Hammer 4

He shows semi close ups of the reel after he's made a cast, I can clearly see, that his thumb is either on, or hovering above the thumb bar..I should mention he's BFS guy, mostly uses high end reels, but he did test the Elite.

Watching to much of "The Reel Test" on youtube..he never uses his thumb, and regards reels that you have to use your thumb as somewhat..of lesser performance reels. Like DVT said, use your thumb..

Don't know if you saw what I said to Jonas, but an incoming or high tide 99% of the time will yield the best results. Never fished MDR, but had friends who did. Try to fish around docks, spotties are like LMB in a way, they love a good ambush spot, and docks/piers provide that. BTW, Big Hammer in 3 ", Red Rum is killer..Good Luck..

I would use a white, or red swimjig. I forgot to say, I trim the skirt a bit to expose more of the paddle tail..Never had much luck with blue/black. Another thing is, you may be retrieving a bit to quick, and getting short strikes or smaller fish are nibbling at it..Again, time on the water will net the best time and retrieve speed. Using 8 lb test also gives the best action for the bait. Where do you fish.?

Best to use swimbaits on a swimjig, that way they target the bilk of the bait, and not just the tail in a good percentage of the time. Caught a ton on a 3" big Hammer using a 3/8 or 1/2 oz swimjig..

BTW, here's a spottie from the LAB..small pic, but it's all I have left since the PC that all my pics broke.

Yep, I think your letting them get the bait to far in their mouths, or your getting hit with flatties, which have even more, and sharper toofs...Also, try tightening down your drag just a we bit, even 2-2 1/2 lb spotties shouldn't be pulling to much drag. Keep in mind, these fish aren't like LMB, these guys slam baits, unlike LMB that sometimes barely inhale a bait all the way in..

Never knew anyone that I fished with, and there about 20 of us, used any type of leader, steel or any other type. How big were the spotties and sandies that you caught..? Cuz I and others have landed some over 3 lbs easy..Also, when you feel the bite, swing on them, don't wait for them to get the whole lure in their mouths. And lastly, make sure the knot you tie is in order, most of us used the San Diego jam knot, although other knots work good too. To the point though, very seldom did I have line that was frayed from a fishes teeth. In the 5 years or so, I can only recall losing 3 lures, and one I cut from a huge ray. Stay focused, keep a finger on your line. Also don't always Jack the fish, a side sweep hook set can work well to, and you avoid contact with all those teeth..

When I was float tubing the harbors, 8 lb fluro, or hybrid is what I used, and 10 lb on my bc rigs. Your going to get break offs especially if you hook into, good sized flatties, or rays. Fishing around concrete pilings/docks, I'd rather use mono. BTW, the spinning reels were all 2500's...

Just want to Thank all you guys for chiming in on the black ring thing. I thought it was to signify something, now I know better..I actually had my wedding band ripped off my finger, that tore my skin to the bone. Got it caught in something, and have never worn a ring since then, my wife was very understanding..anyway, thanks again.

Mine were bought in the mid 80's..lol

I still have an unopened bag of those..

Never left my rod unattended. I use to fish Lake Piru a bunch, it has some nice rocky drop offs, which I would throw a craw type bait, from close to the shore line, cast it and let it sit, all the while keeping my finger on the line. Twice, while doing this, having my bait sit there for at least 2 or 3 mins..I decided to give a gentle tug, both times the was a 4 1/2+ lb bass hooked, as if it engulfed the bait, and then just sat there. Dead sticking in purest form..made a believer out of me. This was back in the mid 80's.

Castaic would be the closest to either location.. http://www.californiasgreatestlakes.com/castaic/castaic_fishing.html

It could. I use 4" roboworms, mostly hologram shad color.

Those are what I was referring to. Now, I'm curious as to why they choose to all wear Black rings. Btw, I can recall getting those for a penny, that should show ,my age..lol Thanks for the info..

So, being old, and out of touch, I see a lot of anglers wearing these black rings in their fingers as opposed to traditional type rings. Do these black rings signify something.?

Nope. I fish local park ponds, back a few years ago, when we ( Cali) had local bass forums, we would post pic's of our best bass, But, we photoshoped the surroundings out, see my avatar, We did this because, before that when we post reports, and or pic's, the next day or 2, there would be a hoard of strangers show to fish, it got to the point where it was pretty bad..so there's that.. Here is the real pic.

Sounds exactly like one of park ponds I fish. Try this next time, use a spinning rig with 8 lb mono, or fluro, use whatever hook you like, but small enough to nose hook a 4" worm, then crimp on a 1/8 oz split shot about 12 to 16" behind the hook. Cast it out let it sink, but not hit the bottom, reel slowly to keep it just off the bottom, give it a Gentle twitch now and then. This is my go to when things get really tough. Good luck.

Spray the reels the night before, and your good. While fishing, I've sprayed KVD 30 mins before using a reel with new line, copoly, and it worked just fine.

Hope this works.. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GB14KHR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Same here..

Reposted.

Hmmm, none that I can think of..

Mattlures actually makes swimbaits, some that are good sized, just for dead sticking. Got bit a couple times om my 5" jointed bluegill dead stick bait. Being more of a power fisherman, it was nerve racking casting it out and then just standing there, watching for a blow up on it..lol