Steveo-1969

Never say never but… I will NEVER use a spinning reel with any line other than braid every again!

Yikes! How did you get him unhooked?

I wouldn’t change your reel, I would change your grip instead. I held a spinning rod like you do (2 fingers in front and 2 behind the reel stem) until I saw Aaron Martens demonstrate how he held a spinning rod - all four fingers in front of the reel stem and his index finger extended and resting on the rod blank. With your hand in this position the rod tip will feel lighter (which I prefer for bottom contact presentations) and my brain tells me I can feel more with my index finger on the blank. My wrist does not get fatigued during a long day of fishing. I have more leverage for a strong hook set (if needed). And when fighting a fish I place the rod butt against my forearm for more leverage as well.

This looks like a blue cat not a channel catfish. @Bluebasser86 can you confirm or deny?

Up until 2 years ago my favorite technique was a skirted finesse jig. I even had @Delaware Valley Tackle build me a custom BC rod specifically for this technique. Then the tip broke off in a car seat accident in 2021 and I haven’t gotten it fixed yet… ???? I’ve fished light jig heads and plastics the past two years (almost exclusively) and have two spinning rods dedicated for this. A 1-power and a 2-power GLX jig pitching rod from Loomis’ walleye series. I can’t imagine better rods for casting light jigs!

Wouldn’t it be nice if all the reel manufacturers used the same size designations? A man can dream… What I’ve done in the past is compare the line capacity of different spinning reels to get an idea of the reel size.

I think people who say bed fishing is easy haven’t bed fished!

My wife has been telling me for years and years now “If we buy a boat I would fish with you all the time!”. We still don’t have a boat……

If the water level is safe I will wade year round. Waders when the water is cold. Shorts and tennis shoes when the water is warm.

I do use profanity occasionally but it’s usually “for effect”. However I am around people every day who swear out of habit and don’t even know they are doing it. I’m talking the F-word in EVERY sentence kind of habit.

Is it better to use the dominant hand for the rod or the reel handle? The correct answer is “whatever feels most natural for YOU”. Personally I am RH. I reel a baitcaster with my right hand and a spinning reel with my left hand. Anything else feels unnatural. YMMV

I saw this technique on Bass Resource many years ago and have used it more than once. It’s very satisfying to watch those fish swim away. BTW great fish!!!!

I’m not brand loyal for braided line and usually buy something different every time just to try something new. The only thing that doesn’t change is it has to be hi-vis!!

I use a uni-to-uni connection knot because I needed something I could easily tie while standing in the river 100 feet from shore. I want both knots the same size but also small enough to easily go through the guides. My leader gets 3 wraps and then the braid gets 5 or 6. With the diameters I use this gets both knots about the same size. I’ve never had one fail, even with big fish in current or pulling heavy branches to me. I haven’t found more wraps necessary for me.

Welcome to Bass Resource. ? ⬇️

I’m from Falling Waters and bank or wade fish the Upper Potomac. We probably fish some of the same spots. I mainly use skirted finesse jigs, paddletails and some version of the Ned rig. I’m allergic to treble hooks so no jerkbaits for me. I’ve never used a fluke style bait though lots of people tell me I should! I caught my PB smallmouth in May 2020. It was 21.25”. All my biggest fish over the years have come in the spring. In summer and fall a good one for me is 14” and a really good one is 17”. Probably because of where I’m fishing though it could be my lack of skill as well.

Using braided line will help with hooksets on long casts. The no-stretch property of the braid gets into the power of the rod more quickly to get the hook in past the barb. Look at the diameter of the 6# mono you are using and get a braid with equivalent or smaller diameter. It will cast just as far as your 6# mono.

Whoa….. Are you me? This exactly describes my evolution in knot tying.

M-F I’ve been drinking 45 ounces of coffee in the morning. I recently cut that down to 30 ounces. On the weekend I might drink up to 54 ounces. I like my coffee strong. As a general rule it’s 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water.

10# braid to 10# copolymer and the drag locked down tight? That line break was caused by a bass that was significantly bigger than your state record. Sorry for your loss.

Welcome to Bass Resource @Lamb25. Are you sure fishing is something you enjoy? Normally when someone has trouble staying committed to something it’s because they don’t like it very much.

I can think of lots of variables that would dictate what size/type of line I use on a baitcaster. Bass species is not one of them….

As far as keeping or not keeping fish, all that really matters is that a kept fish is legally harvested according to the fishing regulations for the body of water where it was caught. That’s it.

Welcome to Bass Resource from a fellow West Virginian. I was born and raised in WI but got kicked out in 1997 for being a Bears fan and ended up in the Eastern Panhandle of WV. I smallmouth fish the Upper Potomac. You will love BR. Lots of great fisherman on this site and there is a forum just for smallmouth. BEAR DOWN!!!

Welcome to Bass Resource! My daughter lives in Gilbert and last August my son-in-law surprised me with a guided trip on Saguaro while I was visiting. What a beautiful place to fish!