Preseason Discussion #2: Gear Talk

[Crafty Angler]

So far so good - right on track

Over the course of the winter I cleared out my tackle room (for the 1st time in God knows how many years), sorted through everything to find the stuff I forgot I had and actually tossed some stuff out - although not all that much, I guess...

I already picked up new waders, new Korkers, a new surf top and a couple of rods...checked and rehooked all my plugs, rigged my Sluggos and checked my eels bags...plenty of live-bait hooks...also picked up a new eel trap...then checked off the last few plugs I had to have at the RISAA show

May tie a few more jigs but it'll be more out of boredom than need...made sure I had plenty of slip floats and 1/8 oz jig heads for Spring light tackle blackfishing,too...

So I'm pretty much ready to roll - and real soon too - just gotta figure out what I'm gonna do for a new plug bag - may just go with another Surfcaster bag since the old one lasted for probably 20 years and I always liked the set-up

The only thing left on my to-do listnow is spool up my reels

My only dilemma is what the hell I'm gonna do for leader material...

I used to love 50# Varivas but it's all but impossible to get, it seems - Leptar sent me a link to a site a while back but it's no longer valid

Beats me - I finally gave up last year and used 50# Big Game, but I want to go back to flouro - maybe someone will chime in with their leader material of choice

[ThrowingTimber]

chuck I like the seagar 50# and

the triplefish 30# if I come across it.

[Saltheart]

For leaders
50 LB ande pink or clear or 60 lb Ande green. The green is more supplr but the pink/clear is tougher from a wear point of view.

Big things sre clean reels. Replace the levelwind pall whether it needs it or not , Cleaning reels to me means opening them up , cleaning everything and relubing. For beginners , make sure you can put it back together before you pull it apart. Pictures help (take before pulling apart from many angles , etc.)

This year I may change lines. Not sure , might still have a couple of 600 yard spools of Cortland Spectron to use up but when its gone I think I'll look at some of the newer braids as the Spectron has gone down hill starting about 4 years ago and the other braids seemed to have improved..

Check the rods for cracked guides , especially the tips. Wipe any dried salt , etc from the rel seay threads.


Every year I dump the whole jig bag out on the table and start fresh considering everything that goes into the bag. All season long I just use it , adding and taking out and the bag gets heavier and heavier. I don't mean a few jigs heavier. By the end of the season my canal jig bag has probably gained 15 pounds from when I first start, At the start of each season I like to start fresh.

I look over the plug bags to see what I have. Usually there is so much fat of the land that no new ones are needed , just get orfganized.

I do like to start with a fresh spool of ande if the old spool has been stored near and plastic curltails , Fin-s Fush , etc. Something in the soft plastic oozes out with time and can damage the leader materaisl and the spool its on.

Make sure the hooks are still sharp and touch up the ones that aren't with a file.

I like to look over the jackets , boots and waders I will be using. Make sure everything is all set.

So , I make sure I can dress wellincluding my feet , the rod and reel are A1 , all the lures are available and organized in their bags. The consumable stuff like line and leaders is in stock , get the informational stuff like the canal tide and current chart and tide and moon charts fro the outside (ocean) , take a drive or two along the coast to see whats happened to acccess and parking. Try to do some walking and stretching to get the legs going after a winter of couch potatoing . That about sums it up.

[luds]

I know we've argued this before don't understand why you guys are waisting your money on fluoro for bass. 50# Ande clear does the job perfectly.

[Back Beach]

Bring on the fish already...

[FINnie]

im all set ive been waiting for a while to get out there. ive bought plugs, terminal tackle and had all my poles respooled. Im good to go!! Gonna be a great season, i will be so much more prepared compared to last year.

[5/0]

I sent out a reel for some Major over haulin & just ordered a brandy new Ct700B

I just need to tie a Chit load of leaders(Floro),hooks and get a new hook binder,soooooooooooooooooooo other than that bring on da fish already

[JohnR]

Gear talk, get to reconsider this one as a lot of gear needs to get re-cleaned. Especially after the flood. Nothing too drastic but need to fix some rods and gear, and replace hooks on a bunch of plugs, found some plugs & plastic floating in my basement I was looking for but I also went through some boxes I had not opened in a while and have some extra stuff for the upcoming season.

[StriperSwiperRI]

All I have to do is grab the Super Surf and start casting. Oh wait I used that alot last year. Maybe it's time to wrap a new Super Surf in convench with a new Saltist.

[OLD GOAT]

Check my flashlight batteries after i find the flashlight.

[Tagger]

Change of plan ,,, ordered a Hobie ... I'm a boat guy now . another learning experience.... Right before I kick the bucket, I'll have it all figured out ..

[JackK]

Originally Posted by luds

I know we've argued this before don't understand why you guys are waisting your money on fluoro for bass. 50# Ande clear does the job perfectly.

I save the flouro for the albies. There's a good argument that flouro has better abrasion resistance, but I'm not sure if that slight increase outweighs the difference in cost.

I normally use 40 lb ande leader material... Does the trick for me, and breaks before my braid if I get hung.

That reminds me... I need a few more spools... Can't win...

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by luds

I know we've argued this before don't understand why you guys are waisting your money on fluoro for bass. 50# Ande clear does the job perfectly.

Being the Cheap Bastard that I am....I'll be making the switch this year.

[bassballer]

Originally Posted by luds

I know we've argued this before don't understand why you guys are waisting your money on fluoro for bass. 50# Ande clear does the job perfectly.

Agreed.

[Crafty Angler]

No argument intended, just my personal preference and looking for feedback from those who do use it

So is flouro really necessary? The definitive answer is only if you think it is, I suppose...

Cost-wise, I've spent more on less

[luds]

Originally Posted by Crafty Angler

No argument intended, just my personal preference and looking for feedback from those who do use it

So is flouro really necessary? The definitive answer is only if you think it is, I suppose...

Cost-wise, I've spent more on less

That's true. I have no business pointing fingers when i look at my plug inventory. Not exactly all stuff I needed and the back ups to back ups in every color don't make me a better fisherman.

Stupid stuff you've spent money on for fishing might make a pretty good thread. I definitely was a sucker that thought I needed all the bells and whistles when I first got into this sport. I actually listened to that guy with the scent strips rant the first time I went to MSBA. I'm surprised I was not fishing them off the back of my plugs that year.

[MAKAI]

Like all the great big jointed dannys still in the bag that will never see the light of day.

[Sea Flat]

Originally Posted by Crafty Angler

So is flouro really necessary? The definitive answer is only if you think it is, I suppose..

I have seen flurocarbon make a huge difference on a couple of occasions. Both times were while fishing in the day which to me is the only time it would really matter. Maybe under moonlight?

I was with a guy chumming herring in Gloucester and we were looking over the side of the boat watching the bass come up and take the pieces. They refused the pieces that were attached with hook directly to mono. I had my bag with me and put on a leader of fluro and I started hooking up immediately. I am a true believer for this reason. I can not speak to the abrasion resistance, but can say that I have caught many a bluefish that has been unable to bite through the fluro although they were successful in fraying it a bit.