Fish Chris

That was the first accessory I bought This was the second: http://www.ebags.com/product/camelbak/hellion-100oz/136178 It has a 6 liter water reservoir, and big enough to hold my DSLR with 400mm lens + other assorted bike stuff.... Oh, I got mine in the winter weather (kind of a grey camo) Peace, Fish

CW, I've only broke a couple rods.... and now I foget the first one. I rember it was REALLY lightweight, and Fenwick's latest, greatest super high modulas rod, about 15 years ago. I don't think they even make it any more. That, and I broke a Fenwick HMG once. Granted, both breaks were probably more my own fault, for running my drag too tight. I've since learned to run a quite a bit lighter drag, for protection on hook sets. I disagree. Braid IS that much better, but the fact is, the line a person uses, is only a small part of the big picture. So IMPO, the ones that keep up, do so for other reasons. I used funky, kinky, coily, s-t-r-e-t-c-h-y @$$ mono for probably 25 years, before I tried braid. No telling how many fish I missed, due to not getting a hook set. I know I broke off a number of good ones on mono also. Of course I still miss, and lose a few fish, but it's never due to line stretch, or break offs. Peace, Fish PS, going back and reading your post again, I see you said I'm sorry. I thought we were talking about real fishermen LOL Just ribbing. Don't mind me

Yes ! I just bought a Jamis full suspension Dakar XT late last Fall I knew it was a bad time, as far as, I knew the bad Winter weather was coming, but because of that, + because I got it as a closeout special, I got a $950 bike, for $498 Anyway, I've had it on some dirt trails / hills a few X's, and I had a blast ! However, with no amount of practice will I ever be even in the same ball park as some of those outrageously skilled hill climbers ! The first day I took mine out, I saw a guy fly down a swirvy, lumpy, bumpy, dirt downhill at about 20-25mph.... hit his front break, and proceed to ride about 75 feet on his front wheel only, rear wheel about 2 feet off the ground, before finally dropping his rear wheel, straight into a controlled slideout ! Holy %$#$ ! With my screwed up hand/eye coordination, it's enough of a challenge to stay upright on "two wheels" I bought mine mainly for cardio exercise though, and it's great for that Peace, Fish

Yes, my certified scale is a Salter Brecknal. But more often than not, I just use one of my two Berkeley's. The Certified Salter is really just in case I catch something that REALLY matters... lake record, personal best, state record, etc. Biz, what color was the Pelican you cooked the camera in ? My little mini is blue.... not as good as yellow or white, but still better than black I suppose. JF, it's funny... people do spend a lot of money on camera storage, but what's really funny, is that often, they spend that money on soft carry bags that don't offer near as much protection as a Pelican ? Those cases might be better for actually carrying around (with the shoulder strap and all) but I just use my truck, or my boat to carry my Pelicans. When I get to where I'm going to do some photography, I don't carry the camera in the case.... I take it out, and carry it by hand, with my finger on the trigger Peace, Fish PS, I think it's cool that Pelicans are used ALL the time, by ALL sorts of different professional workers, Firemen, Ambulance, etc, etc. That should say something about the quality of them. Any time I get some new piece of expensive equipment (like when I bougfht my DSLR) I'm darn near as excited about the new Pelican case I'm getting for it They really are not that expensive. The little one that I carry all the camera stuff, and scale, stereo faceplate, iPod, cell phone, etc.... is only about $75. Cheap insurance for $1000 or more worth of sensitive electronics.

Hey Fishes in the Trees, my DSLR case is the Pelican 1520. I really don't have too many lenses yet... just 4 of them, but the 400 5.6 is pretty big. What I'd suggest, would be to arrange your equipment out on a flat surface, with just a little space between each. Try to make them into a basic rectangle, and lay taller items down flat, if possible. Then just basically measure the height, length, and width required for your items. Pelican gives the inside dimensions for each of their cases, and they start out tiny, and go all the way up to huge. BTW, I prefer the yellow, or orange ones, because if they should ever end up floating, they will be easier to spot + they don't get near so hot, laying out on a hot boat deck in the Summer. Peace, Fish

California $43.46 for a general sportfishing license, and $13.53 .....so mine was $56.99 Which, I should add, is a substantial sum, for somebody who doesn't get out very much. But for myself, it's probably the best money I will spend all year long. Our license are good from Jan 1. to Dec 31. So I try to get mine sometime in Dec, a week or two before the new year starts. Peace, Fish

Man, I'm really sorry to say.... the first day of crappy weather and those fish flat moved out ! I never managed a single hit or run, in spite of the fact I had two lively Split Tails, kicking on my lines for 6 hours ! Only good thing.... It rained all the way around me, but I never got a drop on me Windy though That's two skunks in a row though ! Ouch ! Well, I might try it 1 more time during some stable, nicer weather.... But it's almost time to be switching over to the green bass anyway Peace, Fish

I wouldn't say, "I don't like them"...... I think they look really cool, and go really fast...... And from a modern technology standpoint, I think they are just awesome pieces of machinery. But as for fishing out of one, they would do nothing but get in my way, and slow my roll. I would love to have a straight up speed boat, with a big, super-charged V8, to look really cool, and go really fast..... But I wouldn't even try to fish out of it. So anyway, if I ever hit the lotto, I'd probably have about 15 boats.... but none of them would be a fiberglass, high performance bass boat. Peace, Fish BTW, I don't ride motorcycles, but I've watched a ton of those bike building TV shows ! Awesome works of art ! Beautiful to look at. But I would have no use for one of those either.

I think generally speaking, for most normal people, you are absolutely correct..... Which would explain why this holds absolutely zero weight with my abnormal self But hey, as I often say, it's okay. I know most guys just can't help being normal. Peace, Fish

Thanks guys Bluebasser Lets put it this way, I'm pretty picky about my fish. Their are several types I will eat, but Sturgeon is among my favorite ! They have a mild flavor, but firm white meat. But hey, this is the "White Sturgeon" I'm talking about. I've heard that many other species are all but unedible. In the old days, I'd have tried to keep one towards the bottom of the keeper range 46", as they are cleaner (less chance for toxins, heavy metals, etc) plus, a 46" to 48" was plenty of meat for just myself, anyway. But nowadays, in the fish hammering household I live in, I'd be best to keep an upper sized keeper... 60"-63". Peace, Fish

It's all in what your used to. It feels totally normal for me to whip out a 5oz swimbait, on a heavy action spinning rod. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hey now, while we are on the subject.... I've already explained why I am so lousy with a baitcaster, and not even great with spinning reels, but none the less, I just have to say this about baitcasters; Just the fact that the reel is "on top" of the rod, means you will always have to grip the rod and fight gravity, to make that reel stay on top. This always reminds me of the occasional newby, who will pick up a spinning rod with the wrong hand, try to hold the reel on top, and start cranking backwards ....it's like, "Uhhhh, hey buddy.... has anybody shown you how to use that thing" ? Doh ! With my spinning rods, I can counter balance the butt ends, then hook a few fingers under the handle, and let the rod hang in my hand, perfectly balanced, with zero grip pressure whatsoever. And I do this often, for different presentations. Peace, Fish

{I'll just come back tomorrow evening, and tell you if I was right, within this same posting title} Well, the last time I went out, I got my butt kicked for only the second time, in about 15 trips. The thing was, those Stripers were just not there. I know this, because as the bay emptied to less than two feet, I headed out and saw "zero" wakes, boils, splashes... nothing. I think a week and a half of weird, ripping Easterly winds, just whacked them all out, and sent them to deeper water. But now, I just lined up my room mate with all kinds of spot on info. He and a friend went out yesterday. And although they didn't actually land any, they did miss a couple, + as they headed out of the bay, they saw big wakes, and boils cutting out in every direction from the boat ! This tells me all I need to know ! They are there ! (at least they were yesterday ) So, you know what ? I'm going to stick some good ones Only bummer is, after several days of gorgeous weather, tomorrow (the first of my two days off) the front is rolling in Some wind.... but it's a South wind.... not so bad. And rain. That sucks But the fish are already wet anyway I'll try to post some photos. But what I'm really hoping for, is to catch a Sturgeon in the first few hours before, before the outgoing tide starts.... That is a much tougher shot.... But darn I sure want to catch and keep one of those suckers for the freezer ! About a 60" would be nice Wish me luck, Fish

I've never even heard of the tonnage rating. But IMPO, the whole high modulas thing (and probably tonnage, as well)means practically nothing. A guy could use a freaking fiberglass rod with braid, and have more sensitivity transferred to his hand, than a guy using a super duper 100 million modulas rod, and stinking monofilament ! In fact, since I only use braid, I actually prefer a rod to be in the lower to medium modulas range. Those super thin walled, super-light, super-sensitive, high modulas rods just tend to be too brittle, and not a good / safe choice when using braid. Peace, Fish

My buddy had one of those and it was really fast, and stable. Definately more boat than I'd need, but what the hey Still a better choice than one of those massive, flashy, overly expensive fiberglass ones Peace, Fish

Hey Glades, and this is probably the most likely time to break one... while cranking on it, just like I did with mine. But the last thing you'd want, would be to have it snap, after you were out on the road, or freeway ! Peace, Fish

Sweet boat ! :-) All you need to catch a HUGE bass ! BTW, I wouldn't worry too much about the carpet. I mean what the hey, a guy doesn't buy a boat like this for looks.... or to look cool.... He buys it to catch fish ! And I promise you, the fish couldn't care less what color your carpet is Have fun with it, and be safe ! Always wear an auto-inflatable PFD ! Peace, Fish

Ha ha ! I am sure seeing him cast with a spinning reel would not help me Like I say, with nearly 40 years of practice with a spinning reel, I'm only an okay caster, on a good day ! And I can't cast a baitcaster to save my life ! But what difference ? I still seem to get it in front a good one every now and again Peace, Fish

Hey Biz, those are cool too ! I have one of those that I carry my go-everywhere car-cam in. At the very least, every angler needs one of those. I just like a little larger case so I can carry two cams + all the other stuff I mentioned, as well Peace, Fish

And if not, why the heck not ?!?! Pelican cases are the coolest thing since, fishing rods were invented ! They are watertight, shockproof, dustproof, insultated, and they will float several pounds of gear (more than you are likely to carry in it). I carry this little one (which is getting kind of crowded nowadays) with two digital cameras, my certified scale, my iPod, the face plate of my truck stereo, and my two way remote alarm transmitter, and never do I worry about it getting splashed..... or sitting out in pouring rain. It's as much an integral part of my fishing gear, as my rods, and my tackle bag. I just can't even imagine going without one. I actually own 3 of them. I have another larger one for my DSLR and my big lens, which also goes with me on most fishing trips nowadays too. Maybe you have just never considered one.... But I think you really should ! They are not that expensive IMPO either, for how much value they represent. And they are really tough, so they will last many years. Nope. I'm not sponsored by them.... But I wish I was ! Peace, Fish Here's where I get mine; http://www.casesbypelican.com/ The one I showed here is the little 1400, with pick and pluck foam.

Thank you Steezy. Fish

BASSclary, that is a bad-a$$ song by Beck, that I have cranked in my truck 100 X's.... but I've never seen the video. That really is too freaking cool Thank you for posting that Fish

Ya' know, some might find this surprising, considering that I'm an old guy (46) but I really just love all eras of music, from the 50's, on up. I know a lot of old timers seem to like music from their earlier years the best. But I listen to just as much stuff that has come out in the last year or two..... The same stuff a lot of kids listen too Either way, whether it's some old school low-fi recording, or a modern techno bass track, it all sounds pretty darn good in my truck Peace, Fish

Just curious as to what lures are not really conducive to spinning gear ? I do fine with 5 oz swimbaits ...or handling a 4 oz pyramid sinker, with a 1/2 to 1 lb live Split Tail (like I will be doing tomorrow ! Whooo Hooo ! Can't wait ...besides the rain Peace, Fish

Couldn't have said it better myself. The biggest reason for lures having so many color choices, is marketing. I believe that sometimes, even when it seems like the only change you made was color, their very possibly could have been other subtle changes taking place... not only changes made by you, but changes with the fish. One other thing; If all a guy ever throws is purple worms with blue flakes, or firetiger crankbaits, then every fish he ever catches, will be caught on purple worms with blue flakes, and firetiger crankbaits. Peace, Fish

Intentionally foul hooking fish off of a bed..... or fish nowhere near a bed, is just plain wrong. It also gives a bad image to guys who work really hard to get a big female to "eat" their lure, while guarding a bed...... which is sometimes all but impossible. Another thing, you didn't say if the guy kept these illegally hooked fish or not.... But IMPO, removing the fish from the fishery is really the worst part. What I always trip on, is people that have a problem fishing for big bedding females > because of the offspring..... FORGET the offspring ! If she lays 10,000 eggs, maybe 1 of them might someday get as big as her..... or maybe not ! It's that 1 giant fish which has already beaten incredible odds to get as big as she has, that holds 95% of the value ! Peace, Fish