SirSnookalot

Tape is the one thing that will avoid slipping. Whether it's 2 or 3 overhand knots, an arbor knot tied correctly, a uni knot will all work just fine. As mentioned a knot isn't even necessary, a strip of tape over the line and the reel should spool up perfectly. In the extreme rare event that the line is being spooled all the way to the arbor by a powerful fish, the knot would probably break.

Sometimes the HOA can be a pain but they are taking care of matters that most people don't want to deal with. Landscaping companies, tree trimmers, painters, insect sprayers, just don't show up, it takes time to interview and hire them. They deal with insurance companies, banks, attorneys and legal matters, residents mostly take all this work and effort for granted. Sure they can be a pain, but they are doing something I don't want to do. If one is in a private community having a letter of permission from a resident does not give the right to fish there without the resident. There may be certain circumstances where one could fish, an example may be that part of the water is outside the community. The residents pay to live there, as fishermen we may be trespassing. Had it been a 6'5 250# male would you have laughed at him, or a security guard, or a member of the HOA?

I would be more concerned about the bearings than the finish of a magnesium reel used in saltwater, reels suggested for salt use do have anti corrosive bearings. Rinsing the reel off after use is always a good idea (don't forget the rod too), as the water is running I'm rubbing the reel with my hand in hopes of getting all the salt. Some people coat their reels with car wax, others use a product called salt-x, and I've heard of some that take their rods into the hot shower with them. On a calm day there isn't much to worry about, on a windy day there can be quite a bit of salt blowing around in the air.

I do the same exact thing everyday, go home and take a nap. Doesn't make a difference if it's a 1 pounder or a 50# one, I don't think about after I've done it. I do make my plans first thing every morning before I leave on where and what I'm fishing for.

Any tight knot is fine, as long as it doesn't spin around the spool, even with conventional reel and mono line I still tape it first.

The Big Three, Palmer, Nicklaus and Player, don't really know who dubbed them that. There were some really great players before the Big 3, media exposure was not nearly the same. Hagen, Hogen, Byron Nelson, and Bobby Jones (amateur) were in a class by themselves. Johnny Miller could have been really great, his knees gave out on him, he hit his yardages to the half yard, pretty amazing. Trevino and Watson (my favorite player, broke my heart when lost the Open to Cink) were just that step under. Talking golf, can't leave out TW, the most iconic golfer in the last 2 decades, sensational doesn't quite describe his accomplishments. IMO had he stayed with his Butch Harmon swing, he just could have been the greatest ever. Not taking any thing away from Bubba but this Masters was boring without TW, Phil or any player rivalry.

The stella has a magnesium frame, approved for saltwater by Shimano. The supreme xt is magnesium and marketed for both freshwater and inshore fishing by Pflueger.

As an owner of a magnesium reel (3 in fact) I see no negative. One of these reels was used exclusively in saltwater for 2 years, reel is still perfect now with about 5 years use. My 8.8 oz reel on a 7' med spinning I hardly notice I have any thing in my hand, my other 2 set ups feel the same but lighter.

I have a friend still using line from bulk spool bought over 20 years ago. Since it's 20# and he's catching 30# fish on it, doesn't seem to be a problem.

I don't think I've owned a spinning reel that hasn't needed some kind of attention if it's been used hard. My freshwater reels IMO are not used very hard, even though I use them daily. They are perfect after about 5 years use, I happen to use Pflueger supreme and all they get is a drop oil once in while, but I think just about any brand should fair well over time. I'd be happy to try another brand, can't justify a new one while mine are still functioning as they should.

If a fish is taking out drag the line should not dig in, you might be setting the drag too tight. Bigger fish take out more line, doesn't mean you should be tightening the drag.

If you are under warranty send it back to the manufacture. I had that same problem and Quantum just replaced the reel.

I just clean them every now and then with magic eraser, I don't seal them.

Any reel sized 2500 or under is fine for bass fishing, I'd use the one that feels the most comfortable on the rod. In the sub $100 market I don't think there is much of a difference in performance from brand to brand or model to model.

Snakeheads don't get it for me either, I prefer bass or peacocks. If I'm going to drive 20 or 30 miles it's going to be for a fish that has the potential of going 20+ lbs, I want it in open water and light tackle.

Sure, I suppose I can read 2 pages while I'm sitting on the throne.

I grew up watching Arnold Palmer, he came along at the right time. His flamboyant style, good looks, and outstanding career made him the marketing poster boy. Mark McCormack was a genius agent, the man behind the scenes. Golf on tv was pretty much in it's infancy, as was endorsements, and commercials prior to Arnold Palmer. Then the Big 3 comes along and every thing changed, not only golf but other sports too. No question about it, Palmer is the most celebrated golfer of all time, he had and still does have that special charisma. I do believe he started the Golf Channel as well.

Been hearing a lot about the Gambler EZ swimmer, so I bought a pack. Maybe it's the water I'm fishing or time of day but they have not produced the bigger bass as I hoped. Whether I would have done better using another bait is pure conjecture. I have caught a fish or 2 every day for the last week on them, but no bigger or no more than I normally do. I have committed myself to use nothing but them, I just want to catch bigger fish. Since I'm banging out some pretty good fish at the ocean that relieves a lot of pressure off bass fishing. I bought 2 more packs yesterday, rest assured I will catch a big lady.

You people are just starting to bass fish and I'm just about done with it until November.

Not every one fishes heavy timber like that, the pic does not indicate whether the 2 fisherman are fishing a more clear area or what's displayed in the background. The intent of the original post IMO was more of a general statement about the usage of braided lines for bass fishing, not a specific area. Where I fish in Florida I'm not contending with an underwater forest, for my heavy slop and vegetation 15# or maybe 20# works just fine for me.

6'6 the shortest I only have 2, the rest are 7' 7'6 and 8. Does an 8' rod cast longer than a 7', sure if it's the same brand, model, line and lure weight using the same line. I have 7' rods that out casts my 8 footers, different brands.

Sounds like a lot of info, but it really isn't and much of it is plain common sense, this is a good information list. Guys and gals learning to fish in the 40's and early 50's started off on shore or in a row boat with no electronics or trolling motor. I don't think we were at a disadvantage because we learned this common sense approach, find the fish and match the hatch. The modern angler has so much going now, hi tech rods and reels, faster boats with electronics a TM's and IMO the biggest game changer plastic weedless baits. Knowing the basics plus all the hi tech stuff is a recipe for success.

I totally agree with Gulfcaptain. I'm not a b/c user but if I were and lighter braid did dig in that would be all the more reason for me to be a spinning user. I do fish Florida, I don't use anything heavy than 15# on a medium spinning rod, lines don't break and lures don't go flying. One of the nice things about braid is that you don't have to over do a hook set. In fairness saltwater fishing is different, we don't lock down a drag and tail drag a 5# fish in. We use our drags, the key is not the strength of the line or rod but how much line we have. It's all about technique here, even at my age (68) I'm still handling these fish with spinning tackle lighter lines. I don't top shot (braid as backing with 50-100 yd mono shock) as I'm using offshore spinning tackle, 6000-8000 reels with 30# braid no backing. Catch many aj.s sails, kingfish on that kind of a set up. One of my more recent catches, the one in my avatar was caught inshore on one of my heavier set ups, 7'6 mh rod 4000 reel and 20# braid. Some of the younger guys next to me were using med spinning with smaller reels. You will not find too many fish that will fight harder than a jack crevalle. In the intracoastal where this fish was caught it't like fishing a river. There is current, vegetation, cement pylons, docks, crab pots, rocks and all kinds of things for fish to get wrapped around.

As usual when it comes to bass fishing Catt has the right answers. I keep it as simple as a can, always have and always will. I'm sure some feathers are going to ruffled, I never did buy into this sensitivity thing, having a 100 various lures and 10 rods with me. Find the fish, learn how to work the lure and more times than not you will catch fish, some days they are on and some days they aren't, no has 100% success. I'm not a bass fisherman per se, I'm a saltwater fisherman that just happens to catch a lot of bass. I don't fish for bass much different than many other species, except understanding the nuances of every kind of fish I fish for. Sure I get skunked sometimes fishing for bass, but not often. Whether it was muskie fishing when I lived up north or barracuda and tarpon fishing down here, I can go for weeks without seeing one, or getting a strike and strike doesn't mean it's landed, that does not happen with bass. Not being a bass fisherman I choose not to use senkos or jigs very often, they flat out produce fish. The simpler I keep it the better I do, sorry guys I just don't find bass fishing to be the most challenging type of fishing I do. If any one goes weeks without bass, what they need is a lesson from Catt, not a new rod or lure.

I do believe this method is primarily for a spinning reel. If the line is already spooled on the reel, really don't have to take the spool off the reel (little easier if you did), just old the spool sideways and let the water flow onto the line only, the drag pads won't get wet that way.