Dwight Hottle

I mostly fish alone & don't have a problem with it but it is fun to fish with real friends to share those special catches. It also helps to have a net man & camera man when you catch that new PB or vice versa I also understand the motivation part of it which I think worsens with age.

Without looking them up I'm sure the Antare is heavier in weight. Maybe your rod selection should determine which reel to get. The antare would help balance a longer rod or tip heavy rod than the Steez.

Consider a dc model like the new curado dc.

Since you already have it give it a try. If it feels comfortable to you just enjoy it. It will probably cast further than the smaller models if the spool is larger in diameter.

It will work ok but the reel is on the large size/weight for most fresh water fishing & rods under 7'. The advantage is it does have a larger diameter spool which makes for longer casts since the line is not as coiled as tight as a 2500 series reel or a 1000 series.

It's saved me from a lot of hooked fingers/hands & lots of pike/musky teeth.

The 15lb scale measures in 1/4 lb increments. Most bass fisherman prefer the 15 lb scale. The 30 lb scale measures in 1/2 lb increments. After you get used to using one you can interpolate to 1/8lb increments by reading between the lines. Seriously I check my reading with a brecknell digital scale sometimes just for the fun of it. 9 times out of ten I'm within 1 oz accuracy with the 15 lb boga.

So do lake trout. I once saw a giant laker well over 50 lbs try to take a large orange jig head tipped with a white reeper tail from a 15lb laker that I had hooked. At first we thought the big trout was going to eat the the smaller trout but she was posturing up close to the other trout's nose trying to get that jig away from it. She definately wanted the bait. The big trout could have eaten the 15lb trout without any problem.

Bite the bullet & buy a boga. They are waterproof & last forever. Tether it to the canoe or buy a float for it so it won't sink if you drop it or capsize. If you tether it to the canoe you can lip the fish & then let the lake/pond be your livewell while you get your camera ready.

Pretty countryside. The fishing is pretty good too.

The kistler is more sensitive than the St Croix based on my experience with those two models. No experience with the Daiwa. Keep an eye on Kistler's web site or sign up for product emails. They have semi-frequent sales. You have to remember Kistler is buying the blanks for most of his lineup from Gary Loomis's new company North Fork Composites.

I got my stock from tackle warehouse. They don't show them currently. Maybe give them a call. The floaters all had colored bills rather than clear ones like chartreuse or orange.

Ima Flit floater.

Big surprise for sure. Glad you got it back.

WTG J.

They have to say that to protect their business relationship with certain retailers but they will honor the discount when you call or place the items in you cart & pay. As already said they adjust the price to the sale price after you process the transaction. If you want to argue or not believe your only cheating yourself out of the discount.

Time to get it wet.

Ima Flit makes a floater jerkbait with great action. Like others have mentioned smithwick makes a floating rogue, rebel made some floater stick baits, bomber long A's & rapala floating husky jerks along with the original floater. I use them over weeds beds just under the surface & in shallow areas where a regular suspending bait gets hung up.

If it's this one it should hit 12 feet. All the spoonbill baits I have seen were rebel baits not smithwick. The picture is a smithwick.

Rapala DHJ-12, DD Husky Jerk, Smithwick Rogue DD, Pointer 100 DD, Pointer 100XD, Lucky craft staysee 90 ver3 which is slow sink rather than the ver2 which suspends. 10lb braid with leader will get them the deepest. 15 or 20lb braid will work just not as deep. 8 or 10lb flouro also works well.

Next time try a deep diving jerkbait just for the heck of it. It will stay in the same zone as the crank bait.

I just got a shimano Bantam at 15% off. When you put in your cart it shows regular price. You pay regular price then they adjust the price with the new sale price. Their confirming email shows the sale price. Call them & they will confirm that over the phone. You guys can thank me later.

I just got a shimano Bantam at 15% off. When you put in your cart it shows regular price. You pay regular price then they adjust the price with the new sale price. Their confirming email shows the sale price. Call them & they will confirm that over the phone.

Storm Hot 'n Tots are killer baits for smallmouth. Troll them from 1.8 to 2.5 mph. They dart left then return to center & then dart right always hunting. They sometimes need tuned out of the box. Run them just behind the boat around 3 mph. If they blow out or only run to one side they need tuned by gently bending the line tie opposite of the way they are running. If the bait is running left as you face it bend the line tie to the right as you hold it facing you. Use small increments until it runs straight at higher than trolling speeds. They will run between 15 to 20 deep on 10lb braid with a mono/flouro leader.

I would put a shimano Bantam XG on it. The extra weight is not noticeable because it is so smooth.