chelboed

So for the actual story... I was at Reed with my Dad off and on all weekend. We did 'alright' the last 2 days, but this morning was slow at the lake we first chose. We had considered going home, but decided to hit up another one. There were 2x guys there already fishing on a peninsula. They were obviously not going anywhere b/c they were fishing one line under a bobber and throwing spinnerbaits with the other. They weren't catching a daggum thing. We start in on the first corner...my Dad throws one way and I throw the other. He immediately lands 2x 14" fish. I work my way toward the two guys fishing...and I'm not getting anything either. Right about the time I get to them...I land 5x right out from underneath them. As I worked past them, they asked me "What magic bait ya using?" I told them "Fairy Dust" and moved on. I pulled in 2x more and tossed them back in. They decided to leave. (probably headed to the bar to contemplate life) I worked my way about half way back over the next hour and a half and totaled 9x fish. 2 would have been keepers. (one 18" or so) I get back to this little cove and a guy with a fly rod jumps in right in front of me and starts going at it with no etiquette whatsoever. I thought about saying something, but kept my mouth shut with God's help. So I said a little prayer b/c time was getting short and I snagged my line. (I thought God was telling me something, hehehe) My line had some abrasion and a kink, so I re-tied a fresh knot and decided I was almost done. My last cast...I thought I had snagged a giant Leatherback sea turtle b/c I wasn't making a dent. I was running 12lbs mono, so I was being extra cautious. All the sudden, line started ripping off my reel like my old '71 Roadrunner doing a burnout. He started going perpendicular to me and jumped. At that moment...I went in to Supraventricular Tachycardia because his gills looked like giant blood-red pirate sails. I was excited and nervous because I knew this was a Missouri trophy and a PB for me, so I backed off the drag a bit to play him gently so I didn't lose him to broken weenie-sized monofilament. I finally got him headed my way and he darted into the weeds right at my feet. I reached in and lipped him...and he clamped down on my hand like a Catfish. I quickly ran 10ft up the bank so he wouldn't flop down into the lake, laid him down on the ground, and just stared at him for a while. His jaws are so big and thick, man I was in awe. I cut the line off my reel about 10" up from the lure to put in a frame with my MDC Angler's Award so I can remember how I re-tied my knot right before the biggest bass of my life to date. Fun times.

Well, I hate to go into too much detail for fear of being labeled an over-exaggerating fraud...(that never happens on the interwebz, ) To start with...it's a short fish. I when I pulled it out of the water, I was kinda surprised at how heavy it was. It's between 22-23", but its belly girth was 15.25" and the head circumference was 15.25". It had a really big fresh meal in it's belly too...that's why it was bulging out so much. (I wonder what was in there) Had I caught it an hour sooner, it may have only weighed 7.5lbs, hehe. Anyway...I was looking at length/weight charts and get so many varied answers so I took it to Forty Woods bait shop and had them weigh it. It was a little over 8lbs, but I rounded it down to an even 8 because I have such a hard time with a fish this length weighing over that. I had to do some research just to see if that was really plausible, but did find several that were in the 22-23" range that were 8lbs...so I guess it's possible that it's legit. Most of the ones I found looked similar...big bulging bellies, fresh meal. The L/W charts: Wisconsin:8lbs Bassresource: 7.6lbs In-Fisherman:6.65-7.6lbs Pensylvania: 5.9 - 6.8 Virginia: 8lbs Texas: 22 6.40 6.52 6.64 6.77 6.89 7.02 7.15 7.28 23 7.41 7.54 7.68 7.81 7.95 8.09 8.23 8.38

Been waiting 25 years for this. 8lbs weighed at Forty Woods bait shop...

They're very very nice! I think of the Team Pro Magnesium, team lite, and tournament pro g as a car with basic versus two more levels of upgrade options. They will all be cast monsters. They will all be smooth.

Though as pgersumky stated...his desired configuration doesn't exist...thus it was cost effective for him. For the OP...not so much.

The kit I was talking about for $14.95.

My 210pc Stick-O kit (174 worms, 36 hooks, weights, etc) that I got for Father's Day was only $14.95 and didn't contain a single bad color for my region. I'm particularly excited to try the thinner finesse stick worms. It's a killer deal for less than $15

Their Field Mouse is baller! I love that little bugger.

Caught this on a Senko last night...

That's in a totally different class than the TP though. BB2 vs Tournament Pro is like someone asking if they should buy another pickup and you recommending a van. Both haul lots of stuff...but way different types of stuff.

I feel ya...but I don't feel that way. They are deFinitely different than other Doyo productions...they just have similarities within the company.

I didn't say that, sick person. I'm saying the team pro team red and Team Gold are the same as the Tournament Pro barring weight and cosmetics. That is fact.Same duralumin main gear, crank shaft, and worm, same 11 bearings, same carbon handle (different knobs), same aluminum frame (pro is lighter), same spool. Different finish, different side plate materials, different knobs. My statement has nothing to do with the other Doyo made reels.

(Double post)

TP is my recommendation as well. I found a Team Red and Team Pro for $150 each...but that kind of deal doesn't happen often. That said...they are all the same reel barring cosmetic and slight weight differences.

One of the problems with smaller frogs is the collaps'ability of the body with the hookset. Throwing mini frogs...sometimes I'm using lighter line and lighter rods due to the lighter weight lure and castability, and lighter presentation. Anyhoo...the smaller frogs (when constructed the same as a larger one) are more stout because there's less distance on the back between the vertical walls of the hollow bait. I've used some H2O mini frogs that are just plain difficult to get a hookset. The Booyah pad crasher Jr. Is super easy to compress. It's slightly longer than the Live Target mini frog, but compresses very easy and hooksets are increased. IMO

This

This intrigues me. If they keep the Team LITE, introduce the Pro G and Team Pro magnesium...then they'll have 3 reels with the same brakes, bearings, c45 side plates, capacity, line indicator, & hook keeper...the difference will be finish, knobs, and the magnesium frame on the Pro Mag. Odd...but I'll bet the Tourney pro G well be the best bang for buck.

Well you know I would have a Lew's comment...the magnesium speed spool looks pretty baller until I really compare it to my Team Lite...it's nearly the same reel. Magnesium frame versus aluminum...5.3 oz versus 5.6. The hook holders are not anything I need. The line size indicator is not useful to me. The black/gold finish is gnarbeans as all get-out though. Over all...as long as it's not much more than a Team Lite...it'll be worth it to me. I really like the speed cast brakes, but I still wish they'd offer a magnesium Team Pro LFS with dual braking. Doesn't replace the adjustable centrifugal...but I'd sure own one of each. Okay...who am I kidding...it's PIMP and super light...I want one.

BB1 Pro has the 27 position adjustable centrifugal "Speedcast" brakes.

So as you can see...it doesn't seem to matter what line you use for Senko fishing. Everyone here uses everything there is.

If you don't use it that much...there's not much need to go overboard on one. Get an American Hero combo and let me know how it works so I can decide on one for me, hehehe.

All day long, my fishing brotha'.

I was gonna say...I'll bet Lew's either sent you an RA...or a new spool with new bearings and a new shaft and new pin. Why? Because they roll like a country neighbor...that's why.