gulfcaptain

Culling System, weigh bag, something to drink. Just keep your gear organized and have a good time.

Have one of their Evercasts(Armed Forces Model). Not a bad reel but did have to change the handle after about 3 months because it had a bit of play in it and was bothering me. Overall it has preformed well and wouldn't consider it a bad purchase considering it was on sale when I purchased it for I believe around the $60 mark. Had the same problem with a handle on a more expesive Ardent which I wanted to like but just couldn't, so it went to the BPS reel trade in bin last year.

I have to agree with A-Jay, kill them with kindness, get them on their way and out of everyone elses hair by taking one for the groups well being at the boat ramp. One thing I've learned in the years of operating boats of various sizes, you can medicate and treat just about everything, but you just can't fix stupid no matter how hard you try.

I waited for 3 months to get a pair of Triple Trout "floaters" only to find they didn't float. Waited another 2 months to get them back. Needless to say I recieved them in Sept. when I ordered them in May. Waiting another week for the Hudd Gill, I can handle that after what I went through to get the two TT baits I wanted.

I've only have had one rod break bass fishing, actually had the same rod break twice. Both the H2O 7'6"XH using it to flip. Had the tip break first outing about 8" down, then got it replaced, and had the other one for about a year before lifting a 1lb bass and a bit of grass up out of the water and the rod shattered into 3 pieces all breaking at the first 12" of the rod. Like the H2O's, just won't fish this rod again. Two breaking in the same area it wasn't worth shipping back the second time.

The 7'11" Black *** is very nice....have one paired with an EXO 100. But primary punch rod I use is a 7'11" Quantum Tour Tactical with the *** 8:1. Prefe the moderate action of the Quantum for heavier punching needs, but both will work, just two different actions. The 7'6"MH *** is a great flipping/ligher punch rod as well.

Odds are they stock trout there and the baits you saw were either a Dep's 250 glide bait, or the 10" Triple Trout. Not sure about a seagull taking a 12-15" bass, but odds are it was an Osprey with a newly stocked rainbow trout. Big baits are nothing out of the norm in CA. City park ponds of less then 3 acres harbor lots of bass in the 4-12lb range that are more then willing to eat a large swimbait as well as several smaller 2-3lb fish that will also take a swipe at the bigger baits.

#1 you need to know when they stock. Fish generally somehow have an idea of when they are going to show up especially if it's a regular occurance. Depending on the size of the lake and the amount planted can have an effect on the bite. Smaller bodies of water, normally the week before a plant and the day of the plant are good days. The day after and the week that follows, well not so much as the fish have eaten their fill and are now digesting so aren't really in a feeding mood. If it's a big lake this isn't going to be an issue. I wouldn't fish right were they stocked if it was a couple days prior to your arrival and would start outside that area of the lake, fishing swimbaits on points and likely prespawn staging areas. Just because the fish eat trout doesn't make them a sure bet. And if you are going to fish a swimbait, I would look into a Line Thru as well. Sometimes the boot tail 3D trout baits aren't what they want earlier in the season and the more suttle action of a Hudd or Line Thru may produce better.

Sometimes it's good to have an EX wife. No explaining there or for me to explain all those boxes that keep showing up on the front porch.

If you're looking to find a dedicated "punch" rod, go with one that's made for it. The rod I use is discontinued, but if I had to buy a replacement I'd probably go with the IROD as I like the minima guides for this application over full size or micro. Just my opinion though.

$50 will get you premium components and a lifetime warranty. Don't see any warranty listed on the Fiber Series nor is there a taper listed so it's hard to say if it's going to be the same action or blank between the two. But I would bet they aren't the same.

Have to agree with Hootie on exact recomendations. If you had success last year expand on those. It's hard to give ideas without knowng your equipment as well. If you're fishing a ML spinning rod, then you're not gonna be fishing frogs in the slop but a dropshot is always a good bet, roostertail's, and a floating rapala are 3 areas you can fish on spinning rods and catch almost anything. But then if you're fishing MH baitcasting set-up those are a bit light for that set-up. The more you fish, the more you will learn. Try each year to pick up a new set-up with a technique or two in mind that that gear will work for and read as many articles on here as you can and try to apply that to areas you fish.

I would look into the IROD Genesis II "Bubs Punch Rod". Or you could look into the OKUMA TCS 7'11" H or XH. Both right around the $150 mark. One developed and made with the CA Delta in mind, other developed by Scott Martin to fish in the heavy mats.

Can't catch fish on them unless you throw them. I wouldn't throw them in water cooler the 59 where I'm located, but then above that temp the fish start moving up and getting shallow. My biggest fish so far this year was caught on a popper in the middle of Febuary on a bright sunny cloudless day. Like stated above, there are no hard rules when it comes to fishing, just guidelines. So when the water gets warm enough for those fish around you to move up, try one out and see what happens.

I'm in agreement with Choporoz, but I have fished mine hard for several years. Keep them cleaned, a drop of oil once a month or when needed, and proper maint. Everyone has their own preferences, and cheaper models don't save you money when you have to replace them with something more. Most reels in the $100-200 range are going to perform well and meet most needs. Quantum got a bad rap from older, cheaper models. You keep it in the "PT" models, they will perform. Accurist's I believe are the base level PT reels from Quantum. The Kinetic's retailed for $159 new not to long ago and you can find them on sale for 50% or more off depending on where you look. The older Smoke's are great reels retailing for $200, now available if you look for under a $100 or right around that. Yes they are the older models, but they are exceptional reels and for someone that is looking for a good baitcaster you will get more bang for your buck and way over what you were looking for with a Hellcat. I fish 3 brands, Quantum, ***, and BPS Extreme's and Carbonlites (older versions).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quantum-PT-Kinectic-8BB-6-3-1-Bait-Casting-Reel-KT100SPTA-/321680064877?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae5a0416d There's a good deal on a Quantum Reel.

An Extra Fast taper means you have a softer tip on the top 18-20" of the rod before it shuts off. This softer tip will let you cast a frog with a heavier action rod since you have a lighter tip. Now the tip also lets you set the hook and the softer tip section will help you more then hender you. It doesn't matter what the taper and action of the rod is if you pull the bait out of the fishes mouth instead of waiting for pressure weather you are using a fast action or an XF action. If you swing the minute you see a strike and don't wait to feel pressure your frog is coming back at you anyways from your action, regardless of the rod action.

I am a Quantum fan, but stay away from anything under the Accurist. If you wanted to shop Ebay you could probably find an older Smoke 100 model, or find an Accurist or Kinetic for under or around a $100. I have fished both the Accurist and Kinetic for over 2 seasons without any issues and both are still smooth and perform excellent as well as upgrading and having quite a few Smoke 150's, EXO, and the newer 100MG. The less expensive models look good, but be careful.

Most frog rods have an XF taper. They are light in the tip but then shut off so you have the power to pull. Think a 7'HXF would probably work well for what you are wanting. That's just my opinion though.

Have a fishery by my house I would love to harvest.....but the size needed to remove isn't legal. But they are stunted. But the herons like them so they can go to good use. Have to remove a few to keep the whole healthy.

The ones at BPS aren't that bad. Picked some up to try and actually really impressed. Def helps keep the tangles down when storing them.

Agreed......but I'll leave one for both of us. Let's hope spring comes soon for all those who are snowed and froze in who really need to get outside soon before we start discussing articles in Good Housekeeping or Cosmo.

I can't count how many waterfowl I have unwrapped fishing line off of, untangled lures that were accidently tangled and lost, or happened to be tangled with another bird. Smiling and helping out the best I can the younger kids who fish the ponds I do that ask a million questions and even after answering those have a million more. I try to remember how I was growing up and the older fisherman that had the patience to answer all my questions, take time out of what they were doing to show and teach me new things. I try to pass those kind jestures on to the youth of today who show the same passion I did at their age. Probably one I forget about but most notable good deed, saving a man's life you had a heart attack on a charterboat I worked on. The professionalizm of all the crew I worked with that day made a big difference in one mans life which could have ended had we not acted.

I would look into getting a rod in the 7'3" to 7'6" MH/H. Find something with a IPT of about 30-32" and give yourself a good pitching/jig set up. Rod and reel brand up to you. I fish a lot of 13 Fishings reels and the Black Omens as well as the Falcon Bucco's and Quantum's. (EXO, Kenitic, Smoke 150s, TourMG). But a good jig/pitching rod would be a good addition to your arsenal.

I use quite a few "slower" geared reels and I wouldn't get too worried. One positive about the lower gears, you can wind faster, not feel worn out at the end of the day and honestly it can keep you from working your baits too fast. I use the 5:1 on my umbrella rigs, medium swimbaits, and some squarebills and vibrating jigs. Lets me fish a bit faster without having to worry about overworking the bait since turning the handle faster may speed it up some but you're still not overpowering the bait and worried about slowing your retrieve speed down. Give it a try before you decide you don't like it and want to swap everything out.