Ping RW et al

On 2010-10-27 11:39:23 -0400, " said:

I suppose Cuba might have great flats fishing, but so do the
Seychelles, Andros, los Roques, etc., so I don't feel the need to do
something illegal. I also don't like the idea of fishing off a boat
for a week, which is the way I understand it works at Jardine de la
Reina, the premier Cuban destination.

That said, the US Cuba policy is stupid and counterproductive, held
hostage to a Cuban American swing vote in a swing state (Florida).

When it's legal I'll probably go.

The place I was looking at is wading in the flats. I would like to go
to the Seychelles, but the price of getting there makes it almost cost
prohibitive. Los Rogues looks better and better, or at least until
Cuba opens to Americans.

What's your idea for a good bonefish rod/reel? I have a 7 weight which
I used in TdF for sea run browns, but I am thinking an 8, or even a 9
weight would be better, especially to cut through any wind.

Dave

On Oct 27, 10:14*am, D. LaCourse wrote:

What's your idea for a good bonefish rod/reel? *

I use a 4-piece 8wt Sage Z-Axis tip action with a 9wt sharkskin line
and an Abel Super 8 reel. Works for me.

On 2010-10-27 16:22:35 -0400, " said:

On Oct 27, 10:14*am, D. LaCourse wrote:

What's your idea for a good bonefish rod/reel? *

I use a 4-piece 8wt Sage Z-Axis tip action with a 9wt sharkskin line
and an Abel Super 8 reel. Works for me.

I was thinking about a Loomis GLX, 8wt, 9 foot. It gets pretty good
reviews and I have own/fished with a number of Loomis' rods over the
years and have always been very satisfied. Wellllll... the same could
be said about Sages and Winstons...d;o) I agree with your choice of a
reel.

All of this is still in the "dreaming" stage, but fishing bones in some
far-off tropic isle has always been on my "bucket list".

Thanks for your input.

Dave

On Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:22:45 -0400, D. LaCourse wrote:

On 2010-10-27 16:22:35 -0400, " said:

On Oct 27, 10:14*am, D. LaCourse wrote:

What's your idea for a good bonefish rod/reel? *

I use a 4-piece 8wt Sage Z-Axis tip action with a 9wt sharkskin line
and an Abel Super 8 reel. Works for me.

I was thinking about a Loomis GLX, 8wt, 9 foot. It gets pretty good
reviews and I have own/fished with a number of Loomis' rods over the
years and have always been very satisfied. Wellllll... the same could
be said about Sages and Winstons...d;o) I agree with your choice of a
reel.

Why? I've nothing particularly _against_ the reel, and certainly nothing
against the former owners, but the Tibor/Billy Pate is a better and slightly
cheaper reel, and now, it's a much more solid bet that it will enjoy support
from the manufacturer...if Abel is still around in a year or two, they may be
owned by Madoff's (father and/or son) creditors (or his ex-wife or...) and the
son doesn't have a good record with FFing-related companies and positive
outcomes...(Google "Andrew/Andy Madoff and "Urban Angler" for some of the
details, and "lock and hackle miami" for some more...)

All of this is still in the "dreaming" stage, but fishing bones in some
far-off tropic isle has always been on my "bucket list".

I take it from the above that you've not done much, if any, flats/bonefishing?
If so, why the Abel?


HTH,
R

Thanks for your input.

Dave

On 2010-10-27 18:53:02 -0400, said:



I take it from the above that you've not done much, if any, flats/bonefishing?
If so, why the Abel?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I have several Abels and they impress me in a number of ways -
workmanship, drag, ruggedness (I fall alot d;o) ), but not price.
When I buy a new outfit (steelhead, salmon, etc), I usually look at the
available Abels. Don't always buy them, but they are my usual first
look. I was unaware of the Madoff connection. I will take a look at
your suggestion. I've heard good things about the Tibor/Billy Pate.
Thanks.

Dave

On Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:53:38 -0400, D. LaCourse wrote:

On 2010-10-27 18:53:02 -0400, said:



I take it from the above that you've not done much, if any, flats/bonefishing?
If so, why the Abel?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I have several Abels and they impress me in a number of ways -
workmanship, drag, ruggedness (I fall alot d;o) ), but not price.
When I buy a new outfit (steelhead, salmon, etc), I usually look at the
available Abels. Don't always buy them, but they are my usual first
look. I was unaware of the Madoff connection. I will take a look at
your suggestion. I've heard good things about the Tibor/Billy Pate.
Thanks.

Dave

Again, nothing _against_ Abel as a product (assuming they haven't changed along
with the ownership), but now, considering the circumstances, I'd not spend
500.00-plus USD on one at the current time. I have no idea how serious the
Feds, creditors, etc. are about pursuing Madoff money, but considering they were
selling off pretty much everything they could, and the son's spending was
brought into question, combined with the fact that Abel (the company) would be a
larger asset, and I'd be cautious within reason. Long story short, for a number
of reasons, I'd not buy an Abel right now even if I preferred them over
Tibor/Pates (which I don't).

And not that it should matter much, but most of the _serious_ sal****er FFers I
know (famous, moderately so, and unknown to most) use Tibor/Pate over Abel. And
also FWIW, and strictly as a matter of personal preferences, I'd at least look
at a 'glass rod, esp. if traveling via, um, less-than-ideal means.

And finally, I'd remind all that pretty much before most of us were born (and
certainly before any of us were FFing as adults), folks were fishing SW with
bamboo and Medalists, and not much later, with 'glass and Medalists, and caught
and brought to hand plenty of fish. If you saw what gear was used, even as late
as the mid 70s, by _serious_ S. Florida fishers, it might put Abels, Pates,
600-800.00USD rods, etc. into perspective - things like pine sapling poles (and
then, pole-vaulting poles), cut-up tuna/cobia towers over motors as poling
platforms, etc.

TC,
R

On Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:05:48 -0500, wrote:

On Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:53:38 -0400, D. LaCourse wrote:

On 2010-10-27 18:53:02 -0400, said:



I take it from the above that you've not done much, if any, flats/bonefishing?
If so, why the Abel?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I have several Abels and they impress me in a number of ways -
workmanship, drag, ruggedness (I fall alot d;o) ), but not price.
When I buy a new outfit (steelhead, salmon, etc), I usually look at the
available Abels. Don't always buy them, but they are my usual first
look. I was unaware of the Madoff connection. I will take a look at
your suggestion. I've heard good things about the Tibor/Billy Pate.
Thanks.

Dave

Again, nothing _against_ Abel as a product (assuming they haven't changed along
with the ownership), but now, considering the circumstances, I'd not spend
500.00-plus USD on one at the current time. I have no idea how serious the
Feds, creditors, etc. are about pursuing Madoff money, but considering they were
selling off pretty much everything they could, and the son's spending was
brought into question, combined with the fact that Abel (the company) would be a
larger asset, and I'd be cautious within reason. Long story short, for a number
of reasons, I'd not buy an Abel right now even if I preferred them over
Tibor/Pates (which I don't).

And not that it should matter much, but most of the _serious_ sal****er FFers I

What is this list coming to!!!
This is actually about flyfishing - nice

Thanks

Fred
know (famous, moderately so, and unknown to most) use Tibor/Pate over Abel. And
also FWIW, and strictly as a matter of personal preferences, I'd at least look
at a 'glass rod, esp. if traveling via, um, less-than-ideal means.

And finally, I'd remind all that pretty much before most of us were born (and
certainly before any of us were FFing as adults), folks were fishing SW with
bamboo and Medalists, and not much later, with 'glass and Medalists, and caught
and brought to hand plenty of fish. If you saw what gear was used, even as late
as the mid 70s, by _serious_ S. Florida fishers, it might put Abels, Pates,
600-800.00USD rods, etc. into perspective - things like pine sapling poles (and
then, pole-vaulting poles), cut-up tuna/cobia towers over motors as poling
platforms, etc.

TC,
R

On 2010-10-27 22:05:48 -0400, said:

And finally, I'd remind all that pretty much before most of us were born (and
certainly before any of us were FFing as adults), folks were fishing SW with
bamboo and Medalists, and not much later, with 'glass and Medalists, and caught
and brought to hand plenty of fish. If you saw what gear was used,
even as late
as the mid 70s, by _serious_ S. Florida fishers, it might put Abels, Pates,
600-800.00USD rods, etc. into perspective - things like pine sapling poles (and
then, pole-vaulting poles), cut-up tuna/cobia towers over motors as poling
platforms, etc.

big smile
I still have my mother's fly rods - glass 5 and 7 weights I believe -
along with her reels. Sort of beat up, but I still cast them with the
original line put on somewhere in the 50s. I also have my dad's spin
outfits. I learned to fly fish with a Sears and Rubbish boo rod made
in occupied Japan. I think it cost $5 or so. It and several other
rods were stored in my sister's basement. Of course over the years,
things disappeared, including the boo rods.

I can remember both mom and dad landing some very big trout with what I
now identify as crap rods and reels. I especially remember a very big
bass my dad caught on a cheap boo fly rod using bait in Cobble Mountain
Reservoir (drinking water for Springfield, Mass.). And, we tied our
own leaders - I never saw a tapered leader until I came back to fly
fishing about 25 years ago.

Fond memories. Thanks for tweeking them.

Dave

On Oct 27, 8:05*pm, wrote:
On Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:53:38 -0400, D. LaCourse wrote:
On 2010-10-27 18:53:02 -0400, said:

I take it from the above that you've not done much, if any, flats/bonefishing?
If so, why the Abel?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I have several Abels and they impress me in a number of ways -
workmanship, drag, ruggedness (I fall alot d;o) *), but not price. *
When I buy a new outfit (steelhead, salmon, etc), I usually look at the
available Abels. *Don't always buy them, but they are my usual first
look. *I was unaware of the Madoff connection. *I will take a look at
your suggestion. * I've heard good things about the Tibor/Billy Pate. *
Thanks.

I bought my Abel Super 8 in 1999, before Bernie Madoff was a household
name. It's been an excellent reel. The drag became uneven after much
use, the foot was bent because I dropped it (and had to repair it with
a visegrip), and I lost the lock nut years ago. Sent it back recently.
$20 later it's like new. I feel like I'm ahead with Bernie and his
sons.

There are lots of good reels, and the really good ones are expensive.
Just make sure that you have an excellent drag and plenty of backing.
And you should have a backup rig.

wrote in message
...
On Oct 27, 10:14 am, D. LaCourse wrote:

What's your idea for a good bonefish rod/reel?

I use a 4-piece 8wt Sage Z-Axis tip action with a 9wt sharkskin line
and an Abel Super 8 reel. Works for me.


RW,

Have you used the sharkskin in a 5 weight doing NF of the Clearwater type
fishing? If so, what do you think and would you recommend it?

If others have had experience with the Sharkskin, I would like to here what
you have to say about it.

TIA,
JT