HOPPY4

Great looking at the Fishing of Holland!!! I miss the time spent in Maastricht and the fishing that was soo CLOSE! Good Memories! HOPPY4

Welcome Aboard Jack! Although I am like Newt, a LONG way from you, I still Wish you Well. I Hope that you will catch many more fish as you provide and receive tid-bits of info and pass some on from time to time. I for one do more monitoring than posting, but will join in the occaisional rant from time to time. Again, Welcome to the BBS! HOPPY4

Patrizia, As I am in the USA, it will not be as informative as our British angling friends. Although, I was a member of the Kitzingen Sports-Angler Verein along with the Haasfurt Angler Verein for a number of years. It was and remains a Very Enjoyable memory to have fished in Germany. If there is a particular river that I would have called my water of choice, it would have been the Main. This in part to it running through my home in Wuerzburg. Here in the USA thus far, I will say that the Potomac will have this title. As I am learning the ropes here in this area, I can not place one water above or below another. Good Luck to YOU as you travel around the British landscape and keep us informed about your exploits. HOPPY4

Enjoyable Reading!!!!!!

Jiqotai, Way to End the Season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great Story and and a Better FISH!!!!!!!!!!!! HOPPY4

GREAT FISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hands Down, the Lady has the Vote for Best fish of the day! HOPPY4

Newt, I found that a LONG Rod provided me with more options than a traditional Bass/Lure fishing rod while in Europe! The ability to cast over the reeds and other grassey water edges was a Big positive. The Shorter rods would have proven to be a hinderence more times than an attribute. A 10ft. rod would have been the best choice of rod for most of the places fished in my areas. JMHO!!!!!!!!! HOPPY4

Andy 1984, Cheep Version: http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.Tex...arTarget=browse Not So Cheep: http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.Tex...arTarget=browse Stiff Version: http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.Tex...arTarget=browse If this is what you would like to use! HOPPY4

For me it was always Penn for Saltwater Baitcasting and I knew them to be dependable. This was the 309 models and later the 320Gti. I have made a step outside of the traditional and purchased the Okuma reels at this point. I have found them to be Very Dependable and a little lower priced. To this point I have increased my targeted species to model used. The 907, SD-45L, Titus, Classic 300L, Magda Pro, and Classic 400 are models available here in the USA some are not. They provide a diverse means to approach the size of fish and the method being used to target them. My wife has thrown a new wrinkle in the mix for this year. She gave me a Shimano Tyrnos for our anniversery. I know it to be well constructed thus far and look forward to having a fish at the other end of the line. HOPPY4

Make a HABBIT of placing tension on the line as you reel in at a ratio of 1 to 5 as it will HELP! I have forced myself to learn and it has now become HABIT. The line when wound onto the spool of Spinning reels needs a little resistance to lay on them correctly. After about 3-4 casts, it has become loose and as you cast will allow multiple loops to pull off at once. This is about 97% accurate and has worked for me since my change and learned behaviour. This in conjunction with the swivel at the leader and possibly at the lure will make a BIG difference. JMHO!!!!!!!! HOPPY4

If you are willing to go a Little farther, you might want to contact this firm for possibilities. We were there lasst July and the fishing was Fantastic. The link is a German one although you are able to view the info in English as well. Take a Look: http://www.dintour.com/ HOPPY4

Does anyone have this reel? If so, what do you thing of it? I am replacing some of my stolen equipment and had looked at this one. HOPPY4

Mark, Great Fish! Look forward to seeing photos of many more. HOPPY4

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would LOVE to get into a Fight like that. Thank You for POSTING! HOPPY4

Elton, that is not Luke! Ron has many short clips flotting around on the net and this one has received the publicity because of the capture itself. Luke was in Kazakstan a few years back, but did not make any movies as I am aware. HOPPY4

Natty, GREAT Fishing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish you many more days like that one and another pb to be proud of! Good Luck and keep it GOING!!! HOPPY4

I have written before and still have the opinion that for Heavy fishing a Rear Drag reel will not hold up as well as a Front Drag reel. When fishing for Carp, you are well within range of a Front or Rear Drag reel. The information within the article is not enough in my opinion and should include the following: A front drag reel does not have the same amount of internal problems as a rear drag reel will have during HEAVY usage. The requirement of a rear drag reel to turn the primary spindle rod can produce a bent or worped shaft. This will require major repairs or replacement of the reel. This is an opinion yes, but a learned one! The Baitrunner/Freespool/Freeline facility is a Great tool. It is as stated to be used to allow a fish to take line without leaving the bailarm open or loosening the primary drag. It can and will save you from taking a dunking to retreive your setup. They have varrying degrees of quality and therefore must be tested to determine what the setting is for you at a given occaision. HOPPY4

ljstronge, As has been stated by others, you may use the same rod as long as you are not casting to the other side of the river. What I mean is that you may use a Feeder rod for ledgering as long as your casts are not extream and the weight is so much that the rod will bend to it's extream. You will also need to modify your cast as a snap type of cast will place a lot of pressure on the rod. A LOB Cast will work best and will get you out to about 40yd. on the average with a feeder cage. I have used this when the fish were bitting very litely and have done well. I do vary the rod placement a bit to have the rod at a 45 degree angle and tention enough to maintain the location. Bites will be much easier to see this way and if you are not sitting on the rod, Please place the Freespool on! If a larger fish takes the bait and you are not right on it, this could result in multiple problems. JMHO! HOPPY4

Merry Christmas to All of the Members of the Anglersnet Forum!!!!!!!!!!! James & Petra Hopkins

Since my move to Power Pro braid, I have a mainline of 50lb. and depending on the situation 15lb. mono or 50lb. braid. as my hooklink. I must also include a 12ft. shockleader of 100lb. PP that was added due to zebra mussels. Now that I am here in the Maryland/Virginia/D.C. areas, I may need to change my presentation. I will get more info from the locals and modify as required. HOPPY4

What you purchased will work for you if these are the sizes that you are after for quite some time. Now if they will have truly multi-purpose useage and heavier fish more often, you will wear them out quicker. Shimano is the BENCHMARK and remains so with Okuma being a brand that is closing the GAP! If you purchase the Higher End Okuma reels, you will feel the difference!!! JMHO true enough, but a TESTED ONE! HOPPY4

As I have fished for most of my life, I am still not over the feeling of a fish on the end of the line. This is in any type of fishing and the knowledge that it may be a new personal best is and added plus. Each of us has something special that makes us continue to persue this Great Sport and that is why we continue to do it. I Love to fish and try to share this pleasure with others! HOPPY4

To all of the members like myself who never had the oppertunity to meet Gerry, I beleive that we were still Blessed to have him as a Fishing Partner. Elton has mentioned thing that he did, but what he meant to the forum will never be replaced. Gerry, May your soul be Happy and the Fish be Many in your New Life in Heaven! Rest in Peace! James Henry Hopkins (HOPPY4)

In that I have been able to use the U.S. and the Euro versions of the Shamano Baitrunner, I have formed this opinion. They are both Fantastic and offer smooth transition between the main drag from the baitrunner setting by turning the handle. I have also used the Fighting Drag reels by Shimano and find them to be useful, but in LIMITED sizes. I have also taken the oppertunity to try the Okuma, Diawa, Spro, and a couple of other Freespool reels. Each has performed well and the Okuma and Diawa were exceptional!! If the fish you are after are HEAVY and you are fishing for them and catching on a regular basis, Go Shimano Front Drag Reels! When you have a varried menu of fish and the occaisional LUMP, either of these reels will work for you. You then will need to use the skills of playing the fish more often. This is an opinion, but I think that when you try for yourself, you will agree. HOPPY4

Budgie, Great write-up! The most important thing is to be Confident in what you use! HOPPY4