islandbass

That is pretty good. If you're going to make poppers, it might be easier to start with a dowel. I also have a low-tech method for shaping it with just sandpaper. Click on the link below and go to post#2

If abrasion resistance is a must, then heed JFrancho's words about CX because it is spot on. If you stick with CX, I don't really see a need to use an fc leader. Every once in a while the joining knot is probably going to get caught on a guide if the knot is located at a point in the line that goes through the guides on the cast. You probably won't have any issues working topwaters with CX either. At least I haven't.

Take a look at the line ratings on the rod. That should give you a basic idea. Generally speaking, the thinner the line's diameter, the farther casts should go. Then look at the rod's weight range. This range is what your rod should toss well. Any heavier or light and casting and performance might suffer.

I hope this is the case, but take it apart again and sorry about that I don't know the name of this part in the inside, but there is this piece in the inside that is associated with the thumb bar. It has to be in the correct position when you close up the reel. this piece is crucial in making sure the thumb bar works correctly. Even if this piece is not in the right place, the reel can be closed and then you will think something is wrong with the reel. I think this is mentioned in the manual. I have a 301A and encountered a similar thing until I figured it out. Sorry I don't have the names but I bet DVT or other savvy reel guru will describe it much better.

I noticed that! So far, although 31 votes, it's shaping up how I initially expected. Although it is still early, the RH casters/LH spinners group is who I expect to have the majority. Keep'em coming folks!

Those IM numbers don't mean jack by themselves. And just because the Carbonlite is made of IM9 vs 8 doesn't mean it is a more sensitive rod. At this price point you can look at other things like the components. Compres sport Hard Loy Guides, for example. The Carbonlite might. The real bottom line has to really come down to you. You can hear from everyone here which one is more sensitive than the other, but what but even that is subjective at best. I have a compre (spinning) and it is a quality product, exceptionally sensitive (to me) and it is well worth its price. I only held a carbonlite and it was alright and practically on par (feel wise) for me. If possible, hold both, try them out and then choose the one that feels best in your hands. One of them is probably going to feel better in your hands. I do look forward to hearing from those who have fished with both.

Just added it and a few other possibilities I didn't initially think of. Thanks! Let me know if there are other possibilities that I missed.

Thank you! I can't get over how ugly that reel looks! I thought I was the only one. I hope they change that nasty looking color scheme.

I think this would be interesting to see how reel retrieval preference pans out for us here. The key is preference. I can retrieve both ways, but I prefer LH retrieve for both reel types. I realize that this subject comes up and everyone happily gives their two cents (feel free to do so again), but what I am interested here is not the why, but how it breaks down statistically. I think it would be interesting to see if Shimano's choice to not see a LH cranking reel is justified. Voices can be loud to demand a LH 5.x cranking Curado, but is the market not there as they claim? Thanks!

You can keep using Vanish. I don't think anyone here is going to go out of their way to stop you from using Vanish. When you see posts about how Vanish has not worked for person who made the post, they were most certainly not directing it at you. If anything, you should delight in knowing, there will be a whole lot of Vanish you can stock up on because many people won't buy it.

Senior Fishing Trip – Friday, May 27, 2011 I was blessed to have the opportunity to take a couple of seniors fishing Friday, May 27, one lady and one gentleman. We got to the lake at about at about 11:40 a.m. and I had them rigged, ready, and at the first spot by noon. The only female angler of the group had a very nice bite rather quickly, but unfortunately, a true hook up did not materialize. She and I both watched the line move to the side and then went slack. Retrieval of the line revealed that a decent portion of the night crawler was gone. The first bass landed occurred at about 12:20 p.m. by the van driver. It was a cute, 10” bass. We arrive at spot number two and the next forty minutes of fishing was definitely an exercise of patience and near-maddening frustration. There were barrages and onslaughts of nibbles and tugs followed by the undulating bounces of rod tips for both of the seniors that all ended in loss of bait and line going. These repeating events suggested to me that we were probably onto a group of smaller fish. However, I kept those suspicions to myself. Shortly afterward, the gentleman landed his first fish of the day. It was the cutest 5” smallmouth bass. Not even five minutes later, he lands another one about two inches longer. Although he was thrilled to catch these two, he most certainly didn’t want to take a photo with them. You have to love it when the weather forecasters, who predicted rain, are wrong, at least in this case, and in this area of Seattle. At about 1:10 p.m., fishing just a bit east of them, I felt a decent tug and I could hear in my mind that famous fight announcer’s voice yelling, “Let’s get ready to rumble!!!!” The battle was on! I brought in a fair-sized smallmouth bass in and took a quick picture of it. The gentleman caught his third bass about thirty minutes later and we called it a day after that. The weather forecasted for today was gloomy enough to keep some of the folks who signed up for this trip home today, which is really unfortunate. By the grace of God, those who fished were blessed with not a drop of rain but sunny skies instead, a mild breeze, and a chance to go fishing for smallmouth bass in the heart of Seattle without a boat… Now that sounds like a winning day any way you look at it. Location: Lake Union, WA Conditions: Sunny, mild temps about 60˚F., after a period of rain. Tackle and Bait for the Seniors: Spinning Gear, 8# mono-filament line, live night crawlers and whatever they wanted to use from my personal stash. Results: 5 bass caught

It isn't that hard. I have become accustomed to fishing opposite handed. It comes in handy if you main side gets fatigued for sure. Kudos to you for doing it. You could still cast with your other hand and switch afterward.

That sucks! We did away with Cable in any form because it just wasn't worth it. Paying extra just for HD didn't help either. Better to go fishing than watching it on TV I suppose.

Very interesting and valid ways to look at perceiving the passing of the sport. I "pass it on" or "share it with others" because it is a joy to share this passion with others. They might or might not like it and that is beside the point. I've shared it with kids, starting with my own, and other family members and seniors. For the last group, the seniors, some were fishing for the first time, and others were looking to rekindle the joy they once had fishing when they were younger. Just today, I took two seniors fishing for smallmouth bass. They both had a blast. More would have come, but the weather forecast (rain) for the day changed their minds. Luckily, the weatherman was wrong. There was not a drop of rain. Sunny skies (but not warm) and fishing for Smallmouth Bass in the heart of Seattle, without the need for a boat? Now that is awesome. NOTE: Pics of seniors are not from today's trip. She caught 5 bass this day. Seniors fishing off the dock. Perch, SM Bass and Blue Gill were caught in the same spot. The kids targeting Blue Gills. I love this shot! Daughter's first salmon. My dad's first silver salmon. He caught two different species in one day.

That reel is ugly! However, as one who usually chooses function over form, I might have to add it to the arsenal. I would be willing to guess that the final paint job will be different because that thing is ugly! Did I already say that?

Check out this thread for some insight about whether you would want to "balance" your rig or not. I learned a lot from it.

I had always wanted to try fishing since I was a kid. However, I only went fishing once with a childhood friend once when I lived overseas. Although we all skunked out, that didn't diminish my desire to learn. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance until I much later in life, about seven years ago and that first fishing trip was well past twenty years. I didn't remember anything let alone know anything. As one who prefers to be as prepared as possible, I read three fishing books before I even bought my first rig. If you asked me what a bail was before I read those books, I would have told you that was something you paid to avoid jail. I'm not kidding! I thought I'd try fishing for trout first, but the first fish I caught in a lake was a bass on a small rapala floating minnow. I was converted immediately. I was hooked for sure. I have an interesting twist. I always enjoy hearing/reading those stories of how people got into fishing because their parents or grandparents showed them the way to the light when they were young. I knew that this was not going to be my case, but perhaps I could turn the tables a bit and take my dad fishing. He usually visited annually and I have taken him a few times. I took him fishing for trout, bass and even salmon and I am blessed that he enjoys fishing. The last couple of times he has visited, he would ask when we would be going fishing and those words are music to my ears. Oddly enough, I've offered him my better rigs like my Lamiglas drop shot special rod mated to a Rapala 6Sxi spinning reel spooled with 6# Invizx, and he graciously declines, insisting on using a $15 Berkley Cherrywood rod. Go figure! This is a great topic!!!!!

I have a 301A. It is a solid reel and a great deal at its price point. In my hands, and as an owner of an abu round reel which I also love, the feel of the cardiff just seems more refined over the abu g.

Stock rapalas are actually good out of the box, at least they have always been for me. They're just about the only off the shelf lure I won't change the trebles on. Just curious but were you pulling her to you via the line at the end before you attempting to lip her? Anyway, what happened to you can happen with just about any treble under the same condition. Sometimes they win. Sorry to hear about that loss. My crankbait worthy trebles are VMCs, but I also like, Owner's stingers, Gammies, and Mustad's Triple Grips. The KVD's appear to be a variation/derivative of the triple ripple dipples that I haven't tried yet but would like to try.

Your problem as already mentioned is Vanish. The line sucks outright. Change to another fc line. Just about any fc line is better than vanish. They don't call it Vanish because the line is invisible in the water. They call it that because that is exactly what the fish will do.

I bought a dremel thinking along the same lines, and prefer hand carving. However, it does come in handy for drilling holes. I do use it, but sometimes I like the therapeutic intangibles hand carving provides.

DVT, Thanks for that great information. Much appreciated.

I used to take a ton of stuff, but soon realized that truly, most of the time a select number of baits were more effective than others. This helped me to lighten the load. I can bring 1-4 rods, depending on my mood and/or the situation and it isn't cumbersome because I can carry 3 rods in one hand with my homemade rod quiver.

This is a great subject and I have heard these points and agree with them. DVT, I hear you on not adding weight to the rod, but which case, if any, would be one where we would justify the addition of adding weight? Gary Loomis has said that extra weight is a detriment to sensitivity so how can we balance that tip heavy set up without adding weight other than moving the position of the reel's location on the rod? As someone who suffers occasionally from analysis paralysis, thinking about this sometimes give me a headache.

That's a very good start and proof you don't a expensive tools. I use a low tech approach myself and get by when it comes to shaping my baits. With "softer" woods like pine or balsa, it is not necessary to use too many if any power tools... but I ain't gonna quit using my dremel when I need too! I also use sandpaper to help shape some things. So sandpaper and a hobby knife can do a lot.