Thank you for posting this article, it's an oldie but goody and everyone can learn from it.

That is a very nice brookie, what was it's measurements? Where did you catch it? I hope you threw it back!

It is a Mitchell 300, I bought one of the first ones we had available in MN. in 1955 for $32.00 when I was 12 years old, it broke me but I still have it today and I think you can still buy them for about the same price.

There is a saying on the Gulf Coast that goes, "All fish eat live shrimp." That may be true, but live shrimp are hard to come by during the Winter months on the Coast and harder to come by at anytime, in MN.

Good question! Add to that, sunscreen and gas smell on your hand from pumping up the gas tank. I carry liquid hand soap on my dash of the boat but is the soap smell more offensive to the fish than whatever other smells that you have on your hand? Let's hear it guys!

MN. has a law, in some trout fishing waters that states, "catch & release with barbless artificial lures only." However, the local CO. that I know well, told me that he will never check a hook to see if it is barbed. I usually catch & release trout with a barbed fly and have never had my fly checked to see if it had a barb.

A sheepshead is very good to eat, a sheephead makes good garden fertilizer. I think what Beo_hard landed is a river sucker, fertilizer! It looks like it has been dead for a while. Maybe you fought it to long. Where did you catch it? I know, in the mouth, but what body of water did it come out of?

If you have fished in MN. you have probably caught a sheephead, a fresh water drum, but never a sheepshead, a salt water fish.

asmith2139, I'm not sure where are located but if I can help you out in anyway, let me know. Right now I'm in South Padre Island, TX. and will be until the first week in March. I live in SE MN., in the heart of the Driftless Region, one of the best trout fishing areas in the US.

If you are talking about fresh water trout, browns, rainbows or brooks, it is best to catch and release them. If you must, gut & gill them and fry them in butter with the heads on. Eat only the meat, not the head or the skin. The bones will pull right out when you pull the head off while it is on your plate. I know this because I ate them in the fifties but not sense. If you are talking about salt water specks/spots or sand trout, fillet them out and fry them like most fish.

Is there anyone on this forum that fishes the South Padre Island/Port Isabel, TX. area? I Winter in this area and I would appreciate some help. I know Winter fishing the Gulf is tough. The fishing is easy but the catching can be difficult. Unlike freshwater fish, saltwater fish become very lethargic or even die as the water cools. Any help would be deeply appreciated.

Happy New Year to you! I'm new to this site too, Oct, 2018, but I think the site is also new. The site seems to work well, but I'm not sure how to work it. It's a little different than most fishing forums that I have been on, whatever, go with the flow. I'm from MN. I have fished San. Fran. Bay but that is it on the West Coast. I have fished in AK. a couple of times, a lot in the Upper Midwest, Canada, & Lake Mich. and I Winter someplace down on the Gulf of Mexico and do a lot of fishing in the Gulf. I have caught Salmon and a few steelhead in AK. and in Lake Mich. If I were you, I would go to a locally own bait shop or a fly shop and pick their brain. My steelhead rod is a 11 1/2' 1/4 - 5/8 lure wt. and I use it with eggs. but I mostly fly fish the salmon with a 10' 8# fly rod. Talk to the locals, see what they have to say. Maybe one of them will take you out and point you in the right direction. Good Luck and Tight Lines!!!!

You are very welcome!

Mornin' Frank, From what I have heard from friends that use them, the ugly stick is about as good of rod that you can buy for the price. I have never used one because they are made out of fiberglass and fiberglass does not have the sensitivity that I like in a rod. They do sell a ton of them and people do like them. They are priced right and very durable. I don't think they make a ugly stick in a 7 1/2' length, so go with a 7'er, and you will do fine. A one piece rod will have more sensitivity than a two piece rod but they are harder to transport.

Frank, you have me confused, your first sentence refers to; "recommendations on a good rods" and your last sentence refers to; "a rod for all purpose if there is one". So, if you want only one rod, go with a 7' median action, lure # 1/4 - 5/8, line # 6 - 14. It will do the job but not very well. What you should do is buy two rods, a 6 1/2' light action, lure # 1/8 - 3/8, line # 4 - 8 and put your 2500 series on it. The reel will be to big but it will work. This outfit you will use for trout, pan fish and smaller bass. The second rod should be a 7 1/2 median heavy action, lure #3/8 - 3/4, line # 8 - 20, and put your 3500 series on it. This outfit will handle the bigger bass, medium sized cats and surf/pier fishing. Tight lines, good luck and welcome aboard.