bigbill

Ok I understand what your saying. I'm asking is there a more expensive reel that needs no thumb braking at all that uses a governor type brake system? I searched this and found many patents on this I'm going though them right now. Bill

I been purchasing different bait caster reels looking at some of the magnetic adjustable brakes. I did notice we just don't get away from our educated thumb with the $100 price range reels. My question is are there any reels where we don't use a combination of the friction knob, the adjustable magnetic brake and our thumb we the emergency brake? I just don't understand why there not using a 150 year old speed governor design? I think the governor design can be applied on the slow down rather than the over speed it's designed for. The brake shoes can be on the spool to retract on casting yet apply force on the slow down. Is there anything being offered today like this?

So far my success with spinnerbaits is to go slow. This is with a spinning reel. I do adjust my lure speed by sight. The second when I get no action above the sight line I slow it down so it's below the sight line where the fish are. I use and switch crankbaits to run at different depths too. But we can take a large Bill floating crank and run it at different depths by slowing it way down. I'm not sure how much of an adjustment I'll need to do since I'm switching to baitcasters more. I learned something new and very important here. Thanks, bigbill

So a 5.0:1 bait caster is needed for deep diving larger billed cranks. Thanks I'm learning more and more about bait casting reels. Bigbill

The gears are affordable.

I been thinking after I read a post about IPT and reel gear ratios. I'm starting to use broadcasters and I realize about some lures requiring a slower speed. I'm not sure what ratios everyone is using. I been buying the 6.3:1 and the 7.3:1 ratio baitcaster reels can these have too fast of a IPT for certain crankbait lures I plan on using? My point is do I need a 5.0:1 baitcaster reel for slower running lures? Since I'm switching from the slower 5.3:1 spinning reels to the faster ratio broadcasters but I'm not sure of the IPT on the spinning reels. To me I need to readjust my lure speed when using the baitcasting reels. With this said I hope I'm not over thinking this. But it sounds like it is a problem.

I been taking my baitcaster reels apart and I would use a cookie pan with the sides so any parts that try to get away will be captured in the pan. I also lay down a paper towel to line up the parts as there removed from the reel. I make a row of the parts from the right to left as I disassemble them. To reassemble it I go from the left to right. It's not hard to do just go slow. Bigbill

My 1/8 brass weighted carolina rig with a brass ticker and a 24" adjustable leader and a weedless hook with senkos wacky rigged or with brushogs. I use this rig up to 10' of water.

I like the yozuri hybred and the Excalibur silver thread too. The vicious feels like the Excalibur silver thread AN which seems a tad stiffer. I do wet my knots when tying them. I do get better hook sets with copolymer over using a standard mono. Copolymer has less stretch. Bill

The diameter of the spool when it's filled with line determinds ITP. I got it. So for the speed of certain lures its the ITP then the gear ratio that determines the lure speed. For deeper running lures we want a slower speed. You guys have it down. Thanks, bigbill

To me it's how much do you want to spend. I feel stupid but what is IPT?

I'm slow to accept change nor try to change from my secure way that I do things. I'm still using the copolymer, yozuri, vicious and Cajun red mono. I been using the Excalibur silver thread too. I really like the Excalibur silver thread but it's not cheap. I tend to find the other brands on sale. I also use the Cajun red line on my lighter tackle and the heavier red Cajun line for my leaders on my C Rigs. Line just isn't line anymore and any brand of line just won't do. Let's face any reel that will wind line will work and any rod with a good reel seat and eyes will function. When it comes to the line it's our weakest link. We need to use a good quality line. It's funny that I just wound some braid on my baitcaster setup for hopping and swimming jigs last night. I hope I like it.

I caught large chain pickerel like 29" to 32" where I have caught DD bass plus big salmon too. Like I said before these small places get the winter runoff from larger lakes. I'm not sure how big our bass can be up in the northeast but I'm convinced in what I have caught and what swims by me at the drop offs like they own the place. I didn't think about catching nor targeting no bass till I pulled up my little 10lber. She had a mouth that made me happy I wasn't a small duck on the water. I just go to fish now in the same spots if a bigger one bites so be it. I still believe in what I'm seeing and caught in the bigger bass, that we have bigger bass across our country and there not being caught or targeted. It was on my fishing frenzy of fishing 24/7 non stop every early am. You need to be motivated and decaded to bass fishing. I eat and sleep bass fishing when I'm in my frenzy, that means no TV and bed early. Just stay going and fish hard. My hats off to the fisherman who catch the bigger ones too. I know the hard work it takes and the dedication you put in. Like I said before the smaller bass aren't keeping the bass population up its these bigger gals who are making the millions of bass fry and I hope they grow up to be like mommy too only bigger. Just stay fishing no matter where you live in any pond or lake just stay going as much as you can. Bigbill

I'd add a shot of scent for a longer hold on your jig. If your using a scent I change the flavor. Example if I'm using the baitmate orginal bass scent I switch to the garlic baitmate scent. They seem to enjoy the change in flavor. I've also done this on slow days too. Somedays we like steak with our eggs too right? If your misses uses that chopped garlic in a jar don't throw the juice away when the jar is empty it's free scent. Use a little and keep the rest in the fridge.

Since I have on order four new bait casting rods and I'm happy for now with all my bait casting outfits it's time to go threw my spinning setups to upgrade them too. I found three brand new Finor lite spinning rods I had tucked away in my tackle room. That have the right action and power I been looking for I figured I'd set them up ready for the springtime. I installed two Finor lite spinning reels on two Finor rods and they balanced perfectly. The Finor lite 400S reel balanced the 7' Finor rod, while the Finor 300S reel balanced the Finor 6'6" lite rod. I then installed an Okuma exiptior #30 spinning reel on my third 7' Finor rod and it balanced perfectly too. On my other spinning outfits I swapped the reels till they are as close to balancing without adding weight yet. They say by having our rod setups balanced it's less fatigue on us at the end of the day. I remember going home really tired after a long fishing trip making many casts since I use lures only. I hope balancing helps. If it doesn't help its old age right? God bless, bigbill I may balance all my bait casting setups by adding the weight kits. To me there a screw and adding multiple flat washers till we get it right. I figure by using masking tape at first we can tape the screw and add washers till it's balanced then screw it to the butt end of the rod. I'll paint the flatwashers and the wood screws flat black using epoxy spray paint then calibrate each weight setup.

I have an older early 70's Garcia five star ultra-lite which was top of there line back then that's a two piece and I can feel the slightest nibble on. I retired it and it's D.A.M. Quick 110 reel to my fishing museum. I even seen this reel in an antique shop while on vacation. My early fishing equipment got old so fast. I'm still only 39yo(63yo). I keep my tackle looking New because I'm careful with it. That German quick reel is getting close to 40yo and it still works like new today. I bought with my tax return money back then. Now I use the ONE piece ultra-lites from bps & quantum for trout fishing. Just some of my century old fishing facts. We get old so fast, stop the bus of life or slow it down by fishing everyday and fish hard too. God bless, bigbill

My PB of 10# I caught her on a Rebel BIG CLAW crawfish Crankbait that dives 10'. I cast it out and swept back the rod to make the lure hit the bottom and just reel it fast enough so it stays bouncing off the bottom.

When your catching the smaller bass from shore and the bite slows down. I notice the bigger bass will come closer to see what the smaller bass are eating but they won't strike the smaller sized lure. I put on a larger lure of the same style/color under daylite conditions. If the daylite conditions are getting towards the darker evening conditions I go brighter in color in the same style of lure.

Don't pull your hair out you will end up bald like me. Try a rapala original floating minnow 2" either match the color of the baitfish or go with the black or blue one. I been using a blue/chartreuse rapala countdown minnow with success in stained/muddy water conditions by vertically jigging it. I drop it till it hits the bottom then reel it up 6" to 10" off the bottom and start twitching then pausing it till I get a strike. When using spinnerbaits I try a few casts above the sight line first with a shot of yum scent. Then I slow up the speed enough so it runs below the sight line were we can't see it. Down size your spinner bait to a smaller one with willow blades. In stained or muddy water conditions I use the hot chartruse colored skirt. Don't forget the scents. Bigbill

I use standard locking snap swivels on my all my plastics/C rigs. With all my crankbaits/topwater lures I use the ball bearing locking snap swivels for the smoother side to side movement. It gives the solid body lures a little more wiggle too.

Every time I order New jigs for my last few orders I order a mix of different styles and colors of the rage plastics too from Mike Siebert. I didn't keep track of how many I purchased too but I'm stocked up on them. I just setup to jig rods today. A spinning outfit and a bait caster outfit with braid. I hope to get out at 4:30 am tomorrow. I hope the jigs work as well for me as they are for you. Bigbill

I know where to purchase the lews rods that are affordable but I'm not sure how good they are.

I never gave this much thought till now. I just ordered four new baitcasting rods and I think there all one piece rods. I mainly have all two piece rods. I never gave much thought to the newer slip on two piece with the rubber o ring over the metal female & male connectors of years ago where we had more sensitivity over the slip on o ring style of today? True or false? I have an older Berkley cherrywood 6' rod that I use for my carolina rigs that's a two piece rod were I can feel the slightest nibble but I'm also a tip watcher too. I used this rod for over a decade now and replacing it is so hard to do since I used it so much and I'm use to it. Not even the new cherrywoods come even close to this rod. I know it's on my list to upgrade it too. But my point is its a two piece rod and it's still sensitive. The splice joint is tight. I hope my new 7', 6'6" one piece rods fit in my jeep wrangler.

With all the reading and videos here plus on you tube I review it all to keep the edge fresh in my mind. I hammer videos all winter till the ice is off but don't forget to clean and lube your reels too. While it's still warm I wash my lures and tackle boxes to get all the oders out. It's also time to get the tackle room in order too. At the sametime I check my in-house stock on everything too. It's also time to watch for sales and clearances too. There's slot to do over the winter. But on espn I wish we had more fishing shows on tv. Shows like Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Hank Parker, the old Jerry McKinnis fishing shows. Jerry was the man who started it all. He was building one boat per year to fish for bass. This was life before the bass boat. I miss all this shows. Even the old black and white tv shows of gada bout gaddis aka The Flying Fisherman with his float plane. I was glued to the tv on every sundaynite watching him. I just wish we had fishing shows on primetime again. We need another espn channel with 24/7 fishing.

I got your attention now? Which do you prefer a one piece rod or a two piece rod? Why? Is the one piece rod that much stronger in the mid section or is it the two piece? Which one is better?