(Part 3) Reddit mentions: The best fishing equipment

It's a broad and general question, so you are likely to get similarly broad advice.

I am assuming you are talking about spin-fishing rather than fly fishing. I'd say:

Get a spinning (not casting) rod, and a spinning (not 'baitcasting') reel. Match your rod to your fish, your reel to your rod, and your line to your reel. The easiest thing to do is buy a combo LIKE THIS because the components are matched already.

If you want to roll-your-own setup:

ROD The rod will say what "weight" it is: ultra-light, Light, ..., heavy). Trout are usually light or ultra-light depending on the size they grow where you are fishing. Unless you know the trout are > 2 lbs. in weight, go with "Light"

REEL The reel should match the rod, look for a 1000 series for Light, or an ultralite for UL. More important though, the spool of the reel will list the how much of which line it can hold in terms of pounds of test. and length. e.g. My ultra-light reel will hold 100 yards of 4 lb. line (still on Imperial measurements here in US). For a Light rod, look for a reel that shows 6 - 8 lb test. About 150 yards of 6 lb is a good target.

LINE Get what is listed on the reel. Monofilament is fine, don't worry about flourocarbon, coated or braided lines.

TIPPET Do get some flourocarbon "tippet" and the smallest barrel swivels you can find. Trout have excellent eyesight, and the tippet is much harder for them to see because it is smaller and flourocarbon is invisible in water. This makes your terminal tackle less 'spooky.' 5x tippet is a good match for 6 lb test. 6x for ultralight. Do this even if you bought the combo above.

RIGGING Generally you will put your main line on the reel's spool and out to a swivel, then a few feet of the lighter, more expensive tippet to your terminal tackle. e.g. My ultralight setup is 4 lb. mono main line to a size 7 swivel and 7x flouro tippet to the terminal tackle. You probably want 6 lb to 5x, and 8 lb. to 5x is totally fine if you buy a combo with 8 lb.

TERMINAL TACKLE For reservoirs you want to use floating bait, tubes/jigs, and lures (inline spinners and/or spoons) from shore. From a boat, same, but more emphasis on spoons. Lures are a blast, but will cost you a LOT of money to acquire a good variety of them. I recommend bait and tubes/jigs if you are just starting out.

Floating Bait If you are shore-fishing, this is going to be your friend. Get some floating bait (real worms, dough, nuggets, etc.) and set up a Carolina Rig. Real worms are the best bait IMO, but they do not float naturally. You have to put air in them with a hypo. If you are just starting out, the artificial baits are fine. Rig it up, throw it in, take the slack out of the line and wait for the lunkers to come get some.

Tubes & Jigs These take more skill, but can produce a lot of fish. If you are fishing snaggy, moving water like rivers I recommend these as the top way to fish (lures are expensive and easy to lose in rivers.) Get a Trout Magnet or Crappie Magnet kit and you have everything you need.

Lures Inline spinners like Panther Martins (esp. the black/yellow dot & yellow/red dot) and Mepps Algias crush Sierra trout, not sure what their Eton comrades prefer. Keep the weight between 1/16 oz. and 1/8 oz. unless the trout are big (match the lure weights that are often listed on your rod) Good spoons here include the Acme Kastmaster, Thomas Bouyant and Super Duper. The rule here that the heavier the lure, the better it casts and the more potentially off-putting it is to a smallish fish like a trout.

Lure Selection The specifics of lure size, color and action can have a big impact on whether you get bites. What works one day may not work the next. This is how you can end up buying a LOT of lures. In general, you want to use light/bright colored lures in clear water and/or bright days and dark lures in turbid water or dimly lit days. THIS THREAD as well as THIS OTHER THREAD has some more detailed info on lure colors, sizes and brands I recommend.

You may also want to check out Fly and Bubble fishing which lets you use a spin rod to cast flies. It's a hoot and pretty effective: Get some adjustable spin floats, some flies and start fly and bubble fishing. Elk Hair Caddis sizes 12 - 18 are good, as are nymphs, and Mayfly imitations. Talk to local fly fishermen to see which bugs are good for your reservoir.

GETTING THE STUFF THAT WORKS Talk to the fishing outfitters near where you fish. They will tell you how the bite is, what the fish like, and where to do your fishing. Invaluable advice to prevent buying the entire world to cover all the bases.

HOW TO FISH This is super situational, but in general trout want to ingest more energy than they expend, i.e. they don't want to die. They like cold water near sources of food (bugs) and cover (rocks, brush, etc.). If you are fishing moving water, take the time to learn to READ THE WATER. Trout use moving water as a conveyor belt that brings them food. In reservoirs, you want to look for spots that are shallow enough to support plants and bugs, with deep water and/or good structure/cover nearby. Trout here will generally be cruising slowly or hanging in the water. Ideally, you will put your bait or lure near enough to entice without spooking them. If the trout are jumping or rising through the surface, they are eating insects from the surface film (emergers or fallen fliers), this would be a great time for the fly and bubble technique mentioned previously.

Generally THERE ARE TONS OF VIDEOS that cover whatever specific scenario you are going to pursue.

The most important technique is getting good at SETTING THE HOOK. It's hard to catch fish if you are bad at this.

FISH HANDLING

Trout are covered in protective slime:

• Wet your hand before touching them to help preserve it
  
• Use a rubber mesh net if you are netting them
  
• NEVER put them on the ground.
  
  Mash the barbs on your hooks if you are doing catch and release.
  
  Hemostats/forceps are the easiest way to remove hooks from fish
  
  Turning the fish upside-down will make them less frantic in their flopping.
  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  
  I hope that helps, have fun!

Maybe.

I'd set up somewhere in a National Forest in my general area (NC/SC/TN) with plenty of water sources, some fish and game, and an escape route if wildfires get too close.

I have enough Boy Scouts and armchair bushcraft experience to work with an axe and cordage to put together a decent enough shelter--it probably wouldn't take more than a month--and I'd try to setup a decent camp latrine away from water sources.

In addition to my BOB gear*, I'd spend some of the money on a used wheelbarrow, shovel, axe, splitting wedge, $50 worth of cheap cordage/bungee cords/carabiners/tarps/duct tape from Harbor Freight, $10 worth of BIC lighters (can still be used as firestarters once the fuel is gone to supplement the fire gear in my BOB), a gallon of bleach (santize the latrine, backup water purification), a decent cheap WalMart fishing rod/tackle (plus the license). Let's estimate $200 for all that.

Can I scrounge? I'd get a dozen or so free 5-gallon buckets from food service operations and several Arizona tea jugs out of recycling bins. I'd hit up the bulk Goodwill office to grab extra clothes/blankets/bandanas/towel for $.80/lb. I could probably even score a decent pot/pan and plate/flatware/coffee mug to go with the minimal cooking gear in my BOB, maybe even a grate from an old rusted grill. If you're going to be there a year, it's probably worth the couple of bucks.

I don't know much about trapping, but a handful of connibears and steel wire snares aren't too expensive and I'll be there a while so it might be worthwhile to spend $25 on those and a cheap bottle of musk. While I'm at it, let's get a couple of spring-loaded rat traps while we're at Harbor Freight to nail to trees and try get some tree-rats for dinner. At this point, I'm probably going to have to get a hunting license so let's upgrade to the annual premium fishing + hunting license for $50 as it has more privileges.

Let's add some speed-fishing hooks for $11 as well, assuming they're legal in the area.

Oh, I'd better total up what we have so far - $200 for misc tools, $75 for licenses/trapping stuff, and let's drop $25 on a basic cheap slingbow, $5 for an extra band, and $25 for a few cheap arrows from Walmart. Let's guesstimate we're at $300 at this point on tools and food procurement.

I don't plan on catching a lot of meals this way, but I need something to do with the time and if I can catch one critter a month it'll be great for the fresh food to supplement the beans and rice. Another guy in this thread did a cost analysis for a year's supply of rice/beans/oil for $227.88. Let's add a few iodized salt containers and cheap multivitamins from Dollar Tree and then go hit the salvage grocery store for cheap spices/teas. Say $250 for my food supply.

That leaves around $450 left. At this point, I feel like I have some of the basics covered and can start spending money/effort on a few things to make that year go by easier. I love coffee, but it's an expensive habit on a tight budget. Since I'll have an abundance of time, I'll get my coffee fix by buying green unroasted coffee beans - the cheapest bulk bag of green beans from Sweet Maria's is $5.50/lb but is $87.70 for a 20 lb sack and they have a 15% coupon code so let's estimate $90 shipped for 20 lbs. That gives me just under an ounce a day so it's a splurge but I'm willing to spend $100 to get the beans and a $10 french press from Ikea and I'm pretty sure it won't take me too long to find a couple of river rocks that would work as an impromptu mortar/pestle.

I also like to smoke a pipe maybe once a day which is maybe an ounce a week. I already have a spare pipe and tobacco in my EDC bag so this would go with me, but I'll make do with the cheap drugstore pipe tobacco marketed for RYO cigs at $14/lb shipped. We'll grab 3 of those 1 lb packs for $42 to keep me in my daily smoke.

I have a handcrank radio in my BOB and I could kinda cheat and say I already have that folding solar charger I plan on buying someday, but let's not and I'll cough up the $38 for this one. I'll have my battery bank and flashlight that's in my BOB plus my iPhone in my pocket and my Kindle I keep in my EDC backpack. The plan will be that I'll find a nice sunny spot to permanently mount the charger and I can go plug in the battery bank each day to keep my phone topped off. That way I have a radio for news and I can load a lot of music/audiobooks/ebooks/games to help keep me sane. I'm also going to buy an extra pair of earbuds from DollarTree as well as a few bars of Ivory soap a $9 Solar Shower from Amazon. Gotta stay clean and having a shower is a huge morale boost.

Speaking of books, I'm probably going to hit the library on my way out of town and check out a few survival/homesteading books. I'll have plenty of money to pay the late fines after I win the boatload of money from my uncle.

At this point, I've spent:

$350 on Tools/Food Procurement
$250 for boring basic calories food supply
$100 on coffee (important)
$50 in tobacco (likewise important)
$50 for electronics

So $700 total. Do the rules state I have stay in the woods, or can I walk into town from time to time? If so, I'll keep the rest of the money for a weekly walk into town to spend my $3.85 allowance and visit the library. If I can't, I'm going to probably spend the rest on a cheap used rifle and as many rounds as I can buy. I'll have my 9mm Glock and a few clips of ammo from my BOB, but that's no fun to hunt with. I'd also try to figure out a way to get a cheap guitar from somewhere if possible - I could probably figure out a song or two in a year.

Let's say the above plan is approved, and I'm going to the woods for a year. Hoo-rah! That's a lot of sacks of beans and rice - I'm glad I bought a used wheelbarrow! Once I get to a campsite I like, I'll start divying out enough rice/beans/salt into empty 5-gallon bucks and dig a pit to bury them in--probably two or three to make sure it's not all in one place if I didn't bury it deep enough and a bear smells it. The next order of business would be setting up a semi-permanent lean-to glamping shelter, cooking pit, latrine, a sand filter for pre-filtering water before adding into my Sawyer and storing it away in the Arizona tea containers.

I'd spend my days playing around with the hunting/trapping/fishing gear, reading, playing guitar badly, and writing in my journal. Once a week or so, I'd shower, put on my best shirt, and hike to town for a visit to the library and to buy a beer or some other treat. If could access Wi-Fi it'd be great to set up a blog--I could take pictures and write on my phone and upload to a free WordPress site whenever I'm in town. I'm pretty sure I could get a book deal out of this as well.

I've only been fishing for a little over a month. My young kids wanted to so finally bought some rods, hit the internet to learn, and we're obsessed. OK, rather I'm obsessed lol, but my kids love it nearly as much. It's great to spend time with them and a blast when they catch one. So what I've learned in this short time...

Step one is to get a license for where you fish! Buy online and you can fish your whole state. Next equipment.

Most of the cheap rods I bought for the kids broke already :(. So I've resorted to buying gear that I'd personally find useful and will hold up. I replaced one with an ugly stick dock runner. Only $15, dinky but it's super strong so my 5 year old won't break it. I use it for bluegill (small fish) but it also held up great when I unwittingly hooked a decent bass! It's a spinning reel which is more prone to tangles. Unfortunately I also spend a lot of time untangling my 5 year old's reel. Alternatively you can get the dock demon spincast which is less prone to tangles.

I'm mentioning these rods because I'm kinda guessing your daughter is young if you want her to fish too but it's still appropriate for an adult to use. Full size ugly stick combos (rod & reel) are around $50 if you're will to spend that much for something super durable. Otherwise you can spend $25 for any combo at a sporting goods store and be able to catch fish no prob. Most popular is medium-fast action 6ft-7ft probably.

Easiest way to start catching fish is exactly what' you'd think, hook and a worm. I'm a fan of jig heads so you don't have to deal with a weight (weight is attached to hook). The improved clinch knot is seems to be the most popular way to tie the hook (but there are other knots). Grab some night crawlers - gas stations, convenient stores, grocery stores will have them by you (I'm in Chicago area so assuming it's the same). Just look for a live bait sign. Cut a small piece of the worm (maybe in half or quarters), stick it on the hook, give it a few wraps then hook it again, cast it (or just drop it from where you're standing), wait for that bobber to move, lift up to set the hook and reel it in. Take care unhooking it and go for that next one! It should be easy to find bluegill in shallow areas or right off of docks next to pillings (he uses slim jims in that video). You don't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn either for these small fish and can basically go whenever. They'll magically steal bait of the hook but be persistent and you'll hook one. Oh you might want to bring small scissors and needle nose pliers as well. Not necessary but sure makes things easier when you have to retie a hook or unhook a fish.

This is how we got into fishing because it's just a thrill to catch a fish no matter how small. If you enjoy it you'll probably want to catch bigger or different fish. Each fish has different behaviors so generally you'd target one species, learn what it eats and lives, then fish for it. Largemouth bass is the most popular but of course there's tons of fish out there all with different challenges.

As for places obviously you have Lake Michigan. I've personally never fished it and to be clear my suggestion comes from small lake or pond experience so might be more applicable there. They are everywhere around here though! I literally load up google maps, look for bodies of water, and bam, never realized there are dozens of places to fish within 10min or less. I'm sure it's the same for you.

Youtubers I've been enjoying so far Catfish and Carp, Hey Skipper, KickinTheirBassTV, Flukemaster, TacticalBassin, & just today discovered 1Rod1Reelfishing (probably one of the biggest ?).

Good luck. Even if it doesn't turn into a new hobby, you can spend $30 and have the thrill of catching a fish. Totally worth it.

The most basic all around set up I would recommend for fishing in a lake would be to go buy some crankbaits, jerkbaits, a couple topwater lures (I recommend jitterbugs, and poppers), and some softplastic worms and worm hooks (they have the little angled shaft by the eye of the hook). Get some 12lb monofilament fishing line (it's good for mostly everything you'll catch in a lake).
Also, get some hooks and splitshot sinkers.

In terms of color for the baits, try to mimic the types of baitfish that are in the lake you're fishing at. Shad are pretty common in lakes near me, so 2/3 of my tackle box are filled with shad colored crankbaits and jerkbaits. Bluegill colored bait is always good because most lakes are full of bluegill.

That should help you target almost anything you could want to catch in a lake until you start getting more experience. Once you get more experience you can start tweaking things and buying more specialized stuff. But with the stuff I told you to buy, you really just have to locate the fish and you should be able to catch them.

EDIT:

Here's a pretty good assortment of hardbait to get you started. I'm not sure how wonderful the quality is, but they should catch fish for you and give you a foundation to build on until you get some more experience.

these and these are pretty decent rubber lures that will work for a wide variety of fish. Buy these hooks for them and these weights to help get your rubber lures to the bottom of the lake.

A package of bait hooks like these will help you catch stuff like catfish and bluegill using live bait. [Bobbers] (http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Claw-Floats-Assortment-1-Inch/dp/B0009V5QEA/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1462166419&sr=1-1&keywords=Bobber) are pretty good for catching bluegill as well. Catfish suck food off of the bottom of the lake at night, so skip on the bobber if you're fishing for those and I wouldn't waste time fishing for them in the day time.

And some basic 12 pound fishing line. Stick to the clear stuff.

All that gear should help you get started. There shouldn't be a fish in a lake that you can't catch using that stuff.

I would go for a 2 piece or 4 piece light or ultralight action spinning rod. Amazon is full of suggestions with lots of reviews but for a low cost, relatively lightweight and tough rod an ugly stick is hard to beat. Here is a 6' light action rod which would be a great choice imo. https://www.amazon.com/Ugly-Stik-GX2-Spinning-Rod/dp/B00F0KM43G/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?keywords=shimano%2Bpack%2Brod&qid=1565000672&s=gateway&sr=8-19-spons&th=1 It is a bit more to pack than a 4 piece rod but strapped to the side of your pack should not be too obtrusive. As far as a reel again staying with the bang for the buck for the price I have had great luck with Pflueger President reels like this one. https://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-PRESSP30X-President-Spinning-Fishing/dp/B074WHM4PV/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2PMKS1QL76NWO&keywords=pflueger%2Bpresident%2Bspinning%2Breel&qid=1565001151&s=gateway&sprefix=pflueder%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1-spons&th=1 I would spool it up with 4lb test.

Be sure to check the regs of where you are going bait may not be allowed but even if it is I would stick with lures. I would not want to fool with backpacking live bait, nothing stinks as bad as dead worms. LOL

Panther Martin, Roostertail and Joe's flies spinners are my go-to baits for trout. Small minnow baits like rapalas can be super effective as well. I am not going to list links for all but these but panther martin spinners are pretty deadly lures in my experience. https://www.amazon.com/Panther-Martin-UV6-Violet-Assortment/dp/B00AU5WNQO/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3A07BIDNZTDYW&keywords=panther+martin+trout+spinners&qid=1565001635&s=gateway&sprefix=panther+%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-4

Last but not least. Someone else suggested a Tenkara outfit and I have to agree with him. It is a very simple and lightweight system that lends itself well to backpacking. The learning curve is not as steep as you may think and really the only downside is casting range but on remote streams and lakes a lot of the time you don't need to cast as far. Here are a couple of blog posts I wrote about what I use backpacking. I am a fly fisherman but maybe it will give you some ideas.

Backpack fly fishing gear

Tenkara

Brother, you are going to need to be a bit more specific on what you want to do. Do you know the species of fish you want to target? Will you be fishing in lakes and ponds or streams and rivers? Generally the summer is better for all fishing though, when it gets more cold the fish tend to slow down and not feed as much. There are exceptions to this though. I eat what I catch if I can do it legally. If are going to keep the fish make sure you aren't wasting it and if you are going to release the fish, make sure you take the proper steps to reduce the mortality rate as much as you can. Let me help you the best I can with the info you have given us though. If you are in the Quebec region I think trout fishing is going to be pretty popular. Steelhead fishing to but that is more advanced and for another day my friend. If you are trout fishing I would recommend a simple set up like this https://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-USSP602M-Spinning-Fishing-Medium/dp/B00FH3WNY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500424170&sr=8-1&keywords=ugly%2Bstick&th=1&psc=1 For the size of hooks for trout fishing you want to get anywhere from a size 8 to size 14 and maybe even smaller. If you were steelhead fishing then hook sizes 2-6 would be pretty good. Feel free to ask more questions or message me

If your main requirement is lightweight, Tenkara is indeed your best option. However, it may not be the best option for the water and fish you might encounter. For instance if you think you'll be hitting lakes and ponds for bass, a collapsible/telescoping spinning rod and reel might be the better choice. Though if you expect to be fishing rivers and streams for smaller species in close quarters, well you've come to the right place.

Rod length is also a choice based on the type of water you'll be fishing. If you've got wide open spaces or expect to be some distance away from a fish holding feature (maybe you intend to fish from shore), then longer is generally better and 12 foot might be your minimum. And if you intend to be in a tight stream with a lot of overhanging branches, you should be looking at shorter options. 2 additional things to consider - a long rod can be difficult to handle for a shorter person, and for backpacking the collapsed length of your setup is an important consideration.

The shortest tenkara rod I have (and maybe the shortest available, not sure) is an 8' Wetfly Kodomo Creek (excellent deal right now @ $70 with a hard case, line, tippet and flies). This is probably the rod I use most because the river I'm on is essentially a tunnel of branches. There are also "zoom" Tenkara rods which typically have 2 usable lengths for different fishing situations. I have a Badger Bad Axe which might be right up your alley - it fishes at 9'10" or 11'6" and is my choice on new water.

Goture isn't the worst you could do, but personally I would consider it to be at the bottom end of an entry level rod. It'll be heavier and less sensitive then most other options. Still, for a new fisherman who might be worried about damaging an expensive set-up on a hiking trip it's not a bad choice.

You're pretty close on what a full setup consists of. The line is usually 2 lines - a "leader" which is a heavier section attached directly to the rod/lillian roughly the length of the rod or slightly longer, and a shorter section (2' is probably average) of lighter weight material called "tippet" that is attached to the leader and then your fly. People generally use fluorocarbon for tippet because it's nearly invisible underwater and it sinks. There are many different options for leader material, but to keep things as simple as possible I would be looking at a level line leader which is usually a colored piece of fluorocarbon making it easy to see your fly drift. Both the leader and tippet have unique sizing designations that I won't get into right now, but if you make a rod choice I'd be happy to help.

2 other things you will probably want is a spool or 2 of some sort to store your leader/tippet set-up(s), and a protective tube for your rod while backpacking. The spools can be very simple and are designed with a hole in the middle to fit over the collapsed rod. This one is a bit more expensive but is a really nice bit of kit to easily keep lines from unraveling and storing a small amount of flies. Trouble with a spool and backpacking is that you will probably want a protective tube for your rod and the spool won't fit in the tube. If that's the case, you might want to look at a line keeper like this or this. The second option is better for smaller rods because you can use different sized o-rings to keep it snug.

So that was a lot more words then I was expecting to type out, especially since Tenkara is all about simplicity, but I hope it helps. Really jealous of a month long backpacking/fishing trip. Enjoy!

I agree with those who have said Tenkara is great for ultralight backpacking but not for fishing from the shore. A nice spinning set-up is great from the shore. I've given up on poles that breakdown and just buy telescoping rods now. They are not as great of rods, but they are so much easier to break down and carry. It is a PIA trying to keep track of and protecting all of the pieces for a rod that comes apart.

I would look for a telescoping rod 5 1/2 - 6 1/2 feet with as light of action as possible. The tiny little lures don't cast well with a stiff rod. For a spin set-up, the standard recommendation is to spend your money on the reel, not the rod (vs. fly fishing where you want a solid rod and don't care too much about the reel).

A cheap decent telescoping rod is South Bend:

https://www.amazon.com/South-Bend-Neutron-Spinning-Telescopic/dp/B00GIA9IF4/ref=pd_day0_hl_200_3/145-5623006-2978351?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00GIA9IF4&pd_rd_r=b06a9bb2-6b90-11e9-81c3-e19ee3aed6a0&pd_rd_w=HUvrt&pd_rd_wg=Vd2x6&pf_rd_p=ad07871c-e646-4161-82c7-5ed0d4c85b07&pf_rd_r=FHH3TMQ49E06Y74B4CM9&psc=1&refRID=FHH3TMQ49E06Y74B4CM9

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I have one and its a great deal for the money. If you want a real nice one I bought a Balzer rod. Definitely nicer than my South Bend rod but a heck of a lot more expensive. If you want as cheap and light as possible check out Pen Rods: http://penfishingrods.com

I ended up not getting a Pen Rod because they only work with their reels and those reels look pretty cheap and crappy to me.

For a reel I like the smallest Pflueger President PressP20 Spin reel: https://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-President-Spinning-Reel/dp/B074WHM4PV/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?keywords=pflueger%2Bpresident%2Bspinning%2Breel%2B20%2Bx&qid=1556661646&s=gateway&sr=8-3-fkmrnull&th=1

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It is a heck of a deal for the quality of the reel.

My solution is the Plano angled tackle box: http://amzn.to/2iGo49J that holds 72 small-base ships. It is out of stock online, but nearly every Walmart carries it for 59.99. Additionally, it has two smaller containers that are perfect for tokens and additional storage.

This is my set-up, and the Plano kit is essential for my concise storage and lack of jostling during transport: http://imgur.com/gallery/Syn5K

For the Epic ships, I bought Stanley toolboxes because they are cheap lock well and could be used for tools in the future if I discover alternative storage.

I do not display anything, as I do not feel possessing these toys is something that merits commemoration or observation. I don't place the cars and family pegs from LIFE on a shelf, so it seems silly to me to exalt pieces from a board game regardless of how intricate the pieces or rules are. I enjoy it, but my shelves are filled with personal items and commemorations of lost family members. An A-wing would feel disrespectful.

Anyway, I now have to make a purchase of more storage, and while I think the Plano cases are brilliant, I am now looking at Feldherr foam kits on Amazon for basic storage. They have several generic kits that hold a large number of small-base ships while still affording specialized storage (through pick'n'pluck foam) for large-based ships.

In the end, it will come down to bang-for-buck, and the WalMart plano cases look to be able to hold their own very easily.

Happy Hunting!

As mentioned by another user multiple rods would be ideal for what you want, but I understand wanting a universal kit.

https://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Medium-Action-Bigwater-8-Feet/dp/B000LG0G3E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1473786425&sr=8-3&keywords=ugly+stick+combo Rod and Reel Combo: Shakespere is a reputable company, they aren’t the bottom or the top but they work really well. Ugly Sticks are super popular and can be found anywhere. This specific rig is a little large for freshwater IMO but there are many more options available.

Line: Anywhere from 10lb to 20lb mono will work depending on what species you are targeting but a 12lb would be able to land much heavier fish, just not from a pier.

bait holder hooks https://www.amazon.com/Baitholder-500pcs-Freshwater-Fishhook-Fishing/dp/B00CK5RIN0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1473787160&sr=8-3&keywords=bait+holder+hook this will get you most species with this style of hook but you don’t need as many as that kit offers. Having a variety of hooks is useful for species with weird mouths or for certain methods of fishing.

Lures: Spinners, and spoons are amazing for almost anything that swims, but jigs like mister twisters and beetle spins can be good too. I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on crank baits and stick baits, personally I have never caught much on them. I also like soft baits, but those often need special jigs and hooks for them.

I am not super familiar with fishing saltwater but, I know the water itself can be bad for the gear so you have to spend time cleaning afterwards. A lot of fishing is experimentation with what works for you.

A large tackle box works very well, along with baggies for the different pieces/markers of course. I don't remember what model, but this looks right: http://www.amazon.com/Plano-758-005-4-Drawer-Tackle-Box/dp/B000E39T28

Tiles go in the top right, borders (we also have long plastic borders) go in the flat space on top. Cards (separated into appropriate categories) go in the top drawer, pieces in the next two.

If you want to be sure, find your nearest outdoor store (we went to bass pro shops), take all your catan boxes in and sit on the floor putting stuff into different tackle boxes until you find the solution that fits you best.

While the really useful boxes are nice (since someone else mentioned them), I wouldn't recommend them for catan. I do use them for Mage Knight though, but that's a very different set of pieces.

thanks for your input. i've added the line you recommended and removed the sebile swimbait as well as the truscend.

one setup will be for bass and one for pike. i've upgraded the pike setup to support up to 1oz lures as it's getting too pricey with everything adding up to go any bigger. does this look ok for that?

Abu Garcia 1430485 Veritas Casting 1Piece Rod, 6'10" Length, 12-20 lb Line Rate 1/4-1 oz Lure Rate, Medium/Heavy Power

Abu Garcia Pmax3-c

Also I was looking at the swimbait you recommended and I see they're going to be heavier than what I'll be able to handle. Any other recommendations 1oz or under? Are these good?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CTU2Y0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CTO2L4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_27?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

These are what I have for lures picked out so far. Any input greatly appreciated

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001445MZE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_10?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J9SU30/ref=ox_sc_act_title_11?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FKJTP4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_15?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CURA7Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_21?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GU6MRF8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HJ4DN4O/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1


This would be for bass I guess? Would like to get some smaller swimbait for bass as well, something that would work for pike and bass could be nice I suppose.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OSZ0TY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_12?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1


Here is a compiled picture if it helps. https://i.imgur.com/a6PEjID.jpg

Friends, allow me to take a moment away from our shared love of bone-shattering meme content to address an important subject. As an air engineer with the government air board, I see first-hand the daily toll that smoking takes on our air, and in our communities. This includes not only smoke from traditional tobacco cigarettes but also other recreational inhalants such as marijuana, hookah tobacco, the so-called "vapor" from electronic smoking devices, and certain images of a Larus gull.

You may be surprised to learn that, according to the World Health Organization, inhalation of these various forms of "Smoke Juice" is the number one cause of juice-related cancers throughout the United States and Europe, ahead of both free base cocaine (colloquially known as "powder that makes you smoke it") and second-hand exposures to the hundreds of thousands of smoldering cigarettes dropped to the sidewalk by accompanied men while turning their heads to observe the passage of other women. In fact, of all known carcinogens, only superficially ironic hints at asking for votes are considered more toxic under new community-level risk assessment guidelines.

Most of us have been affected by smoking, or know someone who has. Just remember the old saying: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That's why I suggest each of us take action today by purchasing Dr. Slick Hat Keeper, the quality accessory with powerful alligator clips to keep your hat from blowing away in windy conditions. In fact, Dr. Slick Hat Keeper makes a great gift for a parent, a girlfriend, or the entire population of the Gulf Coast of United States and Mexico. As an air engineer with the government air board, I can't think of a better way to kill smoking—before it kills you.

>Is the positive benefit of tracked vehicles used off road worth it?

In the right places, sure. Remember, the 113 isn't just tracked, it's an amphib. So it's useful in places that flood all the time. Or have to deal with floods and evacuating people.

>And I'm going to stand my ground on the bayonet thing. I can't see how a bayonet will be useful.

It's just a knife. It has a nice thick blade and tang so you can pry with it. But seriously, it's just a knife.

But whining about it sounds good on TV.

>Bearcats do the lions share of what a tracked vehicle can do

Except for the fact that they're shit in water, on snow, and in flooded areas, which are all places that M113 excels.

I don't see the President making the Washington Department of Transportation give their M60 Patton Tanks or M102 howitzer.

I'm like you and have a couple clear parts organizers full of random parts. I like the ones that /u/louky posted for larger items like power supplies. I've been looking at this one on amazon for a little bit and like the idea of having an organizer for my organizers and a place to put tools in the top.

I use the Milwaukee Stackable organizers for work. They have removable bins in the main unit. But I think that they may be too big and bulky for this application and they aren't able to make anything inside easily seen like a clear one.

Depending on how handy you are, you could always buy a bulk amount of those parts organizers and build a bookshelf style unit where you can slide in an individual organizer in to each shelf.

Edit: Formatting

Are you going to be fishing primarily from shore, or going out on a boat? If you're going to be on shore, a recurve will work great! But in my experience it can be a little tricky to maneuver a longer bow like that when you're on a boat, so a compound might be a better choice there. You can check craigslist or yard sales for an older compound bow, and then get a reel for like $80 online or in-store. Also, this might just be my opinion here but I would stay away from the spool-style reels and just get a bottle or spinner. The spools can be frustrating, IMO. You almost have to set the bow down and pull the fish in by hand, and then you have to wind the line back up by hand. And often it gets mildly tangled when you're pulling it in, so you have to spend more time untangling and re-winding. Well worth the initial expense to get a reel right away, but again - JMO.

Thanks for the reply!

I currently live in a major city so I have few opportunities to practice with game that could be considered safe. I am however skilled in skinning and processing birds, fish, and things with 4 legs.

What is your opinion about speed hooks? Based upon what I've read they seem like a great survival tool. How do they compare to the yoyo?

You can get better reels for cheaper, IMO. The AMS reel is ~$80, as is the Muzzy spincast style reel. Even cheaper if you get the older Muzzy reel, but then you'll need a reel seat too which is another $10-$15 anyway.

Arrows usually run about $12-$15 if you're not looking for anything too fancy, so you should be able to get a very nice reel and an arrow for ~$100. Could also check on Craigslist if there's one near you, I've had good luck there.

Do you already have a bow, or is this a brand-new venture you're getting yourself into?

Personally, as a nurse myself, I don't carry a knife while at the hospital, but instead trauma shears and maybe a pry bar like a Gerber Shard. I haven't run into a situation yet that the shears or the pry bar haven't able to do and it isn't as intimidating to patients or visitors.



However if you do need a small knife, just like everyone else suggests, the Dragonfly 2 is exceptional.

I have the ZDP-189 version of the Dragonfly and it is perfect for EDC.

If you looking for an even smaller folder check out the Manbug which also does come in a [ZDP-189 variant]
(http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-British-Racing-ZDP-189-Plain/dp/B0089DFLSQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1420580166&sr=8-5&keywords=spyderco+zdp-189). Just be aware that these do not come with pocket clip (I think).

I used Rubbermaid totes for the longest time, but eventually found Plano totes. They have a positive latch, and the seal groove is a bit better. The 68 quart tote is a good size.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TOHI7I

$50-$100 for the rod and reel or including tackle?

In that price range I would look closely at the 7’ medium Daiwa Aird-X paired with either the Shimano Sahara or Pflueger President. The Pflueger Trion is another great budget option but would be about as cheap as I would personally go on any reel.

But if you are needing to account for line and tackle in that budget as well your best bet would probably be to look at the Ugly Stik GX2 combo

I am not normally a big spyderco person but my everday carry for my business casual job is the Manbug in ZDP-189. It is an evolution of their ladybug line. I really like that it disappears in my pocket. Most days it spends the whole day in the pocket but it's great having it there when I do need it. It does not have a clip and weighs under 1oz. It also cuts like a beast. The VG-10 version is a little cheaper but the extra 10-15$ for ZDP-189 is totally worth it.
https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Manbug-British-Zdp-189-PlainEdge/dp/B0089DFLSQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1504899833&sr=1-1&keywords=spyderco+manbug+189

Walmart has a $10 ugly stick combo with a Shakespeare reel

Rod: main reason I bought the combo, it's great

Reel : cheap Chinese reel, but works

Line : supppper cheap. I replaced it the next day with triline xt 4lb line

Here it is on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076PNZSY7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_o0yjDbWZ986AC

I have 10 other fishing rod and reel combos, where the cheapest setup was $150. So, buying a $10 combo was weird, but I'll be dammed if I'm happy with it.

I'll eventually replace the reel with a Pflueger 20x reel, but not until this one gives me issues

As for lures, my suggestion is to not use anything with a tail. I realized the micro fish were biting the end of the tail on my jig heads. So, make sure your lure has the hook at the end

Best suggestion I can give you is to buy a pair of waders. I find creeks and wade through it.

If you wade, try and start at the bottom of the creek and walk up stream. If you walk down steam, the mud you disturb will make the water hard to see through

https://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-PRESSP30X-President-Spinning-Fishing/dp/B074WJS5FF

My brother bought me one a few years ago for christmas, it's been the best spinning reel i've ever owned by far. Admittedly, I've never owned any high dollar rod/reel combos, but I have used a few. If you like spinning reels and are in the market for one, I highly recommend them.

can't go wrong with $5 fishing gear though especially when you get decent brands from people that just don't know what to sell it for.

Yea ice should be out by that time but im still going to be expecting a chillyer trip then past years. Ice was out this time last year and there is still 2+ft of ice near me(northern Wisconsin) if you don't mind sharing abouts you guys heading? One of my personal favorite is the mepps dressed Aglia line up (size 3 or 5) if you dont have any i suggest the basser kit for the size 3 or the piker kit for the size 5. It has a nice variety of colors and the purple tail has works wonders for me ! I've picked off plenty of bass, pike and a fair amount of walleyes with these.

I've got a telescoping pole for some basic freshwater stuff and it actually works really well for me. I can see the drawbacks but I'm such a casual fisher that the benefits and storage space of the rod outweigh any issues.

I've been using it pretty often, 1-2x a week for a few hours to an entire day at a time, switching out setups/hooks, and catching fish (or trees....). I've had one serious line issue and it happened earlier today. Other than that it's behaved perfectly, and I have absolutely no complaints.

Rod I have; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OWNPA6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hey there! Only one crappy cell phone pic of the cooking after dark. :(

In Yosemite you can only fish with barb-less lures. No powerbait, no live bait. I find that silver kastmasters perform the best. You have to use pliers or some tool to bend off the barbs of the hooks. Makes fishing a challenge, but I like to follow the rules. We were able to catch 4 fish in a day and two of them were pretty decent size!

Edit: Also, we use these Eagle Claw poles. They pack down small and are relatively light.

http://www.amazon.com/Ontario-490-Bayonet-System-Green/dp/B000Q9F7LM/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1452024385&sr=1-2&keywords=bayonet&refinements=p_36%3A1253558011

This beyonet is fantastic, looks great.

Your new best friend, cheaper versions available: https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Slick-HK-Hat-Keeper/dp/B00CXFU86Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486605820&sr=8-1&keywords=dr+slick+hat+keeper

I use a different Plano box to carry around my stuff, a shallower version of this -- https://www.amazon.com/Frabill-Plano-Waterproof-Stowaway-Utility/dp/B00FPQRHV4/ref=pd_sim_200_24?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=8KRHEGYJ4GPF3AN6PGPA

Obviously that doesn't allow for Epic ships, but I have 10 fighters from two factions, all the accouterments, and a couple slots to spare. It's secure, fits nicely in the bag I carry around, and in the size that I have gives a snug fit to the ships so they don't bounce around too much, without being tight so as it puts pressure on them.

I ended up getting:

• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030FXDSS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ZKNFW0/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EYW8MK/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NXC8S0/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i04?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
  I'm heading to the bait shop tomorrow to pickup nightcrawlers, bobbers, and anything else the guy there suggests.
  
  Thanks for all the help!

I own a tackle box like this (I got got mine ~16 years ago):


https://www.amazon.com/Plano-758-4-Drawer-Tackle-Box/dp/B000E39T28?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_6


Perhaps that would fill your needs? I remove the bottom 2 drawers to allow room for books/papers and one of the fliers I own (Valkyrie) The top stores 4 LR, Basilisk and Ogryn. The top (lid compartment) has all my dice, tokens, and glass beads. But I suppose you could also remove all 4 trays and use the bottom for transporting the really big stuff and store the smaller models in the upper compartment.

I'm using a tackle box like this one It has four drawers for boards and a large space at the top for larger items like LCD screens, Pis and power supply bricks.

I keep the items in either anti-static bags or on anti-static foam.

This is the best idea I've seen so far! I just picked up this item, I think it should do the trick:

Frabill Plano Deep Waterproof Stowaway Utility Box

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FPQRHV4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Thanks, stopped at the store and picked up the gas can. I was looking at the Plano boxes, how do you like it?

Crab snare is a must have for nor cal. Great activity when you're soaking some bait. http://www.amazon.com/Danielson-CSNR-Crab-Snare-Small/dp/B002QFY3IM

Can never have to many leaders http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003D912MA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1415251396&sr=8-1

My favorite storage solution http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FPQRHV4/

Personally, I use this monster that I got from Amazon. I race almost every week so I needed something that could hold all my tools, parts, fasteners, tires and all that stuff and be easily portable to and from the track. It has tons of space and lots of little organizers and drawers to keep things separated. They make smaller versions of the same thing and ones with fewer drawers. I actually am only using 3 of the 4 pull-out drawers right now anyway.

Honestly I'm still using the intro kit I bought when I decided to try a Tenkara rod set up, its stupid simple and just down right fun.

DRAGONtail Shadowfire 365 12' Tenkara Fly Fishing Rod https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NFX7E4Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qbsXCbW9PEQ1D

I added this also Clip-On Line Tenkara Winder/Line Keeper (2 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3PY0H8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ScsXCbPV33VZ4

It's a nearly self contained package.

Same idea. using 3 of these Plano 68 quart boxes in the back of a 4Runner.
https://www.amazon.com/Plano-1719-00-Quart-Tote-Black/dp/B007TOHI7I/

They are somewhat stackable too and made a good platform for a camping stove last time I was out.

Sorry, I was thinking of a different box. I was thinking of this.

This is what I use, and I love it. You can get it for $40 at Wal-Mart. I'm actually going to be posting my storage setup tonight. I don't know if it actually gets you too much more space than what you have though. The one other piece of advice I do have is to not be afraid to cut some plastic.

https://www.amazon.com/Plano-758-4-Drawer-Tackle-Box/dp/B000E39T28?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_8

​

This is what I use. I put my spools of wire and my pliers and such in the top section of the box. The bottom drawers I use to store my stones and finished pieces.

Gear box. Holds about 50ish vials and maybe 50 syringes on top. Or all your orals.

I know nothing of the quality of Eagle Claw's rods or this specific fishing rod, but here is an example of the type of rod you probably want.

I would not get the Ka-bar if I were you. I would go for a M-9 bayonet. It's much more of a survival knife. It even as a wire cutter on it.

http://www.amazon.com/Ontario-490-Bayonet-System-Green/dp/B000Q9F7LM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1425736591&sr=8-3&keywords=m9+bayonet

Yep.

This one's got my vote , the 6'6 medium

I got a 4-By Rack System for Christmas, I use it for this exact purpose.

the box

This, along with a label gun if you're really looking to organize. I have a big tacklebox, with a fliptop lid for the big minis (Hee hee, oxymoron!) and then it has 4 trays with individual lines

Kinda like this