SS2 was lighter, had infinite anti-reverse, same gold/black colour, quick-fold handle, and tapered ABS spool. More bearings if my memory serves me right, but I don't have the documentation to back that up.
Is Westshore the one right beside the Gov. dock? If so, they charge by the hour, 12 or 13 bucks if I recall correctly. I went out solo in July, gunned it to a spot I researched earlier, caught an 8lb muskie, and gunned it back. Round trip: 2 hours.
Ever since Daiwa stopped making the SS2, I despise all low to mid-range spinning reels. This reel was incredibly solid and smooth, and had a very beneficial tapered-spool design to mitigate line memory and aide in distance casting. I suppose there's a new Shimano reel in that price range that would be good. If going Shimano, just grab the 2500 size in whatever price range you're looking at. It's really a no-brainer.
The fishing at Mountsberg has declined dramatically over the last 5 years. Lost of poaching going on there. Lots of pike in the 2-4 lb range, and that one shown above is a great catch for that lake.
This is just ridiculous. I'm flabbergasted. Humans have canines and incisors for a reason. We are omnivorous. But I do agree with them that food-animals should not be treated in such a dispicable manner prior to slaughter.
Who buys cut bait? Go to your local supermarket. Are you fishing catfish or salmon? Many supermakets sell frozen smelt and herring. Asian supermarkets might be your best bet.
Never tried live crayfish, but I have landed carp while fishing a brown tube jig down a rocky shoreline for smallmouth in a small, muddy reservoir near Toronto, and I have hooked but not landed them on a crayfish pattern while fly-fishing the Toronto Islands.