castaway

I just started using frogs this year.I bought a Spro rojas frog, but I had a terrible hook up ratio with it.I asked for help on another site and was recommended to get a Scum frog Trophy series frog. My catch ratio went from boating 75% of the fish to nearly boating every fish. I cannot tell you if in fact it was the difference in the frog, the scumfrog trophy series is alot softer than the Spro frog, or if I am just had better frogging days , or whether I am getting better with frog fishing.Since then I have used the little white snag proof mouse and have had good luck with that as well. :-/Ivan

Well it sounds like braid is for you, if your wanting a thinner diameter line. I use a peice of first aid waterproof tape to secure the braid once you tie the knot around the spool and then fill your spool like you normally would. The tape seems to hold well.I tend to fish heavier mono lb test. I like 17 lb test for spinnerbaits and I will use 20-30 lb test for jigs in heavy cover.On the other side, I use 8 lb Maxima for crankbaits. I don't have any reason to use heavier line, the fish I normally catch aren't real big my personal best is only 7.4 lbs, I just feel comfortable fishing heavier lines. :)Ivan

I fish very clear lakes, Parrot and Bleeding olive shiner are my favorite colors. I use the DT6 and FT7 baits.

When you have to send the reel in with a 2 week waiting period ? Forgive me for being wrong, but that sure sounds like a recall to me. I understand your a reel repairman, but to the best of my knowledge, I never have had a IAR fail due to extreme weather conditions, or excessive oiling, which I am guilty of doing when I clean them, you have told me so prior to this posting.I am sorry you cannot understand why I passed on the 100D Curado, I was going to buy, which I still feel some sort of obligation to buy it.My local tackle shop ordered it after I mentioned wanting to buy the 100d.He figured he would sell it if I didn't want it. It seems as though no one will buy it. I didn't mean to offend you in posting my opinion, I posted what I felt was the truth.I have been fishing for 14 years, if the IAR was going to fail due to extreme weather, or excessive oil, I should have experienced it by now and the truth is, I haven't even heard of such a thing until I read it on the Shimano reel page of the Bass pro catalog.Ivan

The Roberts wrap has been around since the 1930's. :-/ I have a Rogue blanked flipping stick with the guides spiral wrapped , I didn't see any advantage over the regular guide system, the person who built the rod for me said it was easier for him to use the spiral wrap. I am not sure what his reason was,it seems as though it should have been more difficult ? Ivan

I agree with NBR. I haven't found too many reels out there I don't like.the 2 you mentioned to buy are on my not so hot to buy list.I was going to buy the Curado and then I learned that they had a recall on the line pawl system. Then I started looking to buy it after they solved that problem,but the disclaimer p*ssed me off, where they stated the anti reverse bearings may malfunction due to extreme weather conditions, or excessive lubrication, that's where the back up assist stopper anti reverse was designed for the newer shimano line up.I have owned a few of the older curados before. (the first ones were red in color and newer green colored curados )and I never experienced failure of that kind with them.I wasn't going to pay $200.00 for a reel with a disclaimer attached to it.I do own a president and a Trion, I hate the trion, love the president.The supreme has the dual cast control where the side plate is spring tensioned like a clutch, the higher the rpms, theplate compresses the spring and slides closer to the magnets which slows the rpms down.I was afraid of either spring tension failure, or friction wear, where the plate might rattle on the cast and be annoying to fish with. so with my useless post, buy whatever you feel most comfortable with and I hope whatever you decide to buy boats alot of fish and builds alot of memories for the times your not able to go fishing.Ivan

It looks like the Procaster 6+1 100H reels I have. IMO the line pawl assembly is cheaply made on the reels, but I have had these reels for 4 years now though limited in use, they still work fine.The magnetic system doesn't work as well as the higher priced Daiwas have.I hope this helps you.

I have used this jig for 3 years now. Its a great thick milfoil jig. I will say the skirts are getting worse every year I buy them, getting cheaper, but the jighead and hook components are still the same. Ivan http://www.allterraintackle.com/products/grassjig.html

: : : : I own a president and it works flawlessly every time out.I am sorry that I don't know much about the supreme to help you in comparing the 2 reels. Ivan

The Gene Larew salt craws are my go to jig trailer. I will go to a Zoom super chunk jr on a 1 oz. jig for a faster rate of fall, but more often than not, the larew salt craw works well for me. ;)Ivan

Chris, What brand of reels are you using ?Thats got to be rough on the roller bearing and spool assembly.I would think it would be easier on the reel if you tied off on a cleat and powered the big motor up to break the braid off. ;D Actually , I liked Tuf line for deep water weed jigging, the Tuf line braid squeaks on the guides when a fish tries to take your jig on the soft bite days.

I use Berkley transition with good results, but I am using 17 lb test fluorocarbon line.Seaguar Carbon pro line is excellent fluorocarbon line. I was pretty much forced to switch to berkley, because I can buy it in my area where Seaguar isn't sold in my area. :-[

I have been using 30 lb Tuf line braid while jigging the weedbeds with good results, that is until I broke 4" off the rod tip where the line wrapped around the rod tip on a pitch. I got bit and instantly set the hook, not looking to notice the line wrapped the rodtip. :'( I hear people using 50+ lb test braid.When are the rod manufacturers going to say warranty is void upon the use of braided lines ?What extra wear and tear are you putting on the anti reverse bearings, not to mention the sppol shaft assembly when using braid ? I love the way braid cuts through the heavy weeds, but I am not going to use braid anymore.I like the carbon pro line Lightnin' recommended to me, except the zebra mussels raise hell with it just about as bad as it did with braided line. I fish the carbon pro shallow and mono for the rocky, deeper areas.I think there was no reason to use braid, except for the fact that it was popular and the bait monkey made me buy it. ;D I really do beleive that mono works just as well as braid for most fishing applications.I also beleive its slides through the thick matted milfoil I jig fish better than braided line did, you just can't cut through the weeds like braid can. Would I recommend you to switch to fluorocarbon, or mono ? No, fish what ever you feel works best for you. Ivan

I like them all, Voted for Daiwa.I have , or had a lot of different brands, but they are all good. I have a Pflueger President that is one of my favorites as well as the Abu Revo. ;D

[1]Greg Hackney [2]Tim Horton [3]Jason Quinn

I belong to 8 but really frequent 3.

There aren't too many topographical maps made for the lakes In my area.The ones that are made aren't that are helpful because the lakes are glacier formed so most lakes are very deep leaving very small contour lines to follow around the edges.I watch how the original land contours around the lake.Usually it will follow the same way into the lake bottom. I usually put the trolling motor down and fish.Ivan