captbob

Big reason for catch and release is to catch the same fish again. Even the retard Bass after he's stung often enough remembers that line leading to that great meal and shuns it, especially in high pressure lakes. I always want the edge of Fluorocarbon and often that's not good enough. Enough for a couple of wraps on the reel with fish by the boat--remember that knot is the weakest point. Check that leader for rock/branch nicks and where it "saws" the tip when casting, not being lazy will often save your day.

Ghoti: I used to dry my pork on purpose so I could soak them in Menhadden Milk--(NOT OIL) made them twice as good, have seen fish start to follow and when they got a whiff---CHARGE!!!!.

You don't make O rings you buy them in a hardware store, little black round rubber circles. Pick a finger the diameter of your senko and it should fit tight over the tip. It goes on the middle of the senko and the hook goes under it, when hooked up the worm will slide up the line and not get mangeled. I keep a lot of small rubber bands that work when doubled and are very cheap, use for carolina sinkers and lots of other stuff too, grips the line but will break away if hung up. For O rings get a hollow tube, copper or plastic that the senko can just slide through, put the o-ring on it and roll it off at the middle of the worm. Hope this helps, Capt. Bob

Have a couple of real old woodies I like, a Zara spook that can jump clear out of the water, and 3 old repainted flatfish that work when nothing else does on a learned retrieve only.

You can mist with fresh water, never a solid stream, don't use soap it contains salt & chemicals. I always use this stuff, immerse the whole reel in solution, takes the salt out of the line-(where it's buried)-and will not take away oil and grease. Read below-- Now for the really hard part!!! Unload your gear and get your trusty bottle of SALT-X. Mix 2 oz of SALT-X to every gallon of water (for those of us that only made it to the first grade because we went fishing instead of going to school)... Use the SALT-X Magic Meter Bottle which will help you measure the correct amount of SALT-X to use per gallon of water. For best results use a plastic garbage can that you can put aside and keep ready with the SALT-X solution. bullet Place all of your gear (not a good idea to insert your battery, wallet, or best friend) in the solution of SALT-X and commence doing 12 oz curls with your favorite beverage. This is a perfect time to tell the tall tales you practiced in step 3. bullet Remove all the gear from the SALT-X solution and just let it air dry! bullet Congratulations you just killed all the salt and protected all of your expensive equipment.

Kev my man: You're putting us on --right?? Try a tackle store, I ordered from Dominoes but they brought me a Pizza instead.

Baitcaster-Spiderwire Ultracast Spinning reel--Fireline

Bare hooks, like on wacky rigs with o rings, I like to use a short piece of very thin colored copper telephone wire, I think 22ga. Very soft and pliable. one end through the eye to keep it on with a twist around itself and the other twisted 3/4 turn around tip point of hook with sometimes a high bow that will push down with a soft bite. Push with finger to test tension, can pull right off hook point. I use red with red hooks, there's about a dozen wires in a white sheilded piece-(not the lead to the phone). Anyone works for phone Co. will give you free pieces. Do you have an effective method??

Place it in a very large tank then feed it an 8lb. largemouth. You shouldn't have to worry about it afterwards, replace the one with the smile in the lake. CB

I just use small rubber bands, buy in a CVS store for 1.50 bag of 100's, women use them in their hair-I think- if too loose just double them over, hold them open around two fingers while you lower the worm through. Lots of other uses for these rubber bands, can hold anything to a hook.

Fluoro is a must if you want max advantage. Never have your knot chaffing in the guides, this takes 15-20' of leader, remember that knot is the weakest point in your line and when the fish is at the side of the boat ready to land you want the knot on the reel plus several wraps over it. On a spinning reel knot should lay at the back of the spool so line going off at the cast does not hit it. If you want to fish top-waters and not have the leader sink the fly fishing floating line dressing will float it, get the kit with the cleaning pad.

Retired FDNY 22 years Capt. owner/operator 46' blue-water offshore charter boat in FL Keys--just got out after 15 years. Capt. Bob FL Keys

For me, the only standout that Berkley leads the competition with is Fireline Crystal and that only on a spinning outfit. No one dominates across the board and price doesn't always guarantee "the best".

"He swam away fine"---Right into the jaws of a waiting Pike. At least provide him a seeing eye frog or little --stick--cane.

Power Pro gets the most hype but on a bait caster I've found 20# Spiderwire Ultracast green beats them all, sure it's expensive, but lasts a life time and never wind knots. Can tie direct in cloudy water, make a loop with a huffnagel knot and pass it over the bait/hook. Clear h2o use 15# fluorocarbon leader tied to the loop with an albright knot, the braid never cuts this knot. There's another good knot like a uniknot with an over under weave with the two lines overlying, both take care but make small/tight knot. On a spinner I find Fireline Crystal in 14-20# is best, a little stiff when new but gets soft with use and like the above lasts!!, also overstrength, 15 is like 20#. CB