Captain Hook

I use Matzuo, eye up circle hooks exclusively, in salt water and fresh water...#4's, #6's, and #10's for Smallmouth and Perch. 99 times out of 100 they hook in the corner of the fish's mouth, never in the gut. The design of the hook prevents it...

I'm with the Okuma bunch. I have used Shimano's for a long time and loved them. However, I decided to give Okuma a try and was IMPRESSED. For the money, the Okuma's appear to give more bang for the buck...especially their "Stinson" model...

Add Fenwick to the list...

I concur with the Fenwick. I have a HMG 66ML and it is phenomenal. I've put an Okuma "Stinson" SI30 in it and I'm good for life with that combo...

I have 4 pinnacle "Inertia" spinning reels...two 30's, and two 50's. I have absolutely ABUSED these reels (one of each is used in salt water), and they work just like the day I bought them. They have nine bearings, drag is very smooth as is the retrieve. They are one of the best spinning reels I have ever owned...especially for the price...

I have a pair of Okuma "Stinson" SI30's on a pair of Fenwick HMG rods, and they are the best reel/rod combos I've ever owned...and I've owned a LOT. The Okuma "Stinson" reels are hiding their light under a bushel basket. An outstanding reel for the money...

Whatever you settle on, you NEED to give Troutlet.com a look. I have not found ANY place with lower prices...

The most bang for the buck is a Fenwick HMG GS66M or GS70M (the number being the length in ft/in). MSR = $119, but they are readily available in the $75 range and they come in 1pc or 2pc models...

Okuma Stinson SI30 or SI40 (7 bearings)...or, believe it or not, a Silstar Integra 30 or 40...NINE ball bearings and as smooth as silk w/a good drag system...

IF you are a Florida resident, you do not need a license to fish from shore, or anything attached to it...if you're in a boat, you do. If you're NOT a Florida resident, you need a license for ANY type/location of fishing...

Zeppy, I live (fish) in Port St.Lucie/Jensen Beach during the Winter. If I want Black Sea Bass, I go out over the deeper (100ft, or so) reefs/ledges. If you want to fish from the beach, you have 2 choices...short or long. Short is RIGHT off the breaker line...I mean RIGHT off. When the waves wash back in and collide with the incoming waves, the turbulance creates a trench. This trench is usually loaded with Whitting, Pompano, Snook, depending on the weather/time of year. I use medium spinning tackle for this. The other area is as for out as you can cast, using a 12-14 foot pole. This is where everything else lives...Macs, Blues, Sharks, Kings, etc....depending on the weather/time of year. Try to get to the beach for the incoming/high tide...

I'm from Skaneateles, NY and all of my fishing (during the Summer) is for Smallmouth and Perch. I live fish almost exclusively. Anyone else fish live bait, or is this mostly a lure fishing Forum? What's most important for me is location, location, location. Once I've found the spots where they are, live bait will ALWAYS do the trick. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a live bait "snob" it's just that at this stage of my life casting is getting hard to do. Any tips on lake habitat...like from Spring through the Summer?

I've had really good luck using a 6'6" Fenwick HMG graphite medium light rod (Okuma Stinson reel)...from my boat, lake fishing. I also do a LOT of live bait fishing...minnows, crayfish, worms,etc...