Josh Smith

I believe some of the earlier Ultracast 5600c4 models were 5.3:1, and this is why I want to make danged sure I have the numbers right. Thanks! Josh

Hi Folks, I have an Ambassadeur 5500c3 with 5.3:1 gears for a 26ipt retrieve. I'd like to speed this one up a bit to 6.3:1 from a 5600c4 so as to give it a retrieve of 31ipt or so. The pinion is the two-notch version. (The reel uses dual plastic break blocks.) Does anyone have the part numbers for the 6.3:1 Ultracast gears? I'm thinking 23955 for the drive and 23954 for the pinion are correct, but I'd like to confirm. Thank you, Josh

Hello, I wrote a while back about having access to a private pond with large bass, but that I didn't fish it because I felt that anything I caught would be sort of "cheating" due to light fishing pressure. I was assured that this wasn't the case. That thread is referenced in the post header. I used a sentence to make a link to it. Now, I was reading replies to a question on another post. Bill Dance came up, and then references to how he "cheats" due to filming on private lakes and impoundments. I did not understand how I could claim a personal best from a private pond while Bill Dance was crucified by a vocal few for doing the same. That's all there was to it. Just a point I didn't get. Regards, Josh

My friend and I were overtaken by a storm when we were teenagers. It came in fast and the 15hp motor on Dad's boat didn't have the power to push us fast enough. The rain became blinding and the wind really kicked up. A huge old tree fell into the water close enough behind us after we passed that we rode the waves. It was an interesting time. The only folks who had a slower boat were a couple guys in a john boat with (I believe) a 5hp motor. They disappeared into a cove, or something. My friend and I were not experienced enough yet to know to do the same. Josh

I didn't set the hook because watching the swim pattern was interesting and insightful. Josh

Suspending jerkbait is what I'd go to first. Regards, Josh

Hi Folks, I'm sick. Some danged summer cold. So after I worked yesterday, I went fishing for about half an hour because it makes me feel better to be out doing something. Wind was from the west, but a cold front had moved in and I had blue skies. That was OK because I wasn't really doing anything besides trying out a new soft plastic I picked up and some modifications to topwater frogs. After I got done throwing the frogs (and losing a Live Target in some cover) I threw the soft plastic Rodent bait. With 17mph westerly winds, I wasn't feeling much at all on the line. The line was acting more like a sail, and though I had it between my fingers (something I rarely need to do) the slack was keeping me from feeling anything but sight wind gusts. I noticed, however, that when I reeled I had a heavy feeling, almost like weeds. I then noticed that the lure was drifting against the wind. I should have set the hook. I still wonder what was on there -- whether a sunfish had it or whether it was a bass that didn't know any better. But I didn't. I was curious as to how long a fish would hang on to a soft plastic that smelled of coffee. I also figured that if it didn't spit it, I might see where the fish was hanging out. Sure 'nough, the fish took it to a spot near a downed tree, under lily pads, where I'd caught bass in the past. I started reeling and applying slow, steady pressure, but it took some convincing to make that fish let go of my Rodent! I think I'll keep some of these around and throw 'em after I miss on hollowbody frogs. They seem like they're quality plastics. Josh

Hello, I use braid on a Cherrywood HD all the time. I have more expensive rods, but I gravitate toward that 6' MH/F Cherrywood with modified 5500c3 on it for most fishing. It's my creature rod. It's not grooved yet. Though I'd prefer different guides, the literature advertises that these are designed around the superlines of today, including braid. Josh

Hi Folks, I'd like to have this out. There seems to be a double standard among some of us for folks like Bill Dance and your average hobby fisherman. A while back I asked about a private pond I have access to, and how I felt it would be cheating to claim my personal best from this pond. I was told to go for it, that it wouldn't be cheating, etc. However, it seems that whenever Bill Dance is brought up, he's derided for using private ponds and lakes on his TV show and videos. I don't understand this. I used to substitute teach. It's fun, and I'd like to go back if I can find the time between kids and the shop. Sometimes I'd be asked for specifically by the teacher who would miss because of the lesson plan or content. For example, I was called in to do some Revolutionary War and Civil War lessons. I brought a musket ball an a Minie Ball, and showed on the blackboard why the rank-and-file formations firing into each other were so much deadlier with the Minie Ball. Those projectiles were teaching aids. Likewise, I figure if I'm going to learn something, then I'd like to see it demonstrated under ideal conditions so I know what should happen; what the ideal outcome is. The private ponds and lakes look, to me, like Bill Dance's visual teaching aids. Nothing more, nothing less. When he catches a big bass, sure, he talks about how pretty it is. They are pretty. But, guys, why the double standard? I'm sure that Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Jimmy Houston, and all the other old timers could out fish most of us on any given body of water on any given day if they so desired. If Scott Martin's "Challenge" is to be believed, Jimmy Houston soundly whupped S. Martin without breaking a sweat, and was funny while doing it. So, why? I don't get it. Regards, Josh

Lots of times factory grease masks gear noise. Does it minimize as you increase spool tension? Josh

Ess, There's no Academy, no BPS, nothing. There is Dunham's and Big R. For a sporting goods store Dunham's has a pitiful selection; it's worse than Walmart! Big R has a respectable selection of quality lures, but their rod selection is a bit lacking. They carry some nice reels, though, Ardent, Shimano, and Abu Garcia can be found there. I might be able to find a Dick's over in Ft Wayne. Not sure what they'd have, though. I really wish BPS would move in here..! Josh

Francho, possibly a couple. One, though, pulled harder than anything I've felt around here recently. I wondered this too. In this lake, the dinks lay on the outside of cover while the bigger bass hang out further in. One reason I've started using frogs is to target those larger bass. Thanks! Josh

Hello, The rod I'm using is a Daiwa Jupiter 7'. It's marked as a MH/F, but it's heavier than any other MH I've experienced. Hookups are solid -- I feel them fine. No local place has heavy rods. I need to try to find something with which to compare. Josh

Here's a pic, gents. Sorry for the low resolution -- it was the old Blackberry's camera taking these. Note all the twigs sticking up out of the water. The spots where I've caught bass are marked, and the holes were made by them trying to come up through the mat to get to frogs. The 12" - 14" bass on the outside are fun, but the ones that blow through the mat are bigger. Worms and jigs thrown to the outside are eaten by the smaller fish. There are other areas on this lake like this, and it seems like all the larger bass hang out on the inside of cover with the outside being patrolled by the smaller bass. Thanks! Josh

The best innovations seem to be affordable super braid and improved plastics. Josh

I believe I've read that the black bass is the smartest North American freshwater fish. Smarter than me, anyway, some days... Josh

Bass make the decision to strike like you make the decision to breathe. Sometimes they just can't help it just like you can't help but breath when you've held your breath too long (bass strikes out of hunger) or when you're startled (bass strikes in defense or from pure reflex). This is likely the closest analogy I've hypothosized in the past 25 years or so. Josh

I think I'm going to try the "bend the hooks out a bit" thing. I trimmed 1/3 of the legs because they just seemed too long. Never heard of bending the hooks until it was posted here. Thank you, Josh

I'm a bit hyper, I guess. I need to teach myself to do this. Until the past three years I used mono only. I'd taken 10 years off fishing for college etc, and missed out on a lot of the innovations. When I left for college, the first superlines were around $50. Got to a point in my life where I could start enjoying fishing again without being rushed, so moved by some lakes. Now I get to play with braid, frogs, and new reel technology! Josh

Thank you. They did smell like release agent, so they all got soaked overnight in Gulp! Crawfish before using. Funny; the Live Target got used before I soaked it, and I caught a bass on it. Josh

I never heard of this. Looking into it. Thanks! Josh

I'm using 50lb braid, and have 65lb ready to spool when this stuff gets too low. My biggest problem seems like I'm not pausing, according to your and others' answers. Thanks! Josh

I am using Live Target, Booyah, and River2Sea. Regards, Josh

If I watch sports, I like Northfield High School. Josh

Small. Quiet. If I can't enjoy nature there's no point. Josh