silversnake wrote:Tookie, very nice videos. Thanks for sharing. I knew some of those knots already (see, something did stick from Cub Scouts) but learned a few new ones.
Now that I think I know what I need for gear to drop a line into the local pond and try my luck, I'll run it by the collected wisdom here. At the local Target, I found a $20 "basic fishing kit" that featured a 2-part Ugly Stick rod (5-foot), spinning real with line, and an assortment of common lures and hooks. Seems like a good place to start unless anyone's got a "don't do that, it's crap that just falls apart despite the name" story. Now I just need to get the free time to actually go out and fish. Maybe next weekend.....
I have mixed feelings about those "Set-um-ups" (that's what I call them)
As far as the Ugly Stick goes
Pros
•Virtually unbreakable in normal use
•Good performance for the money
Cons
•Experienced anglers will want more sensitivity
•Heavier than all-graphite poles
"One Field & Stream reviewer set out to break seven fishing rods, and only the Shakespeare Ugly Stik survived until he finally ran out of weights at 55 pounds. The durability, seven-year warranty and low prices have helped make the Shakespeare Ugly Stik popular for more than a quarter century." - Consumer Search Reviews
My personal expirience with the Ugly Stick is not a bad one, however, it did break off on my while reeling in what I am assuming had to be a very large fish. I never saw it because it never broke the water surface, all I know is I had it half way in to the bank and the rod just snapped in half. The line held up but I had to cut the line because the whole ordeal was getting out of control after the rod snapped. To this day... I wonder how big that fish was but after some speculation and discussion with a few friends about where I was fishing and their own expiriences at that spot and with the bait I was using the consensus seems to point towards it having been a very large blue or channel catfish.
If I were going to give you a good solid reccomendation of rod it would be the Eagle Claw.
http://www.eagleclaw.com/The eagle claw is a rod I first learned on and my father stood by %100. I have seemed to follow along those lines and I stand by Eagle Claw %100 myself.
I have never had a problem or an issue with the Eagle Claw brand of rod or fly rod and I regularly use both. The Eagle Claw I currently use is over 12 years old and besides a little penny sized area of lost paint, it still holds strong and pulls in some pretty heavy bass, walleye and even a pike once.
Now if you go for the "Set-um-up" then my advice would be to respool your reel with some heavier test line. The line they generally use on the stock reels are weak and flimsy, its the first place the manufacturer will cut a corner, so pick yourself up a spool of 10lbs test weight fishing line and respool the reel before you head out to your local fishin holes. Doing this will save you some disappointment. If you hook a fairly decent sized fish and the line snaps that would be a huge let down and I would hate to have that happen to anyone, especially a newly interested and learning soon to be angler like yourself. So lets stop that from happening at the front door and respool your reel.
There are some useful pieces in that "set-um-up" fishing kit though, regardless of what some may say.
The jigs that look like these:
are useful in catching crappie, bass, wiper, trout and some other species of fish so it wouldn't be a total bust going in for the kit.
Worms are great if you want to "sit-n-fish" but I have had very little luck with Power Bait but in some cases it works. Trout seem to particularly go for Power bait that is garlic or shrimp scented. Salmon Eggs are also great bait too. SOmetimes I will stick a salmon egg on the end of a lure hook and get better results depending on the season, the location and the species I am after.
You never go wrong with a Panther Martain either
So go ahead and try your hand with the "Set-um-up" kit you are talking about. It's only $20 and you gotta start somewhere.
Just get better line on the reel and buy one or two extra Panther Martins that aren't included in the kit they set you up with.
Once you get comfortable with your fishing holes and your rod n reel and the lures you choose then you will work up the ladder from there and soon start feeling out better ways to get your hands on a fish dinner!
Good luck and when I get more fising 101 videos done (Im doing a whole fishing series as requested by some of my regular viewers on youtube) I will post them here in your thread so you can browse over them and pick up what you find useful and helpful
