retiredbosn

Under filled, line should go up to the spot where the spool goes from silver to gold. IMO

IMO, yes out would be a 7' or 6'6" MH MF

Like Franco I remove the spool to tie, then I tie a Palomar. Just double the line tie an overhand knot into the spool pass the loop over the spool and shaft, cinch down and trim. Put it back together

I had a Curado E5 that I was very fond of, I replaced it with a Gen 2 Winch. Had to switch to left hand reels is why I changed. That said I would look hard at the BB1 if I were in the market now. The reason I went with the Winch is line capacity and drag power, I'm secretly hoping to use it for striper fishing, that and I got it half off

The Lews BB1 is supposed to be the bomb when it comes to distance and working cranks. Be advised though it uses a pawl type anti-reverse, not instants like you're used to.

All my uncle uses are vintage Mitchel 300, the ones made in France. One of the members here hooked me up with a couple that I cleaned up and gave to him. He has a bunch of them, enjoy.

Growing up I never paid to fish anywhere, the farm ponds had them. The example I gave of Jim's operation was just to illustrate that not only can smallies do well in ponds they can thrive. Just like the article Franco posted a link to, they need the right habitat, specifically gravel to spawn in. Shoot the storm water drainage pond in the subdivision had them, it was spring fed too though. One thing WV has allot of is rocks, just about every pond had gravel in it, the smallies in the pond had a place to spawn. I think most people erroneously believe that smallies can't take warm water, I know SC DNR was surprised that the smallies introduced in the mountains are now as far south as Columbia in the Broad river where the water can get on the upper 80's in the summer.

What's the ipt (inches per turn) of your reel? Spinning reel I'll assume for now roughly 24" ipt when full, ipt ratings are normally (always) based on a full spool. Then what's the capacity of your spool, ie 120 yds of 8lb, 100 yds 10 lb. For the sake of easy math assume 24 inches per turn and 300 feet of line total, that's 150 revolutions of the handle to fill the reel with 10lb test. Just look up the specs of your reel and figure like that if you're eyeballing is a pain, Although it seems to me that this way would be a much larger pain

On the livewell, yes u can use it for storage. I have plugs for mine that I use periodically. I wouldn't put anything in them that must stay dry however.

Dick's sells kayak units in a kit with a small battery.

Look in the spice section of your grocery store, you can buy the Anise oil there. I have several bags of Zoom brand soft plastics that I just pour a little in, it works great for smallies and trout. Growing up my Dad told me that Anise should be outlawed.

I disagree, I've caught to many smallmouth on too many farm ponds in WV. Given the right habitat they do just fine.

Three years ago today I talked to my bestfriend for the last time, this man was like a brother to me, we did everything together, went everywhere together. As kids we were inseperable. Five days later he ended his life, left behind a wife and three kids. He drove back to where we grew up to end it, he was a few miles from my house, I'll never forget feeling so frustrated. My question of why and why didn't he call me, he knew I would have done anything gone anywhere to help him. That's why he didn't call, he didn't want my help. I'll never understand, but as Raider said it's not your fault. Don't spend the time playing the blame game, he knew you were there for him, and that's why he didn't call you. He didn't want help God bless and I'm sorry for your loss

Smallmouth do quite well in a pond. I know a man who is wealthy enough to do what he wants. On one of his farms he has opened a "sporting club" we could fish any pond except his trophy small mouth pond. According to the manager anytime Jim caught a fish that was under five pounds it was moved to a different pond until they could go into his trophy pond. The only person allowed to fish it was himself. It was quite the set-up with Arkansas shiners and crawfish as the forage base. He had numerous other ponds with smallies too.

Smallies are imo the most topwater oriented native bass specie. They will crush topwater I've had them come up 15 feet to crush a pop r.

Continue the fight, glad you're fishing again.

A black snake got into my grandparents house once, you can still see the patch in the wall. Lets just say granddaddy didn't like snakes.

Thank you for the well wishes fellas. Please keep my family in your prayers and my surgeon!!! He needs a steady hand that day, lol. Apparently he has to get close to both the nerve root and the spinal cord, (don't know how the cord thought the cord was encased within the vertebrae). Thanks again......

Some may remember I was supposed to have had another neck surgery back in February, then April. After all the drama I had a parting of the way with that surgeon. New surgeon sees me once says I need surgery now, and got it approved first try! Going under the knife the 12th of June, lamenotomy with possible instrumentation C7-T1. I'll be back on the water for the fall feed, only going to miss the summer doldrums.

I really like double props on my buzzbaits, make quite the commotion. My favorite is chartreuse and white with gold blades. If i'm throwing a single prop its a cavitron. Bobby doesn't make a bad color, they are all good. Wish he would make a double prop version.

I know just pitiful

Put some thought into that, good job.

1 ounce, its already hot here, I'm guessing that's why.

Genius here decides to practice his flipping accuracy. Standing on the porch steps trying to hit targets throughout the yard. Kept hitting short, back off tension knob.......well lets just say I got more distance. About 20 feet more and right into my son's car back glass!!! Ummmm not good, immediately stash my gear, go get my boy and ask him how long the glass has been cracked! It is completely shattered but still in place, I have no idea what's holding it there. Anyway off to the glass place to get it replaced, yes I'm paying. Safelite wanted 300 bucks glassmaster is doing it for 150. Bullet weight .15 cents Backglass 140 bucks Having my son thinking someone else broke the glass....... Priceless Honestly though my son will never let me live this down. I wouldn't lie to them

What do u mean by feels weird? Does it feel unbalanced? Or are u loosing contact with the bait? Or not casting far enough/accurately?