J Francho

I was a kid. Skills came over the years. All I had was someone that set it up right (my dad and grandpa). It is literally a reel for the unskilled.

I caught one of my first trophy bass on the zebco above, a 6-6 on a night crawler right off our dock. My grandfather filleted and cooked it. It was gross, and so began my catch and release bass career at 10 or 11 years old. It's brought in plenty of big smallies, LMBs, pike, even a few big salmonoids without issue. It's really about setting up with the appropriate line, rod, and drag. I could have caught all those fish on an ultralight spinning reel or a beefy round bait caster.

There isn't a spool bearing there, but there should be a pinion bearing. I can't remember if you can get at it without removing the side plate, but to the pinion shaft out, a T-pin with a bent tip is a useful tool to get it started. The pinion shaft, part of the free floating system, transmits pressure from the spool tension cap to the spool shaft, and gives the pinion an axel to ride on with alignment, but still slide in and out of gear. It is free floating and slides right out.

Still works great. Replaced a bush with a bearing.

No, you sail a boat.

Who needs practice when you're born perfect?

Petal, peddle, pedal, paddle....

I watch the used drums and percussion market like a hawk, and "symbols for sell" is about as common as "Diawa."

You can try to get the part from Okuma: https://www.okumafishing.com/en/page/Customer-care/Customer-care.html

A tiller is what most bass heads should buy when looking at anything under 18'. The layout makes more sense. I loved my 17' tiller.

And you're in prime mispronunciation territory. Watch a couple boat reviews, and you will hear it.

Yankee here, and I say it the same as you. I made it through the fifth grade.

How do you say it, and why are you saying it wrong? LOL, this has to be one of my biggest pet peeves when listening to boat reviews, sales people, or anyone talking about their boat. Pic for attention, the KON-suhl of a Sportsman Masters 267, because I want one.

Old timer walleye guys would drag chain link fence sections to agitate the bottom, stirring up critters, which attracts fair fish, which in turn drums up predatory fish. I can't imagine a piddly anchor would make much difference. I use anchors quite a bit in the kayak and my room, and I don't see any negative effect.

Run all your line out and hand the rod to a friend. Go to the other end and hold hook so the point is in your finger. Have your friend try and set the hook. Take video of the whole thing.

So many got here, but can't get here.

@RHuff Depends on the lake, but typically Popmax .

I only fish like 5 baits and they cover most bases.

Jigs.

Not thinking I'm decent, and settling on that; not really knowing the whats and wheres. The difference is to keep trying, and keep fishing. Don't make assumptions, and don't keep doing the same things that catch 1.5 lb. bass. Big fish are different. My move is almost always fishing deeper and slower. It doesn't always work, but if I catch dinks, I know I'm part of the way there.

I like "old folks home" as a name for a spot. It reminds me of a trout spot called "meat and potatoes" hole.

Nope, use this link instead: https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/

For recreational angling, my advice is as follows. I've been fishing my "home lake" for more than four decades. Those "spots" are pretty much community spots, though their popularity may ebb and flow with angler turnover. Like A-jay says, fish them when your chances are greatest - which usually means my next trip there, lol. I've fished behind enough boats and caught fish, and left a hot spot that wasn't producing, only to watch someone else clean up there. Not fishing is complete waste of time for me these days. For a multi day tournament, it can get a little more complicated.

This is it in a nutshell. My first experience was not great. Tried it again a few years ago, and while it wasn't nearly as bad as I remember it, still not the best option. I don't think you can go wrong with either of the first two choices.