fish-fighting-illini

Don't know if this will pass mod etiquette or not but here's another pic

I finaly got around to posting a pic. This isn't a Triton but it gets the job done. I've had it a 1yr or so now. Finaly finished the floors and carpeting this winter. Got the boat, motor, trailer and back trolling motor for $800. Got foot mount trolling mtr for $30 by the way does anybody have any info on the front trolling motor ( model, lb thrust?) the sticker says MinnKota but I'd like to have the manual for it before it is ancient history. I've got a lot of stuff I still want to do to it but for now it works. I wired the boat and made a switch box with terminals in it. I've got one switch to turn on the fr & rear lights. All the tm connections and ff are in the box. I've left room for switches for a bilge and poos a livewell. I mounted Wallyworld clearance cupholder things to the seats. Those are sweet they've got slots for lures to hang on and a place for bait, pliers etc in addition to the drinks. I'd post more but the photobucket isn't my thing.

Bass Chick I really like my Berkley rods that I have. I think for the price range they are affordable and get the job done. I have 2 lightning spinning's in in ML andhave a lot of fun with them on bass up to 4 lbs. I have a Cherrywood casting that gets the job done. I don't own and have not used higher end rods of any brand so my view is maybe skewed. To borrow RW's pure fishing link ( which I didn't know ). Abu's I've had lousy experience with a spinning and a spincast. They were both very low end and a long time ago so maybe you get what you pay for. Several people have said that the older Abu's round BC's were very good. A lot of people have been raving about the new Revo's on this forum. The Mitchell I own is a newer 308 spinning and you can keep them especialy at their price point. The first one I owned failed in 1 month (best I remember), the replacement under warranty failed very quick, the 2nd replacement got noisy fast but I was able to fix it myself. If a Pflueger Pres is a $59 reel and a Shimano Symmetre a $79 reel this Mitchell is a $29 max high end Zebco

Hey Linux welcome aboard. I'm not sure why the UL or L is such a requirement you maybe should be thingking the opposite ( I'll explain later). Here is a link to a reel that is very good for the money http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=52966&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults I use the 2500 size with 6lb test and fish for bluegill, crappie & bass. I wouldn't fish with less than 6lb line and in your case lipping or netting the fish might be a problem so you are going to want enough lb line to lift the fish out w/o a poblem? You might consider 8lb line based on this. You could get the 1500 or the 750 size to get closer to ultralite some people have concerns about a 750 size for bass, for others it works fine. I checked the Symetre combos and it looked like BPS was a little over your budget. So you might have to go with a seperate rod. If you go with seperate pick them out and mount on the rod before you buy for blance and feel/weight. If you go the sep route Bionic lades, Berkley Lighting rods or Cherrywoods might get you close. Here is another choise, it is the Pflueger President they have combos with BPS extreme rods which is a nice rod from what I read on the forum. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=59170&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults I own a 6730 size and it almost feels a little small for bass but gets the job done. If you insist on the lite maybe the 6725. They also make a 6720 microlite but didn't see it as a combo. Here's a Cabela's choice that is a little cheaper but limited 2 pc rod options http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0037131120702a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&No=40&Ntt=pflueger&noImage=0&Ntk=Products&QueryText=pflueger&Ntx=matchall&N=4887&Nty=1 You might think about a 7' rod this way your chair doesn't have to be so close to the edge of the dock ( not sure if it has railings or not). If it does have a rail it would allow your more play or room to work the rod out over the railing. Sorry for the long post hope I didn't add to the headache. Let us know what you pick out

Well the trip started out rough first day was a dual skunk. The second day started out that way then a police officer stopped up and talked to my dad. He said just 2 days ago they were catching crappie, smallmouth & walleye. He said fish about 10 yards to your right and here use this lure. Fifteen mins later we were catching fish. A couple of nice largemouth and a couple of stripers. The weather was great ( for camping not for fishing). Had a couple of dinners in town with pops and just hung out on the porch of the mini cabin.

I've got the Symmetre in the 2500 size and it seems about right for bass to me. You could go with a 1500 maybe but a 750? Avid uses it though and doesn't have any problems. Quite a few people in the past have mentioned the 2500 I believe. Maybe partialy make your decision based on what size line you plan on using. Very few people complain about buying the more expensive reel but many complain about buying too cheap of a reel. The Shimano is good chance to be an exception to the rule.

Don't forget about the Diawa Procaster maybe? Diawa makes pretty good stuff but many manufacturers also make junk on the low end. I do own a Johnson country mile and other than something coming loose and having to tighten it I kind of like it for crappie, catfish etc. Try the Diawa for the heck of it I'm courious,

I'm not sure about the Revo's but Reel Mech's service is highly regarded on this site. Pfluegers are proprietary and he doesn't repair them ( double check with him). In your price range it could have an impact in my price range it doesn't so much. I own Pflueger ans Shimano spinning and they are both very nice quality.

Hey awesome responses. Didn't know if I'd get any feedback or not. That's what makes this site excellent! Going on a camp & fish outing with my dad for a few days ( in outing thread ) and I am going to have lots of time to practice. I'l let you know how it comes out.

OK I've fig'd out how to skip a lure under trees and docks with a spinning reel but I'd like to do with a BC so I can horse out faster from under. Is it almost impossible to do with a BC? Whenever I bump the ground or nick the water I have huge backlashes on normal casts. I figure same thing or worse would happen on a skip. Is it really really really hard? ( I haven't tried yet).

Its not the up North big bag'em trip or the Okochobee special. On Mon 6/4 -Wed 6/7 it is just me and dad fishing and camping a couple of places we used to camp when I was a kid. I've got a small boat and we will be fishing a canal in IL filled with Lilly pads. He's 70 and still in good health but time is time. We may not catch many fish but it will still be priceless. I hope he catches a 4, 5 or 6lb er I would be pumped to witness it. I've started setting some do it before I'm gone goals and this is one I'll never have to look back and say " I wish I would have taken that fishing trip... "

When I click on th ecoupon it tries to open another window but no new picture shows up. It could be because I've got cookies disabled or popup blocker on. You might just try printing out the page as is then using a copy maching o print enlarge it or just give it to them as is and see if it works.

That brings up a point. I've made the mistake several times when trying to break a lind off even mono. On occasion it has cut right into the joint of a finder and pretty deep. I always try to use a rag or sleeve to wrap to protect my hand. I never use the rod or reel to break a line. I'm not sure one day I wouldn't come close to cutting off a finger ( dead serious not joking ), Don't want to hi-jack your thread Burley but has anyone else had this problem?

I use stren super braid. I'm still a braided line novice but I like the texture better than spiderwire and powerpro. Power pro and Spiderwire feel like dental floss and Spiderwire tends to shred. I don't know anything about which one is better but I don't like the shredding effect.

I've never found that color makes much difference in these. I realy believe it is the action of the tail. I've used the redhead a lot with good success but they stopped making it in 3". I've also used bunker, mullet and firetiger

It is my go to bait. I've caught Crappie, LM Bass, Walleye, trout and Wht Bass on the same luer. It is my #1 go to bait. It is now my buddies #1 bait and several other peoples #1 as a result. I gave a kid in need a reel and threw in a storm bait and he loves it too. I predominantely use the 3" just the basic single hook minnow type one with the disc shaped tail. At approx .50 ea I can afford to lose a lot as apposed to one crank bait. I don't heve near as much luck on the 4". I'm wanting to try some 5 & 6's for muskie ,Northern, Walleye etc. I'll need a bigger rod though. I bounce them along the bottom a lot in the past. This year I'm putting generic spinners on them to be more weedless. I'm going to try some of the 2' ones more so this year. Their is a website that sells these in more colors and sizes 5,6,7,9". It is www.customspinnersunlimited.com Give the bait a shot and pm me on how you do it rocks.

How often do you fish and for how long do you fish when you go?

One reel I could see Reel mech's point but 2 and 3 in a row then it is time for Shimano or for Shimano to designatte its chain of command to step up. If they don't then Flech's business is going elsewhere that's the bottom line. Flech, I'd send a letter to Shimano of exactly what you'd expect. Include a picture of all your rods and reels together side by side ( sounds like a bunch). Circle all the ones that are or could be Shimano's and tell them all of those will be Diawas and whatevers in 3 weeks. If they don't take the hint then they don't get it and it is their loss.. Give it a shot.

Avid, You missed by 1 1/2 months or so on this. You should have made this an April fools joke! Re-live it next year, the same people who are wound a little too tight will fall for it next year! LOL Good thing you did fess up now they can re-call the posse after a long ride to no-where! Did you suffer any close call rope burns?

no offense to RVR but unless you are desperate I'd stay away from the Mitchell's. I've had problems with 2 or 3 of them and for what they want for those I'd stay away. I don't own one but with the number of Sahara votes sounds like a possibility. Very few people have complained about any Shimano's from what I read. If you could squeeze $10 more out you could buy a Pflueger President. I'd almost bet that on E-bay you could find this in your price range. I've even found the Shimano Symetre for $60 which is a step or 2 above the Sahara. People rave about the Symetre, I own one and it is a very good reel for the money. I'm talking about E-bay pricing for brand new in a box not used. It is a little riskier but..???

On the spinning reels that I use braid on I don't get line twists. With mono I do but by putting the line on right and by closing the bail by hand you can help a bunch. The twists can still be dealt with much easier than backlashes in a baitcaster. I'm no pro fisherman but it just seems to me like a spinning rod would be more sensitive than the same baitcaster. If it weren't why would they bother making spiral wrapped rods for bc's? Try a spinning reel for the heck of it but try a decent one. Shimano Symetre or Pflueger medalist or president for reels among others are good starters. if you like it so be it if not you are not out much. For the rod buy the same models as you are using but in spinning and see how you like them. Bottom line, whatever catches fish use it!

Hey Mendota welcome to the site. I'm not far from you down near Peoria. I used to cover Mendota as a territory and spent lots fo time over at RR Donnelly's

I think they've made some marketing snafu's. The "hot sauce" thing makes me think they are more interested in making money off of oil than a good fishing reel. The alignment of Zebco is a major mistake in my opinion. Fisherman ( bass ones in particular ) are a very proud bunch of their equipment. Thinking they "might" be fishing with a Zebco is a big no no even if the product was a good one. All that said my first and only baitcaster is a Quantum Mantra, has held up very well and has been great for me to learn on. I paid $80 for it several years ago and almost wish some would come up cheap on e-bay to sneak a good buy. I am like one of the other posters though and like to try other brands in my price-range to compare ( within reason ).

Hey thanks on the tips. I do take advantage of those sales. I've got one lake that if I fish the bottom it seems like I lose my lure no matter what it is. Weedless jigs, Texas riggen ( non exposed ) worms you name it. Plus orig I was thinking needing lots of colors in 2 or 3 sizes. With Grimlin's advice I'll keep it cut down to basics.

I must start by saying that my funds are pretty limited so I'm always looking for a cost effective way to catch bass. That being said... Jigs just seem expensive $3.50 for a hook and some lead and small skirt and they are easy to lose. Does anyone else use the 3 or 5 for a $1 plain jigs without skirts and just add pork trailers or plastics to them?