Josh Smith

I got a bad batch of 832 fairly recently. The stuff had memory like cheap mono. I heard mixed reviews of Power Pro, but I bought some 65lb stuff to use in salad, and I love it! Anyone can have a bad run, I guess. Josh

Hello, First, what year is it? Is it an old-style or a new UltraCast model? Is the tension knob on the side opposite the reel handle, or same side? Start by cleaning it. I've seen gunk keep these from releasing, but it really has to be gunked up. Otherwise, it's going to be the release arm like Tim Kelly said, or if it's an older model, one of the dual release arms, though I've never seen one of those worn out. I'll watch this thread. Regards, Josh

Hi Folks, I'm seeing a lot of people having problems searching for things here since the switch, because the search is still indexing. If you need to find something, follow these steps: 1. Go to http://google.com . 2. Type in site:http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums 3. After you enter the site parameters, type in what you're actually looking for. For example, if I wanted to pull up all posts referencing the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur, I'd type in site:http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums Abu Garcia Ambassadeur . I use this technique on about half my searches anyway. It's helpful for pinpointing certain specific things, and it will work now for those who need to search. Regards, Josh

OK, so it's like gunshop talk. Gotcha!

Glenn, I was finally able to use the mobile version. It does not work well for me. Keep in mind that I run a Blackberry 8320 and Opera browser, not Android. It's old technology. I have thought of upgrading and may do so. Last time I went to upgrade, I couldn't find an Android phone with physical QWERTY keyboard. I don't expect much from this meshing of technology, and I don't get much. The icons for View New Content, Like, and a few others are just small black boxes, leaving me to guess what they might be. Others options are entirely absent. I'm not complaining -- like I said, old technology -- but this might give you an idea as to what a few others might be seeing if they're not running newer phones with Android. Regards, Josh

I like it, Glenn. There are a couple things I might change, but that's only because I'm used to vBulletin. Good job. Regards, Josh

Why do you say this? There are not a heck of a lot of docks around here, but I have this mental image of folks hanging out on a pier chewing the fat and fishing. I guess, what is dock talk? And why is it unreliable? Josh

Anyone here use LPs? Those are my first choices, with FLAC a close second, especially as storage space gets cheaper. Josh

What, if any, trailer? Josh

Slowly retrieved squarebills are what's working for me for both bass and walleye. I want jerkbaits to work, but so far nothing on those! Josh

Feller, those folks have trolled the hell outta' the forum, so we don't even say their name. Naming 'em calls the Google Bots in to take a look, among other things. I may have tried them by now, but dammit, if they troll, it's a character defect which speaks of a lack of integrity, and I will do no business with folks like that. Josh

Hello, I lose lots of jerkbaits, generally because of where I run them. Heavy cover gets good results, I find. For this reason, though, I tend to buy jerkbaits used on eBay so that I don't lose big money when they do snag. I find that they don't produce less as long as they're in decent shape. I was cruising around on that website a few days ago and stumbled across a "Vanndalizer" brand. Never heard of them before. I bid less than a buck apiece and got several hard and soft lures for a few cents plus shipping. Here are the hard baits: Also bought a few plastics, a NIB Lewis Rattletrap, and a jig for cheap from the same guy. Looking around the internet, it doesn't appear that this guy is confined to eBay, the owner a few article write-ups about his company, and a few other places sell the Vanndalizer brand. Additionally, it looks like they're a minor sponsor for pro or two. They look good, and if they fish well, I'll likely purchase more. Does anyone else here have experience with this brand? I've never heard of them before, but do like their designs. Regards, Josh

In rivers, I'm having luck with late fall patterns. I haven't concentrated on the lake, so haven't worked it out. It does sort of look it's post-tunover with no fish turning on top, but I was only there once since turnover, too. Josh

Like the bass themselves, I am slowing down but not entirely stopping this winter. (The last couple of winters I had no choice due to blizzards and below zero temps). I work, read (currently In-Fisherman Smallmouth, In-Fisherman Walleye, and a western, Saddle Tramp) and spend time with the family besides fishing. Now is also a time for reel maintenance and working with the kids on their casting, archery, and firearms. Josh

In part, I do agree. I'd like my reels to come loaded with bushings. Because I tear them down and rebuild them when new anyway, it would be simple to replace the bushings with bearings where I want them. For example, a 5500c3 Ambassadeur runs about half of a 5600c5. Yet, it's a simple matter to replace the bushings in the c3 when supertuning the rest of it. I'd actually prefer it if I could buy an all-bushing reel and upgrade it with bearings as I see fit. This would lower initial and overall cost as I'd not be paying for Abec-3 bearings in a place I'd just swap in Abec-5 or -7 anyway. Guess I'm not the typical type they cater to, though. Regards, Josh

FloridaFishinFool: Do you have any idea how many bushings I've replaced with ball bearings? The reels include Abu Garcia and Quantum. Bushings are preferred in some applications. For example, I have an Ambassadeur 5500 with bushings. I kept the spool bushings but switched the driveshaft and levelwind to bearings. Likewise, one I converted might be getting switched back on the spool. Bearings are largely market driven. Customers think more bearings are better, so they pay more for reels with more bearings which may not necessarily be better. Bearings need to go in the levelwind if the levelwind doesn't disengage on the cast, on the crankshaft, and either bearings or nylon bushings need to go into the reel handle. Grease the nylon bushings and they work well. In older Quantum reels, the driveshaft needs bearings replacing the bushing, but that's mostly it unless you're throwing light lures as a habit. Smooth gears, plastic only where needed, and carbon drags go a longer way to making a better reel than loading up with bearings. Josh

Hello, I have a fishing boat I'm repairing. Don't need another. I come from a family of campers. We usually progress from no tent to tent to popup camper to travel trailer as we age. I am thinking a houseboat would be cool. Just a small one. Rig it up with electronics, and I'd wake up and get right to fishing with my first cup of coffee while still in my PJs. Not sure how doable this is financially. Just thining. Anyone here do this? Josh

I have a 301 in the shop that I need to rebuild. Not sure what I'll use it for, though. I have't backreeled in forever, not since carbon drag clutch plates. Josh

This reminds me that I need to fix my front shifter on my old Schwinn. It's a Shimano shifter and the cable finally broke... 25 years after I got the bike! Josh

No shame ever if I want something to eat, but I can't stand live bait fishing any longer unless it's as a trailer to a jig etc. The exception is when I throw out a baited line to catch food while I'm also throwing lures. Josh

My boy was with his grandparents felling a Christmas tree. Had he been with me, I'd likely have given him a pink jig for his light spinning setup and maybe gotten a couple more, enough to make a family meal. Most of what I had was too big for walleye, and though I had others hitting some lures, they wouldn't or couldn't commit to that big hook. One thing I should have tried, now that I think about it, are some pink Yum Dingers I have. I had mixed a red bag with a white bag and they all came out pink! Kept 'em for walleyes. Josh

The Ambassadeur guys just hang out on these threads and watch...

I will sometimes say, "Hmmm. A perciform," in the same tone in which I would say, "Hmmm. A wise guy, aye?" That's about it, though. Josh

Hello, Today I busted a Live Target squarebill Baitball while fishing in the river. The bill cracked off on the rocks. This is the first time I've seen a premium bait do this. I fished it twice, and it worked when nothing else did. I mean, it seems like it's a good concept. However, when I went to replace it this evening, I found reviews. Almost all mentioned the bill breaking off. Has anyone else had trouble with Kopper's crankbaits? I don't generally use crankbaits, and when I do, I expect them to hold together. Thank you, Josh

I have Grandpa's fly rod and do use it when conditions call for it. However, it's really more of a means to an end, and I'll likely retire Grandpa's rod for something more modern and with no sentimental value. I love chunking weighted lures, love building reels, and just generally prefer the bass setups I have. The fly rod comes out when the ultralight's lures are too heavy. Josh