K_Mac

I was night fishing with a friend a couple of years ago with both of us using the same spinnerbait, except mine had a gold blade and his copper. He was catching three to my one until I changed to copper.

I think it just comes down to preference. There are many right handed folks that use LH reels, and vice versa. Some use both. The salesman who told you it was "weird" probably should find a new job or at least a different department. If you can find a LH reel to use for a bit, you would have a much better feel for whether it will work for you. If not put a LH reel on a rod at your local tackle store to see how it feels. Good luck.

Yes. It is the way I learned, and controlling the rod with my right hand just works better for me.

I almost always have my middle finger on the trigger during casting, and often move my ring finger up as I engage the reel. It is more comfortable this way for me.

When you take the leads off the battery is there voltage present? Each set of leads has an in-line fuse in the positive lead. Have you checked to make sure it is intact?

So is arsenic. Returning it to nature via your drinking water would likely cause concern.

This is about patent rights, I agree it always doesn't seem right but think about it if you invented something (yes different lure styles are inventions) wouldn't you want the rights to the profit also? Otherwise what is your incentive to go out and make new things? We owe a great deal of what we use now to the patent system, if not for patent rights new products would not be hitting the market. Someone also mentioned deep pockets, it probably took a couple years to raise the funds to actually enforce the patent, its not uncommon for patent enforcement to hit 6 figures and it takes time for a small business to get this pile of cash. Companies like bass pro also pay a royalty to the original company when they do a direct knock off, so companies always have that option if they want to knock off a patented product. If you want to talk about patents that are not right, look at Terminator spinnerbaits, they patented Titanium wire, to me that doesn't seem right. I was unable to read any specifics of the suit, but I think River Rat has a point. The guy may have a legitimate cause of action. Until more information is available I don't think it is right to condemn him.

I have a 5 and 5X. I have had no problems with either unit, so I cannot speak to customer service. The detail shown by these units is amazing. I looked at both brands before I purchased, and after a year of using the Lowrance, I would make the same decision. The option of adding down scan/side imaging is very cool. Just my $.02.

I have this one. It is well made and goes up easily. It is a great family tent, as long as you don't have over three (total) in your family. It is supposed to sleep six. How you would do that is beyond me. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_104390_325001002_325000000_325001000?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL

Great story. 8-)

For MH or H I prefer a fast action; for M, XF.

If I had the cash to buy a new C-rig rod it would be 7'2" or 7'3" long, fast action and rated 3/8-1 1/4 oz. (more or less). Most of the time when I throw a C-rig I use a 3/4-1 oz weight. I currently use a 7'MH fast action, rated 1/4-1 oz. It works fine for now.

Well said. On the lakes I fish regularly I expect to catch fish and I'm always surprised when I don't. Even on bodies of water I don't know I am confident, based on experience that I will find fish. When the fish don't cooperate...that just part of fishing. This is not to say I don't have much to learn. There are skills I don't have so I continue to work on many of those areas. I am much better because of the knowledge gained here. There are some skills/techniques that I choose not to work on because they don't suit my style/temperament. I'm never going to be a very good crankbait fisherman for example. That may make me less than well rounded, but I can live with that.

I agree with you. The rod is much more important IMHO. I will say while I also learned to cast with junk, I don't recommend it. For ~$100 you can buy a quality reel that will make fishing more enjoyable. I agree with RW that a good reel makes fishing more fun; we would likely disagree on the definition of a "good" reel. 8-)

x2 Watch and feel as you do to detect something picking it up as it drops. Once you get in the habit it's not a big deal.

Just about any good quality BC reel will work fine for pitching unless you are using very light weight baits. The braking is done with your thumb. Reels designed for flipping either have a "flipping switch" that allows the reel to re-engage when you let off the thumb bar, or a thumb bar that can be pushed up to re-engage the reel without turning the crank.

The view from the top of the continental divide up the hill from Estes Park Co., the drive through the mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the white sand beaches of Fl., the color of the ocean as it turns from green to blue as land disappears in the distance, or the incredible rugged beauty of the Maine coast are all high on my list. If I could only choose one, it would be right where I'm planted. Southern Illinois is a beautiful place to live. Rolling hills, scenic views, dense woods, and some of the prettiest lakes you will ever see.

In order to comply with Glenn's very sensible ban on political commentary I will just say this:

I have three of each that I use regularly. The Extremes are good cheaper reels. They are fine for most applications. They don't shine with lighter weights. As ToledoEF said the PQs are better reels in every way. I think they are fine reels and a great value.

Rhino all of the Lowrance HDS units use an internal receiver. Is the technology different than Humminbird, or have they decided that reception is good enough? I have never had an issue with mine, but I do not have the down scan/side imaging module yet. I don't think the GPS function is changed by this upgrade, but I could be wrong.

RW when you decide to upgrade your collection and replace those antiquated G Loomis GLXs and St. Croix Avid rods, just send them my way. I'll pay shipping.

Fishing Rhino it makes sense to me to do it your way. It looks cool besides. 8-) My Lowrance unit has the GPS module built in. It is inside the unit and mounted on the console, yet it works fine. I wonder if signal strength is reduced to the unit by doing it this way?

It is a good question and this is the place to ask it. 8-) If you buy a decent BC combo and don't like it you can always re-sell it. Good luck.

As the spool rotates with thumb pressure on it, the loops, twists, etc. are pulled into alignment with the spool. I didn't think it made much sense either, but it works like a charm. 8-) i have never once got this to work for me. i dont get it. wth? p.s. i have found that truthfully... the better the reel... the more it backlashes. for a beginner. the nicest reels also are the most free flaoting spools. so you really have to be good to contain them. or... i guess learn on them in the first place. but i know that i still sometimes have problems with my nicer reels... and have the brakes much higher than i do my mid priced stuff. jmo. Make sure your drag is clamped down snug, so you can put some pressure on the spool as it turns under your thumb. It really does work. 8-)

As the spool rotates with thumb pressure on it, the loops, twists, etc. are pulled into alignment with the spool. I didn't think it made much sense either, but it works like a charm. 8-)