tjc76

welcome aboard, colobass.

beautiful fish!

Okay, so I practiced a bit yesterday. I removed the hooks from a half ounce rattle trap and casted in my yard. It already feels second nature to me. I went to a local pond today for some more practice. I started off with a magnetic brake setting of 10, or maximum. I only backlashed twice, and both were minimal. Both backlashes happened when I really tried to whip it. When I let the rod do the work, I did pretty well and got decent distance on it. I ended the day with the brake setting at 5, and am feeling very comfortable with the casting reel. My first and only fish of the day was a monster carp, which I fought for what seemed like half an hour, only to have it spit out the hook five feet from shore :'(

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I took the plunge today after visiting my local tackle shop. After holding and pretending to cast several reels, I purchased a Team Daiwa Tierra 153 reel, and paired it with a St. Croix Mojo Bass Crankbait rod, 7 ft Med Heavy power Moderate action. Now off to practice. 8-)

congratulations on the new PB!

Hi everybody. I am interested in buying my first baitcasting setup. I have never used a baitcaster, so I'm not looking to spend alot on it. My biggest issue is that I am left handed. I have always fished spinning reels left hand retrieve. I hold the rod in my left hand to cast, then switch the rod to my right hand for hookset and retrieve, and reel-in with my left hand. My question is, with a baitcaster, I think I have to thumb the line, and I want to cast with the rod in my left hand, and also want to retrieve with my left hand. Will this be a problem with a baitcaster? I seem to think that the reel arm will interfere with thumbing during the cast. I don't want to switch to right hand retrieve, I tried it with a spinning reel, and was not comfortable at all. Thanks, Tjc76

I use the uni to uni knot, aka double uni. 5 wraps around 12# trilene, 8 wraps around 30# powerpro. I find it to be a very reliable knot.

Hi everyone, my name is TJ. I'm from Northern New Jersey. I just started freshwater fishing this past summer, and I must say that I am totally addicted. I enjoy fishing for LMB and SMB the most, but I am an equal opportunity angler, and do not discriminate against any fish that takes a bite at my lure If anyone ever wants to wet a line in bergen, passaic, morris co. NJ drop me a pm. I also have a NY license and enjoy fishing in Rockland and Westchester Co.