Josh Smith

I recall losing fish back in the day of fiber drags. I'd adjust on the fly and it would stick and the line would break. Today's drags are a blessing that this latest generation may not fully appreciate. Even the large drag stars would have been a great addition to some reels of yesterday. It's hard to appreciate back reeling, I think, if you've never had to. And for some, changing techniques to adapt to new technology can lead to lost fish. 2016 is my fourth year with the new drags, and I am just beginning to fully trust them. Regards, Josh

I just rooted and flashed a custom ROM to a first generation Kindle, and thus this test post. It's hard to type with fat fingers, though! Regards, Josh

No, it won't. There's no charge in the XTP bullet. You're not going to take out a vehicle with a 10mm (or any) handgun. You may damage the radiator, but that's not an immediate incapacitation. .50 BMG rifles are anti-materiel; handguns are not. Law enforcement qualifies once a year to quarterly, and don't generally spend lots of time on the range. Most law enforcement types are not gun types. That's not how it works. Physics... But I do agree with not shooting through doors! Regards, Josh

You don't have any rivers near you? Josh

Well, Sir, I attended Vincennes University. The Wabash down there is nothing like the glorified creek we have up here! In late 1986 I was just turning 9. Josh

I've been seeing a lot of dead and dying shad in the Wabash and along the banks. Haven't seen anything eating 'em, though. Reckon they're in the deeper holes waiting for them to fall? Maybe go with spoons? (Up here, a deep hole in the Wabash is maybe six feet.) Regards, Josh

"Other." Feller came to fish the shore by me while I was flipping into a downed tree. He was just scouting with an old reel mounted to an Ugly Stick, and very likeable. Nice guy. We were talking about how there should be bass in the downed tree, and I was fully enjoying the new freedom provided by the braided line I'd discovered after coming off a long time of mostly not fishing. I was casting directly over the tree limbs and making the jig crawl over them to splash into the water. As he got ready to leave, I got a strike. It surprised me and I only got a half-hearted hook set in, but I yelled "Fish on!" to let him know I'd finally done what we'd been talking about. After a brief, violent fight, the bass got off, and the feller, who returned to watch me land the bass, got to laugh at me. That's the only time in the past three years I've said "fish on!" Regards, Josh

My wife gets a little "grouchy" and restless when I can't spend some time on the water. Josh

Hello, With a week or two of sub-freezing weather, the lake finally froze. Fishing was excellent at my favorite spot on the river -- then the water level raised. When it receded it left crumpled sheet ice that prevents access from that spot, and very slick banks at all the other places I've looked! The floods last year left very steep banks where the water was for the majority for the majority of the summer, and it's just not safe. Spent some time hiking with a fishing rod today looking for a decent place that I could both access safely and that holds fish. Found nothing! Argh! The only spot I know that's safe is a launch some ways the opposite direction I usually travel to fish. It doesn't seem to produce, though, because everyone uses it. These conditions make me a saaaad panda. Josh

Mid-'80s, I think, isn't it? Or early '90s? Clearly a beginner's reel, but I cleaned it up inside and found some carbon drags that work. It's probably going to a friend who needs a reel. Made in Japan, though! There seems to be some stuck-on dirt that's visible under the flash. The gear ratio is 4.1 or 4.2:1 (I should have counted the teeth.) I didn't see one single bearing in there, but it's smooth. There's a two-piece bronze/nylon bushing on the drive shaft. It's really interesting seeing the evolution of baitcasting reels, and it's not expensive to do so, either. These can be had cheaply on auction sites. It's only the newer modern reels and the older collectibles that really command a lot of money. These run maybe five bucks. Thought some of you might enjoy the memories. Regards, Josh

Well dang. I have modified pre-UC reels I'd let go, but that's only because I've only fairly recently begun using the UC models. I love all of these, but there's one pre-UC that I built for crankbaits that I just don't use much, if at all. The drag is upgraded, and all bushings have been replaced with bearings -- except for the spool, and there's a reason for that. I find that some lures just cast better with bushings, and I built this reel with those uses in mind. I've been thinking about letting it go, not because I have to, but because I know it's a quality reel and I'd like to help someone out if they need it. Regards, Josh

A c3 or a pre-Ultracast? Regards, Josh

Thanks. I've not had a chance to examine any BPS reels. It would be nice to do so. Regards, Josh

I'm talking more like $50 reels or those which cost a lot because they have some outrageous speed or something. What's that reel? Daiwa? Thought Shimano but also thought the thumb bar looks slightly wrong. Regards, Josh

I personally like a reel that can handle anything that I might catch in the local rivers and lakes. This means having a setup that will handle a huge catfish if one should decide to bite, or a huge carp, or drum, etc. The biggest fish I ever caught was a bigmouth buffalo. It was too heavy to bring in all the way at the place I was fishing, so I released it partially landed. The thing was pulling drag on a locked-down Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5000. I remember being concerned about the drag because it had been sticking -- this was pre-carbon fiber. I believe I loosened it a bit as Ambassadeurs have 12lb to 14lb or so drags, and I had 17lb mono. I'd figured on having to horse smallmouth away from structure, and this is why I had the drag locked initially. The lure was a #4 or #5 Mepps that had been Grandpa's. The treble hook came back bent, and I retried the lure to Grandpa's tackle box after this. At any rate, this fish peeled more drag than I'd ever experienced, and I was glad I had the Ambassadeur 5000 because it was very tough compared to the other reels of the time. Even today, that old Ambassadeur -- and the newer c3 and c4 models -- seem much tougher than the majority of black bass reels. I'm sure the higher-dollar low-profiles are tough, but there are parts on the majority of mid-range low-profile reels that I simply don't trust to hold up. Regards, Josh

I am throwing some pretty light lures using a 4600c3 (modified). I do believe the lightest I've thrown with it is 1/4oz, but the limit is in the rod, not the reel. Or, I should say, I've not tried going any lighter. The lure I'm thinking of is a soft plastic jerkbait/swimbait/whatever, and I can throw it 20-30 yards, which is generally more than is needed. Regards, Josh

Guys, what's the point behind the DC? What can it do that I can't do with my thumb? Regards, Josh

I like to build mine into custom-for-application. For example, my c3 models now have all bearings, and one has faster-than-stock gears. I have big hands so they palm well for me. In my opinion, they outperform most modern reels in everything but weight. They are of a design which has been evolving since 1953-1954. Regards, Josh

There are two reasons a person will stop when hit by a handgun. 1. Psychological stop: This is a 'decision'. It's the "Oh crap, I'm hit!" factor. May or may not be experienced by those who are on certain drugs. Heck, adrenaline can keep a person from feeling this. 2. Physical damage: With any handgun, this is not reliable. We're talking about making hits on the CNS, which is pretty well protected and hard to hit on a moving person. We're talking about structural damage, such as breaking the pelvic girdle. We're talking about bleeding out, which can take a few minutes. Ever shoot a critter and have it take off on you? The animal has no concept of what a bullet is. It only knows something hit it and it goes into fight or flight. When a person is functioning with his lower brain, he'll have the same type of reaction. Unless you can drop an angry black bear every time, first shot, with a given caliber/load, you're not going to stop a human being, either, unless the human being decides to stop or is hit in the CNS. Josh

Thank you, WRB. Regards, Josh

What reel? Regards, Josh

Hi DVT, I have an automotive background that I reference when I talk about greases. Axle grease -- the stuff that goes in your differential -- can get to viscous in cold weather and not sling onto the gears correctly. I understand also that it's not a direct apples:apples comparison. The only place that any heat might build is in the drag, unless I'm missing something. Probably the better comparison would be how grease works in an unsealed wheel bearing, but still, those get heat that reels do not. As you said, fishing reels are not demanding applications. Did some reading last night. From what I can find, if the blue Penn stuff is used on drags and a fish makes a nice, long, drag-smokin' run (granted, not real likely with bass), the lubricity breaks down and the grease, as it cools, becomes tacky and can glue the drag together somewhat. Now, I've not confirmed this. However, this is the type of thing I'm looking for. I had no idea that Penn blue should not be used on drags, nor did I know that (it is said that) it becomes glue-like when heated and cooled. I'll eventually get Shimano and Cal's to try, guys. I want to try the stuff I already have, first. Thanks, all! Regards, Josh

Has anyone tried this on nylon gears, like are found in the Ambassadeurs? Regards, Josh

Thank you, Preston. I need to order some of that; I've been putting it off. Out of what I have, I'm leaning toward the Abu Garcia stuff, or maybe use it on one and the Penn on the other then compare. Regards, Josh

Please note that these are all modified Ambassadeurs ('cept for one; I think I saw a round Shimano in there.) So, if you want to cast far... the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur is the best bet! Josh