Bluebasser86

Welcome!

The new Berkley Surge Shad is an awesome wake bait. Really similar action to the old school Red Fins but much more consistent. Use to have to buy several and mess a hood number of them up trying to heat the bill and bend it just right. The Surge Shad has the perfect action without having to mess with that. I really like to fish them when it's calm and fish won't commit to breaking the surface. Also a great bait around docks, especially if the shad are spawning on the docks.

Without looking it up, I'd guess your IPT would be pretty close with those two reels. The Cardiff with have much better line capacity with the heavier line, but unless you're planning on bombing cast, that may not be an issue. For the baits you listed I believe you'd be fine with either reel.

This is what happens at 5pm when my almost 2 year old decides he doesn't need a nap today. I tried to pick him up and wake him up because I thought it was a little early to put him to bed, he didn't agree.

Looks like a Mayan Cichlid to me.

The reel seat sits into the frame on the Cardiff, they sit much lower to the rod than the Abu round reels do. I haven't used the 300 but I've had the smaller sizes and they're very comfortable to use. You could get away with a smaller low profile if 3oz is the largest bait you're going to use. I toss a lot of baits in the 1-2.5oz size range on a 200B Curado.

I'd contact Daiwa for sure, no reason you should strip gears on a reel that is being using properly unless something is wrong with it. I use a KastKing Speed Demon for frogs.

I have mono/copolymer on some of my jig/Trig rods ? The horror I know! I also use it for shakyheads. I use straight braid for topwater walking baits and braid with no leader even in clear water. Just because you're "suppose" to, doesn't mean you have to.

I tie a San Diego Jam with fluoro. It's easy and been the strongest knot I've found for it. Type of knot isn't nearly as important as tying it properly though.

Would have a very similar action to a Beetle Spin, but you get to select your own colors.

Welcome!

Welcome! Congrats on just still being here and fighting the fight.

Welcome!

My wife has to be one of the luckiest people I know. She wins all the time at scratch off tickets and at the casino in slot machines, places that really do require dumb luck. Last time we went she took home over $200 off one $20 bill.

I also use this line on a lot of my rods. It's supple enough to use on a spinning rod, (it's actually what I use for shakyheads), but strong enough and has enough abrasion resistance to use for jigs and T-rigs. The fact it that I can buy it at any Wal-Mart for less than $10 a spool is a huge bonus.

Found out the hard way on Thanksgiving that it's possible to split a fingernail in half down the middle with a potato peeler, who would have thunk? I kept most of the blood out of the potatoes at least ?

You buying something else? If anyone is looking for a really nice boat, here it is. I've personally fished out of it several times and driven it myself, it rides and fishes like a much larger boat but it's perfect for getting around on the smaller lakes in our area while still being big enough to take to the larger reservoirs as well.

I'll skip a dock with whatever reel I happen to be using and I have braid, copolymer, and fluoro on my jig/trig rods. I don't know that one really works better than the other, but I'd probably start with the cheaper option because you're going to get backlashes.

I use mono for my spinning rod that I throw shad raps and 1.0 squarebills on.

I almost made it without spending any money, but I couldn't pass up War Eagles for $2.99 apiece. Kept it reasonable and only spend $40 though.

Make sure to get some of the 2 Taps, you won't be disappointed.

I took my son fishing today and it was so nice out that I wore my Jitterbug T-shirt. We stopped at the gas station to get a drink and a snack and an older gentleman stopped me and wanted to talk fishing and how much just the picture of that lure on my shirt brought back so many fond memories for him. I told him it was one of the first lures I remember fishing too so it brings back a lot of good memories for me. So not only is it a cool looking shirt, but it was a nice conversation starter today

Looks like sexy blue back or chartreuse shad to me.

I think you need to peg the sinker and maybe move up to at least a 1/2oz.

Just about to get off work, then the festivities can begin! Nice quiet night, just like I like. Happy Thanksgiving!