Daiwa Black Gold if you are looking for a good quality, mid range spinning reel. The older models are bullet proof winches in the $50 - $80 range in excellent condition. 5 star international ratings for years and available on the resale market.

I do not understand why anyone would do something that was that cruel and inhumane. Absolutely no excuse - none - for that barbaric act.

In my opinion carp is edible if prepared properly and bowfin also known as grindle is not edible (unless you are very hungry). We tried one once - very mushy flesh even when overcooked+. They are an interesting fish - one of the oldest species known, related to the lung fish and will come to the surface and gulp air in low 02 water. Let us know if you try one. Adult beverages were involved in that particular fish fry. Happy New Year everyone !!!

In my opinion, the product quality any company that has been purchased by Pure Fishing will be immediately reduced by approximately 50%. Based on my experience, the previous "Brand Names" purchased by Pure that are now made in China simply are not the same quality as when they were made in the USA, Europe or Japan. Ditto on warranty coverage. Got tired of returning them due to quality issues identified on new in box reels. Wont even consider them now.

My opinion, Penn Battle and Daiwa BG provide outstanding performance at a moderate cost point. Here in V A Beach it is $60 just to have a reel opened up for a repair estimate - it also includes lubrication -and may or may not be necessary based on the repair cost. I can do all the routine preventive stuff myself including springs and drags but other that that, it goes to the shop. Dont know what the consensus is but I do not believe the quality of any of the new Chinese reels (regardless of brand) compare to the older models. If the brand is now owned by Pure Fishing Inc its Pure junk in comparison. But then again it is just an opinion and I may be wrong.

A conglomerate named Pure Fishing purchased Abu Garcia and started producing reels in China. The Chinese Abu's sell for approximately 1/2 of the Abu reels that were previously produced in Sweden and the drop in quality is obvious. Pure also purchased Penn, Fenwick, Pflueger, Shakesphere, All Star, Berkley and Ugly Stick along with a variety of line and lure manufacturers. In my opinion, many of the brands share similar models with the only difference being paint and decals. Again my opinion, and many others, the quality of Pure Fishing owned companies has nosedived across the board.....

In my opinion the majority of "better" (read more expensive) brands are way overrated. I have fished everything from Montague wood shafts, to Orchard and True Temper steel rods and a variety of iterations of glass shafts over 60 years. Each type has/had positive aspects when compared to the competition but carbon fiber and glass are the winners for the majority of fishing situations. That being said, carbon fiber is the most sensitive but brittle, does not wear well and can be very expensive to replace. Then there is glass that is amazingly strong and durable but lacks sensitivity.
In my view Ugly Stick makes a superior product - thin glass center core wrapped with graphite cloth. Strong, sensitive, inexpensive and as close to bullet proof as anything on the market. Yes I am impressed with them and fish the Inshore Select, Tiger, Catfish and Striper models in the Chesapeake Bay. Friends use the Big Water series for trolling and boat rods. No issues.

Recommend everyone view customer reviews critically. In many cases the reviews relate to the manufacturers complete product line rather than a specific model. For example, the rod you are considering has consumer reviews for both a 5' 9" and a 5' 5" rod in the same rating. Since the manufacturer controls/ publishes the reviews due diligence is likely appropriate.......

Same info but I add a 30 inch lead to the bottom of the 2 hook dropper rig and attach the sinker. This keeps the bait off the bottom and moving in the current.
School sized stripers are available all year but illegal to keep except in the winter open season. As a result, I do not target them due to high mortality rates. The limit size during the open season in both states is one 19 inch fish per day in sounds and tributaries. Unfortunately, I think its likely that there will be no striper catch season in the near future. The menhaden bait fish that most salt predators rely on have pretty much been netted out due to Political $ to local and state hacks.

I am on the VA/NC border and fish the brackish water of the bay and sound in both states. In those waters it is possible to catch both fresh and saltwater species in the same body of water depending on the salinity level. Both channel and blue cats are common and I regularly catch 20# plus blue cats in the intercoastal waterway. I have tried all types of fresh/salt/weird baits and hands down, my #1 bait is double hooked, live minnows on a dropper bottom rig with #2 hooks, everything eats minnows. I normally do not fish brackish water from April through September due to the bait stealing blue crabs and lower O2 levels in the warmer brackish water. During that time frame it is more like crabbing than fishing.

Once the water starts to cool down and the amount of daylight begins to drop the fishing picks up dramatically and is, at times, amazing. Striper, cats, brim, bowfin, yellow perch, white perch, crappie, and various bass species all spawn in the cooler water. As a result, there are different spawning runs throughout the cooler months. Catfish are always in that water and the blue cats can handle a higher level of salt. Have Fun!

Does the carp flesh get mushy from freezing. Most frozen baits I have tried are very difficult to keep on the hook. Thanks!

"Peck" or "Pecking"

"Peck" or "Pecking"

Good afternoon, just made plans to visit/help move a newly retired fishing buddy in Coral Gables Fl. He just purchased a home on one of the canals with access to the gulf and will be moving in shortly. Anyone out there who has fished the canals? Likely would be fishing off the bank. Info on common species in that envirenment would be greatly appreciated, need something to daydream about rather than fretting about politics and covid. Thanks!

Fenwick for medium priced rods and Ugly sticks for lower end. Berkley also produces the Lightning series of inexpensive casting rods that are good quality in my opinion. Up until I was introduced to these brands by fishing buddies, about 15 years ago, I was a snob that was stuck on American high end mass produced and custom built rods. Found out that light weight and sensitivity was the enemy of reliability, durability and budgets. At this point, the above brands represent 90% of my freshwater rods the rest being older customs. One last point, over the last several years a LOT of well known American tackle companies have been purchased by a conglomerate known as Pure Fishing. As a result, rod and reel manufacturing has been transferred to China and the quality of well known and respected companies has suffered. Pure Fishing products produced in China and labeled Penn, ABU, Pflueger and others, do not resemble the previously American made models in my opinion. Hopefully others will comment on my experience.