OhioFisherman

I don`t know what a honda coupler looks like but try fitting a merc one to an older Johnson-evinrude, it ain`t going to happen! Not sure, maybe hondas use metric measurements? It might be sucking air?

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_f...?num=1234556304 I don`t own one, my reel buying days are over. I wouldn`t hesitate to by one if I needed another bait caster for all around fishing.

I have used them a lot in the past, another cheap way to do it is get foam eggs from a craft shop, the smooth surfaced ones are the best, push a hole in them with an ice pick. They sell larger eggs in a craft shop than you would see a slip bobber size in, at least here in my area. I slid a slip sinker on the line instead of split shot, just because I used large minnows or chubs and more weight was needed to keep them down, they had a habit of swimming to the surface if smaller fish were bothering them. Used a swivel tied to the line to keep the sinker away from the hook and a leader to allow free movement and help prevent line twist. Craft shops also sell beads and paint that won`t eat up the foam eggs if you want to paint them. Also you can tie a snap or barrel swivel to the bottom connection of the line and use a lighter leader, floro leader, or attach a steel leader to the snap. Fishing with a slip float and big shiner or chub was a mixed bag event up north, walleye, bass, pike, muskie, gar pike, bowfin, steel leader came in handy at times or just a hook snelled with steel leader material. The 12 inches or so of hanging wire made no difference in casting distance.

To me it`s like a giant never ending comedy show and for almost the last 50 years here in the states labor has been the target. They get the vast majority of the bad press possibly because management gets to do the talking? A negotiated labor contract, union v. management funy how management doesn`t have to go before the union, stock holders before they LOL negotiate their salaries, golden parachutes? Just before a company board of fellow back slappers, you wash my back, I`ll wash your? At some point in time union workers involved in the contract negotiations gave up some contract demands to get others, if you look at the CEO`s pay it appears they never gave up any thing, good times or bad. Working people no longer stand together, their memories are to short. Take a look at other businesses affected by auto industry jobs losses, retail, real estate, food, grocery and others, even government. None had a problem gravy training off of money these workers brought to their countries, provinces,states and cities. Now though they don`t want to support them, to much pain on their part, past gain doesn`t seem to count for anything. I don`t care for the bail outs, where it`s the banking industry, insurance industry, or auto industry, but it is my opinion it all could have been prevented if the jobs were kept at home and not sold to the lowest paid worker, notice none of the management got that deal? Even here in the LOL United States you had a bidding war between the states for the foreign auto company plants, and who lost? The worker with lower paying jobs and less benefits, but no problems creating new taxes on the workers to offset the tax break given to companies to build in their states and cities. We are losing 600+ thousand jobs a month here stateside, where will it end? Do the politicians even care? The mess they created with their bright ideas.

Brian ya a great voice, not really my type of music, I listen to some of it because I respect the talent and gift. LOL my day is shot to hell any way. Left 45 minutes before I had to be at the doctors, got 2 miles from the house and tranny problems, had my daughter with me to call 911 in case I fall. Came home to get her car and she has a nail or piece of wire sticking out the side wall of her tire and it was low. So canceled the doctor, called my wife at work and told her not to goof off when she gets done so she can follow our kid to the tire store. Two doctors in 3 days was too much any way. LOL Got enough bad news monday to last awhile.

A singing cowboy with a great voice! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLewNM3z6Fo...feature=related

Pete is nothing but right, look at Ohio during the 60`s and 70`s, the mistake on the lake lakeshore land was cheap because the lake was a mess. It did send people north though, catch a walleye in Erie here? good luck! No one fishes to not catch.

From what older anglers( dad and his friends) told me that was a pretty popular setup for anglers here that fished the finger lakes area of New York for Lake Trout, finger lakes have some deep water. Old Penn reels were reliable and tough, my first big fish reel.

Terrible thing to happen for sure, Glen I was pretty sure you were farther north, not like yankee north just a bit closer to the middle. Had some moron shoot and kill like 5 family members here then himself over the weekend? Saves a trial, the world is a crazy place.

I am not a fan of ever exceeding the MFG`s ratings, just opens the door for problems. Boat is designed for a certain HP motor of a certain weight going over can cause metal fatigue cracking, even when trailering. Boat may just not be stiff enough to handle it. A 9.9 will push it but you have to realize it`s limitations and be comfortable with them, not speed boat and your going nowhere fast. More care to expected or un-expected weather changes is needed. If you can get the bigger motor cheap enough and sell or trade for a 20-30 still might be a plus for you. Smaller motor doesn`t mean you can`t catch fish, just can`t be in a hurry to get to where you want to fish. As a kid I cruised around with my buddy in Pointe Au Baril with a 5hp Sabre on a 14 foot aluminum rental, never a problem, just no hurry to get anywhere. A bow platform on some of the aluminum boats is a good idea, dad had a 16 foot sylvan with a 25 johnson, even with a whale tail you couldn`t keep the bow down with 1 person in the boat. My first stop was searching for some big rocks to put in the bow on old carpeting to hold it down. Just needed weight up front.

My brother used to use it before he got down riggers on his boat. Yes it works, he used it on long light action rods with steel guides because he said the wire would tear up ceramic guides and the light action rods were a shock absorber, no stretch to the wire to do it, think he may have also used a mono leader. Sort of an old school technique for deep water trolling, used to see the setups in flea markets and garage sales. Mikey used to use it on Lake Erie for suspended walleye during the summer. Never tried it myself, never that interest in walleye to work that hard.

Ya no clue what the deal is, details not sure a job loss was mentioned on the news here.

Don`t have any Curados but the 300 is bigger not sure how much of a size weight difference, doubt it it is more than an ounce or two. 200 size is fine for bass and probably all but the largest size pike on a regular basis. Just can`t see a need for a 300 for bass fishing unless you would regularly fish in an area loaded with 10 pounders. A lot of decent rods out there. I have diawa heartland, shimano convergence, berkley lighting rods, abu garcia rods, comfort and length I like mine 6 1/2 to 7 foot a 7-6 for flipping.

http://www.cnn.com/

That's because you live in the US where everything is cheap! LOL Stoty, I thought it was just me being cheap.

Mostly a bass fisherman and Muskies will take bass sized baits readily, that said most of the really big ones I have stuck have been on Muskie sized lures. No real success landing them either way, just not properly prepared. If I was seriously interested in landing them I should have been. Smaller lures will work, money might be better invested in the rest of the tackle? Braided line quality leaders, bigger reels heavier rod?

45k for a ride? Never seen a car and boat I would pay that for.

Rodpody is right about the bee`s wax, I used it on mine also. I always pour out in the barn with the doors and windows open. Also use an electric bottom pour pot since all I pour is jigs and the molds all fit under it well. The clothes and gloves he mentioned are also a good plan, I let the mold I am planning on using sit on the pot while the pot is heating, first few pours in a cold mold can be irregular until it heats up. Tube jig heads are one of the easiest pours, no painting or such involved just pour and trim. I always poured all I needed or wanted first before worrying about about finishing them. Most expensive part of the deal for me was the electric pot, also a lees, and hooks. I don`t mess with average hooks, Gammies, Mustad , Owner, VMC. With care you can open the mold up to accept a larger size hook than normal, since I am mostly targeting bigger fish, bass, ect. a 1/16 ounce jig with a size 6 hook doesn`t do me much good, I like a 1/0 minimum. For some of the crappie tubes I use I stick in a 1.

Markey here is a link with some discussion. http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/sho...d.php?p=4894799 I have never heard of that reel, but don`t keep up like I used too. It mentions not made in Sweden? Like the good Abu baitcasters.

Just something to keep in mind they have critters down there you aren`t used to seeing? Gators and poisonous snakes, watch where you wander? Bass are bass the tackle you mentioned should work if you locate them. No idea how shoreline access is down there or what to expect in the line of shoreline cover. Average bass may be bigger and a better chance for a hog? Heavier line? Don`t know what you use.

Kind of gives a hint how much fishing time that guy has under his waders?

Sorry Bernie, I got an old friend here too, 13 and grayer than I am. It will be a sad day here when his number comes up, so I know what your going through.

Cliff I have been using wheel weights for as long as I have been making some of my own jigs, like 40 years? They are a bit messier than pure lead but I always got them for free so they worked for me. Make sure the are dry before you drop them in the pot to reduce splatter and the iron mostly floats to the top with the other junk or you can get it out with a pair of needle nosed pliers. I ran all mine through the pot first and cleaned the junk out and took a tie rod end and used it for a mold to cast ingots.

Nice looking setup Lew! Hope you get to slime it early!