islandbass

20# braid is will dig more than 30#. It isn't so much that 20# is light or weak. If it were weak, it wouldn't have the strength to break at 20 in a fish fight. However, because braid doesn't stretch, it would rather snap when whipped which I think pretty refer to as being light. 30# is what I would recommend for less line dig. Castibility of 8# equivalent diameter is still pretty good.

x2 Of all the monos I have tried, nothing resists memory like Sufix, siege or elite. I thought intially that there claim of low memory was hype and hooey, but it really isn't. I have 10# siege on my Curado 101D that I put on probably in August last year. I broke out the reel a few days ago and slapped in on one of my rods to cast around outside and I was amazed that practically zero memory in the line. Try sufix. No mono I've tried beats Sufix in the memory department.

Loomis' They seem to be really nice looking rods. But in my mind, I see them as Premiers with a different color blank and a split grip vs. a full grip. Won't buy a rod I can't hold and living in the Pac. NW, I know these rods won't be coming to my area. St. croix's steelhead rods make it but there bass rods are rather limited. >

Done! Another from WA State, not too far from Kent, WA. ;D

I'm still a spoon user and to be honest I am glad that the perception that it has fallen off of the bass fishing radar is a benefit to those who still use them and me. Daredevles and Blue Fox are the two I have used in the past. Spoons are awesome and I always have a few with me.

I've got to 100% agree with that. I primarily shore fish. There really isn't a type of lure that you can't use. My favorite is topwater early in the morning though. Nothing more fun than early morning froggin. I don't know how the bass are up there in Ohio, but down here you can toss a frog and catch fish at darn near any time of the day. Me three. I am shorebound. Don't ever limit yourself just because you're fishing from the shore, even crankbaits. Just choose the ones appropriate to the depth you fish. It's not like a bass is going to think, "Hmmm, that guys is fishing from the shore so we want take anything he throws at us. After all we only bite on lures when they're thrown from a boat."

Picture a clock where 12 o'clock is above you. 9 o'clock is directly in front of you and 3 o'clock behind you. The approximate release point is usually somewhere between 12 and 1 o'clock for an over hand cast, maybe around 12:30.

I agree that you're both right, depending on what you want to accomplish. If you are pitching to fish you know are on the bottom and I want a vertical fall, then I'll do it the way you described. This is what most will probably do. Your brother's method does not allow for a vertical fall, but there are going to be times you might want to let it swing like a pendelum down (no me likey most often). For example, if they're busting it up on top, why in the world would any angler wait until the bait hits the bottom. We or at least I wouldn't. I'd pitch and engage and work it on top as your brother (no pendelum though). Letting it fall to the bottom would put your bait out of the zone. However in the conventional sense, the way you do it and others here have said, your way is most likely the preferred way.

The Curado actually casts light baits well. It's just that the Chronarch does it with less effort and easily because of what Raul described. I am an owner of the BSF (old greenie) and a 101 and 201D. I can toss without issue even 1/8 oz lures. Based on that I would expect that the E would be even better or at least on par with its predecessors. The curado is not a slouch in the right hands so I don't expect you will experience buyer's remorse.

Did Shimano break down and give in to make a 201 E5? That would be awesome. To my knowledge a 201 E5 doesn't exist. If you want to go round, the Cardiff is a solid choice. That is what I use.

Dude, so do you have 2 on and 4 off or 2 off and 4 on? It doesn't really matter. You are not giving the reel a chance. Look up baitcast 101 (on google) A great place to start for the centrifugal brakes is to have 3 off and 3 on. From this point you will better able to determine if you have too much or too little braking. Eventually you will gravitate to 2 on and 4 off as you gain experience. You also didn't mention how much wieght you are tossing. Try using at least 1/2 oz weight to practice with and let the lure fall a little faster. The "let it fall til so that the spool doesn't bird's nest when the lure hits the water or ground" is only a guideline. I am willing to bet that I am not the only one here who lets it fall much faster. Also, try 45 degrees and not zero. At this time, I will have to say operator error. ;D

Curado E for $179.00 MSRP that can probably be bought for less if you look hard enough. Spend the rest on the rod and you're in business. If you are a newbie to casting, you will appreciate how easy it will be to learn on a curado and how fast you will pick it up with minimal frustration, provided the reel is properly set to the lure's weight. If I can learn to use a casting reel, anyone can. Trust me.

That is a great primer piece! Thanks, Glenn for sharing and Eddie Taylor for the great write up. 8-)

Good luck! Before you know it, you will start to develop your own preferences for rods, reels, and line. 8-)

It will still have memory. The line acquires it when is stays on the spool. You can make the line taut and that can help a bit but don't pull so hard that you stretch the line. Unlike mono, it isn't going to revert to its non-stretched state. The best thing to do is live with the memory if the KVD stuff doesn't work. The line is still functionaly albeit ugly to look at. Fish fighting performance is not affected. I use 6# invizx and it the memory that it acquires is bareable and quite manageable, making it a non issue for me. Don't know how it acts at higher tests, however.

Symetre at $99. Can't be beat for what it offers.

Yeah, that indeed is a tough one to search for. I know that there was a fairly recent one and I found it: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1233354724/4#4 Hope it helps.

I agree 100%. Matter of fact, while I don't own or use one, even an ugly stick is sensitive in my hands. Not kidding. Nowhere near as sensitive as other rods I have, but sensitive enough in my hands to feel the subtle take of a 5" inch from a bass smaller than the senko. The most sensitive rods in my arsenal are my Crucial 6'10" MH XF casting and Lamiglas Certified Pro Drop Shot Special spinning rods. Even my lamiglas competitor isn't a slouch nor my compres or others.

That's a beautiful rod, but I want to know, how in the world did they slap on SiC guides on an $80 rod? That is fantastic! You'd be lucky to find Hardloy or Alconite. Wow! Down, boy! Back in the cage, NOW! ;D

The other thing is that the problem you described happens the thicker the diameter of the line. For bass fishing, you find that many anglers would not use more than 10# mono on a typical bass sized spinning reel because what you described is very likely to happen. Either put on less line or choose a line with a smaller diameter.

Generally speaking, the thinner the line's diameter, the farther it should cast a lure. 8# braid should be much thinner than 8# fc any day of the week. You results therefore, should not be surprising. 8-)

The Symetre is smooth and solid. It's a great reel, and I'm sure you will be happy with it. You will NOT be disappointed. This is what I call the workman's reel with some class. Never failed me and still running strong, smooth, and silent.

M Starr and Bilgerat, Thank you for your suggestions! This is really going to help me. Boy, the Arthritis thing could be a factor with some of them. And the You tube videos is a great idea. I have access to wireless internet and a projector screen to show them any knot tying videos. -ib

Hi guys! I am excited about a project that I am about to undertake with some seniors in my area. I have agreed to take them on a fishing trip. I took a few fishing last year and there were a couple of folks that went fishing for the first time and the look on their faces was priceless and joy-filled. However, tying every knot, baiting every hook, and undoing every tangled spool becomes very difficult for one person (me) to do for 10-12 persons. Based on that first experience, I believe it would be a good idea to teach them the basics. As a result, I want to develop a class course (one-time session is what I envision) to teach them the basics. I want to teach them the basics such as: 1) Tying Knots 2) Placing bait on a hook 3) How to cast And anything else you think would benefit them. I know that we all love to take our kids fishing but I have realized that we have seniors in our own communities that are just waiting to discover the joys of fishing for the first time or to rekindle their passion for fishing that they had earlier in their lives. It is people like you and me who can get them there. So please, share your tips and tricks here, from how you teach casting to tips on knot tying and baiting a hook, whatever you can think of would be appreciated. BTW, I will be taking them trout fishing at a trout farm. This eliminates the need to have them pay for licenses, and I have the convenience of having the basic amenities for them. Also, these farms have the rods and reels that I cannot provide on my own. Thanks ahead of time. My overall goal is the get them "hooked" and hopefully have them start a club or group that goes fishing on a regular basis. -ib