Spankey

I’m basically a Shimano guy. Never had anything I could not repair. Some reels are worth repairing but some reels are most likely not worth time to do overhaul on. I guess it’s the chance you take.

That’s nice grass you have there boss. Nice work.

How do they handle a reel problem that might come up. Can service be handled in USA? Has to go back? A lot of issues can be fixed pretty easily with parts. I’m Sure there are a lot of guys on here that can’t work on their reels. Just curious about the service or replacements.

Try to buy your line in bulk, keep it in a cool dry place and replace it regularly. But I understand how hard one guy uses a particular setup is not the same as the next guy. When you’re out fishing it’s pretty limited to keeping the sun of your stuff but when not fishing try to keeping stuff out of direct sun and heat. Maybe this doesn’t mean anything. Fishing line is made to be used in the sun and heat. ?‍♂️

I’m with these guys. Many years ago when fishing grubs, tubes and rubber worms all clicked for river smallies. A lot of cranking followed with Rapalas, Rebel Craws and Rattle Traps. I don’t believe I’ve used live bait for a bass since ‘76 or ‘77. Used a lot of Mepps, Panther Martins and CP Swings used back then.

Generally when spooling a spinning reel you want the line to come off the factory spool with the same loop/ curl/hoop that the reel wants to put it on the reel spool. Turn your factory spool face around if necessary. Don’t always assume the paper label side is the correct side facing the reel when installing. Can’t say that I’ve ever had much of a problem with XL, SunLine Mono or McCoy Co-poly. I use some McCoy on spinning setups I only throw light crankbaits with. Great stuff stays real flat and doesn’t break down quickly. SunLine is good stuff for my plastics. XL and Stren is a general good product. BPS Excel Mono use to be great stuff for the money years ago. Was told way back when it was manufactured by Berkley. That stuff took a nose dive 10+ years ago.

? Shimano with Big Game on it?

I agree with this. Seems to be where I see them.

Specific as far as these set ups have thrown nothing but crankbaits. A lot of different crankbaits styles. (2) St. Croix Premiere Series Crankbait rods (6’6” - 7’) paired with Shimano Curado 100’s. These setups are 20+ years old. Long discontinued. In my opinion they have the best moderate tip or at least to my liking. (2) Abu Garcia Crankbait setups w/ Veritas 7 ft. Winch Crankbait Rods (Med & MH) paired with Abu Winch reels. I’m 110% happy with my results and a pleasure to fish with these setup. I believe I’m using it as it is intend. I don’t have much experience with Abu Garcia products other than these.

Coming from a Shimano guy I like my Abu Winches. I’m using them for crankbaits on moderate rods. Have no complaints on the product or my results fishing them. I’ve been keeping them dry, clean and lubed. Try to catch them on sale.

I think I read or seen somewhere that people are putting plastic type bins on their porches for deliveries to be put in. Good idea to keep a package out of plain view from the street but if dudes are just walking from porch to porch probable doesn’t amount to anything.

Pennsylvania has a extensive trout stocking program throughout the year. Helping the state stock fish is pretty fun also. Fall stockings are minimal compared to spring but in my section of the state the creeks they do stock are great pieces of water. Fall lake stockings are ice fishing holes for guys over the winter. I prefer stream fishing. I’ll fish them past Christmas up into the new year. Iced streams is what stops me. I’m fortunate to have stocked, wild and native trout fairly close to me. I put a lot of time on trout waters every year.

Maybe a Shad Rap or a DT. You don’t need to buy a million patterns. Throw something on the natural side. DT has a wider wobble, Shad Rap is tighter. Don’t over look a Rat-L-Trap, a simple chrome with a black back or gold with a black back. These will help you locate smallies. I think it’s great that you are going after the bronze fish among all the greenies.

I got out this morning for a few hours. Lake fished for greenies. Recent rain put a nice stain on it. Nothing real heavy. Managed 3 fish, first fish on first cast with a topwater. At a quick drop off. That will wake you up quick. Made the switch to cranking. Tried to run baits at 12-15 feet. Seems like this range is where I’m getting bit. Had a nice bite that was on for a very short time. Had some weight and mass to it. Sort of hit close to below the boat. Feel my angle for hook set was not that great. Passed back through that area with longer casts. Did pick up another fish I’m pretty sure we are not talking the same fish. 15” about 2 lbs. I’m looking forward to the next few weeks. Gonna try to pick up two DT- 20’s. I could be wrong but I feel the fish are gonna make a move to shallower water. I think the bluegill are gonna go shallower.

This is a great question and a situation I’ve come across many times also. I don’t have the exact answer to this. I run across it crankbait fishing and jerkbait fishing. Your water clarity is a lot clearer than mine and I wonder if this is more common in clearer water. There were times that I brought a crankbait to a complete stop or burned it faster to get a strike. Majority of the time I can’t get the hook up. I’ve had a handful times over the years in that situation where two smallies hit it for a double header. I never made it out to mean very much that I wasn’t getting the strike. When it happens I will continue to CB fish with maybe a change up of color or shape or style. I don’t make that situation out to be a real negative. Fish are clearly there. Fish are active. Stay on that area and fish, pull off of it and then go back through it again. You have a great post. Good fishing.

I know I don’t have a scientific explanation or have an answer to Mother Natures plan. You just have to deal with you have. What other option do you have? Stay home? I can’t see doing that. I see fishing through it, keep giving it heck, things can change in just one bite. Having a little hope with an upcoming seasonal change might spark things.

Yes I’ve seen that. In a river it doesn’t take much to ruin a spawn. A few flash floods at the wrong time can do it. I don’t know your exact situation but if I were a betting guy the smallies that you are looking for are not in the thick of things with the dinks and runts that generally can be picked off of the bank. Might be just a difference of a few feet away. Might be a bit more of a coax to get me to bite. Maybe try fishing a drop off away from the bank, find a long point that drops off real quick something like inches of water to 7-8 ft. real quick. Fish something like a DT-6 or DT-10 they dive pretty quickly. Fish a rattle-l-trap fast and slow at those depth. Great area for Model A’s and Bandits. ** I’m no expert, I just try to fish hard and never give up **

I can see where you are coming from from the dog days of summer in relation to lake fishing and a pressured lake fishing. The river sections I fish generally the dog days don’t have much effect. Water temps are somewhat lower, current May have deminished but still exists. It’s been off for me. Not like I’m getting skunked just not setting the world on fire at the river. I’m gonna blame the lack of rain. We basically have had none. For months. Creeks and ditches are not active. Storm drains are not even a trickle. I’m not gonna overthink it, certainly not going to question what I’m throwing. Been using my baits for years. As a change up I have been throwing a few different colors/patterns. I’m sticking to rain fall amounts (none). Mother Nature I can’t control. We have been getting some showers and downpours that let up this afternoon. I’ll check the river conditions later, if not fishable I’ll hit the lake. I’m anxious to fish some new water conditions.

Ohio, it’s not your skill level. Don’t carry that and let it effect your confidence out there on the water. The bass could clearly be feeding more at night.

Did take advantage of the Holiday to pick up some more of the McCoy Mean Green co-polymer. For what crankbait fishing I do with spinning reel this is my choice line. Tough line to find in the super bulk spools. I like Big Game for casting reels but don’t like the performance on spinning gear using crankbaits. Looking forward to upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday sale.

A change up can generally work out for the best.

Even with river level down I’m still able to fish bank drop off and points that taper to 8 feet or so. Toward dam breast 11+. Some Bridge piling 9-10 ft. My biggest problem is at boat ramp. Shallow and silted. But been able to get in and out. Just not easy. Major floods last September caused this issue. State gonna correct it? I don’t know. Like you I’m picking up a few decent fish recently. Both smallies and greenies. Been having some dink feasts also. It’s all ok. Dinks, runts and respectable are healthy looking fish. Strong with fight in them. I like catching those green fish in with those smallies.

This summer I feel has been somewhat tougher. But higher than normal temps or longer spans of these temps and a real lack of rain has thrown it off. I retired recently and I’ve been making it a point to fish areas and sections of my home river and lake that I’ve never fished. So I’ve had a live and learn summer also. But no complaints on that, that’s been fun. And recently a few nice smallies and greenies being caught. We are getting some heavy rain right now. Hopefully won’t mess the river up too bad or for that long. The lake level is down also. I’ll take the new water.

Hope you guys are having a decent Holiday. No fishing today or yesterday. Had no intensions. Was not gonna deal with any holiday yahoos on the water. Had a couple decent days at the end of the week. Thursday a few nice smallies, Friday picked up two nice river Largemouths fishing the same stretch as the prior day. I’ll try to pick up the pieces again on Wednesday. We are getting some well deserved rain now. Hard stuff tomorrow. Should help the river some as long as it’s not flash floods. See that some of you guys are getting hammered and has been destructive. Stay safe. Didn’t have a huge blow-out today. Kids, grandkids and a couple close neighbors. Decent time. Grilled some good eats.

God bless you guys. I hope things get better.