Good Year 71

As for strips and dots, I think they're great. Simple and easy, though relatively temporary, I swear by them for quick attitude adjustment such as head down vs up and such. They can make a difference and I never leave without a stash on hand. That written, if I was you, I'd consider small teardrop tungsten dangling hookside. They go down to 1/16th ounce, will be permanent, and won't compromise hardware selection. Swapping hooks could be a first option, but you can only go so big as there is a point of diminished return.

Find a bright sticker designed for automotive or watercraft use and cut what you need to size. Shouldn't have any issue staying put wet. Now, as for fish slamming it? That I don't know. Another idea, if you're thinking something more permanent though removable without too much trouble, might be to consider a dab of bright fluorescent nail polish. I imagine it would work just fine.

Sorry about this, but it can save the day. As fishing related as any 'tackle' I've got; half roll of toilet paper.

I'm certainly not drawing hard lines here. What works for me won't work for everyone, just sharing thoughts trying to help. As for myself, I gave up trying to sink big singles with fast or xfast or xxfast tips. Just doesn't work for me at distance. I've tried. Hook fails to penetrate sufficiently, they shake it off. Now, a good moderate action? I'll sometimes put it though bone. Also, I was attempting to describe hookset between traditional moderate vs traditional fast action. I wasn't thinking parabolic. Ultimately, with respect to OP, when in doubt there's no harm going with a mod/fast action and split the difference. If using only one stick, this is what I would do. Interesting topic, by the way. I look forward to reading others input. Peace, all.

I'll add my view as well. In short, it's relevant to situation. As suggested, feel and fit of assembly are important. The reel counts, too. It's a system. Different type line, and to lesser extent diameter of line, factors to equation. And I don't care what anybody says, there is no such thing as a 'do it all' assembly. You'll need at least three in my opinion. It's an expensive sport, deal with it. Thanks to Slants action attachment, it's easy to see the difference. In application, to me, it boils down to hookset. Right tool for the right job, what it can throw and how it feels are only half of it. The lesser half. Action characteristic has purpose. As a baseline, all else being equal, faster taper lends to treble, slower taper lends to single point. Size of assembly has little to do with it. Slower taper, more bend, more leverage on hookset. It's a shorter lever, hence more thrust. Benefit is you'll more easily sink that big upper single into tough upper jawbone. These fish are generally hooked. Faster taper, less bend, less leverage on hookset. It's a longer lever, hence less thrust. Benefit is greater tip feel and tip control to play those multiple treble points as they do their part holding your catch. These fish are generally stuck. Relevant to hookset at cast length, and I've little doubt some will argue otherwise until blue in face and that's fine. I'm not interested in debate, just sharing thoughts. I'm not saying any stick might not catch any fish. But I am saying some sticks are better within specific situation than others. There is no escaping law of physics. Peace.

User history is recorded as long as you maintain account. PP also sends an email confirmation upon transaction. That written, an invoice is never a bad idea, though not necessary. You could always just look it up.

Cochran53 recommendation is relevant to private transactions and I agree with him 100%. Goods and Services is the same as paying an invoice from retailer; it's a sale. The Friends and Family gift option provides zero buyer protection; retailers do not offer this payment option. When you gift to anyone, for any reason, you will never get that money back unless the other party decides to do so. Though there are well meaning and good intended folk who ask for this, it also is the ONLY place scammers and cheats operate. Just don't do it. Add 3.5% to purchase total so as to cover recipient fee or walk from the buy. I've learned this the hard way more than once. I resisted PP before buying into concept and feel stupid not doing it earlier. The service is designed around principle of having your personal payment information with but one vendor: PayPal. This saves you from having your credit card or bank information stored in servers around the world just waiting to be hacked. At worst, it's not a bad idea. At best, it can save you months of trouble. The service fee is paid by retailer, it costs you literally nothing. A private seller would also have to cover this fee, hence you add 3.5% to cover their gap. Sending payment as gift is entirely at your own risk. Register, it's a onetime thing unless you decide to update payment option such as new card or bank account. That's it, very simple.

Work smart, quarter cast to cut incline in half. Personally, I'd figure anything but hit bottom. It'll take feeling out, start conservative with countdown to retrieve, going a little deeper each time, before long you'll be able to count depth you seek. Try to keep it just off the rocks. Also, no offense to anyone, but I'm not sold a retriever would help shore casting riprap even a little. Wherever the bait sticks will likely stick the harness with and even Superman would struggle moving those rocks. Maybe I'm wrong, but I know I'll never try it. Good luck.

Agree on wind advisory. I've witnessed that water go from dead calm to near 5ft white cap in little over 30 minutes. Watch the weather closely and don't stray. And don't worry about suggestions on where to start, that lake is huge, in your craft you need to work what you see. The lake is teaming with life. Stick to that side and slide down to Soda Bay for a minute if you wish. It's not far.

Hey, if it works, use it. That said, you've got some shopping to do. I would humbly suggest maybe figuring a modern reel into equation while you're at it. If you truly want the most out of this passion, it would be wise to give yourself the best chance at doing so. Labor Day sales are right around the corner, good time to acquire, no need to go crazy. I suspect you'll be best served asking forum basically what you just did, but with a budget you can and are willing to afford. I also suspect you'll find, as do most of us, that you get out of this sport what you put into it. Good luck.

You realize they'll all die in salt, right? Anyway, I'm with no go on concept. Both, actually. I do not agree with live bait. I do not agree with simulation either. No sport.

Sounds like you tend to power in. Don't do this. The harder you pull the more you assist the fish in throwing. Don't force the issue unless you have no choice due to cover and such. Keep your rod tip low, and your drag soft enough to absorb hard movement. Long line; if you're not using braid you're hurting your chances. Simple as that. I don't care how hard you swing, if you're throwing mono at distance you're not getting a very good hookset.

If I was you, I'm being dead serious here, I would step away and clear my mind. Been there, done that. What you describe is a rabbit hole and it's a dead end. No matter what we do in life, without confidence it leads to failure. Set a timeline to step away and stick to it. You won't want to, as what you conclude proper duration today won't feel that way in a week or two, but what you feel today is your internal barometer. You know yourself better than anyone, so listen. Trust your instinct. You'll return clear of distress and confusion for a fresh start. Where do we start fresh? The basics. That's the key.

That's the right thing to do, both fair and proper. It all comes back around in the end. Kudos.

For what it's worth, there are rip backside prices on ebay and retailers alike. I don't mind paying a little more than I should, sometimes, but anything over that is foolish. When is the last time anybody ever heard of someone paying 300% extra for rod, reel, line, etc?

Enough with this. Nolan, you really should grab this bait. If you and Top Ramen are willing to trust me, I'll pay for the bait and receive it for you. I'll forward $110PP+4% on your behalf to receive it, when you get your money you pay me $110PP and I'll eat the fees and shipping signature delivery USPS to your door for you. It will arrive in the exact same unopened package I receive it in. No joke, no game, no lie, I don't need or want the bait. If I did I'd have already bought it. Being 15 years old and stepping proper will serve you well in life. I think you'll find, assuming you continue proper path, that good things tend to happen to good people. If you want the bait, and both you guys trust me, it's yours. Please do follow through for me, I do not need this bait. Only if you're serious, please. If we do this, both of you contact me via PM and we'll make it happen. Be good.

I'm mid 40's and concept of switching hands made no sense even as a child. Literally now 40+ years ago when I first cast. Made no sense then, makes 100x less sense now. There is exactly zero benefit switching hands. It's ridiculous. I do, however, get argument of fatigue. I know some who alter (not switch every throw, big difference) depending upon technique. But to me, if it gets to that, it only means I got to man up. Maybe hit another 40oz curl from time to time or something. Or just deal with it. Whatever.

All things considered you're better off standing it straight up or laying it flat down. But, that written, you're fine so long as it stays out of constant direct sunlight. Too much heat can damage a blank. Otherwise you're good.

You're fine. I'm probably in minority among this site, but in my book I only need around 85 yards anyway. I get the argument of extra capacity, just not my thing. When line breaks it usually breaks at or near knot anyway, if it breaks mid spool then it's past time to replace. I don't play that game, not worth losing baits or catches to me, so I keep it fresh. As such, I've no doubt you'll find 17lb more than adequate. As precaution, make habit of retying every couple hours or after every decent fish. The practice will save you even when you didn't know it did. Good luck.

$#%^ people... anything for a quick buck. Not surprising though. Humor me, please, what was it that tipped you off?

I prefer soft or semi soft tail myself. Hard to quantify without two identical baits (save tail material) side by side, but I'm convinced flex helps promote a more proper action in current which I'm in more often than not. Just my opinion. Peace.

Personally, I like where this is headed. A lot. If I were to offer feedback, as requested, I might suggest a more uniform body/tail dimension of roughly 1/1. That being 5.5/5.5 in this instance. Not a big deal, more to promote central target is all. If you could manage a tail sink rate on pause in rough unison with skirt material legs would be wicked. No way this doesn't get bit though. Looking good!!