I use stuff from most of the sponsors on this site.
Guys who I have become friends with Like Eben's Surf hog Rubbers.
He used to make some fine plugs also.I have a killer darter ..
HAB'S, John is the best..His friend Joe is a good guy also.I love his tins they are the only ones in my bag..
I usually make my own jigs but when I get low I get the Andrus from Joe at SRI.another good guy..
I have a aquaskins bag that the plastic insert melted.I replaced it with one from another bag I have..
Kadir is still a great guy..I never bought a custom from Mike Thomas.if I lived up there I would probably own several.His prices are great why wrap ur own.I tried that one time it's still half wrapped===Boring...
When I make it thru RI I stop in an say hello to Peter G an drop some doe in there.They have a great bunch of guys who are pumped up on fishing.Plus a state of the art shop like CC Tackle How could I not spend some doe in both places..
I fish a few after hrs plugs,Mac's plugs,hell I even have a few salty-bugger lures.
I have yet to get a few Big Fish Larry's..I want to get a hat.I hear he has a big dome like mine's..
By the way for the most part I never asked for anything form these guy's.Sure I have gotten a few plugs so what.It don't amount to a hill of beans in what I have.
Plus I could catch a bass with a stick an some old mono wrapped around a clorox bottle.If I'm gonna spend some money it may as well go to some good guys I happen to know.Ur a smart feller(or visa versa) Flap, U should be able to read thru the BS.
I primarily fish long rods 11' like a GSB 132 1M wrapped with fugi system guides.And XRA 1322 wrapped with titanium perfection guides.I also use the 9'an 10' rods in the gsb series.
All my spinners get 706 reels.I think the continuity of using the same reel on all my gear is overlooked and a big factor in knowing whats going on at the buisness end of the line..
I use Fireline 20 an 30 lb tests.
In NJ, I fish rocks, sand bulkheads,docks,bridges,an Islands I have to swim to.
Basically whatever it takes.I enjoy it all.
Why?? Because it relaxes me...
If I had my druthers give me a jig an some kinda moving water.
IMO nothing beats a good jig bite.Even huge bass blowing up on topwaters..
I primarily fish lures.It wasn't always the way for me..In the spring I used to use live bait primarily. Herring then to the bunker.It's alot of work gathering bait.Keepin it alive.Tanks Air pumps,penns nets u get the idea..never mind the drudgery of the 5 gallon pail to the end of o jetty thru 400 yds of sand.To have a blue bite it in half.No need for that really in the past few yrs..
I used to NJ style rigged eel fish more also.june,july august.I don't really bother with that much anymore either.For the most part it has to do with where I live an how the better fish don't really hang out as much as they used to.I like to think I fish for big fish.I use big hooks..
There are times I don't mind catchin 20-30 12-18 lbers but after a while they start to feel like bluefish.Which I kill.
I plug with spinnig gear.My conventional gear i save for bridge fishing and livelinnig bait.
My conventional rods are kinda a weird bunch cept for the 1209 I use on the bridge with a morrum.
I have a few Gator blanks a St. croix e-glass all have extensions in the but and have been tipped.My reels are mostly ABU 7500's With a 235 Newell I use for herring..
I Like to plug em best.
My gear is primarily set up for big wooden stuff or jigs in current.Thats the way I like to fish.Most times I don't really care if I get em.I have my share of fish. More than most will get in a lifetime.I like doing whatever I want, whenever I want.Thats why most times I fish alone.I can recall more than one time jiggin for hrs without a sniff when most would have long gone when I hooked up with quality bass.All night, 200 cast's an One mid 30's fish with 2 mins to go in the fourth quarter..
I like to travel going to new and different places an trying to figure em out.I have made some good friends doing this.
I would say In NJ my best chance for a big fish is Last week of may thru the first few of june.Even before the bunker thing..
Used to be a good bite in late oct/early nov.It's just not the same anymore..
The most important thing to me other than My rod an reel is my truck...It's my home away from home.
I probably eat as many meals in the drivers seat as I do at home.
I know I sleep better in there..
Someone once told me u should try to learn something from every trip..Thats what I do.
I hope it never gets to be too much..I could see myself perhaps slowing down some.I have been fishin HARD as long as I can remember.I have the bug pretty bad It's in my blood.
There are so many ways to fish so many varieties of fish to catch.
This summer, I have done some great fluking.I also enjoy blackfishin.thru February.I really don't envision it ending in the future..