Conference wahoo::fishing

    Pete - I like the choice of a Lightnin' Rod ... mine has satisfied
    me for 3 years now.  I do feel that the med/light tends toward the
    medium end ...have you considered the 5' or 5'6" ultralight model?
    
    8# sounds a little heavy for trout.  Your setup is a lot like what
    I use for river smallmouth - medium/light rod, 6# line.  I'd drop
    down to 4# and 6# for trout and look for an ultralight reel.  I
    don't have any experience with Abu-Garcia spinning reels so I can't
    tell you the difference between C4 and C4X (I think you figured
    it out yourself).  I would imagine there's a Cardinal reel that
    will handle 4# and 6# - the extra spool makes changing from one
    to the other pretty easy.
                                                              
    Good luck,
    Steve

         Steve,

         Thanks for the quick reply.  I have just started looking
         around and did suspect that maybe I should be looking at the
         lighter stuff that I have seen.  Plus, it seemed to me that I
         should be able to get something for less than the $85 that
         things were pricing out at ($45 for the C4, $40 for the LR).

         Today in Forest Orchard Sports (Northboro, MA) I looked at a
         Kunan Ultralight rod and a Shimano Ultralight reel for about
         $60.  The only problem I had was that it's a 2-piece rod and
         I assume there's a sacrifice there.  Having a Suburban with
         plenty of room, I was looking at one-piece only.

         I'd like to find those Plano Magnum Over 'n Under boxes, too,
         but nobody seems to have 'em.

         Hope to try everything out this Sunday, 5AM.

         Pete

         P.S.  In my looking around, I haven;t found ANYONE with lower
         prices for tackle than Spag's (example, Berkley Trilene XL 6#
         $5.29 at Spag's, $5.99 at the Fair, around $7 at Forest
         Orchard.  Similar and better savings on hooks, lures, etc.)

    A one-piece might be convenient for storage, but two-pieces are
    really convenient when walking through the woods to your favorite
    spot.
    
    Mark.

    Pete,
    
    To add to Mark's support for 2 piece - I have a 5 piece Daiwa -
    breaks down to 1' pieces - that is remarkably sensitive.  I think
    the ultralights are so thin that they are naturally sensitive. 
    On top of that, it fits in my briefcase ;-). 
    
    Of course, it's not exactly an all-purpose rod.  I wouldn't try
    horsing a 5# bass out of the weeds but it has stood up to a 3# shad
    without snapping - ever hear of backreeling ;-) ?
    
    -SSS-
    
    BTW, I was going to congratulate you on not being a cheapskate with
    your first (?) purchase.  So many of us buy junk to start out and
    if it doesn't break the first year, it sits in the garage or finds
    its way to the next tag sale or we burden our poor kids with it.
    
    Buy quality and get a good price.  You don't have to have an all-star
    but I think you know what to stay away from. 

    re: C4 vs C4X....
    
      Assuming that the C4 stands for the Abu Garcia Cardinal 4 (there is
    a Cardinal 3, 4, 4X, and 5):
    
      The difference is in the retrieve ratio. The C4 has a retrieve ratio
    of 5.4:1 and the C4X is 6.2:1. This info is from the Bass Pro catalog
    that I keep neatly tucked away at my desk. You never know when you
    might get the spendin' urge.
    
    -Ron-

      Oh yeah, I forgot to mention:
    
      In Bass Pro, the C4 and the C4X both sell for $32.99. The extra
    spool cost $8.99 for each one (same spool). So the $40 you saw it 
    for at the show was about the best you will find (IMO).
    
    -Ron-

    Have you looked at the new Sage RP rods.  A 9 foot for 5 weight would
    be................OOOOPPPPS!!!
    
    Wrong notesfile.  How the hell did I get in here???!!!
    
    
    
    (-:
    
    
    

         I found myself at Spag's with money in my pocket and spent
         about an hour looking at rods and reels.  Being at Spag's
         with money in pocket ... the outcome should be obvious.

         I settled on a Shimano MK-2551 Light 5'6" 2-piece (graphite
         Bullwhip) and a Shimano TX110Q ultralight with "Fightin' Drag
         II" (I hope I need it!) that came with an extra graphite
         spool.

         Last night I loaded it up with 6# off an old spool and spent
         a couple hours casting from the deck into a sandbox until I
         could hit the box consistently.  It was surprisingly easy to
         get the hang of the "Quickfire II" bail trigger - I had been
         concerned about that while in Spag's.  I'll do this each
         night and then strip the old line off and load new 6# Trilene
         XL for Sunday's maiden voyage!

         Thanks for your feedback.  I'm sure it would have been a
         mistake to go with the heavier setup, plus now if I don't
         come out of the woods Sunday with a full load of brookies 'n
         browns, I'll know who to blame!

         Pete

    I used to do a lot of trout fishing , not so much any more as I went
    into the heavy Salt stuff. But I still enjoy hitting a stream when I
    get the chance. I've had my best luck using #2 lb mono. Its strong
    enough for any fish you'll find in brooks or streams around here and
    has the advantage of not being overly visable to the fish.
    
    My favorite Rod an Reel is a Diawa 5 ft 1 piece grafite with a mitchell
    300 reel. Unfortunately I broke the reel and have yet to get a new one
    so I'm using a Dawia millionare baitcast on it for the time being. Just
    not the same.
    For hooks I like to use #16 or #14 salmon egg gold Eagle claw for eggs
    or worms. For lures nothing beats a gold #1 Mepps Agila with hackle,
    second choice is a Rappala 5cm silver floater.
    
    Point- Carry a landing net! I've lost more fish than I've caught for
    lack of a net! I allways have one with me now , when trout fishing.
    
                                          Walt
    

    
    Pete.....
     Not to be a stuffy purist or anything...but...try adding fly
    fishing.........a lot of ponds (especially in northern Maine) that
    are Full of brooktrout are flyfishing ONLY..and many fertile streams
    around New England that aren't too deep can be more enjoyably fished
    by wading w/fly rod & waders...and when fly hatches come off...fly
    imitations will outfish lures.  Both fly and spin fishing each have
    their places........just my 2 cents worth.
    
                                                  Tight_$_Lines_In_89'
                                                  Steve
    

         Started fishing the Shimano ultralight at about 5AM Sunday
         and came up skunked until about 5 minutes before we *had* to
         leave.  Per one of the books I read, I sent a salmon egg
         upriver, let the line belly, timed it so that the egg started
         'cross current under a leaning tree --- wham!  A 10-inch
         brown (just et 'im, too).  Cast three more times, two bumps
         and one more fish, just shy of 10".

         Needless to say, I'll be there again next Sunday!

         Pete

    Pete,
    	
    	I'm not much of a trout fisherman but it does sound like you
    got the right set-up for your needs. I have fished with a Fly rod,many
    years ago. As an earlier note implied if your serious about trout
    fishing in streams nothing beats a flyrod. It took a little time
    to master the casting but it's worth the adrenalin rush when you
    cast into that calm pool and watch the surface explode. I'll never
    forget it.
    	Anyhow the real reason I'm repling is about the Magnum over n
    under you asked about. I have one and it's real nice as far as space
    management is concerned. Almost every space and compartment is
    adjustable with dividers. So you can set it up for varying needs.
    I had a bigger box that I didn't think all my tackle would fit into
    the Magnum. But it all did and I still have space left over. It's
    no 797 but it will pack alot away for it's size.
    	The best price right now for one would be Bass Pro Shops for
    a little under $20. I got mine at Service Mechandise for around
    $23. Now two weeks after I bought it it was on sale at Service
    Mechandise for around $19. Again Pro Bass usally has the best prices.
    But if Service Merchandise has a sale on the same item,a lot of
    time there as low if not lower than Bass Pro. Me,it doesn't
    matter,usally if I see something and I'm not going to save more
    than $5-$10,I'll buy it right then and there. Bottom line is at
    least you can go to a Service Merchandise store and physicaly check
    it out and then buy it where you like.
    
    						Gary
                                                   

We've been skunked fishing for trout in streams/rivers for the past 5 weekends. 
Is there something I should know, such as maybe the trout have left the
streams/rivers?  Where do they go?

Pete

       Trout are tough to get in warm weather. They go DEEP!
                                           Denny

    The reason your not doing well (.13) is that you didnt buy a HAT!!!
    
    (Im sorry, Im sorry - I just couldnt help it...)
    I think the answer is that they are in the coldest water they can
    find. Denny (.14) has the best answer.
    
    I knew I should have bought one of those damn hats. 

    
     I was out last week on the Still River in Princton and caught 20
     brookies. After I kept my limit of 6, I removed the barbs from
     the hook and had a blast. Using an ultralight flyrod drifting
     worms was the technique..The brookies ranged from 6-14 inches.
     Most enjoyable..but then any day out there fishing is enjoyable..
    
     Mike Lefebvre

    I've gotten 39 trout in my last 5 outings.  Rainbows, browns &
    brookies.  The water temperature is up un the 70s.  
    
    If you are using worms, I would suggest fishing just before dark
    (after dark if you are fishing for browns).  If you get a chance,
    fish immediately after a rainstorm.
    
    'Course, if you REALLY want to catch trout, buy yourself a long
    skinny rod and throw tiny fuzzy things at them  ;-)
    
    Dave