desmobob

And there's the other, darker, point... it's an excuse to acquire more tackle!

I started the same thread on another forum I frequent and was immediately labeled as a Luddite and Boomer. This place is much more friendly! I have two notebooks (Mac and Windows), a side-scan sonar in my powered boat and a GPS in my horseless carriage so I can't really be called a Luddite. But I was born in the very early '60s so I can't deny being a Baby Boomer by the strictest definition...

Someone explained to me the reason for requiring a mobile phone number. Something about transmitting SMS and how important it is for maintaining security. He said it's likely to soon be necessary for bank transactions, credit cards, etc. I may be forced to get a mobile phone at some point. That's money I could spend on tackle! I honestly make about ten or less phone calls in a month. I hate the idea of buying a phone and plan. Oh well...

In my e-mails to the contact addresses I found on the consumer advocacy site, I asked for my account statement so I can pay off my balance and close the account. I don't know if I've ever accepted any payments through PayPal. I opened the account years ago for the convenience of making payments for eBay purchases. Times have changed.

Constant swarm of happy yellow jackets.

Since this thread was pulled out of its five-year grave, I'll add one seldom-mentioned use of a D-Bomb... take a fresh, slippery one out of the package and toss it in your girlfriend's/wife's lap by surprise, especially if she's wearing shorts. Often, some not-quite-Olympic-quality gymnastics will ensue. ? This may be just as effective on men as well; I just haven't tried it on any yet...

I can't cast either a 2 ounce sinker or a 1/16 oz. Ned Rig on a fly rod. Like a whole lot of guys, I love the added challenge of fly fishing for bass. So because it doesn't "make sense" to someone, it's wrong? I fish with bait casting, spinning, fly fishing, trolling and BFS gear from a power boat, canoe, kayak, float tube and wading because I think it's fun. I don't care if someone thinks it doesn't make sense. That's not the point! BFS is just one more fun way to catch fish...

I just tried to look at my PayPal account to be sure a large payment was credited to my PayPal Credit account (they offer six months free credit for purchases over $100. I bought a new MacBook Pro last month.). I hit a snag when the log-in page told me to add my mobile phone number for verification. I don't have, and have never had, a mobile phone. In the past, the PayPal log in pages had suggested adding a mobile phone number for added security, but never said it would become mandatory. Well, now it has, and with no advance notification or warning. And, of course, all the help and contact information is only accessible after you log in. Some web searching shows many others have the same issue. I found two work-arounds that do not work, and no solutions. I finally found a consumer advocacy page that had some contact info so I sent e-mails to the PayPal CEO and CFO. It also listed the physical address and I'll put a letter in the mail tomorrow. If you've ever had a problem with eBay or PayPal, you know that it is very nearly impossible to find a way to contact a human (PayPal has been sued for it). ARGH!

? I have a Garrett Ace 250, a White's DFX and an XP DEUS.

Mama fishing spider trying to raise a brood below the gunwale of my boat...

Indeed. Luckily, she only headed into the weeds once and I was able to steer her out. After that, the fight was in open water. And hardly any jumping until near the end. I actually thought I had a channel cat on at first.

Displace the beer for fishing line? Tough call...

The SCUBAPro Divers' Passport is a nice one, but compact. The log I have is a large size plastic-bound book with plenty of room on each page for comments/commentary. I think I got it at Divers' Supply in Atlanta. I was always toting a camera and taking lots of photos so I taped envelopes on the back of the log pages that I had photos for. I don't know the best way to accomplish that kind of thing in the digital age...

- Jig - T-rig - crankbait - BFS - wacky Senko - topwater

Cool! What a great hobby. Encourage him to keep a log book with some commentary and photos besides the usual tech details. I got my YMCA Bronze certification the summer after I graduated from high school in '79 and an advanced open water certification several years later. I haven't dove in years but love to get out my old log book, look at the photos and read about the dives.

I'm a life-long Mercury owner/fan and currently have a 40HP four-stroke. But when I shopped for a 15HP four-stroke engine a few years ago, I chose a Suzuki. Mainly because it had electronic fuel injection and was lightest in class. It has been a reliable, one-pull start, fuel-thrifty engine.

I always wondered why anyone would want to cut the line. I always pull until it breaks; usually at the knot or a knick or kink in the line. Who knows... you might get your lure back (and you might have to duck!). In the case of monofilament caught in a tree branch on a long cast, you will probably have to do a lot of pulling as the line stretches and the branch bends. And with really strong line, you'll probably have to use something to wrap the line around to pull hard enough to break it off. I can understand where someone might not want to pull their fluorocarbon line until it breaks, as stretching it can damage/weaken it. But other than that, why give up early and cut?

Shouldn't the type of line and sensitivity of the rod be included in the equation? I like to keep a bow/sag in the line. With fluoro and a good rod, you can still feel a tap very easily. With braid, I find that a deep bow really cuts down the feel, but a breeze can put enough light, even tension on the bowed braid to still let you feel any activity. Otherwise, I tend to hold at least a little bit of tension with braided line. (But, it's easier for me to watch braid for movement and that helps make up for the lack of slack-line sensitivity...)

Before you give up on beer, have you tried a fresh, ice-cold Stella Artois? I prefer heavy, dark beers, but Stella is a real pleasure on a hot summer day. The first time I tried it, I didn't like it. I live in a rural area and it probably isn't a big seller around here. I think it may be sensitive to age or handling and can get skunky. But a good fresh one is clean, crisp and refreshing.

Cool. But how the heck did you end up with two fish to hold up for a photo if you were wading?

I got out on southern Lake Champlain mid-morning yesterday. My third cast to the outside of the weed line with my BFS outfit produced the first fish: a 4lb. 5oz. largemouth. It hit a Z-Man TRD TicklerZ on an Owner finesse ballhead while it was sitting still. The outfit was one of my very inexpensive BFS rigs consisting of a KastKing Zephyr reel spooled with 4lb. test mono on an AceHawk CU Double UL rod. I later got a large bullhead on that rig/bait... you never know what will hit those little things. Other fish came on conventional gear (Kistler KLX/Lew's TP) and a 4.5" Megastrike Mega Bug on a light belly-weighted hook worked across the top of the weeds and allowed to drop into the openings or a T-rigged Pit Boss worked around a big beaver hut. A slow but enjoyable day on the water in this summer of rain here in upstate NY. I wish we could send some of it to the West.

Don't be afraid to go smaller and longer on your tippet (and entire leader). It might not turn over as nicely as a conventionally-sized set-up, but if you're spooking fish, it will help. Heck... modern 5x tippet is usually from 3.5 to 4 lb. test. Don't be shy.

The reward for getting out before sunrise is TOPWATER ACTION! ?

Although participating in Olympic competition is not the same as employment, how many folks here are allowed to display/promote their political views or demonstrate against something while they're at work? I thought our athletes were there to represent the USA in international competition. I would hope they would be proud and positive. The athlete's representation is valuable enough to earn them big bucks in endorsements on their own time. Why aren't they required to do their demonstrating on their own time? Look how well that turned out for the NFL... if they had simply reminded the players that they were on the clock and told them they had to express their views on their own time, a lot of drama and the loss of a lot of fans probably would have been avoided. I believe there's a reason the 1st Amendment was put in its position. I also believe our country certainly has its faults and that there are appropriate and inappropriate times and places to express your opinions on them.

"Gone fishin' instead of just a-wishin'..." "My... ain't that a dandy!"