Category: rod & reel outfits

Hi Italowhat was the name of the reels you used in your saltwater fishing shows on WFN ?Also what was the name of the NJ rodmaker you also used.We miss your shows even the reruns as they were the best for education and knowledge.Thanks and hope you are wellAlex

Posted on May 9th, 2023

Hi Alexander, you should be able to see many of our Here’s the Catch! TV show also on our Italo Labignan YouTube channel. I used the https://irtreels.com/ and the https://berfloatreels.com/shop-2/in-stock-spinning-reels/boom-spinning-reels/ on our saltwater TV series. Both are excellent quality and the BOOM is the farthest casting with the “no-wind-knot” patent pending spool. The person you are referring to in the NY Here’s the Catch! TV show Dante from NJ that made rods that I used on the series. His phone number is, (862) 703-1895…God bless you.

Posted in
Like me   Follow Me  
Subscribe youtube   Newsletter Subscriber   InstagramFollow in instagram

Can you tell me what action spinning rod is recommended for fishing a weightless Texas rig? I use a 6 and a half foot medium heavy. I’m not sure this is the correct action for a weightless worm.Thank you.

Posted on July 26th, 2018

HI Elliott, the action-type & length of rod you use should not be dictated by the weight of lure you are fishing, the type of presentation you are going to make and by the size of fish you are trying to catch.  Having said that, the length is important. Shorter rods tend to be “stiffer” and more designed for quick-hook sets where you need an instant response to a strike, like jigging plastic grubs, casting spinners, spinner-baits, etc.. If you are “finesse” fishing and using more finesse presentation, like a weightless Texas-rigged with soft-plastics, a longer rod in medium or even medium-light action will work best. The lighter rod will have a softer tip enable you let a fish that has picked up your plastic to inhale and start moving away with it without feeling much resistance. Once you feel the fish has the plastic/hook in it’s mouth you can make a smooth yet strong hook-set by pulling back on the rod firmly and reeling at the same time. If you have too stiff of a rod you could rip the plastic right out of a fish mouth.

Posted in
Like me   Follow Me  
Subscribe youtube   Newsletter Subscriber   InstagramFollow in instagram

Hi Italia;You have a great show; my wife and I look forward to watching it. On your Friday March 3, 2017 show; fishing for Small mouth Bass, I noticed that you were closing the bail by turning the reel handle.I have told fellow anglers and wife, that closing the bail using the reel handle will cause line twist. Over time you will have a mess. I instruct them to flip the bail closed using their finger.Please share your thoughts on this! We are looking forward to when you have a contest to win a fishing trip with you. We will surely enter that contest. Thank you for your time and understanding.Seaweed; from Seaweed Tackle Co.David Totos5250 Cooper TerPort Charlotte, Florida 33981-2260Cell: 941.223.2340

Posted on March 3rd, 2017

Hi David, nice to hear from you in Florida. Looks like you produce some nice jigs and rigs!  Reeling the bail closed will  not twist your line since it winds the line in the proper direction onto the spool. What creates really bad line twist is if you spool the line on wrong to begin with. When spooling new line on a spinning reel the drag should be tight and the line should come off the line-spool from the top and directly onto the reel. I usually have my wife help me by placing a pencil or pen in the hole at the center of the line-spool. When you start filling the bottom of the reel spool it’s very important to put pressure on the line (I have my wife use her hands and apply even pressure to both sides of the line-spool), this will ensure that the line “packs” properly. As you get 1/2 filling the spool you can use less pressure. The drag should never engage when you are spooling on new line and you should never pass the line through your fingers to guide it onto the reel-spool  The second culprit to creating line twist is either being snagged, or fighting a larger fish and reeling in while the drag is working. All this is doing is twisting the line. By the way, there is a contest running right now with MD Marine Insurance for a wilderness walleye fishing trip to northern Ontario. You can check it out by going to their website. Not sure if you can enter it from the US…God bless you.

Posted in
Like me   Follow Me  
Subscribe youtube   Newsletter Subscriber   InstagramFollow in instagram

Hello ItaloI am a big fan of your program and diehard fishing enthusiast. If I could fish all day, everyday, I would, unfortunately, that is not the case. In a nutshell, I am a 20 year Cancer survivor and am now slowly losing my sight. My question is, do you ever sell any of your used rods? I ear you speak highly of your Rapala Concept spinning and baitcater setups. It is impossible for me to get out and shop for gear thanks to my vision problems and I would love to have a couple of good setups to continue fishing. You see, even if I can’t see too well there’s nothing better than the feel of the bite. I still manage to get out fishing with my sister at her place on Lake Seymour on the Trent just south of Havelock. It’s a long way to go as I live in Leamington, but my wife has no problem driving the distance. If you should consider selling a couple of your setups I would be more than appreciative. If not could you point me in the right direction. Trusting this email finds you all well.

Posted on February 17th, 2017

Hi Ken, sorry to hear of your ailment. I have fond memories of fishing Seymour Lake for largemouth bass  and pike, it has an excellent fishery. The Rapala Concept Ti are the top  of the line rods with true “nano-technology”. They are extremely light, very sensitive and also strong.

italo_largemouth

I have very few Concept Ti outfits and hold on to them. I would however encourage to contact Mark Van Beek at Normark Canada in Oshawa at (905) 571-3001 and he should be able to tell you where you can purchase them near you.

Posted in
Like me   Follow Me  
Subscribe youtube   Newsletter Subscriber   InstagramFollow in instagram