long time fan of Fireline, right from the get-go, so I'm no stranger to it, or how it performs. However, as I previously posted, I had some real bad experiences with 2# test Nanofil, so I was very skeptical about this pound rating in Fireline as well. First off, I have Fireline Crystal on three of my current crappie rigs and two other bass rigs (not reviewed here). The crappie rigs involved in this discussion are: 1) My 1st. season with the new 9' B n' M SHSS. Filled with 2# test Crystal + 5' section of 2# test mono leader (T-XL) at the business end. 2) My 1st. season using the 7' B n' M SHSS, filled with 2# test Crystal + 5' section of 2# test mono leader (T-XL). I've been using this rod for 4 seasons now. Just the line is new. 3) My 4th. season on a 6 1/2' BPS UL rod. Filled with 4# test Crystal + 5' 4# test mono leader (T-XL) (I have another B n' M 7' SHSS that I also use for crappie, but it's filled with 2# test Trilene XL fully, so in not applicable to this review.) The number 3 mentioned 4# rig has been flawless in it's performance for the four seasons I've used it. No problems, no worries. Knots are easy to tie and I've only had to change leaders on it twice since I started using it, due to wear & tear. However, the leader joining knot, the Alberto, was never broken by accident or by fish. I used the same knot with both the 2# test rigs as well. After these four recent trips I can conclude: 1) Very little, if any difference in productivity and/or durability of this 2# rated Crystal, to the 4# rated Crystal. That is significant if you consider that it now gives me two different depth/speed options to use at the same time. Allowing me to cover more of the water column with one lure. 2) Equal knot strength with the connection knot - the Alberto - between the two pound ratings of Fireline Crystal. 3) Cast distances are increased only slightly with the Crystal line as opposed to straight monofilament. However, that doesn't take into consideration the lack of line twist and/or coiling which can be a problem when using straight monofilaments or fluorocarbon lines. 4) Almost no break-offs on hook-sets, compared to all the problems I had with a similar set-up and Nanofil. Actually, even using straight Nanofil, I had way too many break-offs, regardless of how "easy" I became at setting the hook. The breaks would occur with very little pressure right at the leader joint. Didn't seem to matter if I used the Alberto or the double Uni knot for this joint. (Sometimes they would break off without any hook set at all!) Now some of you may ask why I would even consider using such a light line for crappie. Well, up here, the waters we fish are "open" (little if any brush or obstacles on structure) and the water is very clear, with visibility down to about 12'. Personally, I've fished with folks using 6# & 8# test lines and have always done significantly better with my strike ratios than they had. Sometimes as much as 3 to 1. So, it is a significant factor to take into account when fishing northern, clear waters. I will go up to my 4# rig when conditions require it - such as with the "speed drifting" technique I've previously reported on. This way I can vary and control the depth & speed of my offering as needed. If you were using 6#+ line, your lure would be literally water skiing under these windy conditions! Using the light line and heavier jigs, I can get a few feet deeper - if that is where the fish are. There are two negatives to the 2# test Fireline, as I see it: 1) Difficult for these old eyes to see well. I have to make sure I do not have to tie an Alberto knot on the water under windy conditions! If I do, I'm toast! 2) Difficult to find this line, as availability if very limited. Every source I've found it at had only one spool of it in stock. I usually let Amazon.com find it for me and I purchase spools as they become available. I have only one in my "spare drawer" now and am looking for a second to have. The cost is high as well: $20.00/125 yard spool. And if you have to pay postage, that's close to $30.00. Bottom line - in my opinion - it's worth the cost. That about sums it up for this review. I do hope it is value-added to some folks here.

Definitely a 2500. No need to go bigger in my opinion.

Trout are a very commonly stocked fish. Consequently, they have become meal targets for any larger predatory species, such as LM & SM bass, pike, walleye, catfish & musky. They all feed on trout when/if available. So trout patterned swimbaits are a logical next step and are becoming increasingly popular, even here in the northeast.

Congrats on a great start! Now the damage is done....you're hooked! LOL!

I have no preference between them. However, having some engineering experience, I do not believe there is any mechanical advantage to splitting the grip. I think it is merely a ploy by rod manufacturers to change the look and increase sales. Simply a gimmick IMO.

First off, are you talking about smallies or largemouth bass? For smallies, I would definitely recommend the drop shot this time of the year. But deeper than the 20 - 25 feet you are talking about. Of course that depends on the clarity of the water. I've also done well with the drop shot fishing largemouth waters and even those with both species. Jigs can be very effective as well.

I see you reside in MA as well. Western end of the state here. I do a fair amount of fishing from the banks in between boating trips. The weather here has been terrible to say the least. But with all the high water around, opportunities abound. Stick with a Texas rigging with large soft baits, i.e.: Yum Mitey Bug. I actually rig it on a swimbait hook and try getting it under the over hanging brush or timber. The largies love it!

Here's my take on a double rig. The drop shot requires that you do NOT set the hook per say. Rather a "lift & reel". This way, you have less chance of the hook pulling free from the bass and you will have a high percentage of upper lip hooked fish. A jig requires a substantial hook set. No ifs, ands, or buts there. I do not believe you would be able to determine which presentation you are getting the bite on with a combination of the two. I suspect that it could be a viable presentation under some circumstances; however, I also suspect that a lot of missed strikes might be the end result. Just a thought. BTW, I've also experimented with a double drop shot rig. My results have always been less effective than with the single, for whatever reason.

The last week or so up here in the northeast have been very unsettled. Rain, thunderstorms and wind almost every day. This next week suppose to be better though, with more stable weather.

I would favor a simple 1/8 oz. ball head jig dressed with a 3" curly tail grub of your choice. Caught a ton of smallies on this over the years. They can be caught on just about anything that moves.

When I use to troll for northern pike I use to catch a lot of quality cats. This was on musky sized inline spinner, 8" Believers and spinnerbaits. They are far more "predatory" than most folks give them credit for.

12 ga. shotgun loaded with #6 birdshot. That way you don't have to worry about a round leaving the house and getting into your neighbor's home and/or through a wall and hitting one of your family members. Lot's of pluses with the old scattergun.

I'm a fan of the Gamakatsu INLINE Circle hooks, size 1/0. I've caught everything on them. They work. However, if you are fishing in weeds, your best bet is to probably rig Texas style vs. wacky. It'll take just as many.

I have a Stoeger Uplander Supreme 12 ga. side-by-side that I've had for about 8 seasons now. It's got 26" tubes and I use it mainly for partridge and/or woodcock. Nice handling shotgun. The only problem with mine is that the first barrel occasionally miss-fires. Maybe one or two rounds per box at the skeet range. I've contacted a gunny to give it a look-see. Other than that, I like it a lot.

Not any more! Rarely wear a cap anymore, unless it's early AM and/or we are running on the water. This is part of my gear:

I asked about what you folks thought would be good for fisherman and got some great suggestions. I did quite a bit of research on sunscreens for myself as well. One kept coming up again and again. So, I bought a tube at WalMarts for about $9.00 a few months ago. It's manufactured by Neutrogena and is called, "UltraSheer" Dry Touch Sunscreen. It's a broad spectrum protection cream, rated as SPF 70. I've been using a mesh brimmed hat, as you folks must know by now from some of my recent picture posts. My receding hairline exposed my forehead to burning from the sun through the mesh top of this hat. The past two months I've been using this stuff regularly and the protection appears to be working. I apply it to my face, neck and forehead before going fishing. It's a white cream and you have to rub it in so it doesn't show, but it's not that hard to do. I think it's worth it so far; especially since I've already had hunks of meat cut off my body due to skin cancer. I also use sun gloves, which I thought I'd never like, but am getting very use to them now. I can cast and fish as usual with nary a thought about them. So, for some of you that spend a lot of time outdoors, you might want to invest in a tube of this sunscreen for your own well-being. The gloves wouldn't be a bad idea either folks!

I'm a big fan of the 10" YUM Mitey Worm myself. I rig it on a 1/8 oz. weighted swimbait hook. Cast it out. Let it sink to the bottom. Then VERY slowly retrieve it along the bottom. Man, does it ever work!

Permethrin works - period. Whenever I venture forth with a friend, he inevitably gets a few ticks. I haven't had a tick on me in years, and I do spend a lot of time in the woods and streams. I also spray my shoes & socks, as well as my jeans and hats. I also use a 100% DEET lotion on exposed skin, to ward off mosquitoes and knats. This suppose to repel ticks too, but I've had ticks when using just the DEET, so I double buffer with a clothing soak. Back about 35 years or so, the towns use to spray insecticide for mosquitoes. It did a number on the tick population, to the point where you didn't even have to think about it being a problem. Nowadays, with the environmentalist all over us sportsmen, we have to take other precautions. What's been said here works.

I agree with jar11591. Megastrike is very sticky and stays on your bait much better than most, for a longer period of time. Seems to do a good job of masking offensive human odors and does keep fish holding onto your bait longer - in my experience anyway. Scent in any form or manufacture, is all about confidence and putting the odds in your favor. And I don't believe there are any studies wherein modern day scent additives have actually repelled fish. So, if you believe in it, it works!

Slightly overspooled, but I would not be overly concerned about it. If it gives you problems on the cast, remove about 10 - 15 yards. If not, go as you are.

Nice find indeed! And yes, stainless will rust. I use to test Craftsman stainless tools. Stainless means just that, stain-less, not stain proof.

If it's made out of plastic, chances are pretty good that a smallie will grab it - if you fish it in the right place. My all-time fav is the 4" Roboworm. Doesn't seem to matter much as far as color goes, but these worms produce day in & day out. Fin-S Fish, Senkos, tube, Helgrammites, you name it. I've caught them on most of what is poured into a mold.