J._Bricker

@billmac, black algae and blue-green algae blooms don’t affect the fish or fishing. We’ve been dealing with it out west in the Delta for some time now. It’s definitely a concern for pets as it is deadly, and those swimming.

@fishnbear, IMO a “power” dropshot presentation works well where there is a lot of cover and accuracy is important. At least that’s been my experience. It can be thrown pretty much anywhere you might pitch a jig or t-rigged bait and gives you and the fish another option. A 7ft medium or medium heavy casting rod and 15-20lb test braid depending on water clarity or how sporting you want to be. I use a 1/0-3/0 straight shank worm hook with a shrink wrap keeper and the lightest weight I can get away with. I attached a photo of my dropshot rig. @fishnbear I think you’re on the right track and look forward to future updates. Good luck and good fishing

Fourty Niner Faithful

Hey, welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums @Bigassbass. Not sure what you rod budget is, but for $159.99 (TW) a Shimano Curado 7’1” medium action rod or bump up to a Zodias 7’ medium heavy. A rod and reel made specially to be used as a pair is pretty nice. Granted, there are a multitude of options on both ends of the manufacturer and cost scale...

Champion or a Ranger @teamfyss, and the guys I know just re-power their Champions if that tells you anything. And I’m a Ranger guy. Rangers IMO are better fishing platforms, Champions ride better in rough water. Just a matter of the fishing conditions you plan to encounter. I believe the early 2000 “5” series Rangers had a heavier hull, before they decided to get faster to complete with the Triton. Good luck, the right boat is out there.

I did the same @waymont with the original part. Even though the break was substantial, that’s what I have in reserve as a spare . I just wanted an intact OEM on the reel. They look practically brand new and I just wanted to keep them that way.

@WRB, can’t say I even considered calling Dan for the part at the time of my quest. After calling Shimano Service Centers through out the US (Hawaii has two BTW, on two different islands, and only ONE of them has a phone), using three different search engines, scrolling through 5-7 pages checking each listed site, for three different part numbers for the same part, not to mention getting side tracked to other shops, I was very happy to find it at DadsOleTackle. I was just trying to provide BR members with another source of reel parts as well as showing some appreciation to James and his shop. I did call Dan this morning and he didn’t have it either...

Fred said this stick was big enough so here goes.....

I just wanted to say thanks to James at DadsOleTackle for his parts inventory and help. It was much appreciated... My story; I’ve got a couple of Shimano Curado 201DHSV’s that I kinda retired after being a fixture on my deck since I purchased them. I tried to keep them in good shape, periodically wipe them down and add a couple drops of oil. Even though I was raised with the adage “take care of your equipment and it’ll take care of you”, I preformed in essence the bare minimum of the necessary maintenance. So I decide to get ambitious and pull complete maintenance on them, including installing Carbontex drag washers and ceramic bearings. And I decide a good time to do this is one night after I spent the day out fishing. I start to take the handle nut cover off and I noticed it’s cracked, and made of plastic. Since I’d like to keep the reel in primo shape I’d just give Shimano a call in the morning and order another one. Following morning I call Shimano. I’m told the part is discontinued, no longer in stock and contact one of their service centers. Call the service centers around the country and told I’m pretty much SOL on the handle nut cover. And with a little more research, I find the DadsOleTackle website after a day long search and lo and behold, they have it! A couple days later got it in the mail and my 201DHSV’s are looking almost as good as new.

After two consecutive weekends of big frog tournaments, I went out with the intention of punching the mats, figuring the fish normally receptive to topwater offerings were recovering from being sore lipped. The fish were chewing, and I was really surprised when I put a 4.4lb and 4.1lber in the boat on consecutive casts. I pretty much had a solid #retiredguytournament bag at the end of the day, just wish these better fish were bitting on Saturdays lol...

Hello @Just_Fishin from Northern California! Welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums

Hello @Wizzlebiz from Northern California! Welcome Joel to Bass Resource and the Forums

Hello @Bassjam2000 from Northern California! Welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums

The commercial crawdad fishermen in the delta use tilapia to bait their traps. Cheap and easy to find in the grocery store...

@newyorktoiowa57, I have both a 842 and a 853 in the GLX model, both in my opinion are light and sensitive. I like to use the 842 for throwing 5”-7” senkos and I can pitch or sling a stick bait pretty much anywhere I want. I use the 853 as I believe it has a little more power during the hook set when throwing T-rigged baits and small jigs and horsing fish out of cover. Sorry i can’t comment on the NRX, at the time I bought my rods the GLX was pretty much it. I don’t think you will be disappointed in either rod with what you’re intending to use it for, but you might want to consider the 842 first. Good luck and good fishing

@Just_Fishin, welcome to Bass Resource, where WE ALL have that problem in one form or another with the bait monkey! So, you’re in the right place and in my opinion there’s nothing like having Christmas a couple times a month ?

Lotta responses to your original post @EGbassing. I’d just like to offer “people are people” in that every day the world and social media provides examples of the best and worst of us as people. As for the guy driving the giant plum on wheels down the street, I’m sure you chuckled to yourself when you landed that 3lber thinking “no fish huh”. Just continue to be a good person and the best fisherman you can be and things will take care of themselves...

Went out last week and was able to put this 3.2lb green fish in the boat. I’ve got to admit it’s pretty satisfying to know you did everything right when you see your “bladed jig” inhaled like this....

Absolutely

Here’s a older video of some top water striper action, enjoy!

Good photo @Harold Scoggins, I’d be headed to the ER in the amount of time it took for me to try and find it

Hello @lunkerdown from Northern California! Welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums!

Hello @patchtech from Northern California! Welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums!

Hello @wzzyfzzy from Northern California! Welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums!

Thanks @JacobPollitz and @Mick D for your help and commentary, you helped me with my project. Granted it took me a little while to correct 10+ years of use, but I’m pretty pleased with the results.