tholmes

I've been using Big Game for decades. I like the Solar Collector (12# or 15#) for bottom contact baits like jigs and T-rigs because I'm an incurable line watcher and it's MUCH easier for my old eyes to see. I use 10# clear for crankbaits, jerkbaits, topwater and spinnerbaits. Lately, I've been trying BPS Excel mono and I'm liking it pretty well also. Tom

I use this for fishing jigs and soft plastics. I find that I see a lot of bites that I don't feel. It's definitely high visibility. Tom

Green Pumpkin, while not my most productive color, is still one that I carry and use. It ranks behind tequila sunrise/red shad, black and June bug, but is still in the arsenal. I seem to have better results with jigs in GP than soft plastics, especially early in the season. I catch enough bass on GP that it keeps its place in my tackle box. Tom

Same here. Big Game or BPS Excel mono is about all I use. I catch enough fish with it to keep me going back. Tom

It could be a bad bearing. When a bearing goes south from , it can feel "geary". Pull them out and spin test each one, clean or replace any that feel rough. Tom

I've never replaced a bearing in a reel unless the old one was faulty. From my (limited) engineering knowledge, I cannot imagine a fishing reel needing an ABEC 5 or ABEC 7 bearing. If your reel spins at 100K rpm, you might benefit from high$ bearings, otherwise, they're just not necessary, IMHO. Tom

I guess I should make myself a little more clear?. In my first post^^ I didn't answer your question re: what knot to use. My second post was just my opinion that what knot you use really doesn't matter as much as tying the knot properly. There are several knots that would work well. Tom

Really, most any knot, if properly tied, will work just fine. I use an Improved Clinch Knot on virtually everything because I can tie it quickly and correctly. I almost never have any knot failure problems. Tom

Definitely add a split ring if it didn't come with one. I also add a ball bearing swivel, especially if I'm throwing it with spinning gear. Tom

There's no rule that says you can't use both. I'm also a shore-bound angler and I use both spinning and baitcasting gear. Sometimes even (gasp!) spincasting. Generally, I use spinning gear for lures weighing 1/4 oz. or less and baitcasting for 1/4 oz. and up. Use whatever you like and are comfortable with. Tom

I've hot-rodded several of my round Ambassadeurs over the years. Get ahold of Jerry Foran at http://hookless.com/ for parts at the best prices I've found, plus, Jerry is a great guy and has a vast store of knowledge about the reels. The best improvements I've found: Thorough cleaning of everything, polishing friction points and using high-quality oil and grease. Carbontex drag washers. They won't do anything for your casting distance, but they're a major step up from the stock drag. Dual ball bearing levelwind and cog wheel - available at the link above. If your reel has the 2-pin brake system, consider installing the smaller (blue) brake blocks. Tom

I've had a couple of Abu Garcia Vengence casting rods for a few years now and I like them a lot. IMHO, the best $50 rod out there. Tom

I use Excel on my spinning reels also. I just bought a bulk spool of 14 lb. Excel (clear blue fluorescent) and have been using it on my baitcasting reels for worm and jig fishing and, so far, it's working well. Tom

Bass fishing is a slow sport? Ever been on a lake when there's a tournament going on? A lot of those glitter barge jockeys are far worse than a kid on a jet ski Tom

As a former French Horn player, I can tell you that it isn't simple! I've been playing guitar for almost 60 years. Mostly acoustic for the last 25 yrs. or so. The herd includes a Gibson Hummingbird, Taylor 355 12-string, Martin 000-1, Rainsong A-WS1000 (all carbon fiber), Larrivee Parlor, and a couple of plywood cheapies for the grandkids to mess with. I still have a couple of electrics, but I never play them anymore. Tom

Simple economics. By not printing the lure weight on the package, they can use the same package for every size of lure. It's cheaper to buy 100,000 packages that are all the same than it is to but 25,000 each of 4 different packages. Tom

Big Game 15# - $10/900 yds. Stren MagnaThin 16# $10/330 yds.? Tom

I can relate. Jus' sayin' Tom

Waterfowl (bottom-feeding ducks in particular), and other wildlife can ingest small pieces of lead. They can get lead into their system through their digestive tract. It's the same reason that lead shot has been banned for waterfowl hunting. Tom

Lead is not water soluble. Tom

A big ol' black Jitterbug is a favorite of mine also. Along with a black 9" Culprit Fat Max, a black 1 oz. spinnerbait with a single #6 copper Colorado blade. Tom

When I was working, I kept a couple of baitcasting rigs and a tackle box in the cab of my Dakota essentially all of the time for lunch break fishing. This is in Kansas, where it's not uncommon for the summer temps to surpass 100 degrees. I kept the windows open an inch or so, and the tackle box out of the sun, and never had any problems. Tom

I'm pretty close to 50/50. I enjoy both equally. Tom

I've been using a 6'6" BPS MicroLite for several years and been very happy with it. They're a little above your price point, though. Tom

This sounds just like me. I don't really upgrade, just add to the collection. I'm fishing a fleet of Sweden-made Ambassadeurs and haven't found a compelling reason to change. They are serviced and repaired as needed and as long as parts are available, I'll keep them going. Rods are replaced when I break one or new ones added when I need something that I don't have. Tom