My other hobby. Fishing!

[Azad]

Messed up the coding on my previous thread so I deleted it. Just my OCD at work. Here's a peek at my small reel collection. They are all users unike my knives.

Here's another look at my babies...

Lady Stella by Shimano...
With aftermarket knobs.
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/8958/stellashv0.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stellashv0.jpg)

Conquest 100DC by Shimano...
Aftermarket knobs, ceramic bearings.
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1792/conquestdc1du3.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=conquestdc1du3.jpg)

Certate Hyper Custom by Daiwa...
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/8159/biomasterrhombuswd7.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=biomasterrhombuswd7.jpg)
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2980/biomasterrhombus1ma3.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=biomasterrhombus1ma3.jpg)

Alpha R-edition by Daiwa...
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2668/alphareditionyp7.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=alphareditionyp7.jpg)

[Azad]

Morethan Branzino...
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4439/morethanbranzinokh1.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=morethanbranzinokh1.jpg)

Abu Garcias...
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7077/abugarciadk4.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=abugarciadk4.jpg)

Abu Morrum... JDM
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7431/morrumdz8.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=morrumdz8.jpg)

[battlecreek1]

I am so JEALOUS!!! I love to wet a hook too, but you have some serious investment in it.:eek: What do you fish for mostly? Looks like you're a bass man?

Personally, I go for largemouth bass and anything I can catch on a Texas fly rod!

[clovisc]

that's some mighty fancy spinning gear... now how about fly fishing? :D

[Azad]

I am so JEALOUS!!! I love to wet a hook too, but you have some serious investment in it.:eek: What do you fish for mostly? Looks like you're a bass man?

Personally, I go for largemouth bass and anything I can catch on a Texas fly rod!

I posted a pic earlier, I'll see if I can upload it again. No bass here other than peacock bass (technically they're not I guess). Nearest place I can hunt down a bass is in Thailand, there's a local commercial lake there that stocks largemouths and it's smaller cousin. It's run by an American expatriate who married a local. I hope to go that route someday. :) Since Bangkok is only a 2 hour flight away I'm chasing Giant Catfish at least twice a year.

I've friends who went to China and they have a few lakes that stocks them too. Yup, American bass in China! :eek: That almost seems as wrong as the peacocks cos they're really killing off the native fishes here in Singapore. My main sport is the Giant Snakehead, the so called "Frankenfish" that made the news in Florida a few years back.

Spent a bit of money on my tackle I've to admit... but its worth it cos like I always say, a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work. Every ounce counts when you're doing a few hundred casts a trip I guess.

Azad

[Azad]

that's some mighty fancy spinning gear... now how about fly fishing? :D

To be honest I'd love to learn fly fishing, the problem is Singapore has only 1 fly shop and maybe only 2 qualified instructors. I did get into fly tying though. Bought a vise and some materials online and tied a few just for fun.

Good tackle helps but as most fishermen know, skill, experience and knowledge counts for a lot too. In any case, my wife probably spends more on her shoes and handbags than I ever will on my tackles.

Azad

[clovisc]

To be honest I'd love to learn fly fishing, the problem is Singapore has only 1 fly shop and maybe only 2 qualified instructors. I did get into fly tying though. Bought a vise and some materials online and tied a few just for fun.

Good tackle helps but as most fishermen know, skill, experience and knowledge counts for a lot too. In any case, my wife probably spends more on her shoes and handbags than I ever will on my tackles.

Azad

man... i'd love to catch some of the fish you have in singapore on the fly... they do make fly rods big enough to handle the most hardcore of your snakeheads and cats!!!

you can probably learn fly fishing just from videos on youtube... and by getting out there, and trying, experimenting, practicing. that's how i learned. picked up a few extra pointers from local guides. and fly tying... same deal. youtube can provide all the education you could ever want! nothing beats catching a fish on your own fly... even on a spin rod. and it saves a ton of cash.

with such amazing spin gear to play with, though, i could see fly fishing not being a priority... what sort of line are you using in all that stuff??? :D

[Azad]

Sorry for the late reply clovisc... Been busy grading papers all week.

I usually reel on Berkley's Fireline. I'm partial to pink and neon green as it's easier to see. I tried the Crystal Firelines a while back but the just don't do it for me. On bigger reels I use Berkley Whiplash as they are cost effective... i.e. cheap. For the occasional deep sea trips it's YGK Jigman. Really great for plumbing the depths and gauging amount of line paid out. Sice they are specially made for jigging they are sinking lines. Especially useful to avoid fouling the props.

If you're ever in Thailand check out this place for a good workout.
http://www.bungsamran.com/index.htm
I've seen a few Americans tackle the cats there on fly gear, my respects to them. I usually use 30lbs class rods and I consider that to be really sporting. The locals prefer PE5 - PE7 saltwater sticks. Great place if it is your first fishing trip to asia. After a long day, try out their in-house Thai massage, you're going to need it. :) Most of my fishing photos are with the ex-wife, I'll see if I can scrouge some up... What is a typical catch in Alaska?

Azad

[clovisc]

i've always wanted to visit southeast asia. i never even considered the possibility of fishing there... but now i'm drooling all over myself just thinking about it... :D

this time of year, there are small steelhead runs and some different species of trout hanging around... although for even the most skilled angler, freshwater fishing is extremely slow. out in saltwater i have no problem catching sole.

ketchikan is the "salmon capitol of the world. in the summertime we have kings, some chums, pinks, coho, and sockeye (mostly netted, though) all within easy driving and walking distances. also steelhead, coastal cutthroat... smaller trout. get a boat, and your options are almost limitless. plenty of halibut, rockfish, red snapper, pacific cod, lingcod, dogfish shark, and octopus. lots of bizarre sculpins, as well.

my favorite catches... and perhaps the most sporting... are fall steelhead and coho on the fly.... and summer dogfish shark on the fly. (usually 3-4 feet, starting out 100 feet down... amazing battles... :D ). i've got plenty of spinning gear in addition to fly fishing gear, but nothing near the quality of your gear! some penn workhorses, and a few other, inexpensive workhorse reels that survived last year's fishing season... :D sole's my favorite fish to eat... i get them on the fly, as well. :D

[topwater]

A topic near and dear, Jigs,Jigs,Jigs Football heads, hula grubs, Bullit heads Stren 17-20lb test, Calais Baitcasters, Kisler jig rod, Caly 3, I be home at dark save me some dinner

[MileHiKnifeGuy]

Man, I started with a Shimano reel and never found a reason to change. Gloomis is my favorite rod; the kids don't get to touch that one!

[Shike]

Man, I started with a Shimano reel and never found a reason to change. Gloomis is my favorite rod; the kids don't get to touch that one!

Have to agree!:D Have rods by other manufacturers, even some high end Fenwicks and Loomis beats them all. The best custom rod builders use Loomis and Lamiglass blanks. I also feel the same about Shimano though I prefer Penn for salt water.

Shike

[topwater]

Love inshore fishing, Tyed Salmon Flies & Streamers for 12 years, in Big Water Im a chummer though, I love pulling a 6-8 lbs Bass out of the weeds along with heart stopping topwater:eek:, nothen like it, Man thats fun