islandbass

That’s an awesome job!

What do you mean by hold up? For example, hold up in durability? Resilience? Resisting memory? Because for $40 give or take, it had better be magical, lol. Just ribbing you because I’ve had similar thoughts on Tatsu. While I have been convinced by our brothers here who swear by it, the environment I’d be using it in snag city rip rap so $40 is a bit tough to swallow. One store in my area carries it and it’s 30 miles away. I walk into the store like a man on a mission with the tatsu spool in hand, then I walk out like a mouse empty handed. Squeak squeak. ?

Well done! Those smallies aren’t small at all, ? ?

My first guess too. Without a backing of some kind, it can make a reel feel like it’s broken or not working properly. I’m guilty of this particular experience.

I have broken the knots I use into 2 categories: 1) Knots to join line to lure. I use the palomar and the improved clinch knot primarily. It the lure is small enough, I will use the palomar knot because it is so easy to tie and is pretty strong. When lures get larger I don’t like to create such a big loop in the palomar just to accommodate the lure so I’ll use the improved clinch (ICK henceforth) knot. I’ll also use the ICK when I tie on spinnerbaits and jigs because sometimes the skirt material gets in the way of my clumsy hands. The ICK is simpler for these lure types. 2) Knots to join lines. I use the Albright primarily because it works regardless of the difference in the diameters of the two lines. I will occasionally use the double uni but it seems every time I memorize it at home. I forget it by the time I’m on the water. I can and have used other knots for other species but these 3 can cover all the bases for bass. If this is the first time you’re using braid, please keep in mind it’s trait of nearly now stretch on your hook set. The stories of yanking lures out of the bass’ mouth are real and I have personally experienced it. Braid is also an excellent line choice for float fish. Any fishing degrees lined up in your future will be earned here and via experience on the water. The professors on this forum are experts in their fields. By professor I mean folks here who have so much knowledge that they’ve forgotten more than I’ve learned, lol, and they willing share their knowledge here.

The places I drop shot are too snaggy to warrant use of W for me so I used homemade ds weights using 3/16” or 1/4” diameter pencil lead. I do love how compact W is for its size.

I don’t know. I’ve only been fishing the drop shot from the bank for about 16 years now. I think it works, lol. Some here will say it’s only for vertical fishing. Good for them. I don’t disagree with them, but it won’t stop me from using it. Drop shot can and does work from the shore but other factors such as cover type can affect its effectiveness. Over my fishing life time, the DS has been my most productive method for catching bass and other species. Bar none, and I’ve fished from the shore all that time. ‘Nuff said, lol. So yes, you’ve been missing out?

I fished for them in Mexico and the locals used shrimp. I’d just keep using those inline spinners.

It is ice cream so I’d say yes. It’s probably the Italian word for ice cream, lol. There is not an ice cream flavor I have not tired and liked.

Indeed! Great minds think alike. I also use the gamakatsu siwash hooks. ?

To answer your question, it should be fine. I wouldn’t rebuild it for the sake of shortening the lure. Just fish it until it gets out of whack enough to warrant remaking it. I am glad you discovered the joys of the siwash hook over the treble. It too took me a while to realize that, as I initially though three times, three times the chances. The single hook imho has given me better hook up ratios, more direct hook sets (although many a time the fish set the hook on themselves, lol) and removing the barb allows for easy release. When I get them close enough, I just let the line go slack and the free themselves most of the time. It’s awesome.

Definitely a largemouth bass. Don’t let it’s coloration throw you off. They can be that pale green or they can be super dark green or somewhere in between. The mark of the lmb is their jaw line practically extending toward the gills or something like that. For example, a smb now won’t extend that far.

It could be the result of that style of blade that doesn’t use a clevis, but I think that is not too likely. A general good rule of thumb is to have the blade long enough to cover or almost cover the lure body. In yours, it seems only about 50% of the body is covered. Perhaps you should build another just like this but make sure the blade covers at least most of the body. See if that makes a difference. Also, is the body a real inline spinner body or a bullet weight? While bullet weights have a great profile, and make casting easy and awesome, they tend to be really heavy to the point that the retrieval speed is going to be really high to ensure the blade can make enough lift to keep the lure “afloat” or steady so to speak. Basically, the spinning blade helps to provide lift for lack of a better word. Or else the lure will drop through the water column like a rock. The converse could also be true where the blade shape can produce too much lift that you have to slow down the retrieve, lol. Unfortunately, the only way to rebuild it is to destroy it but fortunately, wire bodies are cheap. Do not destroy it yet. Let it be your control lure and build another like it with the constraints I mentioned above. I am glad to see that you are using a single hook. It is my strong preference vs. a treble. I even make them barbless for easy removal since mine spinner catch trout and they seem to have softer mouths figuratively speaking. If you can find them, try siwash hooks. They are strong by design and some come with an open eye that makes them very easy to install directly to the body or split ring. It is just my opinion, but the extra wire at the front is a bit too long. But like I said, don’t destroy this lure yet. This extra length is not needed and will actually help the lure to get out of tune because the likelihood of it bending the lure out of shape has increased. Lastly, I incorporate split rings (when I have them) to attach the hook for two reasons. One, so I can easily replace the hook without having to destroy the lure. Two, I think the split ring helps to reduce leverage the fish might have to thrown the lure. Really lastly now. Sometimes I will incorporate a good quality swivel at the front (small) to aid with inherent line twist. It will also allow for switching out different spinners on the fly if you have like a duo lock snap (small) at the end of you line. Glad you got into making inclines. I love them. My first outing with them I nailed so many trout on my own spinners that it felt like I was in fishing heaven. Not only that, it also caught my first bass this season too. Welcome to the club!

Good to know. But I’m going to aim for the 16 day wait and maybe if it truly is a 16 day wait, maybe we can make and sell t-shirts saying, “I survived the TW 16-day wait.” And at the bottom of the shirt the words “BR for Life” and a line up of of the numerous monkeys ? in mug shot form. Bait monkey, Boat Monkey, Tackle (Rods and Reels) monkey. I ain’t talking about the hear no, see no and speak no monkeys, either, lol.

Welcome! But come on... the Raiders, lol? Just kidding about the Raiders. ? BTW, you might to tell us a little about yourself.

Wow. Perhaps the silver lining in this is that we all get to start whittling away at the lifetime supply of lures we all have (you know you do, lol) we have accumulated over the years. I am proud to say that I have done this and it’s taken nearly 8 years to do so, lol. What I have left is basically what I have right now that fits in my tackle bag and two small grocery bags half filled with plastics. I have realized that for the most part the fish I target have told me the colors and lure types they prefer and I’ve adjusted accordingly. I can honestly fit every lure I have in one bankers box. I’ve never ordered anything from TW but I just might. Perhaps to experience this 16 day wait period, lol.

You should feel accomplished. I remember when I first investigated it. After seeing what had to be done, I said, “Screw that. Too much work/trouble,” lol. I use the Albright knot when I need to join lines. Works well, has never failed and it doesn’t get caught in the guides much if at all.

I got the Microsoft scam a long time ago. I heard the Indian accent and hung up. scammer: “Hello, I’m calling Microsoft to tell you there is a problem with your computer.. ib: immediately hangs up scammer immediately calls back. “Hello, yada yada yada, ... problem with your computer.” ib: “No there is not a problem,” and ib hangs up again. scammer calls back a third ? time and says, “Wait, I’m calling from Microsoft and we discovered there really is a problem. Give me a chance to explain.” ib: “No the isn’t a problem with my pc.” scammer: “Really? How do you know?” ib: “Because I effing work for Microsoft, you effing mother effer.” scammer actually makes a final response: “Oh.” And proceeds to hang up with his tail between his legs. True story. I normally don’t like to curse but this case, I let it out and let him have it. The best part was when he said, “Oh,” and actually hung up.

First, welcome and glad you’re back into fishing. I am going to guess you are wanting advice of a spinning reel given that your rod is a medium light. Any reel in the 2500-3000 size should be adequate from any reputable company like Shimano or Daiwa. The sky is the limit on how much you’re willing to spend, but generally $100 gets you a heck of a lot of performance for the price. There is always a risk buying things online but it would usually be related to an inconvenience as many vendors would want to make things right. Personally I prefer mono for its simplicity and price. The weight for me depends on what I’m targeting and the cover but generally: drop shot - 6# senkos and other lighter plastics - 8# small cranks - 10# So as you can see, that 3 reels and 2 more rods for you, lol. Just kidding. One set up is fine for now.

Good point. I made my post after reading the OPs first post. I just went over the thread and saw to your point. I did cover that at the end of my winded post. That thumb better be hovering over the spool ready to compensate for those variables associated with what can happen in last half of the cast, lol.

I’d say it’s your mechanics assuming the reel is set properly to the lure. Ask yourself if you are truly allowing the rod to be properly loaded by the lure’s weight BEFORE you even think you bring your your forward during the cast. I can cast mega hard and fast but I ensure my rod is properly loaded and away my lure sails without a single loop of overrun nor the potential for one. With that said, it is less necessary to make an ultra hard or super fast cast to maximize distance. Nope. Waste of energy. Learn to properly load the rod so that your rod and reel do all the work. IMHO, a properly made cast, i.e., a cast in which the angler makes the rod and reel do all the work, will make farther casts with less effort and energy, which in turn allows the angler to more more casts in an outing with less fatigue. More casts with less work. There is one exception or one factor that constrains this and that is the aerodynamics of the lure at the end of the cast. A 1/2 oz. spoon is going to cast farther and with less chance of an overrun at the end of the cast than a spinnerbait of the same weight. Occasionally, the blades of the spinnerbait and slow the lure down in flight while the spool is still spinning faster than the line can come off the spool. This is not a problem. This is easily resolved by using your thumb to feather the spool to a slower speed to compensate. So I’d guess you are not casting too fast in as much as casting with improper mechanics. Casting hard with bad mechanics doesn’t work. Casting hard with good mechanics can work. But why use so much energy to do that when casting efficiently gives you max casting distance with less effort? That is the question. I am speaking from experience gained through using Shimano Curados, Cardiff, Pfleuger Trion (yup, the original first gen still in use) and an Abu G Round reel.

Thanks. Angle lake near me is another with land locked salmon.

I believe so, I believe especially in CA. Perhaps here too in WA state but our winter slow their growth and trout anglers here are very capable of nearly catching all of the stocked trout by end of summer.

As a bank angler, I took up 5 rods and it was a pain to carry those rods in hand with the tackle bag and maybe a backpack when I first started. However, I’m a keen observer and try to learn at least one thing every outing. I soon realized that no more than 3 of those rods were used the most. 9 out of 10 times for my environment. So I reduced it to 3, but choosing the 3 I thought would be most effective that day. It was still a pain in the you know what to carry 3 rods among the fingers in one hand and so I came up with a solution. I built what I call a rod quiver. I can now easily hold 3 rods in one hand comfortably and easily. I built the original over a decade ago and it still is in use. I built another for an old timer who lugged around 3 rods and a Winnebago sized tackle bag. Here is a link to the second one I made. I do know a way to use pvc pipes to lock in the rods over Velcro which is also superior but I had to build this one quickly, lol. I used a triangle to hold 3 rods but you can pick a different shape to accommodate more rods. But like I said, you’ll probably conclude you will also need 3-4 per trip. If I faced heavy cover and lily pads, I’d definitely have a 4th rod but I don’t so why carry a rod that will never see use? duh, ib, lol. just to given you an idea. There is more that can be done to improve it like adding legs to prop it, and I would have, but I found my tackle is sufficient to serve as a prop. Good luck tomorrow. Ain’t never let a little wind stop me from fishing ?

Stocked trout for sure, but salmon on west side lakes? Tell me! I’m down, lol. Nice to see a fellow Washingtonian here. @TnRiver46: We can help you get into those trout. ?