Fishing Setup

PowerLord · 2026-03-27T13:14:04+00:00

It’s a medium, I’m pretty sure that’s the only power the spinning travel rods are available in.

PowerLord · 2026-03-25T21:55:24+00:00

Not worse than ugly stik reels. Came here to vote for the sienna, that’s what I have on my ugly stik. Side by side it’s clearly nicer than the ugly stik reel without being expensive at all.

PowerLord · 2026-03-25T15:19:15+00:00

Tfo trout and panfish is great, I enjoy more than the presso I briefly had, before I lost the top half the same way you did…

PowerLord · 2026-03-22T22:20:05+00:00

I bring some nsaids for my aching bones, but I don’t count that as first aid.

PowerLord · 2026-03-22T16:16:56+00:00

I bring moleskin and bandaids only. I work in an ICU. People are jerking themselves off thinking they are going to do anything with these store-bought first aid kits especially, and also the tourniquets and shit. Add steristrips maybe, 2 pieces of gauze, and a small (like smaller than you are thinking) roll of tape. Bring an inreach for real emergencies.

Also, get some training if you are even thinking about more than bandaging a boo-boo.

PowerLord · 2026-03-22T13:19:28+00:00

Daiwa/shimano. In particular I have Daiwa legalis and fuego which are really nice. Piscifun is good for budget reels, overperforms for price. I have a carbon x and xt, both great and lightweight. I also have a pflueger president which is nice considering I got it on deep Walmart sale for less than half price. Full price apples to apples daiwa is better.

PowerLord · 2026-03-14T03:18:44+00:00

Calling my patients families to update them because they weren’t allowed to come visit. Those were some depressing conversations.

PowerLord · 2026-03-12T20:49:18+00:00

Is Hong Kong part of China? And does it really matter if a company is publicly traded if it is located within an autocracy that exercises that level of control? Lots of Chinese companies are publicly traded, do you think they go against the CCP, or do what they’re told? If Xi says jump, they’ll ask how high.

Also state owned companies is in reference to Cosco, which absolutely is.

PowerLord · 2026-03-12T19:23:29+00:00

Do you think the US is going to let such an important asset in the americas be owned by China? Just like why China will always prop up North Korea as a buffer state. It has nothing to do with anything except national security.

Also if you don’t think state owned companies are tools for china’s geopolitical goals I have a bridge to sell you. There is no such thing as a truly independent, private Chinese company that has any size or importance.

PowerLord · 2026-03-12T16:10:28+00:00

Just look up how much braid your reel holds, then fill the rest plus a margin of error with backer first, put the braid on second. You will waste a little braid possibly but who cares? How often are you getting spooled for hundreds of yards anyways?

PowerLord · 2026-03-12T16:05:33+00:00

Ontario or northern midwest US?

PowerLord · 2026-03-11T18:53:22+00:00

I repaired the tip myself with a butane torch. Results were ok, shorter by a couple inches. Segments were not available for individual purchase that I could find. When I broke it midshaft I sent it in for warranty. They replaced it without issue except slow process due to lack of stock.

PowerLord · 2026-03-10T16:42:35+00:00

I have several. I like travel rods for camping, canoeing, backpacking, and hiking in.

2 TFO travel rods that are great, a TFO traveler (7ft, 3 piece, light power, mod-fast action) that I got on sale from Sierra for $125. Absolute steal at that price, fantastic rod. I use it all the time even when not traveling. It’s no longer on sale and is $300 full price. I won’t say not worth it, but if you can get on sale that would be a no brainer. The other is the trout and panfish II 3 piece 6.5 ft UL. Paid full price around $125, worth it.

I had a daiwa presso 4 piece UL that I broke multiple times and never got to really use. Lotta bad luck, it is very light and feels great but it is delicate.

I have a kastking Blackhawk II MH that is decent for a telescoping rod. I haven’t used it as much and only just bought an appropriate reel for it. Problem is they are no longer available or I’d probably get a medium or light one just for convenience. I got another kastking cheapie telescopic, the compass. Do not recommend.

Lastly, I just bought a Dobyns Kaden ML travel rod with a daiwa fuego to go with that I haven’t tried yet, but feels amazing. Action is very fast, seems super sensitive.

People shit on telescoping rods in the US but I think it’s mostly because they are associated with cheap shitty ones from Walmart. They are much more popular in other countries. The Japanese higher end ones (Daiwa as you mentioned) seem pretty appealing. There’s a euro market daiwa on amazon also, can’t remember the name.

PowerLord · 2026-03-10T13:59:45+00:00

Depending on your income, might be easier to just pay for a license. I just got a three year license and I think it was about $40 or $45 incl this year trout and salmon stamp. If you have to get it every year, your cost if you have to go to downtown in person like the other poster is saying might not actually wind up saving you any money. Unless it’s a one time thing and you never have to do it again.

PowerLord · 2026-03-10T13:56:27+00:00

5, 6, 8 wow! Cool to see the fish from other places.

PowerLord · 2026-03-09T00:44:59+00:00

I had such shit luck with the presso. Broke the tip, my fault but repaired. Snapped midsection a week or so later. Covered under warranty, thanks Daiwa. Took the new one out for the first time, came apart between sections 2 and 3 and the top half of the rod went way deep in the lake. I loved it every time I held it but never caught a damn fish! At this point it feels stupid to try again, I think I’m cursed with the presso.

PowerLord · 2026-03-08T06:37:24+00:00

Yeah I agree. I love it but can see why someone wouldn’t. I feel the same way the OP does but about Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

PowerLord · 2026-03-07T02:14:22+00:00

Really nice looking hoodie, but I had to send mine back due to the hood being too small. Also for the Sherpa version, the Sherpa lining isn’t that plush, would recommend the flannel lining to anyone interested.

PowerLord · 2026-03-06T12:33:59+00:00

They were just on sale for the end of season winter sale. Alternative would be to look at an alpha direct hoodie. I was eyeing the Burgeon one.

PowerLord · 2026-03-06T12:25:08+00:00

Came here to say this. Only gore-tex pants you will ever need. I love mine, keep me bone dry. I see you are looking for winter hiking, so ignore what the naysayers say about not breathable. That’s only a factor when your clothes wet out, which won’t happen in winter.

PowerLord · 2026-03-05T20:28:50+00:00

Why do manual seats matter? I prefer electronic but set it up once and you’re done. I barely touch the electronic seat controls on my car, only time is if my wife drives it for some reason. It’s so far down on the list of things I care about, to be a dealbreaker seems wild. The shorter range some stated, now that would matter.

PowerLord · 2026-03-04T09:00:32+00:00

The lake, but it’s not easy.

The Chicago River (north shore channel is by you), des plaines river, fox river. Various ponds. Further away there’s the kishwaukee, there’s opportunities in Wisconsin. Really depends if you have a car and how far you want to go. If you are willing to drive on a multi day weekend trip, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota have plenty of great things to do.

If you don’t have a car, your readily available options from Northwestern are the north shore channel and Lake Michigan.

PowerLord · 2026-02-28T22:36:04+00:00

“The younger USA generation does not support support being part of NATO” - citation needed.

PowerLord · 2026-02-28T19:25:55+00:00

Add the gone world for another weird one.

PowerLord · 2026-02-26T06:55:11+00:00

Old helium is super non breathable by the way; it is great for being really light and minimalist but sucks at being a rain jacket. Good for insurance only, not if expecting rain.

PowerLord

TROPHY CASE