jherm87

I can't answer all your questions, but it is definitely easier to learn with a bit heavier bait. Make sure there is enough line on the spool. Don't be afraid of the brakes, you will get better and be able to take off some brakes. Keep at it. I had the same problems my first few days out. Good luck

They've been one of my go to plastics this year. Watermelon, green pumpkin, summer craw, black and blue, and Okeechobee craw have all been good here.

Happened to be, probably 7-8oz bass felt big. Turned with my line about 20 ft away and thought it was heading under the dock. 3-5 lb bass jumps out of the water and I thought I had a good one hooked, I let it take some drag and when I was done ended up with only a baby on my line

Nice report. Congrats!

Congrats on the pb! What a hawg

Nice video

I grabbed it like any 3lber I've caught, and unhooked it. It may have been 18 inches, but it did weigh in at 4.12 sorry didn't mean to put 14 oz. Either way it was fat. I've found some amazing fishing this year and 3-3.5# fish have become very normal where I'm fishing. It looked like a short fish, and I was pier fishing, so most of thr time I just lip them, un hook and get them back into the water as quickly as possible. There are too many people dropping them and laying them on the hot deck anyway.

I'm thinking 6-6.5 as well. I weighed one today, it was 16 inches, I was ready to toss it back, but thought man this is heavy. Threw it on the scale, 4lbs14oz. Should have taken a picture, but I'm over it unless they're big or really nice looking

You can use a screw lock keeper for the head of the plastic. Then just unclip the screw lock and you're only pushing the hook through the belly. Doesn't tear them up as bad if you're switching alot

Bedliner probably lasts longer, but may start to look chalky after a while, especially if it gets wet and is in the sun alot... (a boat) carpet will be cooler if you happen to end up shoeless. I think my reels would look like crap soon after, getting boat rah from the rough floor.

Just pinch the barb flat and slide them out. No need for cutters then. I've caught six fish this year that I've pulled hooks and jig heads out of. A couple that were rusted so they broke right in half when I tried to remove them

Probably going to need more than one rod locker for 15 rods

Congrats

I've made myself not spend more than $100 on a rod right now. I've only paid retail once so that helps too. I want to try a carbonlite, but I'm happy with my 13 omens for now. Good luck on your search

I feel like I had a better hookup ratio when I was throwing cranks with my mediun fast *** then I have with my crankbait specific rod. I had 3 fish spit the hook tonight. I thought I was done fishing cranks for the night and boom hit this one. 20130613_214544-1 by bigkidsone, on Flickr Keep on cranking, I don't think you can let them take much drag with the treble baits. I could be wrong though. I had zero hookup issues with the topwater though

Attitude Confidence Patience Weather Water Quality

Sucks to hear. I had a ball joint break on my car last year in the winter. Took out the axle with it. Had to get a ride to work, work 12 hours then come home and fix it at about 5°f. Made for a long day. Extreme hot and extreme cold always seem to make a bad day worse. Good luck with tomorrow. Just another day in Paradise

I've definitely sliced a finger or two open. I broke a d**n rod tip myself this morning. Stupid things happen all the time it seems

Wouldn't mind having another 50e myself. I've got one and a 200. Both are so smooth

Nice fish

Add said before direct unless it's a crankbait. I think the braid to mono comment was based on visibility/abrasion issues

Knots for me, one thing I do on a smaller spool is pass back out the level wind and tie the knot. Then slide It back through and cinch it down. Cut the tag and spool it up. Makes tieing the knot easier with fat fingers. Our just tie it further away from the spool.

X3 on the ***. My friend just got a veritas and likes it as well. As said before try to hold them all and see what feels best to you

My tournament has two centrifugal brakes on. I can crank the magnets to 7-9 and throw 3/8 baits a significant distance into the wind. Sounds like you are wanting a baitcaster that you can press down the thumb bar and throw. I started dragging my thumb on the spool the whole time when I started, to help train my thumb. Take a little more spool tension out, you shouldn't have to throw so hard and just thumb the spool. I don't know how long you've been using them now, but it takes some time, I almost gave up on baitcast reels in my first couple weeks, now it seems to be trying to skip baits under the docks that screws me. Turn up the brakes of you have to, or stitch to a spinning reel, no shame either way in my eyes

Congrats, x3 on the pics