Hammer 4

More bites on grubs, but not bigger fish.

Well, back then it was about 35.00 for a full service, so yeah today's cost may be a bit much. Are you throwing Big Hammer's..? Cuz for spotties and sandies LMB lures will work, i.e. craw's and creature baits, fished by them selves or on a jig, heck I've caught spotties on roboworms..and 4" Kalin grubs.

Vinny, I've fished a TON of inshore, spotties, sandies, checkers, and a couple of flatties, and a healthy 6 lb white seabass at Newport harbor. We always used our freshwater gear. The seabass I caught was on a mh Clarus 7' and a older shimano Chronarch. Keep in mind I was float tubing the local harbors at least 2 to 4 times a week. I always rinsed my reels/line and rods off with fresh water. Once a week the reels, which included a lowly Sahara 2500 spinning reel, got cleaned with some Reel Scrubber. All my reels went in for service about once every month to a month and a half. In the 3 years of doing the above, never had any issues with any of my gear, nor did my fishing friends. I did have the drags upgraded o my Chronarch and both of my Curado's. Save your $$ on the inshore specific stuff and use what you would for freshwater. BTW the seabass was caught on the Clarus mh with 8lb Yozuri hybrid line, those fish fight Hard and long. Hope this helps some.

Loved my older 301 Curado's. Think I got them in 2006 or 7, same with the Chronarch's.

On my spinning rig, using a 2500 size reel, I give a good tug on the line and set the drag so I can't pull any line out. If I get a good size fish, I loosen the drag while the fish is on. Been doing it that way for years.

8 ^ If you were alive in the 60's, surely you recall this great song.

Just had a look see, and unless I missed something, the rod is now $289.00 free shipping..

Check out golf pants. Very light weight. Usually not cheap, but they last for years. Me, only wear shorts 12 months out of the year.

To land a bass 15lbs or better. Bet there's going to be a few folks that would answer along the same line..

If your by the ocean, take a look at what the surf fishing guy use..all spinning gear, as they want/ need to cast as far as possible most times. This would apply to the die hard surf fisherman..

At Echo, try t rigged robo worms in morning dawn or margarita mutilator..Use the lightest bullet weight you can get away with, and fish it SLOW. At Legg, same thing, only use purple or a grape color, 7" or longer works well. I like fishing the middle lake, although I've caught 5 lb bass on the south lake with those worms, a buddy got an 8.5 lb fishing the west side of the south lake. BTW, don't let this get out, mmkay..

Dang Tom you have me by 3 years..First rod/reel. I earned/saved up 5.00 from mowing lawns. Went to Thrifty Drug store, and bought a spinning combo, and a red devil lure, the reel came with line. Next day, I took a bus from where we lived to Legg Lake. I had no idea on how to cast, ect. A very patient and kind man showed me what to do, I spent hours bank fishing that lake, because it was the closest body of water to me. Life was good back then..

Welcome Vinny..Which urban ponds do you fish..? I fish park lakes/ponds a bunch. Don't get up around L.A. much, but I use to fish Legg Lake 3 days a week.

All the best to ya..C sucks..kick it's a$$.

I'm right handed. I cast with my right, reel with my left, why would I want to cast with my right, change the rod to my left, and then reel with my right..? Rod in right hand, stays in my right hand..

I've caught my fair share of flatty's, mostly in the bays, i.e. Newport harbor, Los Alamitos, Huntington and Redondo. Actually caught them by mistake, as I was fishing Spotties (spotted Bay Bass) while fishing in a float tube. I too like halibut, but reading that they released that big ole fish made me smile. Opps, forgot to say, all fish I catch get sent back in the water. And yes there is a slot limit, forgot what it is..duh.

Thinking back, I don't recall making long bomb cast's, except for large swimbaits. With other baits, unless I'm fishing in gin clear water, I keep em as short as possible. I did bomb a 1/2 oz spinner bait once, bout as far as I could cast it. before it hit the water a solid 6 lb bass flew out of the water and got. problem was, she spit it out just a quick..

Nice slab...

Huge flatty..That fish would have brought a good chunk of change here in the USA..Glad they released it.

Bottom line is, do your best to take care of the fish you catch and release..

A different take re: long cast's. I fish a lot of city park ponds/lakes. Parts of some of the lakes have no access, so guys will bomb a t rig or some bottom bait 40 yards to get to a certain part of some structure. The problem is, more often than not, they don't detect a strike until it's to late, and the bass wind up getting gut hooked. I find this is especially true with younger folks..I've had to remove more than my fair share of gut hook fish.

My 3 cents. Unless I spent like 6 or 700.00 usd for a rod, which I'd never do. After 3 years, I'd chalk it up to ..I got my moneys worth and buy a replacement. Todays rods being more sensitive are prone to breaking easier than the older iM 8's ect..Hopefully the OP caught some nice fish with that rod.

I'm thinking that for super high pressure waters, that may be the lure that could possibly get you a nice bass. Around here the bass have seen every lure imaginable, something different couldn't hurt. BTW, I think they look kinda cool..

Hats off to all first responders.