NYWayfarer

Of those two I would go with the Abu Black Max combo. I do a lot with the few medium casting rods I own. Caught a 9 pound Channel Cat on one while Smallmouth Bass fishing.

I watched a review on this reel. From what I saw it had dual brakes. 4 pin internal and an external adjustable magnetic brake.

Yes. You can minimize or eliminate the misery with some planning and accessories. Windy day, find spots that you can paddle to that are sheltered from the winds. Anchors help. I have a brush anchor that I use way more that I ever used my mushroom anchor. Landing fish, make sure and have a net handy. Nothing worse than losing a fish that bumps into the kayak. Tired, a kayak moves with little effort. If you want to get somewhere fast it’s nice to have the option to paddle hard. Most of the time you can barely dip the paddle and get yourself to cruising speed. Adjustments while fishing, get a hand paddle. I use the Backwaters Assault Paddle with one hand while fighting a fish with the rod in my other hand.

About an hour drive north of the Albany capital region.

Yes. Kastmaster and Johnson weedless silver minnows are my favorite for Pike, Pickerel and Trout. I always had the red and white Daredevils in my tackle box but never had much luck on them. Shiny spoons always worked better for me.

Thanks my friend. It is truly rewarding work. I feel like I really help people at the end of the day. Prior to my 15 years at this job I spent 15 years working at a bank in back office operations. What a soul sucking occupation that was. The best thing that happened to me was getting laid off after 9/11 from my downtown Manhattan job. I moved to an area I love and found this job as well.

That stinks. The same lady has been cutting my hair and my son’s hair for the last 15 years. If the lady retires I told my wife I am going to buy some hair clippers and she can buzz my head. I would hate it but she would love the few bucks we would save. My Dad is 83 and still gets his hair cut and styled. The Apple didn’t fall far from the vanity tree.

I am an operations manager for a special needs trust. To sum it up simply: Developmentally, physically and mentally disabled individuals that inherit, receive or need to shelter money, join one of my companies trusts so they don’t lose everything over their looming medical bills. The trust allows them to stay in the community until their demise. No one wants to see their loved one in a nursing home. The trusts allow them to avoid that. My job is to manage the crew that helps them pay their bills and make the money in the trust last as long as possible.

Same with pizza. Some peoples idea of a good pizza tastes like a cracker with ketchup on it. Nothing beats a Brooklyn pizzeria folding slice. We have some great BBQ restaurants up here but nothing compared to what I have had in Tennessee down to Florida.

Perspective. I started working in 85 as well while going to college. I got another 10 years at least to go before I can retire. Enjoy it. You earned and deserve it.

I am north of the capital region of NY. Adirondack mountain area so it can get pretty cold here at night. Last weekend I saw there was still some snow on top of one of the ski area mountains.

First Largemouth Bass of 2021 for me. Can’t remember a year it took this long to get one. I was having too much fun Trout fishing I guess. The Carolina rigged worm, dragged on the bottom was what they wanted. Got two today and a Pickerel

I got my first Largemouth of 2021 today. Carolina rig was the key. Dragging the bottom and pausing.

Same with me. I use SPF 50 sunscreen on my face and by the end of the season most of my face is golden brown from my time on the water. Lighter from toy forehead to just under my eyes as my hat and sunglasses cover those areas. My hands are usually tan as well. Looks like I am wearing gloves. I get a crazy tan line on my legs from my sit-in kayak. I very rarely if ever get burned. I am diligent about reapplying sunscreen.

I use live bait mainly for other species. Nightcrawlers and shiners for Bass occasionally.

Wrap it around your pliers and pull to save your fingers. Love Big Game. Sufix Siege as well. Tough line you can have confidence in.

It was 37 degrees when I left for fishing this morning. Trout are still biting. No sign of Bass though.

No. But... I still use clear Mono or Fluorocarbon. Probably for the same reasons I don’t walk under a ladder. I know it’s not bad juju but why chance it?

My Mach 2 baitcaster is three years old. It was part of a combo but I broke the rod high sticking a LMB into my kayak. It still works fine with little maintenance. I have never taken it apart to service. One issue with it is if I cast real hard the thumb bar will disengage and make an awful grinding noise. My Crush will do this as well. None of my Lew’s reels with aluminum frames have this issue. The other issue is the cost. It is overpriced IMO. The green paint job and Winn Grip knobs drive the cost up. Folks would be better off purchasing a Lew’s LFS and buying the custom knobs, preferably the black or gray ones as the neon green Mach 2 knobs get filthy. The reel is still in my rotation. I have it on a Lew’s Laser HS rod $29.99 from Walmart. I take this combo places where I know my stuff is going to get beat up.

I went Bass fishing Tuesday evening. I was casting a Luhr-Jensen frog colored spoon. Also had a Carolina Rigged Nightcrawler setup. No Bass only a big Pickerel and some Yellow Bullhead. This morning I was able to fish for an hour and a half before work. Caught a limit of 5 Brook Trout and 2 more I released before my time ran out.

Z-Man finesse TRD Whopper Plopper Rage Tail Baby Craw Lew’s TP1 Black casting rods Lew’s Speed Spin spinning reel St Croix Triumph (2021 version) spinning rod

During the pandemic my company switched from business attire to casual attire. This was due to the policy change to no visitors. I can wear jeans and casual shirts instead of suit and tie. The money I saved has gone to fund my fishing addiction.

My mono of choice for Trout and Panfishing has been Vicious Fishing Ultimate Monofilament in clear blue. The average diameter is usually smaller than the same pound test lines of most brands. It has been strong and dependable for me.

I agree.

Forgive me, I thought you meant the Smash Baitcaster. I don’t have the spinning combo but I do have the Smash spinning reel. I popped the cap off of mine and there is no screw just a flat metal cap where the screw would be. Lew’s does say the custom knobs are not compatible with all their reels. I would say the Smash spinning reel is an incompatible reel.