J Francho

A couple of times, I've attached a small red and white bobber to a sinker to mark a bed during day, and come back to it at night. Otherwise, no, not really. Night fishing for me is generally a shoreline game.

I pop a wrist flick hook set without any issues. I use a Gamakatsu Wide Gasp Finesse Hook, usually 1/0 or 2/0. If you're yanking them out of their mouth, lower your drag, and use a wrist flick set.

I've been coloring half the spool for a "breakup pattern" that's easy to line watch, and coloring the end of the line for years with a black sharpie. No issues.

Absolutely it is.

Self promotion is forbidden. YouTube videos are fine.

Man, this was one bait I was horrible with at first. Congrats on your success!

A tiny caveat to using 1000 sized reels: they often only employ a single felt washer and keyed metal washer. The 2500 series reels generally use 5 or more alternating keyed, felt, dog eared, etc. setup. The multi washer set up is a bit smoother. It's more important if you are going to use line below 8# size. If you're going braid, I wouldn't hesitate to drop to the smaller size reel. In fact, here's a pic with me, a 5# smallie, and a Daiwa 1500 series reel loaded with 15# braid, and leader from 6# fluoro (see article). http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot-bedding-bass.html

I've received two in PVC, one from a custom builder, another direct from a manufacturer. In both cases, it was the somewhat less brittle black stuff that doesn't shatter when dropped. The rest came in heavy duty cardboard that would take some serious effort to crush or bend.

Can you fit the Tetra in the J cradles, and the Jackson flat right next to it? That's how I rolled with two boats, a SINK in the cradles, and my OK PBG flat next to it, on a Thule rack for my Nissan Maxima.

When I car topped, the boat would be up there all summer, lol.

If you're just car topping a single boat, I recommend ditching the J cradles, wrapping the cross bars with foam like a pool noodle or pipe insulation, and gently, but firmly strapping the boat in right side up. I'm not gonna berate Jacksons (I have a Coosa, as well a couple Wildys), but they have a tendency to do this. I also notice the foam block meant to reinforce the tank well often slides out of position when stored on it's side, so check for that as well.

I agree with this, too. Too often, guys read about it, and want to just pop new bearings in. I'm cool with that, as long as there isn't some expectation of massive performance gains. That assumes the bearings being replaced aren't shot.

It's more likely the quality of cut on the gears than the actual material itself. The two gear sets you mentioned are from high end reels, made from top level tooling. To elaborate on DVT's post, extra grease is usually shed off the main gear from centrifugal force, and deposited in the gear well on the crank side plate. I see this all the time on factory lube jobs - especially from Daiwa and Shimano. It's not a bad thing at all, just messy when you go to clean it, and it's necessary to that much on there.

1. No, I have my mechanic inspect it. 2. Yep, and a test drive.

went right over my head, lol.

I have over a dozen Avid rods, some more than 15 years old. I own no Mojos, though I've tried them. They aren't as crisp and light as an Avid. Within Saint Croix's product lines, the Avid is where the rods take a decent jump up in quality and performance. After that, the gains are incremental.

Can you imagine how a dishonest person might abuse this, and why most don't do this? Anyway, if you have no shipping facilities nearby, online purchase may not be your best option, though if UPS dropped it off, they can pick it up, too. You just have to call to set up a pick up. You're probably better off buying from a brick and mortar. I've had a couple rods shipped from the manufacturer that arrived broken. It happens. They generally send me a new one, with the return label included with the new rod, or in a separate letter.

A thorough cleaning, and proper lube will probably do more to bring back the smoothness than a bearing replacement.

Boca makes a decent bearing, so do a few other companies. I typically use ABEC 7 hybrids from Smooth Drags. Generally, flushing a bearing pack, and oiling with a performance oil will give a big gain in performance. It depends on your ability with small mechanical parts and tools. It's not hard to work on the reel, but if you're not inclined, I'd say send it to Mike at Delaware Valley Tackle.

I still have days like this. My statement above is when I feel like I did everything right, even if I didn't have success. I know I've said this in the past, "I gain confidence through success." However, I'm gonna shift on that, and open it up to gaining confidence through failure. Meaning, I'm confident that won't work. There those days too, lol. It's a game of educated guessing. Sometimes I'm more educated. Sometimes I'm more guessing.

Easy 4 lbs., maybe 5. This one was 5-12:

CABED is the order. The egg carton is a good idea. I use a muffin pan because it's heavier, washes easily.

Very good point! I've almost made the mistake, myself.

It means I'm content to concentrate on what I'm doing without question. When there is a question, I try a solution, and go back to the first sentence.