QUESTION FOR ALL THE FISHERMEN OUT THERE

[LS20]

Originally posted by: d3n

If you are camping most of the time you will be fishing for trout or small mouth bass on streams and rivers. Small mouth fishing is my favorite game fish. I usually like to go lightweight when fishing for them. It makes for a fun time. St Croix makes a nice light weight travel rod, couple that with a lightweight reel that shimano puts out and your set for camping..

To start out you should get a couple of 'senkos' basically a term for a soft plastic worm, Senko's themselves are a premium name that has come to describe all soft plastic worms s that look like cigars. Yum dingers about 5" seem to hold up well. To fish for small mouth you just want to hook them right in the middle with a Size 4 offset hook. Throw it upstream and give it time to SLOWLY move its way down the current. If you grab grass and weeds you can right the things weedless and it works on SM just as well.

Just a note that offset hooks are really easy to have a fish swallow and makes it very heard to release the fish if its deep. Might try circle hooks with a gradual hookset. It will pull it into the corner of the mouth, making it easy to remove.


The only reason I mention the travel rod over the two peice is so you can backpack into a campsite with it. 2pc rods are still kind of big for that. Bionic Blades are my favorite rods since I can't get away fishing enough to justify something more expensive.

PERFECT. to everyone else, too: you are all gentlemen and scholars

 

[NaiMan]

What's the difference between spinning and casting reels?

 

[klod]

Originally posted by: NaiMan
What's the difference between spinning and casting reels?

Try this => Spinning Reel vs Baitcasting Reel

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: NaiMan
Hello everyone,

Since I received a fishing license from my brother-in-law as a X-mas present, I should put it to use.

I'm looking into picking up a rod/reel/line/lures.

Type of fish I'm aiming for: All bass (striper, large mouth, etc), salmon, and other medium size fresh-water fish.

Is there a rod/reel/line that would be good enough to catch all these type of fishes?

I don't have enough money to get specific rod/reel for specific fishes.

one set for everything... WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS RECOMMEND???

No more than $200 range for whole set, if possible.

Thanks!

Trout fishing is rather popular in the northeast.

 

[zoiks]

Get a Salmon Steelhead rod. Lamiglas is a good manufacturer. You might want to get a spinning outfit since casting reels need a bit more practice to master. I recommend the shimano stradic 4000.

BTW, I would not recommend that you buy a rod online. I have bought from Cabelas and basspro and I was kind of disappointed at the action on some of their offerings. Some are excellent though and I'd suggest you check them out if you live near one of their shops.

I fish a lot and just came back from a 5 day mexican fishing trip out of San Diego. Love those yellow tails and fins.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: jhayx7

Originally posted by: NaiMan

Originally posted by: jhayx7
Fly fishing or spinning?

Spinning... i don't think i'm skilled enough to fly fish

For beginner spinning I would suggest a Zebco 33 reel. They are cheap, easy to use and built to last. For you rod, just go to a sporting goods store and look around, find one that handles medium weight line and is not too cheap but not too expensive (UglySticks are pretty good, can't hardly break them).

Any fishing line will do for now. I know Dicks will put some fishing line on your reel for free if you ask.

Essential gear:
Split-shot weights
corks/bobbers (plastic round kind)
Tru-turn hooks (for fishing with live bait)
Pair of needlenose pliars and knife or a leatherman in case the fish swallows the lure a bit before it sets
A little Plano tackle box
Rag


Lures:
I mainly fish with Roostertails when fishing for bass/bream. The silver ones are the best IMO. Stripe seem to like anything with a white body and red heads for some reason. Any spinner bait for bass seem to work ok but fly fishing is better for bass IMO.

Go see if any outdoor stores offer fly-fishing clinics, there is one around me that does them every Saturday morning, groups of < 6. Fly fishing is a lot more fun.

Good luck!!!

Haha, you remind me of my dad! But this is some great advice. Zebco 33s are great for the beginner and are cheap enough were you can afford to have them pulled into the water.

If you like bream, a would suggest trying a Bream buster or a fly rod. Get a couple hundred crickets and you'll have a blast. It takes a little more patience, but God almighty there is nothing better pulling a big bull blue gill and frying that sumbitch up that night.

And if you see some old geezers while fishing talk to them, they can give you some great advice.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: NaiMan

Originally posted by: jhayx7

Originally posted by: LS20
thoughts on closed vs open reels
and live bait vs lures?

Use a closed face if you are new to fishing, if not you will end up throwing your reel in the water after the 10th time it bird-nests.

After a little more practice, buy a GOOD baitcase (open face) reel. I had a Shimano Curado reel that has adjustable weights to control backlash. It was a super-sweet reel and it never would backlash after I got it adjusted.

Also, lures work best for most fish. The only fish I do not use lures for are catfish. Use anything and I mean anything for them; worms, crickets, hot dogs, chicken livers, marshmellows, peanut butter, cut-up fish, dog food, <B>used tampons</B>, just about anything that has a strong smell.

Don't know if i want to touch used tampons...


I'll probably jump on an ugly stick, then search for a shimano reel on ebay/craigslist.

What kind of Line (brand wise) would you guys recommend?

I just hope i'll catch a fish with all the money i'm spending.

I wouldn't recommend an ugly stick if you'll be casting a lot. Those fiberglass tips really aren't stif enough for casting back to back.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: SWScorch
my suggestion:

decent 6' or 6'6" rod. I use a Berkely Lightning Rod... $50 can land you one that's more than adequate
decent spinning reel... I think mine's a Shimano or an Abu Garcia or one of them (I havent gone fishing in a while ), just like the rod, $50 will be fine
8lb line
lots of spinners (Mepps Aglias are the greatest lure ever), spinnerbaits, rubber worms, crankbaits (Rapalas)

I agree with this advice and would offer similiar advice.

 

[50cent1228]

u need a license to fish thats nutsss

 

[50cent1228]

Originally posted by: r6ashih
get the pumping fishing pole.. you pump it up to build air pressure and then shoot the hook to your fish! I saw it on tv

rocket fishing rod

 

[50cent1228]

my rod

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: NaiMan

I just hope i'll catch a fish with all the money i'm spending.

To me, fishing is about peace and quiet. Its relaxation and just being outdoors. Dont stress too much about catching fish. You'll know you're doing it right when you can go out fishing for 8 hours, catch very little fish(or even zero) and love every minute of it. That said its always great to catch a lot of fish.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: 50cent1228
my rod

Nice multipurpose rod.
I have like 30 rods and a wide selection of reels.

 

[d3n]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: NaiMan

Originally posted by: jhayx7

Originally posted by: LS20
thoughts on closed vs open reels
and live bait vs lures?

Use a closed face if you are new to fishing, if not you will end up throwing your reel in the water after the 10th time it bird-nests.

After a little more practice, buy a GOOD baitcase (open face) reel. I had a Shimano Curado reel that has adjustable weights to control backlash. It was a super-sweet reel and it never would backlash after I got it adjusted.

Also, lures work best for most fish. The only fish I do not use lures for are catfish. Use anything and I mean anything for them; worms, crickets, hot dogs, chicken livers, marshmellows, peanut butter, cut-up fish, dog food, <B>used tampons</B>, just about anything that has a strong smell.

Don't know if i want to touch used tampons...


I'll probably jump on an ugly stick, then search for a shimano reel on ebay/craigslist.

What kind of Line (brand wise) would you guys recommend?

I just hope i'll catch a fish with all the money i'm spending.

I wouldn't recommend an ugly stick if you'll be casting a lot. Those fiberglass tips really aren't stif enough for casting back to back.

Heh, Ugly sticks are the most uncomfortable rods I think Ive ever held.

 

[Marinski]

Bass Pro shops and Cabelas usually has rod/reel combo deals. The last one i got was a Browning combo. Its a 6 ft. 4-6 wt. Nice little ultralight combo at bass pro shop for like 40 bucks. I would recommend 6'6" or 7" but its harder to find these rods in ultralight. You should be able to cast further with a longer rod. But, when your as skilled a caster as me you don't really need to worry about that. If your just starting out i would recommend using live bait too. A hook, worm, bobber, and maybe a split shot is all you need. You toss it out there and wait for the bobber to go under. Using artificials is a little more advanced. Artificials like jigs usually require you to create the action, wheres a live bait creates the action on its own. Spoons and spinner type lures will also twist your line which weakens the line, so you have to change it more often, and it can get knotted up on the reel when your retrieving it. Crankbaits and top water lures(my favorites) you must create the action. As far as line, i prefer the Stren (4-6 lbs. test) but everybody has there favorites. Make sure you get some backing to put on the alluminum spool before you put the line on because the line can warp the spool. Get some ultra violet sun glasses, you can see in the water better and you don't want a hook in your eye. I always use the uni-knot, i just like it because its easy and fast to tie, theres a diagram of one online but there is a variation to it thats different from the diagram that is easier.

 

[NaiMan]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: 50cent1228
my rod

Nice multipurpose rod.
I have like 30 rods and a wide selection of reels.

you should sell me 1 set for cheap =P