Stripping Baskets

[Hegel]

FFinNH,

I don't like my stripping basket. It's one of those on-hip mesh type baskets. It's no good. Primarily it's too small. Many, many people have told me that a grocery shopping basket works the best. I found these things on the web. The address is below. The reason that I really like them is because not only are they the shopping basket style that has been recommended to me numerous times, but they also seem to have those cones on the bottom of the basket that help to keep the line from knotting up.

What do you all think? Large or medium?

http://www.eastcoastfisherman.com/eastcoast/images/items/ECFBASKKIT.jpg


Address: http://www.eastcoastfisherman.com/cgi-bin/eastcoast/00011.html

-Hegel-

[lowwall]

THese look pretty good, I like small baskets myself , with holes.

I have had a bunch and have found the LL Bean molded basket to be the best for the surf, has the cones and a rod cut out. Was short money when I got mine but I can no longer find it on there site. The
Orvis "Durable Stripping Basket" looks like the bean one but costs 59.00

I have made them with a dishpan weed wacker cord and a wading belt, they work as well. I Don't like the large ones when wading but use them on the boat. I Drill holes in all of mine for drainage, some people don't. It works for me.
To bad about the bean one I think it was $20, They do have the
"Striper Model 4 Abel Pliers™ , at the bargin price of $265!"

I have tried the Mesh and Foam ones and they don't work very well.

Good Luck
Mike

[BugChucka]

I made this one last year and it worked well for me. Cost me under 2.50 to make. Looks similar to a couple of those photos.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o106/bugchucka/2007-02-12004.jpg

[Hegel]

Bug,

Sick basket. Okay, you know, you can purchase the "cones" from these dudes along with nylon nuts and bolts (rust free). Then you too can have knot-free line in your basket! Check out their site.

Thanks for the pic!

-Hegel-

[BugChucka]

lol... Hegel, I'll never have knot free line in my basket no matter what I do!

I use a basket as a last resort but use it often. If there's marsh grass around, non barnacle covered/sharp rock, or anything else that permits free shooting line then I take it off. I've found the cones and mono strands to be more of a nuissance than anything but some people swear by them. Those do look like some nice one's.

All I know is that nothing is worse than trying to quickly untie a knot in your line when you know your sinking head is getting ready to get hung up on the bottom!

[Solid]

True dat!

L.L.Bean Model (http://reel-time.com/forum/attachment.php?s=beeee3f7e67c356f4409dd3efae1827f&attachmentid=2328)

Can't seem to find it either, but that's what I use.

[Bluewilly]

Hay,
I did one right thing today. I googled stripping basket and got this information. Check it out.
http://www.lyndenhuggins.com
Click on fly tying and at the bottome right you see how to make a stripping basket.

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[Hegel]

Bluewilly,

This is great! I especially like how you opened your post. You wrote:
I did one right thing today.

Man, do I know that feeling.

Also check out the baskets, etc., at the link I posted above. Here it is (below) again. The baskets are almost as cheap, they come made, and I think, from the looks of them, they might A) drain faster and B) uncoil line more effectively.

Here's the link. If I can get enough money together (yes, I am that poor at the moment), I am going to order one.

Here's the link: http://www.eastcoastfisherman.com/cgi-bin/eastcoast/00011.html

Take care,
-Hegel-

[mtnzone]

hegel, there area lot of baskets out there that just dont plain work..... but look around.. the best production basket for the shortest money is the LL bean basket.. period end of discussion.. it is not even close..

The only thing you have to do is drill your won drain holes.. but other than that for the amount of money they want you cant go wrong.. molded to fit your waist in any location, rod holder, spines to help with line tangle, and small enough not to get in the way but large enough to allow for proper line distribution..

Really the only production basket worth its grain in salt..especially for the price.

[Hegel]

Stephen,

Thanks for the note. I know about the LLBean basket. I would love one. But, it appears that they stopped making it. I contacted LLBean about this and was told that there was no information concerning whether or not the basket would be brought back into production. Orvis sells a very simlar basket but at $60.00, I feel like I might as well give the people at Orvis a baseball bat to me over the head with!

Other ideas?

-Hegel-

[Hegel]

FFinNH,

We all love the LLBean stripping basket. But, alas, they are no longer making it. Here is the message I received about the old basket from an LLBean Customer Care Rep. It would seem that this guy loves the old basket too! So, if you want to see it again, write to Bean! Maybe they'll decide to start making it again.

Here's the response:

"Dear Mr. Eason,

Thanks for contacting L.L.Bean.

I agree that our old stripping basket was fabulous. Unfortunately, we are no longer making it. I will make point of forwarding your request to product development, though. Hopefully, it we'll bring it back.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to call or email. We would be more than happy to help in any way we can

Sincerely,
Rob S.
L.L.Bean Product Services
1-800-221-4221
llbean.com"


Oh well... :roll:
-Hegel-

[BugChucka]

We would be more than happy to help in any way we can... unless you view help as us providing you with the basket originally requested.

[Hegel]

Bug,

Exactly. Thanks LLBean. :roll:

Hoosier, if you're out there, I PM'd you back - where are you?

-Hegel-

PS - Bugchucka, do you have any more pics from the Keys trip?