MarkH024

Interestingly enough, a different person called me 2 hours later and was going to charge me $25 for service and swap out the frame (no cost). I explained that I spoke to another CS 2 hours prior and i was being shipped a brand new reel. He said he didn't get those notes but kindly stated to ignore the message he left.

Ok fellas, just got off the phone with Shimano in CA. #1, outstanding customer service and the gentleman (Doug) I dealt with couldn't have done a finer job. #2 it was in a bin for technicians to work on tomorrow, however after describing the issue the CS rep asked me to hold. He returned to tell me that there is no need to have it serviced as they will send me a brand new reel! I should have it next week. With that said, I was questioned on my receipt of purchase and I was honest and told them I didn't have it and it is over a year old, actually about 2 years now. But because the reel was kept in such great condition they didn't hesitate to replace it. So, it pays to take care of your stuff and keep your receipts. If I sent it in and it looked like it went through world war 3, I'd probably be paying for a new frame. By the way, I've caught 100's of fish with that reel and have managed to keep it in pristine condition. Same goes for most of my reels though. I'm OCD like that.. Case closed.

Do they notify you of that number or do I just call in and ask. No one has emailed or called me and I filled out the service form thoroughly. Thanks Tom

#65-80 braid and an #80 fluoro leader. Some stuff I do fish direct which is risky but its pike that are more of an issue versus Musky. I don't use steel/titanium leaders anymore. Fluoro doesn't mess with the action of baits as badly as a wire leader does. That fish was caught on a Deps 175 SS in flash carp. Her teeth did some damage to the shell of the bait but nothing some super glue and a toothpick couldn't fix. Once you catch a fish of that size, you could care less if a $100 lure gets busted up. It's all worth it. The same trip my boat partner caught a 50" on a bucktail. Pardon the craziness of the camera, it was mayhem.

Well I got an email telling me the frame is back in stock, however I haven't heard a peep from Shimano CS since I sent it in. They have had my reel since June 10th. I suppose I'll give them until after the holiday weekend to contact me. I have no idea if they'll fix it, replace it, stick in my ear...whatever. Has anyone ever dealt with Shimano reel service in CA? IS the wait time like 5 decades and the reel will be obsolete? Lol. I have no pressing time to have it back but would like it back asap if I can just order a new frame.

Get up to Canada. It's a whole different perspective on Musky fishing. You see more fish than you will boat and it is exhilarating. I've seen some MONSTERS. My biggest IL Ski out of the Fox River was around the 32" mark. I know there has been 40+ taken but it is really rare. Green Bay is another Musky hot spot but you need to know where to go and what you're doing. I have not traveled south to fish Musky ever, perhaps I should try.

Carp most likely. I also see sasquatch was fishing there teh night before based off the tracks... <Squatch call>

Yes FF, but to be clear here. Use Mend It to repair your plastics, not secure them. Keep using superglue for the screwlock at the heads of your swimbair or alike. Mend It only fuses the plastics where they're torn, it will not secure it to a jig or anything.

Had to cure the itch today. Caught 3 in an hour. All on a @Siebert Outdoors brush dredge jig paired with a pit boss.

Condolences to you and your family.

1/8th oz to 1/4 oz jig heads with twister tail grubs, minnows. Fish areas that have a rock and weeds or both in close areas. Reefs or humps in the lake are other key areas to try. Crawlers, leeches work well too if you want to go the live bait route. If you're not a slow paced fisherman like myself, a Berkley flicker shad or alike is a good choice if you want to crank for them instead. Lipless cranks will do the trick if they're very active.

Cut the ends of a q-tip off in each section of your box. The cotton will absorb moisture. Good practice for just general storage. Drill a few tiny hole in the bottom of your boxes (like a Plano Hydro box) Most importantly let them hang dry if possible over night when not in use.

Define what you are referring "swimbait" to. Swimbait is just as generic as saying "best soft plastic worm". There are 100's of options for worms that are used for different things. Same goes for "swimbaits", "jigs", "topwater", etc..

Congrats on the new rig Ajay. It's a beauty.

Toothy Critters sure like them. I'm sure the bass will

Billed 3 piece Imakatsu Bassroid below. Although I'm not sure its confirmed to come out at/after ICast. Savage Gear Rat and Duck will be put in teh shopping cart as well.

Your gear is exactly as you need to be. Hollow body frog hooks are big and thick. A lot of the time they're not punctured all the way to the outside of the bass's mouth because of where they get hooked inside the mouth. So anytime that fish can swim and do a lot of directional change (up, down,left right, backward), there's the chance of the fish loosening that hole up and the hooks popping out. Usually a frog gets enhaled and a lot of my hooks are planted into the roof or upper sides of the mouth. Rarely do I have them hooked out toward the front of the mouth like an EWG worm hook or alike. You could try bending out the hooks on the frogs slightly, however I do not do that myself. Some guys like to have that extra bit of angle for better hook ups. As mentioned, try to keep them in a straight line to the boat and with minimal jumping and direction changes. Doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong, it's just part of the game. Good luck!

What kind of line are you using?

I put a Spro 40 rat to work this afternoon. Picked up 4 fish and had my 5th blow it out of the water to the moon. No big gals but still a lot of fun. Bluegill were nesting all over the lake. I should have tied on a hardgill or alike but was having fun with the rat bite. Here was the biggest.

Looks more like LMB to me as well.

Update: I need to send it to Shimano so their reel technicians can evaluate the problem...... I think I'll probably be twisted into having to buy the frame when it's available unless they swap it out or replace it for me but I'm doubting it. I will update you guys when Shimano "evaluates" the problem.

Good looking fish Nice_Bass. Any size to the muskies?

Thanks I appreciate that.

Dobyns 705cb glass. Mentioned that in my original post.

I'd completely understand Raul if i dropped it but it's never been dropped or stepped on or anything like that. I loved this reel and it's caught me 100's of fish. If they replace it I will take it, but if they do nothing I will be in your shoes, no more composites for me. I'll get a Metanium instead. Maybe they'll upgrade me if i suggest it, lol. Wishful thinking.