Topwater98

Also I am more asking this for next year then this year. I haven't been there in a while and I think it might be starting to freeze.

I don't think there are shad in the lake. I am in northern Wisconsin.

The lake that I most often fish doesn't have any logs and is pretty weedy. It is also full of pike. Where do the bass go if there aren't many logs? I have had quite a bit of success fishing docks. The bottom of the lake is pretty soft in most places so I was also wondering where the bass spawn? There is one place that has quite a few lily pads but I don't think it ever gets deeper then two feet or so. Will the bass go in that shallow? Thanks for any help.

I can't figure out how to open the reel up.

What would you do to maintain it. I haven't been fishing for too long and haven't cleaned or oiled any of my reels. I think this one probably needs to be cleaned before next year.

Do you get backlashes with it? I have had quite a bit of trouble with it. I tried tightening the spool tension and if I do that I can't cast very far. I don't have very good quality line. I don't know if that makes a difference. Sometimes when casting a buzzbait I get a backlash before the bait even hits the water. This is my first baitcaster. I have it on a 15 dollar rod so I don't know if that makes a difference in how well it casts.

I bought this reel cheap off Ebay. Is it any good? I don't expect it to be great. I am not sure how to set it because what it says by the brakes is worn off. It is a Quantum Accurist AC500cx. Here are some pictures. Does anyone know how to set this?

Where should I get reel oil? How much does it cost?

Here are some pictures of the reel. I got it used at a garage sale for 4 dollars. It looked like it had been used a lot and I have used it for 2-3 years since I got it.

I have an old spinning reel that doesn't cast or reel very smoothly. It also tangles every 10-50 casts. Does anyone know why it tangles so much? I have really cheap line on it. I don't know if that would make a big difference. Also it squeaks when I reel and doesn't cast very smoothly.I assume it needs to be oiled. How do you do that? Thanks for any help.

Also wondering what rod I should get to put the reel on. I was thinking something in the 6 to 6 1/2 foot length. I want to get something light because last time I bought a rod I bought it online and it was so heavy it was hard to use. Now I plan on using it for frogging.

I am thinking of buying this reel http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress-8482-mettle-low-profile-baitcast-reel-right-handed/pid-133325 for fishing Topwater, Rapala minnows, and quite a few other lures. I am somewhat new to bass fishing and don't have very good rods or reels. I plan to do most of my fishing with this and I love topwater fishing so that is probably what I will use it for the most. How strong of line should I get for it? What brand of mono? All I have used for fishing line so far is just the cheapest line I can find and I want to get somewhat higher quality line but I don't want to spend a lot.

Has anyone heard of the gander mountain guide series reels? Are they any good?

My only baitcasting reel right now is a Quantum Accurist AC500CX. Is this a good reel? I get backlashes with it quite a bit. I have tried changing the spool tension but I don't know how to set the brakes. I got this reel used and the words by the brakes were worn out. I know that it has a centrifugal braking system. I have it on this rod. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Shakespeare-Wild-Cat-2-Piece-Medium-Heavy-Casting-Rod/21092421 The rod is so heavy that it is hard to use very much. I think I will use it for fishing heavy cover like frogs in lily pads. What type of rod should I get to put a new reel on if I get one. I am thinking about getting the one that new2BC4bass recommended.

Thanks for the help. I will look at some of those suggestions. Also I plan to use the reel for fishing topwater baits, rapala minnows and other baits. What type of line would be best? How Strong?

I was wondering if anyone knows of a reasonable baitcasting reel in the 20-50 dollar range?

Thanks for the help!!!

Thanks for the help!

I was wondering if anyone knows where to get higher quality light wire leaders online. The stores around here don't seem to have very good quality ones.

Try typing in juvenile Brook Trout in google images. I think that it kind of looks like some of the pictures.

What is a Rainbow Smolt?

I caught one of these in a small creek a couple miles from Lake Superior. Is it a brook trout?

The lakes that I usually fish in for bass often have pike in them as well. Do bass care if I am using a wire leader to avoid getting my lures stolen?

I have caught fish twice before. Once I was fishing off a dock trying to catch a bass that had followed a bluegill that was on someone else's line. I cast near it and hooked him. After fighting him for about 5 seconds he jumped and threw the hook. He stayed around the area. I think he was looking for more bluegill. I kept casting to him and was able to hook him once or twice more but both times he got off. So I think that a bass will often hit more than once. Hope this helps!!!

Thanks for the help. Our land has lots of pine trees so I can get my wood there. Any suggestions on using branches for lures?