SirSnookalot

Of course ! If I wanted to be extravagant I'd have 2, a ml set up for open water and a med for slop.

If it were a reel where I did switch back and forth I'd have 2 spools for the reel. I don't think it's worth the time and effort to save mono or copoly.

6000 spinning reel for bass? What's it weigh? Many reels this size are in the 20 oz range.

I like the one about being pi**poor.........that's selling your urine to tanning factory, but the really poor people couldn't afford the pot, hence "don't have a pot to p** in".

I had been out of school for 35 years without reading any kind of a textbook in that period. Even though it was only for a real estate license in Florida I wanted to be in a classroom. The pass rate on the state exam is somewhere around 50%, I didn't want to go thru it a second time. Whether it's classroom or online, it isn't playtime and you have to be focused, I put a lot of time into it.

bigbill you're doing fine, just fish at your own pace. Up until I was diagnosed with diabetes I had lost about 30 pounds, weak with a lack of stamina. Even though I've been bouncing around with various medications I've gained weight and my strength and stamina are pretty good now, I also do most of my fishing from shore. Being active IMO is more beneficial than being sedentary, keep up the good work. I recently put $45 into a reel that I may have gotten a free exchange for by sending it back to the mfg. I did it for 2 reasons, 1 day turn around time and I use this reel a lot this time of year and secondly I wanted to see if Boca bearings were worth the expense for a spinning reel, this is a $150 saltwater reel. Under normal circumstances, especially for my freshwater spinning reels I don't think going new rather than repair is a bad idea. My sub $100 freshwater reels have served me perfectly for over 3 years with but a drop of oil every now and then, when and if they die, I go new and get another few problem free years. I just love reading these reviews of a NIB reel where 1 or 2 3# fish being caught over a span of week or so and it's greatest reel there is.

Based on the picture the line amount on the spool is not your problem. 10# line should not be a problem either, I would prefer 8# but you should be casting reasonably well. I might try soaking your spool in hot water to limp out, could have coiling issue, that should give you instant feedback on whether it's the line or not. As others have mentioned braid is always a good option for spinning gear. The last thing in the equation is the rod, maybe not loading up, I'd try a heavier lure, if that's not it I'd be looking to change rods. Casting a spinning reel the bail is open on a fixed spool, it's about the rod not the reel.

People do it both ways and it works. I would never fish without a leader, ever! If for no other reason untangling braid from a treble hook can be a nightmare and lost fishing time .

I don't know what you consider heavy # test leader to be, I do not find I lose lure action with 20, 30 or 40# leaders which are my most used, I always use a loopknot. I would not use a wire leader with a top water lure, I'm not saying don't, I'm saying I wouldn't. On the very rare occasion I do use wire, it's either crimped with a loop for the lure, piano wire with a haywire twist and loop for the lure, or a pre made one that comes with attached terminal tackle. Losing lures is part of the game, no one likes to but it's going to happen, try this. Attach a 1" duoclock to the end of your mono or f/c leader, that little bit of wire may save a lure or 2, that may work good on 30" pickerel, I'd probably opt for 20# leader, maybe 30# if your are running into 40-50" fish, but that's the way I fish. In fairness I'm catching toothy critters that size in open water, less strain on the leader.

When I buy a reel at a store I select the one that feels the best to me, if it's a mail order purchase I accept it the way it comes. Fishing both fresh and saltwater daily 12 months of the year, if there is going to be a problem it's going to happen to me. My freshwater reels have never been touched, a drop of oil in the handle bearings and on the spindle about 2 times a year, they work like new. My saltwater reels get put thru their paces pretty hard, some of them have been professional serviced when it's needed, not until then. Most of my reels are 3-7 years old, I've replaced the drag in only 1 of them, put a new handle knob and a line roller bearing, all in the same reel, the rest perform as new. Not that aren't some out here that don't put time and effort into maintenance, I'm just not one of them. I doubt those guys get sore or tired, they have been casting since before they could walk and do it everyday, there fishing muscles are conditioned and they know how to pace themselves. I fish 7 days, even at 68 years old I don't get sore or tired, I might get bored if I'm not catching much, lol, but not sore. It's the weekend warrior that is not in fishing shape that gets tired and sore. I'm a believer in any activity you have to be fit to do it. I suggest letting the rod do the work and not cast for the fences every time.

IMO this not the best way to spool up a spinner. Putting the spool on a machine then using a tool to evenly distribute the line will not address the issue of how line stacks on the spool while fishing. Most of the time it's going to be fine, but there have been occasions when a shim is needed. My b/c does not have level wind, having it machine loaded is a really good way to go for that kind of a reel.

Many people are wanting to come down to Florida, just so many options and it's right here on our doorstep 12 months of the year. I don't see any point in not taking advantage of that. If bass is what you want, you need to be on the water where they are the most available. I'm not catching bass now even worthy of a mention, but I am catching fish every day.

Usually about 45 minutes and tide duration is about 6 hours. It's not exact science, charts often differ for the same location and a strong wind can retard or accelerate the change.

I don't know what a Newton is, but I do know how to fish tides as I've been doing it nearly 7 days a week solid for the last 10 years. Catt's explanation is pretty darn good, tidal fishing usually changes every day, because the tide change is at a different time. The relationship of the tide change in conjunction with sunrise or sunset affects the fishing, with each day later in the cycle the fishing drops off as a rule. The highest high tide and the lowest low tide is most affected during the full and new moon, the current of the water is also faster. November seems to be the month that the tides are most affected. One may not think that a beach has structure, it not only does but changes constantly as the tide is moving in or out. Since we are talking bass fishing, we catch bass here in tidal canals directly related to ocean tides. The further away from the ocean the more brackish the water meaning more bass, but salt water species that tolerate that kind of water are there too. Rather than the moon phase itself, I still see the relationship of sunrise and tide change there too. In Florida these tidal canals in the winter months can offer some really good fishing, bass, snook, tarpon, crevalles and lady fish, snapper too sometimes. In Boca Raton the El Rio canal, has produced some really nice fish for me, it's a kayaker's dream.

With the exception of the odd fish now and then, you're fishing in the wrong place at the wrong time, it's always poor bass fishing this time of year. Better bass are caught in better water now, not your back yard canal, I don't even think about concentrating my efforts on bass till Oct or November. It's hot and humid and I'm lethargic, the bass are feeling the same way. This is the time to be focusing on other species, bigger fish with less effort. Northern fishermen fish for other species, like walleye or trout, when bass may not be in season or those fish are the hot bites. All the bait changing in the world is not going to catch you any more or significantly bigger bass now. It's either being complacent with what you are catching now until bass pick up, or fish for something else.

It is pretty hot and humid, all I do is go to one of my community ponds in the PM for 45 minutes or so. I fish nothing but a topwater lure on light set up. I don't go to the canals until at least October, grass is high now and after they cut it the growing season is over, the gnats disappear then too.

You do what ya gotta do. Choice pretty easy for me to make, struggle in the hot sun to catch 2# bass this time of year, or go to the ocean with nice comfortable breeze with a chance of catching a 20 or 30 pound snook. Catching a slot even in season isn't easy, many of the fishing are running more 32", but it's more than snook. Tarpon run with snook and a tarpon are in a different league.

I pretty much agree, I'm going to use the 4000 size for the majority of my fishing but reel size for me is based on where I'm catching the fish. I fish jetties and sea walls, 4-10' high, the current can run as much as 12 knots, that's pretty fast, under those conditions I prefer a beefier rod and reel set up. Fishing the flats wading or from a boat or from a beach much of the time a 2500 or 3000 reel is very adequate, that without a doubt is my favorite way of fishing. All that said IMO the gear should be based on the average fish, not the potential as those catches are much rarer. Could I catch 25# snook with a 2500 reel, absolutely, could I catch a 25# permit, jack or tarpon with one..........those fish are in a totally separate league, I may lose more than I land.

If I'm wanting to make long casts I'm going to do it with a reel that has some line capacity. Casting 50-75 yds is not out of the question, then getting a strike at that distance with a fish that's capable of running 50 yds or more I want line. I do believe the less line on the spool renders the drag less effective than if the spool was fuller. Not only is the hook set more difficult at distance, but the chances of losing the fish is greatly increased. I cast for distance only when I really have to.

As far as I'm concerned a split shot is just a weight, other alternatives are bullet weight weight pegged or not and a light egg sinker above a swivel which is a standard set up here.

IMO it's more about location than the moon. The biggest fish of any species are caught in places where they have more of them, increasing your chances. Using a DD bass as a reference as to what a large fish is doesn't cut it. How many DD bass could I catch in Ontario, Canada compared to Ca., Tx, or Fl.? Most of the better fish are usually caught in the best fisheries.

Don't know what it was 45 minutes before sunrise this morning, caught 4 snook one after another, one 17-20#, first snook in about a week. Sun comes up and caught about 15 blue runners, but they have been around all week.

Mirrorlure Poppa Dog, you can pop it or walk it.

I only do it once in awhile but I see it done nearly every day, a crappie jig, but not for crappies. As I mentioned in one of the Florida threads, crappie jigs catch peacocks bass, bluegill, bass, mayans and in salt water it is one of the most used baits for spanish mackerel, moonfish, blue runners, and others.

I see this with lots of different species, one reason I don't a PB too serious. I catch the fish that gets to the lure the fastest, that can be out of my control if here are more than 1 in an area.