I've Got a Tip for You...

About 3 weeks ago, I tracked down and bought a Extra Heavy spinning rod. Most large fishing gear are for the 'conventional reels' which are the ones that have the spool sideways and a big crank handle on the side of them. I have always used spinning reels which have the spool in the front, sit below the rod, and have rods with much larger guides - the little line holders that go up the rod. Anyway, its hard to find very large spinning rods and reels, even though a lot of folks use them.
To continue with the story..., so I tracked down and bought this extra heavy spinning rod and have been using it, and trying to find and catch a large Sturgeon on it every since. So, yesterday, I was fishing at the Bliss Dam and finally got hooked up with a large fish. I had been fighting it for about 15 minutes and had him back to being pretty close and the line went limp all of a sudden. I put the bottom end of the rod down, but was still hanging on to it, trying to figure out what happened and "BAM" (just like Emeril...), the rod almost got ripped out of my hand. And, in the process, the tip of my new 'extra heavy' rod snapped off like a twig and the line broke. I have no idea what happened, but can only guess that the fish must have quickly turned around toward me, or dove down going my way to slacken the line and then decided to turn back away at high speed until it ran out of line...

So, the only good news is that there are at least a few large fish out there, but they sure seem much harder to catch when its cold - for me and them.

I got this rod online and had some 'issues' with the vendor on getting it shipped correctly (they sent me the wrong one first...), but ended up getting it at about 1/2 list price in the end. So, I am assuming this is a warranty situation and know it will probably end up being BIG fun to get resolved.

If they would have had a rod here at Sportsman's Warehouse, I would have gotten it from them, and would have probably already had this whole issue resolved. Just part of the 'Joy' of online shopping...

Pam is not feeling very well today and told me to go fishing again, since she was not up to doing much, and I am just not into it. I was really having big fun catching them on a regular/daily basis. Then, it turned cold, and its been a total 'buzz-kill' ever since. Maybe I will feel better tomorrow, if its not too cold here in DaHo...