gramps50

You could go to Tackle Warehouse and use their loner program and try both reels. They will let you try them for a week. It does cost a few bucks but it's pretty reasonable.

The 1st 2 baitcasting reels I bought were from Walmart, I took both of them back after trying to use them for a couple of days. Don't remember which ones they were but were name brands. Could not either of them to cast without a birds nest. Then I saw a Lews combo at my local sporting goods store and decided to give that a try. To my amazement it was much easier to cast. I still got birdsnest but not as many as before. Used it some then bought a Lews Tourament Pro and a Falcon rod to go with it. I still get birdsnest and am not real good with it but that's because I don't use it enough to really get the hang of it. Last fall I would only fish with the BC and was getting decent with them but then came winter and I got real rusty and this spring pulled out the spincast stuff again. Go to Bass Pro and get a pick, it's a handy little tool for helping to dig out birdsnest, it's a big help.

Threw my hat in the ring, thanks Glen for the heads up..

My SS100a is very smooth and cast well. I have only had it a couple of days. My only compliant is that it sits just a bit to close to the rod and sometimes when flipping the bail it will nick your finger. If I turn the bail just a little CC from the handle all is fine. Mine is on a Medium Fast St Croix 7' so you should be fine with your setup. Might want to rethink the Berkley Fluro from what I have read it isn't very good. I have Seagar InvizX #6 on mine.

Purina Worm Chow

So what did you end up buying? How do you like the SS40a? I just bought a SS100a that cast like a dream, I think even better than my Pflueger Presidents.

Might try one of those little foam brushes next time, they should work well.

I used one of the throwaway brushes that you can get at Harbor Freight on the cheap for a box of them, not good deal brushes but work well for U-40 just check for stray brush hairs. The first handle I did in the morning and fished it that evening, it set out in the sun most of that time. Later I did all my cork handles after cleaning then with a magic eraser, they dried overnight before use.

I can remember going there 25 years ago or so to run my RC boat and I sure don't remember it looking like it does now. As I recall we parked in a parking lot pretty much on the end where you enter the park, then walked my 20 ft to the water. Didn't fish then so all I did was run the RC boat around. Now it seems over grown and not very well taken care of fishing would probably be better out of a kayak or canoe. I'll have to try some Senkos when the water goes down some more, which looking out the window won't be anytime soon... I went to Bee Tree park the other night, all I caught was 5 bluegill just before sunset. Was fishing the lower end so I may have been in the wrong part have heard reports of some nice fish coming out of there.

Went to Unger for a little while this evening. Fished what looks to be a spillway to the Meramec. There was plenty of forage right at the bank but no bits using a worm and a Ned's rig, sliver/white inline spinner nor with the jointed crank bait. Was trying to use my baitcaster under the trees which was a mistake, need more practice with it.

You fish Unger from the bank? Last time I was there was about a year and a half ago, water was low and didn't even get a bite. I was fishing tight line with worms off the bottom at that time. The park has been closed because of high water. Might have to run by and check it out tonight.

What about us folks who don't do Facebook?

I had a Browning rod that was a Black Friday special, the tip broke off. They told me to go and get another rod for that price. I decided to upgrade so I got a better combo for $10 more. They even gave me the spool off the reel with my line on it. I was impressed to say the least.

I just cleaned my cork handles so I could seal them with U-40. I had made some marks to measure fish by on the handle and the Mr Clean Magic Eraser even took the markings off and I had used a Sharpie to make the marks. Thanks for the tip....

I would have to give a thumbs up to Sufix Elite too.

I have been having pretty good luck with the yellow/black Rebel cricket

I would try trading rods with my buddy for a little while and see what happens. Maybe his presentation is different than yours. If he catches fish on your rod that is the direction I would lean.

Bank fishing I normally don't listen to music, but when in the boat I will normally play some CW music. BTW normally I am in the boat by myself so the music is my company.

According to my 1040 I'm retired

Yo-Zuri Ultra Soft is for spinning reels, I have #8 on one of mine and I like it. P-Line Flouroclear is suppose to be good too, very comparable to Yo-Zuri but I can't attest to it as I haven't tried it.

That's way cool! Congrats to your son on his 1st catch

Nice catch & congrats on your new PB

Whether you solider it or use grip connectors I would us marine shrink wrap to seal the joints. I get mine by the box at Harbor Freight, The are also Marine butt connectors, I get those at Walmart. The Marine butt connectors have a shrink wrap tube with glue made all in one piece. I still prefer to add another piece of marine shrink wrap over the joint.

I have Yo-Zuri which is also a copolymer and I use the San Diego jam without any issues, just make sure you lube it good when cinching it down.

Was using a Pfluegar Trion GX7 4720 on my UL setup. Was having an issue with the line being like a corkscrew while laying on the water, tired several different line all with the same issue, mono. Decided the other night to try a little bigger real so I went to BP and bought a Pluegar President 6925, used the same line as I had on the GX7 20 and it was fine this time. Pluegar President 6925 2 small safety pin spinners 4 inline spinners 1/8 & 1/4 oz 2 ea