islandbass

That will never happen. (Wink) Yes, it can happen but it is ultra rare. Matter of fact, it only happened to me twice. I was a green horn angler. I didn’t combine the two pieces together well enough (like I said, absolute, know-nothing beginner). I went through the casting motion without the rod being strung yet, and the tip flew off like a missile launched from an Atlatl. I threw it so hard that when the tip stuck into the grass/ground, there was enough energy to make it snap. First cast, first broken rod. 100% my fault. When combined, two piece rods shouldn’t come apart. To ensure that they don’t separate, I check the connection periodically, say after every 30 casts or so.

I was so involved talking about mono that I completely forgot the copolymer lines. They are also a solid choice.

Why not? (rhetorical question of course) I can see a whole bunch of timers who might come across this start chuckling when mono was pretty much all there was to use, lol. Just have a little fun lightly ribbin’ you. I use mono most of the time and have been consistently for the past few years for most applications. Sometime I’ll treat myself to a spool of 6# sea guar fc, but it’s mono on economic grounds. I like braid and fc for all their traits but it’s mono for economic reasons. I tend to lose more line than anything else since I face nasty rip rap (break offs) primarily drop shotting going for smallies from the shore. 6# mono has done nearly as good and mono works well for the moving baits I throw. Hence, my primary use of mono. Besides, the last time I used crutches was when I broke my right ankle in two places, lol.

I’m curious if you learned it from an article and if so post it. I dont think so much useless as opposed to being a guide for us anglers to follow. One can lighten the reel’s drag to compensate for using a line higher than the rod’s Suggested rating. Personally, I try to stay within it, but won’t hesitate to use a higher strength line if I have to.

For better or worse, Memory is a trait expected with mono. In my opinion it fares about the same as any typical memory so I’d say yes to your question, and I’ve used trilene xl, Xt, spiderwire, and, even omniplex. They all eventually acquire memory but you have to ask yourself, is it really an issue that affects performance? Unsightly? Perhaps. Performance or show stopping? Not in my book. I don’t mind memory one bit, on spinning or casting reels. One line of mono that to me seems to acquire memory the “slowest” and this is just loose observation, is suffix elite or siege. However, both will still acquire it. Bottomline, big game and the others I’ve mentioned are excellent monofilament lines that you can’t go wrong with. I also like monofilament for its economic impact on my wallet.

Solid recommendation that I could not have said better.

What species are you targeting and do you plan to use this in a river environment?

Great idea, and I add them to mine. The wire former is unnecessary and I can see from your pic your wire form is sufficient. Unless the lure making monkey is rattling his cage. Well done!! Although this is just a guideline and not set in stone, you generally want the blade to “cover” the body of the lure give or take a little, so a little short or long should be okay. Honestly, I can’t remember the reason why, but I remember reading it in a book. Lastly, you might want to consider switching to a single hook if you realize that the grass is becoming a nuisance. I have not seen a decline in catching fish with a single hook. I actually think it’s better with a single hook, but that is my opinion and not a fact. One functional hook type is the siwash hook. They are strong and some even come open eyed which is a plus.

Now that... is freaking awesome. Just last week my hands were so cold that I honestly had a hard time threading line through the guides and the ding dang wind didn’t help either. This thingofajig would have made a difference for me ?

Shimano rods give you an excellent value in bang for your buck. I used to to have the similar casting version (it was an M power) but it got lost. I do have the compre’s parallel rod, a 2-piece MH 6’6” MH rod and I love this rod. It gets more use than my “bass” rods because of its 2-piece trait. The clarus you have in mind has a decent blank and more than adequate guides. I always note guides when I look at rods. For the most part, I prefer some type of aluminum oxide guide for me to even consider and the clarus sports such guides if I’m not mistaken. Shimanos clarus and compre models are extremely underrated and usually below the radar for many of us bass anglers because the models of Shimano rods above them appear to be more appealing. In in terms of bang for the buck and functionality, the clarus line is a solid and excellent choice that is more than adequate for bass fishing. It definitely fits the bill of an all purpose rod. The only things you need to do now is get it and go fishing.

I'll double whatever nittygrittyboy offers! That bridge is mine, Sho'nuff!

If that bass attractant works half as good as the power bait formula for trout, you will have a winner on your hands. Powerbait (for trout) looks like no natural thing trout would we so they are likely attracted to it by scent and perhaps taste after they hold on. So, I would expect their bass attractant to function similarly to the power bait. Please share your findings.

Wow. That is an interesting case. I too would have recommended going with the regular avid. I take it no possible chance it could be casting mechanics, all else being equal? It might also be worth checking to see how the guides are lined up between the two rods when juxtaposed. If the guides are placed roughly the same that would have me stumped.

Pm me. Thanks ib

Good idea, but the human variable is something we can’t control well enough to guarantee that the lures are fished in the exact same manner. I reckon the setup will will have to be fished with computer controlled robotic arms, lol.

I’ve come to accept this is part of the nature of the beast for applications for which this can and does happen. I don’t do much at all when it happens in the beginning. Why? Because other than looking scary, it has never resulted in a bird’s nest. Ever — even when I intentionally try to make a birds nest. If it starts to bug me, I will make a cast large enough to ensure that the loose line is off the spool and do what has already been described, add tension to the line, by hand or water. I hate wasting a cast on that, lol.

With everything set up properly and the bass casting tied on, go through the motions of a cast (a soft, light cast) but do not let your thumb off of the spool. Instead. Allow yourself to feel the weight pull back the rod and then feel the rod shoot the weight forward. Remember, don’t let your thumb off the spool. The only goal is to feel the rod get loaded (bend back) by the weight and spring the weight forward (spring forward). Do this enough times to get familiar with this sensation. You’re ready to let it go now. You choose if you want to cast side arm or overhand. I will I’ll give you the scoop on the overhand cast. Picture 12 o’clock above you and 9 directly in front and 6 behind. The time to release your thumb off the spool is between 1 and 2:00. If you let go at 12:00, the lure will slam into the ground in front of you. This is going to feel awkward because you have years of having your release time with a spinning reel with you. If you release at the time I recommend, the cast will be successful if everything is properly set. Sidearm is very similar. If the weight flies to you’re left, (assuming casting right handed) you’re letting go too late. To the other right, too early. Directly in front of you, perfect timing. So over the the winter and fall, practice as much as you can in your yard. I have no doubt you’ll get this down well before the spring. Now get r done.

That is excellent. I’m also from a 100% spinning background and I learned a lot of things the harrrrrrd way because no one I knew personally used one. I learned via trial and error and fortunately for you and others here, you have the advice of your thread. I too learned over a winter break. So here’s the deal: mono - 10 to 15# test. Buy a larger spool of trilene big game because it’s very economical. 1/2 weight - buy a few half oz bass casting weights. Stay away from lures. No need to sacrifice a good lure for your learning. They will also have something to tie the line like a casting plug. Do use you anything less than 1/2 oz. amount of line - this is very important. Make sure the line is optimally filled. Half or overfilled might slow your learning. Typically it’s about 1/8 - 1/16 under the lip of the spool but check with reel maker’s recommendation. Casting mechanics- THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING for someone coming from a spinning background. We need to learn how use the weight of our lure (bass casting weight in your case) to properly load the rod. You have years of spinning behind you where you don’t have to this although you should because too would improve your casting efficiency. I’ll write more later.

Actually, that makes sense. Your first rod is longer. If all else is equal, the first rod should outcast the shorter rod for something heavy enough if the lure is within the weight range for both rods. The 6” difference imho is the reason.

I’d guess you’re a little too sensitive, at first glance. Leave the sensitivity to your rods and not your ego, lol. Sometimes people who boast like that do it to yank your chain and may or may not be serious about it. Usually, if you’re good enough friends, you can tell. If if you are good friends you should be able to tell, but not always. Then there are people who just flat out like to brag about everything because it’s a way for them to look good, stroke their ego, or to feel superior when they know they aren’t. To those type of people I waste no worrying on especially if I know that what they believe isn’t true. I just smile and say, “that’s cool’” or “really? Wow.” No sweat off of my back and I have nothing to prove, but if and when I do, my actions and not my words will do the talking.

Holy smokes, that reel looks sick! Bait monkey is salivating and rattling his cage. That is something that could be bought for looks alone, lol. Felicidades. Hope you post on its performance. ??

This is golden and the key for all spinners to keep in mind. The first thing spinners getting into using casting gear is that whipped kind of casting you're accustomed to in which the rod is not properly loaded by the rod is a disaster waiting to happen on casting gear, for which, with spinning gear, one can do without ill effect or penalty. The sooner spinners realize that, the faster they'll learn. Speaking from experience. Now, whipping a casting rod is generally NOT an issue if the lure's weight properly loads the rod AND the reel is set correctly. The only two show stoppers are, if all of else is correct, is a super-strong wind or the lure hits something unexpectedly and the angler's thumb didn't stop the spool from spinning before the hit occurred.

Give the two choices, the medium. Please note that even the medium might be too powerful to effectively cast the rapala floating minnows (they’d probably barely make the rod bend on the cast), but I could live with that... until I bought a more suitable rod for them. Bait monkey talking, lol.

I can relate. It was 14 years ago I tried spinnerbaits and signed off on them but something for me changed this year. I couldn’t keep them off. I convinced myself that the bass in my area simply weren’t tuned into them. And to boot, the stingiest bass lake, my home lake, where it’s tough by default from the shore (houses surround 90% of the lake) gave up the ghost. So so even if it’s been 25 years to my 14, don’t sign off on them. All it means is the necessary adjustments (color, blade size, blade type possibly just a few to mention) to crack their puzzle have yet to be put together. To the topic, spinnerbait I say. Only have one chatterbait and it’s misplaced and so I’m still a chatter bait virgin. They are on my list of lures to add to the “caught a bass with it” list.

Take off the spool and check for any water that might have gotten inside and wipe it out. Other than that, can’t think what else you need to do.