lmbfisherman

My favorite Spinning reels -> Stradic FJ and Symetre. However I've never gone above the Stradic.

There are many topics regarding leader length. 90% of my reels have braided line on them (baitcaster and spinning). Generally I usually make the leader the length of the rod I'm using. This way it gives me some extra line to retie lures.

Let me know how you like it!

Welcome and is that a fishing rod in your mouth?

Welcome to the boards.

Read, youtube, Bass Resource, plan trips, inventory lures/baits, terminal tackle, get ready for Spring Shows and sales and do lots and lots of pretending to fish with my combos.

I own two Lexas. I bought them for 80 bucks I think in 2014. They are solid reels, but the one thing that annoyed me was the larger profile foot on the d**n things. It had problems sitting on my Shimanos and Fenwicks. It even had a hard time on my pond rod Daiwa T Rod. It fit perfectly on my St. Croix Avid though and balances well. Something to think about too before you get a Lexa.

I hear if you want to get the best experience for a G Loomis rod it was the IMX line. I never owned one, but I'm thinking about getting one. I own GLXs and a GL2.

So I finally decided to take a dive further into taking apart a reel. I mean I did normal cleaning and simple maintenance before, but I want to be able to service my own reels. It can get expensive sending 21 reels in. So I decided to test it out on a cheapie reel I bought from BPS. (I'm not a very good handyman normally and I tend to muck it up!) Funny part is I went to school learning how to build circuit boards and most of my career I was able to do the work on computer parts....I don't get it! You'd think the precision required would help me with the bigger things! NOT! I did do some minor damage to the paint job because there was a 4th screw too take the reel side, side plate off. It was in an awkward positions. Of course I noticed later there was another screw to remove the top part of the worm gear and it made it easier to reach that screw, first lesson learned. Anyway I'm amazed on how good this reel works now. I cleaned out the excess grease, flushed the bearings and cleaned the gears/greased. Before cleaning this thing it couldn't free spool more than 1 second and now it can go for a good 10 seconds. I didn't get a chance to actually use it on a rod yet after the cleaning but before I had a hard time chucking any baits because I had to cast hard and 1 out of 3 times would backlash. I'm thinking this thing could actually be usable now, I'm going to have to test it out tomorrow. I've started on my Citica 200G7 now and have taken it apart and the bearings are sitting in acetone as we speak. For those of you who are sitting on the fence, for goodness sakes if I can do it, Mr. Two Left Hands you definitely can and well worth the trouble!

Very awesome thread and nice rods you have built so far. Your thread has inspired me to research more on rod building...I'm motivated to do my own build now. Keep up the good work!

I will hammer it down further. MH/F definitely. If you go with a Moderate tip, even though I wouldn't recommend it...I'd use braid as mainline with a flouro leader.

Welcome to the board!

Amen fellow bass fisherman, my wife and I are on the same plan.

Boat first....although I'd love to have both. Or you could always get the land/pond and while you're saving up for a boat..buy a Kayak and become a co-angler for tourneys to tide you over.

Trilene and Big Game for me.

My vote would be the Symetre, you can find them for under a 100 easily.

Seems like everyone has covered it, but one CB color I find that worked no matter what water I went to was Cht with a black top. Don't know what it is, but it is a main staple color for all CBs I have now.

My first bass was caught on a SK Bitsy Bug, I can't remember the "official color" but it was a brownish color. I learned how to do the presentation through a lot of research on youtube, online boards..etc. It was the best feeling ever because even the standard live bait fishing I did prior, I couldn't catch many bass. It was the day it all came together and figured out that I love bass fishing. I don't have that lure any longer though.

Good point and I personally wouldn't take a offense to it. It's a good tip! I know a lot of guys who didn't know including myself when I first started. Lots of good tips on the thread and I would just like to add my vote in that the PQ is a very solid reel and one of the best bang for your buck reels available.

Keep in mind not all bites are from bass, it could be a panfish nibbling. Here are a couple of things I'd do though if this was happening to me: 1. Change the color (or JJ's Magic!) or profile (size). If it is bass in fact taking a swipe then it isn't what they are looking for, many times where I get short strikes...doing one or the other makes a difference. 2. Make sure the bass has it, when I usually wacky rig or any plastic bait fishing I make sure they have it. Don't set the hook on every nibble. 3. For wacky rigging you don't need to do a hard hook set. I use a sweeping motion. 4. If number 1 doesn't work try a different bait.

Why are they doing it this way? Not as popular anymore?

For Senkos I like to use baitcasters.... For me I usually will go with my GLX 853C paired with a Chronarch 50 MG 10lb floro. (Kayak) When I bank fish I will use my 6'8" Cumara MH/F paired with a Citica G7 12lb floro. For wacky rig, I usually use my Fenwick ET Smallmouth 6'8" M/XF paired with a Symetre 2500 with 10lb braid and 8lb floro as a leader.

Welcome fellow Ontarian!

Welcome to the boards!

It is just starting to set in. It seems always after the Holidays I start to get Cabin Fever. In order to tide me over for the next few months, I'll be doing a lot of research, re-spool lines, clean rods and reels, inventory of my tackle, make a list for upcoming Spring Classic, check a lot of reviews, plan my outings for the year and do lots of posting on Bass Resource.