NavyToad

Dobyns gives 30% off for veterans. Call them. A discount I’ve taken advantage of many times.

Picked up a Garmin Striker 4 vivid at TW and got my 20% off. The discount showed up on Paypal. $152 total.

Roumbanis rods have been $169 for months.

I cringe and cross my fingers whenever I find out that my package is being delivered by FEDEX. FEDEX has delivered too many of my packages to the wrong address in my neighorhood and I’ve been fortunate that my neighbors have brought the packages to my house. My house and mailbox are clearly marked. UPS has NEVER done this on 1,000+ packages over the last 20 years.

My 20 year old Bantam works as well as most $150-200 reels today. It’s a great reel.

My wife fishes a 3-4” grub on a 1/8 jighead and that’s it. Cast, slow steady retrieve, repeat. I usually have 4 rods rigged with different lures and she’s outfished me more times than I’d like to remember. She’s uses an Okuma spinning reel and a 20 year old 6’M Bionic Blade.

Dobyns give 30% off for veterans. Call them.

When using spinning gear, do you cast with your right hand and crank the reel with your left hand? If so, you might want to consider a left hand baticasting reel. I had used spinning gear exclusively for over 20 years before I bought my first baitcaster and cranking the reel with my right hand wasn’t going to work for me. I sold that first baitcaster and I’ve been using left handed baitcasters for the last 20 years. Buy a $150 7’ MH rod and $150 reel and you won’t be disappointed. Several good brands of both are readily available.

I've watched every episode and think it's the best show on TV. Blue Bloods is probably #2 IMO. I like shows where the good guy wins and right prevails.

IF they were working for the previous owner, clean and re-seat ALL the connectors. I worked in Aviation Electronics for 40 years. Even if they hadn't been working for the previous owner, it's a good place to start.

I’m just waiting for them to start using retractable underwater periscopes hooked up to a video monitor so they don’t have to lay down with those megaphone lookin’ gadgets up to their eyes. Watching those guys fish is like watching paint dry. I may be in the minority, but I think all the technology is taking the fishing out of fishing. Are they using drones to hunt yet? I don’t want to know.

The Dobyns DC 732SF and 733SF use old model/leftover Extreme series blanks. Gary Dobyns calls them “special”. I have them both and doubt I’ll ever buy another spinning rod. I’d look into the 732/733.

I use an old pole from a swimming pool skimmer net. 8’ and works great.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BAT8231?impressionRank=1 AAA members 20% off this month. I’d buy it at regular price either way. East Penn makes it.

Alot of Dobyns Champ XP refurbs available. Picked up a 704cb for jerkbaits. https://dobynsrods.com/the-dobyns-champion-xp-series/

That's no exaggeration that she's really good at it. Dang!

Hi Bill. Glad you're here! A lot of members with stories similar to yours.

My casts are usually just far enough.

I went to a 3 day B.A.S.S. seminar 20+ years ago and Denny Brauer (one of my all-time favorites) explained how you really have to drive the hook home. I took it to heart, and the next time I went fishing with my brother, several smallmouth were yanked right out of the water and over my shoulder. My brother laughed like hell when I told him that was how Denny Brauer does it. I’ve mellowed since.

Maybe an over the hill pro, but not a wanna be.

I’m the opposite. For some reason, Matt gets on my nerves, but I can listen to Randy all day. LOL! I’m NOT claiming that one is better than the other.

Call them. It’s very easy to talk to a human with no hassle trying to get through. Very friendly and helpful staff.

You done good. I’m using an old Browning Vectra flippin’ stick and an Abu 4601c4 that I had layin’ around. It works, just barely. The reel’s fine, but I need a real swimbait rod. No $10 deal around here.

I once hooked one of my rods on the backswing and cast the rod into the water. I was sick about it. My brother reeled a 5/0 EWG hook all the way up to the last guide on his rod and scraped around on the bottom until he hooked the rod. It was November in WV and neither of us were going swimming for it.

Bats, spiders, and opossums - man’s allies against annoying bugs.