SMB1083M 9' 1pc Lamiglas S- glass: great addition to the arsenal- built for blooping a 1 1/4 white atom striper swiper around the rocks, but can launch a roberts whister and tins just right. Love that S-glass. :kewl:

Arra 1205- custom spinner. Love the way it fights fish. Can throw it far all night without much effort. Got balz.

706z- jury is still out. I love lots of things about it that I can't get in other reels in my price range but can I live with some of the other things for the rest of my life (kinda like gettin married :D just kidding if you are looking hun :angel: ...) Pros: dunkability, bail-less, wicked drag. cons: no instant anti-reverse, line pops of the guide too often, archaic spool design imho :spin:

Eben hogs and eels- work great lots of different ways. Bluefish love em :rude:

Point jude wobbles- work great with the above and other plastics

Breakaway fastlinks- just started w/ them last season. Never going back.

Salties plugs- :claps:

Aquaskinz medium bag- Light years ahead of the canvas potato sack I was torturing myself with.

*Tried a old Lamiglas 1165 (I think) that was 10' - used it as a conventional as the old mildrum style guides were kind of small. Could really launch heavier tins with it and 3 oz jigs.

*Penn 710Z loaded with 20lb fireline - liked this reel - pretty good for a 8 or 9 foot rod. Love the fireline line and have purchased some 30lb for this year.

*Got used to the manual pickup on a 6500SS - had the reel for a while, but first time I used it with the manual pickup and after 1/2 a trip it was not bad using it.

*8' Tica Dolphin Rod 3/4 - 3oz. Like this rod - probably would go with the 9' length if doing it again, but this will be used quite a bit in the spring.

*Tica Camry 3500 reel - got it for $13, so figured what the heck. The reel is not going to last without vigilant cleaning. Cheap reel, but if lubed up enough and cleaned when you get home - pretty good for a small rod - had it on the Dolphin. A 4000 size would really be a better match.

*Hogy 10" eels - only used a few times, but never had confidence in them and always seemed to switch back to sluggos. Did not see any surfhogs, but will look to try them this upcoming season.

*Loaded redfins - loaded a few cheap redfins up with #8 birdshot - liked the casting distance and action was still there.

*Cotton Cordell Pencil - cheap and they move pretty well - loaded these up with birdshot too and they cast better.

*Tattoo surface swimmer 2.5oz - swims nice - did not catch anything on it yet.

*Super Strike/Gibbs/Salty's needles - haven't done much with needles, need to fish more and figure it out.

*Gibbs Casting Swimmer - red head/yellow body - probably would not buy again.

*Pt. Jude Butterfish - 2oz I think - have caught a few smaller fish on it, but I catch mostly smaller fish. Casts like a bullet - had to stop it a few times thinking I was getting too close to some boaters a respectful distance away.

Yellow BigFish Pencil Popper- Slayed the fish on this plug in the spring. Cought fish on it till the paint fell off.

Wader belt with back support :btu: :btu: :btu:
Daiwa saltiga braid....It's the shiznit
wicked tough waders....wicked tough to the 10 power
Quantum cabo's :btu: :btu: :btu:
Arra 1084 sweet stick
Lowrider concept guides :btu: :btu: :btu: :btu: :btu: :btu:

Cloudveil Waders- got em for a good price and they are "sick". I got to have good waders or else- I wouldn't be ---the Wader-Dad ;)

nice im having one built now, cant wait to start using it.

careful with these....I lost a nice fish during the mv derby when I had one deform and open on me.:realmad:
I used them at the end of my braid and connected the leader to them so i didn't have to cut the braid as often...when hunting large, i will NEVER use them again.
it was a nice fish:rocketem:

this is the first I have heard of one failing.... definately a bummer. I'll start a new thread...

OK, new to conventional here so I went with the less expensive route. Got a Daiwa SLX20SHV on a 12' Tica UEHA. Very pleased with the setup, weight, castability, etc. Certainly all a beginner needed to get hooked.

Picked up an old manual 704 for a new 1205 Ron Arra - thumbs up

- three dozen or so RM Smith Danny's, 2 ouncers, jointeds & giant jointeds :bounce:

Habs - a dozen various needles, 2 of the new mullet swimmers, squid swimmer

Hab-a-tat - 3 Goo Goo's, 2 Atom 40's and two Murl Eels

Tattoo - 2 ounce Darter in every color I could find :) Several more 2.5 diving swimmers and a few Sea Dogs

Big Don - six four ounce swimmers, six two ounce pencils, 3 new swimmers

Mustang jacket
SOSpenders
O'neil Wetsuit
new korkers

Gag's surf dancer- maybe I'm a ding-dong, but I cast that one into the surf for a dance with some stripers and ooops, one cast, one wave, and bang-o, off comes the plastic swimming lip....