loudcherokee

When the flipping switch is on, you can engage the reel by simply taking your thumb off the spool release button. You dont have to turn the reel to engage the spool. I'm still somewhat of a novice to baitcasters, and havent really tried flipping or pitching, but i would imagine that you can release the button when your lure is over target. This will engage the spool and stop the line, allowing the lure to stop/fall where its at. Of course, thats just my best guess. I have a reel with a flipping switch, but havent messed with it much. LC

Just curious, I see various threads looking for suggestions on reels and what not, and never really see anyone suggesting any of the Mitchell spinning reels. I have a Mitchell 300xe and a 10 year old Mitchell 300x, as well as an avocet silver. The avocet is kinda cheap, and I got it just to have an extra reel/rod combo hanging around in case friends want to fish with me and don't have a rod. My girlfriend and I just got an avocet gold combo for her sister to fish with, and its actually super nice. My Mitchell 300xe is one of my favorite spinning reels I've ever had. So, is there something wrong with Mitchell that I'm not aware of? I know they're far from the classic Mitchell 300, but I've grown up knowing Mitchell as a good name. I do have my eyes on a Lews speedspin reel for the future after such a great experience with my baitcaster though. LC

The shock is a bit beefier, engineered for super lines, and has something called a "strike amplifying tip". Its also a split grip handle. Plus, it comes in an awesome metallic burnt orange color, lol. LC

I've fished with Lightning Rods for years. I absolutely love them. The shock series is what I currently have my Lews MG on. Super sensitive. I can feel every turn of a blade on a spinnerbait and every wiggle of a crankbait as I'm reeling them in. Strikes are definitely detectable. LC

I dont think anyone has mentioned it, so I'm going to throw it out there. I fished with Spiderwire mono for awhile. I've grown to hate it. I had way too many unexplained breaks, snaps, etc. It just seemed way to brittle. I switched to Trilene XL to replace my spiderwire on the reels I keep mono on and haven't had any issues like this. My suggestion if you're going to stick with mono, is to switch up brands. LC

After reading this thread for so long I FINALLY got out to my Walmart and racked up. They were all out of Pop-Rs and any other lures, but tons of plastics and spinnerbaits. Everything was only $1.00. LC

so I just placed an order with tackle warehouse. hopefully this gets me set for awhile. I want some more colors, but had to compromise due to out of stock or budget. Kriet Kreature Black Neon 6" Kriet Kreature Green Pumpkin 6" Kriet Kreature Watermelon Red Flk 6" Big Bite Baits LE Swimming Craw Black Blue zBig Bite Baits LE Swimming Craw Green Pumpkin Live Target Hollow Body Frog Black Yellow Megastrike Fish Attractant Crawfish Big Bite Bait Coontail Worm Green Pumpkin GrandeBass Mega3 Finesse Worm Watermelon Seed Big Bite Bait Double Tail Finesse Grub Watermelon Big bite baits Brush Pig Creature 25pk Watermelon Candy Terminator Tandem Buzz Black/Blue 3/8 Gamakatsu SP Red Trailer Hook 3/0 Big Bite Bait Swimming Craw Black Blue Flk Big Bite Bait Swimming Craw Tilapia 4" FREE Tackle Warehouse Sticker Big Bite Bait Chunk Black Blue Flk 3.25" Big Bite Bait Chunk Watermelon Seed 3.25" W.E. Night Time Black Blue Col Black 3/4 W.E. Flipping Jigs Green Pumpkin Orange 3/8 Strike King Rage Craw Bama Craw V & M Buzz Frog Swamp Frog Hopefully that list looks OK and isn't a jumble. I copied and pasted but I'm working with a cell phone here. LC

i need to start doing this stick trick. Usually on my baitcaster i will lock the drag down, thumb the spool, and pull straight back with 30# braid snagged. Ive only straightened one hook. Usually the snag releases or in a couple cases, the line snaps. Ive read on here recently that doing this can warp my spool on my BC.I really dont want that. LC

Can't figure this out - what are a rods pound test ratings based on? Is it the strength of the rod or the line diameter? If I have a rod rated for 8 pound test, since powerpro 30# braid is the same diameter as 8# test, will this be OK for the rod? I know that's how it works for the reels, but not sure about the rods. I'm thinking of putting braid on one of my spinning reels, but wanted to make sure the rod is OK for it. LC

that's an excellent idea! I never thought of that. LC

X2. I sent a nice heavy buzz bait sailing across the lake as a result of a bad backlash once. It took me over an hour to pick that one out as it was brand new braid and I didn't want to cut it and lose a bunch. LC

Looking to check out some sales/clearance items and wondering what you guys consider the essential plastics that every bass angler should have on hand. I've got several plastics that are about 8 years old because I took an 8 year break from fishing after moving to PA. My stock mostly consists of Culprit curly tail worms. I do have some lizards in brown pumpkin seed and some craws in brown pumpkin seed, and I got some blue yum saleemanders for $1.00 at Walmart not long ago. Since joining this forum, I've learned about the senkos and have some of those, but I'm also reading a lot about craws, brush hogs, rage this and that, tubes, finesse and trick worms. It just seems like there's so much to choose from. To be honest, its all a bit overwhelming with so many different types and combinations. I think I read somewhere of someone even putting a worm inside a tube. Just wondering about some of the key items I should have in the tackle box. I want to become more experienced with plastics and feel like I'm behind the curve with outdated worms, except for the senko. I've NEVER caught anything on a Texas rig or Carolina rig. The only plastic fish I have been catching were on wacky rigged senkos or a drop shot with the worm wacky rigged. LC

I think I'll take the risk and pick a pack or two up in different colors. Gonna add some megastrike to the order too. LC

Well I guess I shouldn't have posted, lol. was out from 7am this morning till about 11:30 and didn't catch a darn thing. not even a bluegill. I had one small bass come after my buzz bait but I jerked it out of his mouth before he took the hook. ah well. maybe next time. LC

I have found the region specific area on this board. sorry for posting this in the wrong section. Could a mod kindly move it to the northeast sub forum? LC

I think you got a fine setup for starting out. The lightning rod in particular. I absolutely love mine, and would rate it as an excellent rod. Now I've never fished with one of the 100$ plus rods to compare it to, so YMMV. As far as the line goes, I've never used spider wire braid, but I've sworn off the spider wire mono forever. Too many tangles, snaps, memory problems, and unexplained breaks. As mentioned before, with the baitcaster, practice practice practice. Watch bassresource videos on how to setup your baitcaster. They were especially helpful for me as before I was just turning the knobs until I didn't have backlash, which resulted in over-braking and shortening my casting distance. Now that I have it properly setup, I can cast a country mile without slinging the crap out of it or backlashing. Start off with heavier lures and then work your way down to the lighter stuff. Throw some spinnerbaits, 1/4 ounce Texas rigs, jigs, etc. Try not to get frustrated with it as a beginner because you WILL get backlashes. Just remember what everyone else has said and keep casting away and you'll get the hang of it. LC

I usually just make sure I don't get skunked. I do that by always taking live bait with me. If after 4-5 hours of walking the banks throwing various lures and plastics doesn't produce a bass, I grab my spinning rod and throw a nightcrawler on and usually end up with some sunfish or catfish or something. Fishing is enjoyable for me just being outdoors and enjoying the peace and quiet. LC

Howdy folks.... Stuck on the banks in Pittsburgh without a boat and running out of productive places to fish. I fish Leopold on rt 30 and sometimes Raccoon Creek state park. Went out North park and got skunked and frustrated with people fishing on top of me. I'd like to go up to Lake Arthur at Morraine but I heard its better to have a boat there. So Pittsburgers, where yinz reeling the big ones in at? LC

Just wondering, are these a good brand of creature bait? the 25 pack at only $5.99 is very interesting. http://www.***.com Big_Bite_Baits_Brush_Pig_Creature_25pk/descpage-BBBBPCB.html If you could pick just one of the 7 colors available, which would you go with? I'm thinking about throwing a bag in the cart. The watermelon with chartruse tail caught my eye. LC

cool. I may pick up a tube of the original to start with. Since the stuff doesn't come off in water, how can you wash it off when you put a lure back in storage? I used a similar product from berkley that I thought was washed off a spinnerbait skirt, but it ended up a stinky sticky mess on my spinnerbait skirt by the next time I used that lure. LC

Just wondering which scent of megastrike seems to work the best for you guys. I see it mentioned about every other post, so I went to order some and see there are three available: garlic, crawfish, and original. LC

The shim e stiks are the ones i use. Watermelon with black flake. Ive had a fish on them in pretty much every body of water i fished this year. Ive never used the GY brand to do a comparison though. LC

The guy i fish with is looking at getting ahold of a jon boat to get back in there. problem is, you have to have 4wd to get even close, then its another 50 yards through woods and mudholes to get to the pond. I wish i had gotten more pictures. When i first got there my jaw dropped. I didnt even get a picture of the gigantic wood pile that is about 8 feet above the water towards the middle. Im sure its deeper out there and probably holding some hogs. Well, hogs by PA standards anyways. LC

let's see...I caught my first spinnerbait fish, my first buzzbait fish, my first plastic worm fish, my first lipless crank bait fish, and my first jig fish this year. I've previously only ever caught bass on floating crank baits or top water poppers, or live minnows. I also purchased my first NICE baitcaster instead of the el cheapos, and have learned to cast it fairly well until I try to throw something thats less than 1/4 ounce. LC

Looks like I need to look into some new baits. I've never seen some of these mentioned - brush hog, trick worm, etc. My only experience with plastics has been limited to culprit worms, lizards, crawfish, and recently, senkos. I'm good to go with a stout rod and I'm using 30 lb braid. I looked up the brush hogs online....there over 50 colors available! which colors are the best producers? LC