2011/2012 Gear

[SurfCaster413]

Originally Posted by chefchris401

Commando custom 3 tube, best investment I've made in a long time. Bullet proof bag, no tears, no bs, lots of room in the front pouch for rigged eels and soft plastics, also got the leader wallet and custom strap.

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I agree with Chef here I ordered the 4 tube bag, hands down best bag I ever bough and only bag am gonna buy.

I also bought a silver Vs275 which i love, and paired it with a 10'6 mojo very happy with this combo.

For 2012 I wanna get a bigger fishing rod. Not sure what though. Something in the 11-12ft range

[RIROCKHOUND]

I just bought 100 eel hooks, and 100 bait hooks.
need a few spools of leader material and some swivels.

2012. Done

[piemma]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

I just bought 100 eel hooks, and 100 bait hooks.
need a few spools of leader material and some swivels.

2012. Done

A lot of Braid. That's it!

[striper774]

Originally Posted by piemma

A lot of Braid. That's it!

Paul,last year at the RI show on sunday the last day in the afternoon we bought PP braid 1500yd spools for $80.Told us he didn't want to go home with it so a friend and myself bought a bunch of bulk spools.He'll be there this year.

[striper774]

Got some simms headwater boots and added wearbars.Work real good but had to add some jellin comfort inner soles.Mak products that are of great quality.Happy with these products.Now looking into some simms waders,not decided what ones to buy.Afterhours plugs and customer service are second to none.

[numbskull]

Fished a GSB1321M last season, built so it weighs a little under 12 oz finished. Can't say enough good things about it.

Tried TA clips and found that the V shape caused knot failure when using a knot that put two loops around the clip (trilene knot).

Liked these Wearbar studs when used in hard rubber soled boots.

Did great with small Musso darter-clones (albeit on sub 20lb fish). I think Don (AfterHours) has a version coming out soon that will be worth a look.

Berkley Vanish Fluoro leader material is garbage.

Used a Simms wading staff that seemed great, but didn't hold up to saltwater.

[cow tamer]

Got the 3 tube commando bag and a bunch of plugs.
Waiting to hear on a comparison of rods - mojo, century and cts.

[NIGHT STRIKES]

Very pleased with the MAK 4-Tube Bag and Wader Belt along with the Diawa SP Minnow in 2011

Looking forward to fishing a PENN Torque 5 Bail-less in 2012

[bassballer]

In 2011 i realized I cant have enough lead. Cost adds up after a while of replenishing. Specially during Tog season. So for Xmas my dad got a huge box of sinkers, egg sinkers for eeling, spro's, fluke rigs, tog rigs, 7/0 owners. Just saves me a ton of money throughout the season.

For 2012 i'll be teaming a calcutta 700 with a pro blue for eeling and chunking from the boat. Had a couple instances last year where I had a little more trouble than I wanted to, getting good size fish to the boat with my current set up. Felt I needed a bigger gun this year.

[JLH]

2011

Had a new 1201M built and was very happy with the rod paired up with a VS 250. I don’t think I will be looking for another 10’ rod for awhile as this one can do just about everything I need for my style of fishing.

Also picked up a 60# boga – I don’t love it for handling fish I actually think the plastic lip grippers are better for dealing with bluefish or schoolies with a mouth full of trebles but it is nice being able to get a weight on a fish you plan to release.

Sargent Sportsman’s Pliers – was happy to have these when I got a treble though my index finger with a bass still attached to the plug. The braid/mono cutter is also nice and lasted the whole season but needs to be replaced for this upcoming year. They aren’t the best for dealing with deep hooks though; the jaws are a little too wide…

NRS 3MM Farmer John with 2MM jacket – definitely the best wetsuit combination I have tried yet. Front zippers made it easy to get in and out of... Very comfortable for long casting sessions with only 2MM on the arms... Plenty warm May though mid Oct but not hot on those long walks (just took jacket off or unziped it)...

2012

Having a new 1321M built for throwing big plugs and riggies.

Bought a commando 3 tube bag at the end of last year which I haven’t had a chance to get wet yet…

Trying not to spend too much money on fishing this year so that may be it for big purchases…

[Stewie]

2011 purchases, Empro 5500 and a nice Allstar spinning rod from Mike P. We'll see how I do with this newfangled spinning gear in 2012.

[Peter Lajoie]

Ordered a vapor trail 11ft 3to6 from lou last week. Gonna pair it with a 275, give it a shot and see how I like it. Have a four tube custom being made by commando right now. Got a bunch of pilgrims from left hook and just ordered a box of 7/0 hooks and 1700 yards of 80 pound mono. Im good for the year now.

[Jackbass]

Vanish is pure crap x 2
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[agsurfr]

Greg and Striper774--

Thanks for the reports on boots.

Greg, didja like the stock studs? Not sure what Beans does, but the stock screws that Cabelas calls studs are not helpful.

Gonna look into the Ghosts. Thanks

[Pete F.]

I have one of those Energizers, I think I bought it at Wally world. The little, not littlest Mag lights are pretty waterproof and cheap. I use it as a spare in my pocket, it's been underwater more than once.

[fatcow]

2011 bought stella 18000sw up for sale make me an offer, finally upgraded my gps after 10yrs to a furuno navnet 12MFD 3D, love it and don't need glasses anymore!! My bro purchased 8tube MAK bag, Dave even delivered it to hometown because of conflicting schedules and so far no problemos, good lookin out. 2012 so far nada, just some good health and good times peace!!!

[Steve K]

I believe that it is a RayoVac and not an Energizer that many of us have been using for years. They work great if you don't swim. Though, I have submerged mine and it still works. The only issue I have is with the straps losing their elasticity after years of use. I have not bothered to send them back under warranty. Great product and the price is right.

[chefchris401]

Originally Posted by Steve K

I believe that it is a RayoVac and not an Energizer that many of us have been using for years. They work great if you don't swim. Though, I have submerged mine and it still works. The only issue I have is with the straps losing their elasticity after years of use. I have not bothered to send them back under warranty. Great product and the price is right.

The ones I have are definitely energizer, I bought my pops one for fishing too. They take a beating except when you fall 5 feet and smack your head and the light goes flying into rocks. Besides that there great
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[Rob Rockcrawler]

Ive been using the cheep energizers for a few years now. I "upgraded" to a princeton tec but i still have the energizers. They are more dependable. The red light is awesome on them, my gripe is i need to smack them around to get them to work just about every time.

New for 2011 was wearbars and ultralites, loved em. The boots wont last through next year but im sure the wearbars will be fine. Best fishing investment i have made.

Shimano Volteaus rod, cheap and pretty damn good. Its heavy enough for gloucester cod fishing, well almost enough, works great for bait not so much for 16 oz jigs. Also good for 2 oz jigs for fluke.

Lime green mombo minnows

2012, Century stealth via Salthearts building class and maybe a VS 275 if the right deal comes around. I wish ZB made a reel with a quicker retrieve rate like a 275.

LL beans wader pants, for those times where i just dont need waders they will be perfect. I will probably need to replace my rapid river waders this year as well, they are gobbed to hell with aqua seal and other patches but are so damn comfortable i dont want to get rid of them.

[Steve K]

Originally Posted by chefchris401

The ones I have are definitely energizer, I bought my pops one for fishing too. They take a beating except when you fall 5 feet and smack your head and the light goes flying into rocks. Besides that there great
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That is good to know because the RayOVac model is difficult to find now.

[nightfighter]

Was a low spend year in 2011. Fuel, oil, sabikis, fluro, and hooks. Spent on plugmaking stuff and all I do is fish live macks all season....

I did get one of the glow in the dark floating fish grippers, and it works well, but the angle seems like it could be improved. Also added an Avet MXL MC lefty at the end of the season. Worked well on cod. Upgraded drags for my Abu Records after burning them out on big October fish.

Don't need anything, and should be getting rid of stuff I don't use....

Should be looking at Tom's Commando bags before Cutty trip.... economy just sucks right now.

[Jackbass]

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[Justfishin']

2011-Bought a ZeeBass ZX25 w/bail, have to say it has the best drag of any reel I've ever had, but I've fished Penn's for 27 years. Miss the on/off antireverse. May go to manual pick up this year to see if the distance improves, I think the bail is in the way
Northbar bottle darters- gave them a serious try this year, did well with a few large on them.
2012? Hmmm- new waders that I'll need because of the BS felt ban.
Get my new 9wt and switchrod blanks wrapped, get a new 7wt reel for the switch.
Maybe get a new conventional reel.

[american spirit]

2011:
1. black diamond storm head lamp. 100% waterproof. no issues with it.
2. Afterhours jointed plugs. Did well with the skinny 2 oz. one.

2012:
1. got some helly hansen voss pants. lightweight polyurethane pants for fishing the rocks when i'm not planning on swimming
2. more afterhours jointed.

probably won't be fishing until august since kid #3 is coming in march.