SoFlaBassAddict

I had the same problems you did when I switched to braid. Chances are it's your knot. Or a combination of knot and bad leader material. Make sure you really wet the line and leader when you start to cinch down the knot. Fluoro hates heat and it will weaken very easily if the knot is tied improperly. I initially used the uni-uni, but would still break off at the knot once in a while. Switching to the alberto made a huge difference. I'm a fairly strong hooksetter and have yet to break off at the knot since I switched over to that knot. You may also want to try a different brand of line all together for your leader. Sometimes you can end up with a bad spool of line. If thats the case, you'll never have a knot hold up for a while. Personally, I would look at a larger FC. Something in the 10-14 pound range would probably mate up better with the braid.

I think there is a time and a place for both. Personally, I like a t-rigged plastic myself. I'm getting better at flipping jigs into junk, but a t-rig still goes through easier for me. I think a lot of it has to deal with the kind of junk we have down here in the water. Some of the stuff is just downright nasty.

Fiberglassing it like Rhino mentioned should work. It's fairly easy to do. Another option is the plastic wood. That stuff is kind of heavy though. It definitely will not rot though.

I'm not sure how it can have better reviews...when the new Lowrance units haven't really been reviewed yet. They were just shown at ICAST. I believe they won best electronics with the new DSI units.

;D Whoops? You can bet that you'll get better readings. The cone will actually be pointing at the bottom.

Pics below. Feels comfortable to me. Obviously your tastes will differ from mine. Take your reel to a retailer near you that carries the rods and put it on there and try it out. Thats the best way you'll be able to check for yourself. As far as the warranty goes, lifetime over the counter replacement. How I usually hold it Two fingers above and below like you mentioned

One of your other options is to wait a while for the new Lowrance units to get released for sale. If you don't need side imaging, you can get an HD down imaging only unit for around 650 bucks. Looking forward to that unit coming out for myself. I think those come out early next year.

You gotta get these things up on the website, Bobby.

Definitely listen to the advice of a quality Q-Beam. You can get them fairly inexpensive now. There is absolutely no replacement for a bright light to see ahead of you when you are moving around. Please, for God's sake, make sure you have nav lights that actually work.

I'm not sure what the commercial regulations are. They may be allowed to lay traps, but not harvest before the 6th. Or the commercial boats may be allowed to start earlier than sportsmen.

For a few bucks more you can pick up a Crucial Drop shot rod. Fantastic rods. I've got one of the Spinning and the Casting. Can't beat them for the price.

Honestly, there is nothing wrong with a credit card. Just don't go do stupid things like most younger people do (myself included), and go out and buy stuff that you don't need. Supposedly, the best way to build your score is to leave a small balance at the end of the month. My credit score was very good last time I checked. I pay my CC bills in full at the end of each month. I've got two. An Amex, which I love. They actually called me a few days ago about some fraudulent charges on my card. No problems. Cancelled it on the spot and overnighted me a new one. The other is a Visa/Mastercard through my bank. For the most part, they are for emergencies or very large purchases only. If you're smart about how you use them, they can be very handy.

I use 30 and 40 on my casting reels with little to no problems. 30 can dig into itself a little, but it's still manageable. Lots of guys here recommend 50 to totally alleviate the digging in. I would definitely never go under 30 pound on a casting reel though. I use 20 on my spinning reels and have never had a problem with it. Just remember, braid can be a little adventuresome if you've got strong winds. It still works, you just have to get used to it a bit.

Florida spiny lobster starts tomorrow (Aug 6). Seas are going to be less than 2 feet from Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef, FL. Should be a great day. Be sure to check your local weather before heading out (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/zone/south/mflmz.htm). For you guys with smaller boats, tomorrow should be a great day for you to get out and catch some saltwater roaches. Be forewarned. The Marine Patrol and other state agencies will be out in force tomorrow and throughout the weekend. Make sure you're licensing is up to date. The lobster stamp has gone up to 10 bucks a stamp now. Season dates: Aug. 6 - March 31 Bag limit: 6 per person per day Possession limit - on the water: equal to the daily bag limit Minimum size limit: must be larger than 3" carapace, measured in the water. A reminder that possession and use of a measuring device is required at all times. Prohibitions: Harvest of lobster is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the sport season. Harvest is also prohibited during both the 2-day sport season and regular season in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

I agree 100% with that. To me, color means next to nothing for a topwater. It's all about the action of the lure. At night, I'll use a black or some other darker color though. Especially if I'm using a bait that I'll frequently pause during the retrieve.

Fantastic post, Randall. Added to my favorites. Great looking fish in that picture too.

I prefer a 3/8 or a 1/2 for a swim jig. I'll use a 1/4 when I'm swimming a jig over shallower grass.

That was the first unit I thought of while reading the OP. Good unit with the ability to upgrade it at a later point as money allows.

I use 40 without any real problems. I recently pulled some fish out of some ridiculously heavy slop on Okeechobee with it. No issues with worrying about the line breaking. I was more concerned with a rod breaking. Once I get a good heavy powered frog rod I may contemplate on putting some heavier braid on that one.

A few more jigs, trailers, and another few large worms. Gotta love those big DeLong snakes down here. Oh, and another Crucial. 6'10 MHXF. I think I'm done for the year.....

In! Over 20 minutes and no lock. Gotta be a record.

I don't really downsize in the summer at all. Mind you, down here in south Florida it's generally always fairly hot. Most of the time in summer I'll change my presentation up more than my baits. I'll fish the same lures year round. Speed up or slow down your presentation based upon the current weather conditions or the water conditions in the area you're fishing in. For instance, right now in the lakes I fish, big baits are producing fish in all sizes. You can downsize to the same lure in a smaller size and catch the exact same fish. Most of my larger fish have come on the same lures I've always fished, just fished faster or more erratically.

I might be picking up one more rod for t-rigs and jigs. For those of you that have one, which Cumara do you like for both texas rigs and jigs? I'm stuck on deciding if I really want the 6'8" MHXF. Hopefully one of you guys has it.

1. Southeastern Florida 2. About the same as every year. Some trips are getting great numbers, some aren't. Some trips are getting very nice size, some aren't. 3. I think my summer on the whole is better though. I'm becoming much more comfortable using techniques that I haven't in the past. It's getting me much more confident in several different techniques.

About as long as a rod length. Roughly from the reel seat to the tip.