Fishing Tips & Advice

Ethan Bennett17 said:Hey. I could really use some advice regarding a Penn Pursuit reel. I picked one up about a month ago for some light casting, but after only ten hours of actual use, the reel started making this crazy noise. Right when the spool drops, there's this weird squeak or something similar. I took it back to the shop where I bought it, and they just told me it’s totally normal. Honestly, though, I don't think a reel should be changing its sound profile after just a few hours of work. If I wanted a reel that makes all sorts of noises, I would have just spent $33 instead of $133... anyway, if anyone has any tips, thanks...

To be honest, you aren't exactly paying a premium at $133 to expect absolute perfection from a reel🤷

Once you get north of $150, you can pretty much be sure you're getting a solid piece of gear. And even then, I'd say "pretty much" sure...🙂

northernangler said:Give the squid a shot...

Regarding the squid fishing😕 ,squid are smart fish. They aren't just going to strike blindly without checking out the bait first. You need to be ready to hook them the second they commit. I’d recommend using some Rimino gear for it and, honestly, you're going to need a lot of patience.👋

granitenomad99 said:Heading out on the squid hunt... 😕 That fish is far too smart to just strike on a whim; she’ll likely wait until she’s certain before committing, so you really ought to film the lure to see what’s actually happening... which is why I’d suggest using a Rimino for her, and honestly, you're going to need a massive amount of patience...👋

Exactly... though honestly, forget about the squid... You might have better luck targeting the blackfish—or whatever they're calling it these days—if you pack your line with some sea cucumber or even a bit of wolffish bait, but you’ll need a massive amount of patience, staying perfectly still and practically invisible, because there are just so many minute details to manage out there...

Melissa Howard90 said:Hey everyone!
🙂Anyone actually interested in this stuff??

Hell yeah they are.🙂

Hi there 🙂

I'm struggling a bit with translating some fishing terms—if anyone knows what these actually mean, please let me know. Thanks in advance...

Fishing tackle boxes

Fishing tackle float swivels

Fishing tackle floats

Fishing tackle holdalls

Fishing tackle terminal tackle

As you can see, I'm a little lost on the exact meaning of "fishing tackle."
At first, I thought it just meant general gear, but then I ran into these more specific terms and couldn't find a clear answer online... 😢

Thanks again 😉

Fishing tackle boxes—though maybe you mean those pre-made rigs specifically

Fishing tackle float swivels—probably just those little swivel attachments for your floats

Fishing tackle floats—you know, your standard floats

Fishing tackle holdalls—basically big gear bags for your rods and reels and stuff

Fishing tackle terminal tackle—this is kind of a catch-all term for things like swivels, hooks, weights, and floats, I guess

Hey. Just joined.
One fishing question: I keep hearing this "knotless knot" thing unravelling and causing trouble. Any advice?

I'm new to fishing, so I'm looking into knots for tying a hook to hair rigs. Besides the "knotless knot," what else is out there? And honestly, how reliable is that knotless thing anyway? Also, some old-timers told me that the knot just unties itself eventually

I personally tie everything from standard hooks to spinners and swivels using a palomar knot. When you're targeting carp, you can just tie that little bit of "hair" for the boilies directly onto the hook eye using some thinner monofilament or braid with a basic knot; since it isn't under any real tension, there's really no need to overcomplicate things.

I’m looking for someone to explain—or better yet, drop a solid link—on how to attach a second hook to the end of an existing line. I already know my way around tying a single hook, but I need a reliable knot to branch off a second one from the first. Essentially, I want to end up with a split line featuring two hooks, and I need it done right.

hollowviper40 said:Could someone maybe explain things to me or perhaps share a decent link on how to add a second hook to the end of a single line? I'm pretty comfortable tying a basic hook, but I really need a solid knot that lets me branch off a second hook from the first one, so that at the end of my monofilament, I basically have a split leading to two hooks, and I want to make sure it’s done properly.

I suppose you could use this loop method to add as many hooks as you want along the main line wherever you feel like it.

Hey, fellow anglers. I haven't headed out for some pike yet—where's the best spot to find them in the local streams?

So, I'm planning on taking the exam soon and was wondering what paperwork I actually need to fill out and where it’s supposed to go??
I'm also looking into joining the Zabok Sports Association.

rustywalker34 said:Exactly, I mean, forget about using squid... Honestly, you might have better luck trying some worm, maybe even sea cucumber if you can find it, but man, you really have to be patient. You’ve gotta stay quiet, stay stealthy, and just deal with all those little nuances...

Don't sweat it too much, though; sea bream will absolutely demolish squid, especially when it's fresh from the Atlantic. It really just comes down to whether they're feeling hungry or not at the moment.
Actually, a lot of people don't really buy into this, but one of the best baits for sea bream is actually BREAD. The trick is just figuring out how to present it so you don't have a bunch of tiny baitfish gobbling it up before the sea bream even gets a look. A sea bream will usually just snatch up bread without a second thought, swallowing it instantly without any hesitation.
It's not exactly easy to pull off with bread, but there are ways to make it work, I guess. 🙂

hollowpilot62 said:I’m planning on taking the exam soon. What paperwork do I need to file and where does it go? Also, I want to join the Zabok Sports Association.

Contact the Sports Association directly. Ask them when the next testing date is. One of the admins (over in Bedekovčina, maybe Joe 🤣) will get you registered. After that, all you can do is wait for the call!

I'm basically a total newbie here, just starting my second year. I’m looking at picking up an annual pass soon. Mainly interested in lures for lakes or rivers, plus what's the easiest type of boilie to whip up myself? Also, where can I actually find all the ingredients around here??

So, what’s the verdict on this rod from Walmart?

Jack Moore said:What do you guys think about this fishing rod from Walmart?

Pretty bad, honestly.

Hey there.
I have a quick question for you all.
A friend of mine is a freshwater fisherman—and I mean a serious one. He’s been at this for years, competes in tournaments, and basically owns every piece of gear imaginable. I’m looking to get him something themed around fishing as a gift, but I'm drawing a blank. Any suggestions on what might actually impress someone who already has everything? Also, does anyone know if there's a decent tackle shop in Cleveland?

Hey everyone. I'm looking for some info on the Goldman Sachs Shogun 3.60m rod, specifically the 50-100g action with 8K carbon. Does anyone happen to know what the going rate is for one, whether I'm looking at buying it brand new or picking up a used one? Thanks.