islandbass

No doubt you can. I actually have my only 2000 reel on my UL rig right now. However, it has 6# test not 2. I am not sure but a 2000 spool might hold more than 300 yards if 2# line. If that is what you find out, I would fill 25-50% of the spool with something like 6# line and fill up the rest with 2# line since most "filler" spools are around 300 yards. Sounds intriguing. Did you catch that you tube with Ike fishing with 2# line? It was pretty cool. Nearly tempted me too.

Yes. I've also seen it with crankbaits. I even saw a bass slap at my crank between the bottom and rear trebles so adroitly that it somehow tapped the bait without getting caught by either treble. Talk about teasing an angler. Talk about the definition of dejection

Up until a few years ago, the closest one to me was nearly 1000 miles away in CA. Now both stores are within 30 miles or so. I wonder how having both stores this close to me and in the same direction affect customers. I still haven't even had a chance to check out the BPS yet.

@Angealy: Thanks a lot! I can't wait to try those set ups. Fish beware, lol.

I think as long as you are using a good quality mono, it shouldn't matter to a 4000 size reel.

Are you talking about the pink worms with a ball at the head like a power egg? I just got some of those but haven't had luck with them yet but I didn't get too much time to try them out long enough.

Hook sets imho are perhaps a little easier to make if not equal IMHO. How? Sometimes I would imagine that on a weak hookset, we might not have used enough force to drive the hook passed the barb. In this case the barb was probably a hinderance! You might stand a chance with that weak hookset to drive the hooker a little deeper with no barb in the way. I learned a lot from fishing barbless in my state when required. So what I say is based on my personal experience and no one else's Hooksets just as good or maybe slightly better without the barb because the resistance from the barb is no longer in the equation. Concerned about losing a fish because the hook has no barb? There in lies your true test in the battle between you and the fish. Simply put, strive to not let the line go slack during the fight and you'll win. Also, releasing fish is far easier, especially when they have swallowed the hook. Lastly, try your best to keep a decent controlled tension on the line. Don't rely solely on the rod. If you ever hold the line in your fingers/hand with some tension, you will be amazed at how sensitive our hands are. I guarantee you our hands are more sensitive than the best loomis rod. And check out the rod tip thread. You'll learn a lot from it.

If you caught it to eat, I sure hope you didn't eat. Cancer is also my first guess from a non expert or those are some serious abcesses.

No for me. The closest thing to near perfect is live bait, lol.

Then it's a mystery indeed! Something that high on the list of killer, cool, beyond-awesome casting reels should not have an issue like that. I hope you get it resolved.

Hopefully not by too much. Unlike spoons and other sinking baits, the suspending lures might be affected as you suspect. Looking forward seeing your research. To the subject of treble vs single hook, I live in a state where certain restrictions are placed on using trebles. As a result, by mandate, all anglers in my state in saltwater can only use single hook, barbless for the most part. So we have to remove trebles that many lure come stock with and replace it with a siwash or other single hook. I cannot state this as a fact, but my observations from give me the sense that I am perceiving that my hook set seems better with single hook over treble hook. To me, it just feels more solid or positive. Dealing with single hook vs treble hook removal from a fish, single hook is definitely easier, lol. It's an uneasy feeling unhooking a large fish with a mouthful of treble shaking vigorously. I think going barbless might be more humane and it has its pluses (easier to release fish) and minuses (no one would ever want to lose a fish of a lifetime because the fish has an easier chance to spit the hook - however, that to me is 100% user error, MHO). With that said, I don't have anything against people using barbed hooks as long as they are following their state regs. I have never ever lost a big fish because it spit a barbless hook. The angler simply has to remain focused enough to never let the line go slack during the battle. Knock on wood. There's a first time for everything, lol.

The "bail" equivalent is probably the thumb bar. I would be inclined to think something with the anti reverse is off too. Did you recently take it apart?

I used the sad icon to let you know I feel your pain. Mama said there'd be days like this.

I've been out of the crankbait world for a awhile but if I'm not mistaken, the the rapala dt series (stands for dives to) follows the same convention. So DT 6 means rapala is saying this CB will/should dive to 6' when using 10# monofilament. That's what rapala says and with 10# it seemed to hit that mark somewhere in the second third of the cast, if you can imagine a long and gradual parabola and steady retrieve. I love most rapala lures and using crankbaits in general but have been trying to gain more experience with jigs and soft plastics lately.

Thanks. Even from the pics they have a high eye candy factor. I fully understand I am clicking on the link at my own bait monkey risk.

Those look like dual purpose lures designed to catch both bass and angler What kind of poppers are they? They look awesome And they're dressed trebles look like ones I've made in the past. ?

I think we need watch both rod tip and line for anything that we don't personally add to the rod/line/bait equation. When I watched that video, I was thinking, dang! That's what I do (in addition to watching the line) I can share with every one from personal observation and experience that if the line has too much slack, i.e., if it is more slack than the controlled slack that is used in drop shotting, we will NOT feel that bite. Simply, there has to be a certain amount of tension for us to have a chance at detecting the bite or take. I watch my line, bait and all, and I'd leave excessive slack intentionally. I see them take. They might remain still or even slightly move a little. It was incredible. Seeing them take, but I could not feel anything whatsoever, but I can clearly see that they took it. Incredible as in its literal meaning, not believable. Here I thought, I could feel every bite, and I wasn't. I shudder to think how many fish I missed when this exact same thing happens sight unseen. Yow-sah! So when I have enough mental energy to stay focused, I really try to pay attention to rod tip, line and try to ensure I have at least a controlled amount of slack. Do I probably still miss fish? I think so, but I strive to minimize those losses.

Looks like he's ready for the batman/scooby doo/Disney spin caster of his choice. They work surprisingly well. I still have my daughter's Barbie or princess spincaster to which tons of fish large and small fell victim to. She started fishing when she was about 4 when I first started fishing. She just earned her drivers license yesterday and will be 18 next month. Time flies and it seems like only yesterday when she made her first cast and caught a trout in seconds. I know I don't have to tell you to cherish each and every moment because you will. Enjoy the ride and the journey.

They are the size and shape they are for a reason. Shaving it or making changes might alter its wiggling characteristics so the question is would you be willing to sacrifice one and tinker with it. If it were me, that answer would be yes. Good luck and keep us posted.

I think I'd practice with the buffing pad on something else, even if you've got the experience, so at the very least, you'd but "warming up" to the task at hand. Good luck!

I suppose we could put the rods in without the reels, or add another one on the other side to match, lol. Nice job and very practical. I like. I keep imagining it as a rocket launcher, though.

I'm a bass angler at heart and always will be. With that said, just like the Pokémon adage, "I want to catch'em all." As a shorebound angler living in the pacific nw, I have to face the reality that there are times during the year I will not be able to catch bass because they are simply out of reach. I was initially a die hard bass or nothing angler but after a good number of fruitless and nonproductive fishing outings in the dead of winter from the shore, freezing to the bone and not even feeling a fish fart, no more. Other species here bigger and stronger than bass peak during the tough to catch bass time. Ever battle a chum salmon? Imagine a fight with a smallie but magnified 100 fold. And then there's saltwater fishing. Don't know for sure why some of these saltwater fish fight so well. My eyes opened up and I realized I was actually denying myself the pleasure and awesomeness of battling other species of fish. You get to feel and learn the subtle differences in how they fight, what they'll bite. That is the upside. The downside is your bait monkey might start rattling his cage and sending you subliminal messages and planting suggestions in your head to buy appropriate gear.

I would classify it as a trout/pan fish rod but I can tell you that as long as the cover isn't heavy (and I probably wouldn't use it in heavy cover), this rod plays out and handily subdues bigger largemouth and smallmouth bass too. If I recall, I found it in a bargain bin priced at about $35 and discounted to $19. It's one of the best steals of a deals I ever came across and I usually have a 2000 (20 rapala 6xi or something like that) Abu G cardinal (I think it's about a 1000 size) or 2500 (symetre) spinning reel on it.

I second the use of dev con. It will work very well. You can with hobby model paint brush spread (thin) some just around the area of the lure body where the screw goes in if you need to put a clear coat around it. I use dev con as a clear coat on most lures I make. There is also a five minute version available if you don't wish to wait 24 hrs. and if you can do this fast enough, lol. Just in case this is your first time, It it is imperative that you use equal amounts and thoroughly mix the 2 parts very well in order to ensure the epoxy will harden.

I have no experience in this but as a gut feeling best guess, I'd try some type of countdown minnow or other lure you could get to descend a bit and then retrieve and tryout various depths if the top waters didn't produce. I'd fish the bottom of the trees if those didn't work. I must say it sure looks like promising water.