I have a hard time picking one favorate but I sure had fun with a Mickey Mouse rod and a brat a few years back.

Nah, the 2.5' purple Scooby Doo rod with matching spincast reel is the tops for brats.

bank maggot steelies:

smr flt...STR1201C/CHR SF/10#MaxUG
smr drft...STR1082C/CHR SF/10#MaxUG
wntr brts...STR1143C/CHR SF/12#MaxUG
wntr ntvs...STR1025C/CHR SF/15#TrileneBG

If momma could only afford to buy me one, I would choose the most versatile of the bunch. IMHO the 1143

#1. Drifting: Loomis GL3 str1024c, Ambassadeur 5500, 10-12 lb. Maxima UG, 8-10 lb. Maxima Chameleon leader, homemade slinkies, #4-#1/0 Gamakatsu or Vision Octopus hook, and my own eggs.

#2. Float Fishing: All Star Elite 1264, Ambassadeur 6000 TGC, 40 Lb. Power Pro main, eight feet of 20lb. Maxima UG connected with a Surgeon's Knot, fixed position dink float, homemade slinky, 6-10 lb. Maxima Chameleon leader, #4-1/0 Gamakatsu or Vision Octopus hook, and my own eggs.

The rest are all variations on those two, except for my hardware rod which is...

#3. Lamiglas G1000, Ambassadeur 5500, and either 12 lb. Maxima UG, or 40# PowerPro with 6-8 feet of 12 lb. Maxima UG leader connected with Surgeon's Knot, and on the end goes either a Vibrax (factory treble or 2/0 Siwash, depending on season/species) or MorTac/PenTac spoon (2/0 Siwash).

Then I've got a noodle rod, which I continue to swear I will never use again, at least once a year, when it takes me WAY too long to land a fish.

I've also got a Scott 9'6" eight weight, and a 9' Fenwich FishEagle seven weight, neither of which see as much action as they deserve...unless the humpies are runnin'!

Fish on...

Todd.

Hmmm....lemme see wha I gots ovah heoh...

For drift fishing winter runs/big coho, gimme the 10-1/2 foot 8 to 12 Davey V. cerified pro Lami with a Amb. 5001, 15 pound grey/clearCuda fluorocarbon coated copolymer....for spinner/spoons, the 10 foot 8 to 12 cert pro lami with a Shimano 201, clear Maxima 12 pound and for plugging, 9 foot e-glass cet pro Lami 10 to 20 with 15 pound yellow Izor with 6 feet of 15 pound green Maxima tippet to plug.

I don't own a spinning reel...I'm a big boy now!

Hard to go wrong with all the good stuff for sale these days. I'm happy with a gl3 Loomis 1143 and Shimano 201bsf reel.

GZ,

What are u using these days for retarded brats?

I was thinking of using my favorite Mitchell on my trusty 6 1/2" Eagle Claw Spinning/fly combo rod. You know the one with the 2 sliding ring thingys. But maybe I should use my Penn 209 instead of the Mitchell spinning reel? Just wondering 'cause I sure see alot of guys using coffee grinders these days.

GZ,
I tried mounting that Penn 209 on my EC rod this morning but it seemed a little big. So, I strapped on a Pfluger Rocket casting reel I had laying around. Those ring thingys didn't seem to hold it too well, but my wife suggested I use some duct tape and that held it pretty well (works really good for patching waders, too). Anyway, I was wondering if you think that Rocket has enough line capacity to handle one of them chrome brats. I've been using some 25 lb Royal Bonnyl on my Mitchell. Great stuff, haven't had to change it for years. But do you think I ought to replace the horse gut I've got on the Rocket now with the same stuff on my Mitchell? I'm really looking forward to learning this baitcasting thing the pros all do, even though I sure will miss the ol' girl. Thanks for all your help and encouragement. I just know I can do this. I'm so pumped. From here on out it's baitcast or bust for me!
Hey, maybe we'll run into each other at BC and you could give me an on-river pointer or two. I'll be the guy wearing the sou'wester and the waders with duct tape on the butt.

Mooch,

Didn't I see you on the Quilcene this fall with a big red Plano tacklebox and a "Salmon of the Pacific Northwest" book for catch identification?

How'd you fit all that stuff into your 5 1/2 foot Ceylor inflatable raft (you know, yellow and blue, $19.99 at WalMart)?

Todd,
I think that mighta been one of my cozins. Real friendly, right?
Nice guys, but they still give me a hard time for leaving the hills for the big city of Kingston. I have to leave just to find a job and they've still got the bucks to blow on a "Sevylor" boat. Go figure. Nice boat though, huh?
I quess the "family business" must be pretty good up there these days.
Be sure and say hi for me next time you see them.