Smallmouth Hunter

Do you have to thumb it at all when you have it on 1-2?

As my username suggests, I do a lot of crankbait fishing. I hate it when i know that there are fish in a certain spot, but i can't quite reach the depth i want to cause i can't cast far enough.

I think i should specify my question a little better. I just re-read it and it didn't sound right lol.. I was reading a review of a tournament mg somewhere and the guy said he keeps the magnetics between 4 and 5 for all lures up to 3/4 oz. If i tried using 4-5 on my tournament pro (with no centri brakes on cause the mg doesn't have the centri. brakes) with a 3/4 oz jigs or crank, I would just about backlash the whole spool! This made me wonder if the magnetic brakes are different in the lew's reels with just magnetics, and the ones with Multi-setting-brakes (MSB). This is probably not the best place to ask this question. I should probably just ask lew's...

Are the magnets in the Tournament mg stronger than the magnets in the tournament pro (and other high end reels lew's makes)? I tried using only magnets on my TP and it didn't go so well...

I have seen saltwater spnning rod setups make very long casts. I am talking about low profile baitcasters though. Mainly, what low profile baitcast reel would you go to if you wanted to bomb a lipless crank way out there.

What is the farthest casting low profile baitcasting reel you have ever used/seen (not on tv)? I fish a lot of ponds where distance is key, and I am just curious cause I am in the market for a new reel for cranks and I am wondering which reel companies are known for sheer distance.

Buy a Lew's tourney pro and you will sell all your shimanos!

There are some ponds I fish where I just can't catch much on small finesse lures, but there are others where they are great. I feel comfortable with both but I like bc more cause its more accurate and I can get away with bigger lures/stronger line. I don't use spinning rods for anything more than a 1/4 oz. I also love ultralights.

I think air jaws is pretty cool. It does get repetitive though... I liked the Alien sharks show. Did anyone else see the goblin shark? That thing is crazy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjRSlnJ1rA4 (<-- not my video) skip to 0:18

When I first got a baitcaster, I used 6 pound line cause I had a lot of 6 pound line. It was a horrible decision. The backlashes were huge. I would recommend using 10-14 lb line when starting with baitcasters cause it won't backlash as much, and it isn't too stiff. When you first start casting your reel, set the centrifugal brakes on 4. Then set the spool tension so the lure falls to the ground pretty fast (around a second to hit the ground. Some people will say this is not the right way to go but I have used the h20 mettle a LOT and it does not backlash easy as long as you have the centrifugals right. On my mettle, I don't even have to set the spool tension, I can leave it very loose and let the centrifugals do all the braking (and not even have to thumb the spool). The main reason I would recommend putting the spool tension loose is that if you have it too tight, then when you cast and release your thumb it will not immediately cast. The spool tension holds it for a extra half-second (probably less) and the line comes off later in your cast action. This makes the lure go off to the left (If you are a right handed caster and you are casting side arm). When I first started with baitcasters I set spool tension too tight and my casts went way off course into trees and what not. Oh and last thing, make sure you cast side arm to start. Some people will say cast over head, but I don't think that is the best way for a beginner cause if you let go a second to late, the lure will head directly for the ground and you will backlash. That's all.

The chronarch e is the same reel with a few minor upgrades as the curado e. I would say go with the chronarch.

I would say the abu black max and silver max combos would be the way to go in this case. I have never owned one of these reels, but I have used one and it casts very far.

When you get a fish, you will know it. Instead of your line/rod-tip vibrating, you will feel a heavy weight and the bass will head shake. It only takes one fish to learn the feeling, so just catch that first bass and you will have a better understanding of what im talking about.

My local pond has this too. I have heard from neighbors that it is mosquito killer and others say it is algae killer so I don't know which. It does kill fish. The population in my pond has gone down so far.. I have seen bass dead, and floating a day or two after the water turns blue. It might be fertilizers too cause people like on this pond and their lawns go up to the shore. I pretty much gave up on this pond cause I have only caught 2 out of it this year and they were both under 1/2 pound!

Shimano said that they didn't "shoot their whole wad" at icast 2013, meaning they have more new products coming out this year. I think I know what it is! I heard rumors about bantam1 hinting at a new series. Apparently, someone asked if there would be a ci4+ series to replace the current g series in the future. His exact words were "I am assuming". This isn't confirmed but it is very likely. What do you think about this, and what do you want shimano to bring with this new ci4+ series? I personally would like to see a 50 sized curado.

Which reel?

Bantam1 hinted to someone that there will be a ci4+ series of reels to replace the g series... just a rumor though, im not sure!

All I have ever done for upgrades (all on tourney pro) upgrade spool bearings to the new hawgtech hybrids. I think I am going to upgrade the knobs and drag star, but they are already really nice so maybe not. I think an upgraded spool would be nice though. Does anyone know a upgraded spool a tournament pro can use?

I read the report wrong lol.. I meant the south end is more muddy and the north is more clear.. I am thinking that I should use a chatterbait/chatterswim and maybe a crank if theyre that shallow.

I read some fishing reports on my local lake and they all say that the water is muddy and looks like "chocolate milk". Also, that it has a bunch of debris such as trees and logs floating around. They say the south end is more clear and the north is more muddy. It is part of the Catawba river system so its not too uncommon for there to be debris, but I have never heard of it being this bad! How does this effect the fish? A local pro said this causes fish to feed. Does that mean they will be more shallow? How would you go at fishing in this situation?

Thanks for all the advice! Haven't gone fishin for a few days so I haven't got a chance to test any yet.

Definitely do a review on it as soon as possible! I am very excited about this reel and it looks great! :eyebrows:

The new pflueger reels just came to bps.. http://www.basspro.com/Brand-Pflueger/Fishing-Fishing-Reels-Baitcasting-Reels/Current-Offers-New/_/N-1z0x9cwZ1z0uxb8Z1z0weid what do you think?

I like the smell of bass but I don't want to be smelly all day around the house and whatnot cause other people don't like the smell. What do you use to get the slime/smell of bass off your hands? I don't want to have to buy something though, just something at home. I have tried washing with soap and salt and it gets the slime but not the smell.

I would never swing anything near 2lbs. I only swing dinks.