Christmas Subscription

This Christmas, I got a few fishing-related presents. I got a Plano 7771 tackle box which was good, I needed something larger to store all of my tackle. I also got some new Rapala crank baits and a rod bag for when I travel to Lake Michigan to fish, whether it is on the pier or out on a boat.

I also got a 12 month subscription to Mystery tackle box. If you don't know what this is, it is a box that you receive, one a month. This box contains different kinds of bait, whether it be soft plastics or crank baits. You also can choose what kind of fish species bait you wish to receive. The fish species choices are bass, pan fish, saltwater, ice fishing, catfish, and trout. I chose to go with bass since I fish for bass the most often. I decided then that I would post videos of the contents of my mystery tackle box. So, every month, when I get my box, I will make a video about the bait I got in my box, and post it on this blog. I will also add a little description about each bait that I receive in my box.

Guest Blogger and outdoorsman Sam Goetz.

You can follow Sam Goetz in instigram @sam_fishing_lax

  Lately I've been sort of pissed. The mainstream society has portrayed the perfect person as both rich and beautiful. I chose otherwise; I believe the perfect life is an outdoorsmen. Nate and I have seen more deer fish and great sunsets than most people who sit inside and don't do anything. I had an old friend at my house  Labor Day weekend and we went to the Notre Dame vs Rice game. But what I didn't like is the oldest (12) didn't know how to fish, hated country music and rarely looked up from his iPod. And the two little girls (7) and (5) both had iPods. What the crap I'm never dependent on tech. I rather sit in the woods than in the house. Just last year I got an ipad I like it but I do need rely on it day 24/7. So to make it clear, outdoorsmen aren't rednecks hicks or hipsters. We are the ones who refuse to depend on others or our electronic devices  for our needs.

Modern Society

  Generally, within a blog giving info on fishing, you would not see a post titled "Modern Society" within that blog. The truth is, that is what most people think. There aren't people who say in the 21st century that the "Great outdoors" and modern society go hand-in-hand. These people, like most of us, see the 21st century as the "Digital Revolution" in which you've got your iPhones, iPads, laptops, and TV's and when you want to talk to someone or look for a picture, you look to the Internet for answers.
 
 This is one of the flaws in our society. We spend more time watching TV, playing on our Xboxes, or conversing via social media then we do interacting with real people. In this day and age, it is encouraged to have what you call "a lazy weekend" in which you grab your go-to snack and drinks and spend all of your time watching your favorite TV show marathons or trying to beat the new video game that just came out.

  You most likely are scratching your head right now wondering what this has to do with fishing? It's simple. For example, the past couple of weeks I have been trying to establish a fishing club to give others the experience of the great outdoors, most people would rather sitting inside and using electronics; this is what we as a society have become accustomed to doing with our free time. There isn't anyone encouraging younger children to go outside (yes I have seen the cheesy "Go out and play an hour a day" commercial. Believe me, nobody takes it seriously). I have also seen 3 year olds with yet their own iPads playing some kind of app geared towards toddlers.

  While we waste our days away on our electronics, we miss experiencing nature around us. You don't need the best cars or the biggest (or most) houses. Modern-day society needs to make a full turnaround. We should encourage enjoying the outdoors by going to the beach, or taking a walk every once in a while, and or fishing not video gaming or TV watching; we should enjoy the nature around us. One should have free time and say they would want to fish or go outside instead of using electronics.
 
  Some of the best days sometimes, like this weekend for example, I took my brother, dad and grandpa fishing and that was the highlight of our whole weekend.When we instead choose to sit on our iPads, or iPhones, we do not get to enjoy getting outside or having a good time like I did fishing with my family. So next time you have free time, put down the iPod and turn off that TV and go outside and maybe that would be a day you"ll never forget.

Abu Garcia Orra S30

Broken bail on the Abu Garcia Orra S 30

   About a month or two ago, I purchased an Abu Garcia Orra S 30 (you can also purchase the an Orra S 20, it just has a lighter line capacity). I originally paired the reel with my "Catch More Fish" rod I purchased earlier before the Orra S30. I spooled the reel with Berkeley Trilene Trans-optic 10 pound test.

  The reel had a very smooth retrieve as well as a decent cast. Just about a couple of weeks after I purchased the reel, the bail on the reel broke when I was casting. I ended up taking it back to where I bought it (Dick's Sporting Goods). I was then able to return it and get a new one since it broke within 90 days.

  I was overall impressed by the performance of this fishing reel. I was not satisfied though with the fact that the bail broke within the first two weeks of purchasing it; overall, I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 star rating because of the incident.