Hammer 4

Also, for inexpensive 4" swimbaits, try the H20's under 10.00 apiece, they swim pretty good, but, they have a Fast sink rate..in shallow water with debris, they tend to get hung up alot, they'd be great for deeper water.

Just out of curiosity, when was the last time your reel was properly cleaned and lubed..?

Plus, different bait's, for different situations..Voted plastic..

X 2, I would add some of Mattlures swimbaits as well, i.e. his tritail trout, ect..His hardbaits are nice as well.

X 3 on the Shimano..

X2 as you get more comfy with the reel, eliminate 2 brakes, but set your spool tension just a wee bit tighter, loosen it when you feel you can cast w/o any overruns toward the end of a cast. The brakes control overruns at the begining of a cast.

Just stay away from the rocks..Even the abrasx isn't that abrassion resistant, compared to yozuri ultrasoft..

I'll stick with the Owner's..

I have problems, believing that you get Twice the distance, If your using the same lure, and No wind at your back..

Who says Cali doesn't have scenic country.. Great report bizz...pic's are very cool too...

I'd have to disagree re: distance. At certain lakes, bass will go to deeper water, this water is almost within casting distance from shore, depending on you, the rig and the wind. For us shorebound guys, sometimes distance is needed. From a boat..not so much.

5:1 is fine.. As for leaders..I'd go mono or copolymere..had issues with fluro, but then I could have gotten a bad spool.

You waited 10 seconds after the bass hit your lure, until you set the hook/started reeling..?

Just from experiencing pain in a few places, I would say this..if the pain is bad, and you don't get much relief, go back to the Doctor. Good luck with the elbow, hope you feel better soon...life w/o fishing can be a drag.

Wow..I think if I were you..I'd give the arm a rest for a couple of weeks. Ibprophen works great at reducing inflamation and pain..I take the 800mg.

Yeah, invisx is good line IF there aren't any rocks around..

Not that it would help, but do you overhead cast alott..? I found that a low sidearm cast seems to be much more comfortable for me.

Have you seen a doctor..? I use to play tennis 5 times a week, and developed what I thought was tennis elbow. Went to the doctors, and found out I had bone spurs, which required surgery, with a 6 week down time.. I never did get the surgery, and haven't had any problems for a couple years. Rest, and ice seemed to have paid off..at least until I start abusing my arm..

Crestliner, have you had a chance to use it yet..? Which line did you get.?

All of those city lakes have rules against wading, swiming, and such..So I couldn't get em if I wanted to. And, they were to far out to use a lure retriver.. i havent lost that much gear the last 3 years. id be in after those baits.

Do you ever take Opie with you..? ;D To the OP, nice fish..congratz to your wife..

Hmm, while I feel for you. Try losing about 150.00 worth of swmbaits in about 2 months...and see how you'd feel.. It's all part of the game..at least, that's what I keep telling myself.. ;D

Where "all" of these breakoff post's you speak of..? I've used line that cost's alott more than Yozuri, and had break offs..When you start losing 40.00 lures, you tend to stick with a line that doesn't fling those spendy bait's into oblivion..

Had to be old/bad line..what size spool did you buy.? I'd try to return if possible. I usually buy the 275 yd filler spools, never had a breakage issue. Also, there is no need line conditioner, even the yozuri rep. told me that..

I would go 25-30lb..Line is a personal thing..