Bazoo

I've done a little hunting, but it didn't run in my family, so I'm starting against a hard learning curve. I've killed a few deer and squirrels. My boy who is 4 though, has the itch because I do, and he'll grow up hunting, and his kids will hear about grandpa. I can see how the 30-06 is a great rifle for all around big game, and even small game with reduced loads. I even have taken a deer with an 06, but... it ain't my style. I prefer leverguns and rimmed cartridges. So 30-30, 44 Magnum, 45-70, and of course 22 LR. That said, yeah... I've been thinking about getting another 06, probably a Ruger M77. The 06 lends itself to shooting cast bullets pretty good, and that's another thing I have a passion for. Reloading and casting are as much fun as the guns themselves.

Of all the game meat I've ever tried, black bear steak and roast was the best. It was a friend's church that held a game banquet. There was some duck there that was delicious too. I had a friend that gave me a cooked deer roast once, and it was amazing. Very nice flavor. No idea what he did to it. I do know he's a wild man and will cook and eat about anything, so he has lot of experience with game. I've made some decent deer roasts in the crockpot myself... but not like that.

I'm not an old timer here, but because I got back into fishing last year after a long break, I joined here. I am on several gun forums and on bladeforums, also a woodworking forum. These are my passions, and I want to talk about them, read about them, and contribute where I can. For guns, I am on several forums, with 1 being primarily dedicated to casting/reloading. Then several forums are of interest because they focus on my love of leverguns. One forum, I just liked the folks. Another... when I had my old phone and it didn't work well, I joined because it was the only one that would work on my phone. I still talk there regularly. Some I talk on daily, some not so much. I've made friends off forums before, some are very good friends now. I enjoy the community here. Thanks to all who contribute.

I'm going to work on Jigs, Chatterbaits, Hellgrammites, and Brush Hogs. I've never had much success on the first two, and just am getting into the latter. I got a good feeling about them all though.

Sorry to hear of it.

If it's not horrible, I've always been able to clear it by pulling on loops. I've never been able to clear a monster like that no matter how much I picked.

I have always used mono for my casting reels, but last night @riverratryan came over with some spool ends and I put braid (with a backer) on my favorite. Thanks again Ryan! Guess we'll see how long it lasts.

Ryan and I fished a VPA pond yesterday. He caught a nice bass, I snagged a nice buzzbait, with a huge paddle tail attached.

That makes sense, thanks. I don't throw a spook a lot, I do use the Spit'n Image quite a bit though.

I had not considered that. Thanks.

I've tried the hold my thumb against the backlash to reel it back up before, but on the few occasions I've tried it, it hasn't worked. For something not horrible, I am normally able to clear it by pulling on the loops and stripping the line out the front. If I find a loop that wont pull, I turn the spool back some, and the next loop is normally the culprit. Freeing that one frees that portion and I continue on.

Thank you all for the suggestions and techniques. @WRB Thank you for sharing, that's some good info there. I was told as a kid to throw a topwater and let it set until the ripples dispersed. I still do that some, but not all the time. I guess on a windy day, or on the river where there is current, letting it set wouldn't do much good?

I have a spook and I haven't any issues walking the dog, but has anyone ever had any success in just straight pulling one the way you do a Devil Horse? If so, what color was it and what season/weather was it?

Sorry to hear of it. My condolences to you, and to his family.

I try to get a buzzbait just out of the water, as slow as I can go and keep it up, most of the time at least.

Nice!

Very nice! I'd use all of them probably. Man, that closeup makes my 14lb mono look more like 30lb! Now if you can just return the favor and snag this one for me @riverratryan

I like my Berkely Lightening Rod. It's only about $50 new and has full cork grip. I don't have a lot of experience with a lot of rod brands, but... I'm very happy with it.

I plan to work it frequently!

Like @ol'crickety, I learned right off after joining the forum that @WRB was someone I should pay attention to when he speaks. I've gained a lot of info from reading his posts, both directly to me and to others. So, thank you Tom for all you contribute here! I've watched a lot of Bill Dance and Roland Martin videos over my lifetime. Ever since I was a kid, I've watched Bill Dance. I just started watching Roland Martin on youtube. I wouldn't say I emulate either, but I would say I learn from watching them. I watched Bill Dance fishing a jig, and while he didn't say it, he was using a certain motion to work the jig across the bottom as it hit obstacles. I emulate that when working a jig. I learn a lot reading on this site. I retain, and the combine all the info I get. I don't work a lure 1 way, but many ways, and I don't use 1 lure, but many lures. I am always trying new techniques and lures, and most of it is a little comment or tip I read here. So thanks everyone for posting your experience and knowledge here.

Howdy from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Lots of good folks willing to help and good info shared here. I use both baitcasting and spinning gear about equally. I use baitcasting for most things like crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs. I use spinning for most light texas rigs, rooster tails, beetle spins; mostly light or small stuff.

I feel like I'm going to get into something huge. For me that will be a 6-8lb largemouth. It'll be a new PB for me. I beat the bank pretty hard at my local lake, and learning all of its ways, I just have more and more success. Only thing will make it better is if my fishing buddy is there and we can weigh it on 2 scales. He'll have his phone for pics too; I usually don't carry my phone with me while I'm fishing.

Is that even real? That's wild man.

Couple of weeks back, I bought a new H20X squarebill. I snagged it badly the first trip out right at the end of the trip. I was able to walk up the bank and finally freed it. The next trip, on the first cast, the bait broke off and slung into the water. I knew I should have re-tied but I neglected to do so. Over the next few weeks during winter, I went several times but didn't catch anything, and always looking for that lure. Well, my buddy was out yesterday and found it, on the bank in the same direction I'd aimed my cast when it'd broken off. I described it, down to the color, and we were sure it was the one I'd lost, so he gave it back to me. We like to do that with each other, though we do play finders keepers if we ain't sure. Today, I caught a couple nice little bass on it. 2lb 4oz with a nice little belly.

I appreciate the help. Nice find then, it hasn't caught anything yet, but it has a nice little action.