Josh Smith

Hi Folks, Since getting back into tuning reels and updating myself on what parts are what, I've been having a blast! Mostly the old Abu Garcia Ambassadeur models get done, but the newer ('99 and 2014 models) also have been a central focus. The 1999 is a 5600 Mag. I thought it was a c4 or c5, but getting into it, it's a c3. I'll have to rectify that. The 5500 was a c3, but is now a c5. Everything that could have bearings does, save for the handle. I have noticed on both the old and new models that after super tuning, I have to use way less spool tension and way less thumb for backlash control. Additionally, the lures cast much further, of course. I almost wonder if the increased spool speed engages the brakes so that thumb isn't needed all that much. This is all with the stock bearings, too. I've not seen the need for Abec 7 or better, yet, though I might end up with some just for kicks. There's really no point in this post other than I'm taking a lunch break, and while I revive on coffee, I figured I'd throw this out there for the group to chaw on. Regards, Josh

Thanks, guys! I have a small urge to break out the fly rod. I got sort of good with it and tied my own flies, but I never did fish with them. Work got in the way, and it's been years since I had the fly rod out on the water. Josh

I tend to catch way more snagged line than lures. Using braid, I can usually get most of the snagged mono in. I would guess that an advantage to braid would be that it reduces line breaks. Josh

Along the same lines, how long does it take mono or fluoro to dissolve? Josh

Hello, I use FC leaders when I want lures to run deeper and mono leaders when I want them shallower. Josh

Of course. Most bass haven't seen older stuff, when they are often used to newer stuff. Josh

I am trying the "throw a different bait" technique but am not seeing good results. In nature, a missed strike would lead to the critter that almost got eaten, booking it out of there. Following this logic, the same lure should be thrown back but retrieved faster. Josh

Yes. I call them "fishing rods" and "tackle boxes". Josh

I catch 2 to 5 bass in two hours. If I catch less than that, I stay out until I do catch something. Saturday was disappointing because they all shut down due to a strange front. (It wasn't just me; it seems it effected multiple states.) I stayed out five hours trying. Did I ever mention I'm stubborn? This is from the bank, by the way. I'm still working on the boat when I have time. At this rate, I anticipate completion by around 2025. Josh

That seems to be a lot how the lake I've been patterning this year is. There is a lot of cover, never seen them school, and the bass seem territorial. They ambush feed, almost never feed actively, and I'm learning that if I catch one on one lure, I'm not going to catch another on the same lure. I switch it up, and if I don't catch another on the next lure, I move. The sole exception to this is when the spawn is on. The males are guarding the nests and the females are recovering off shore and a Texas-rigged worm or crawdad will work wonders for the duration of the spawn. Regards, Josh

Thanks folks. Yup, it's a bit whippy, but not near as much as the old fiberglass MH jobs. (Dad has a Lew's from the '70s that, while it's a good rod, takes a lot of getting used to and will never be as sensitive as graphite.) The Cherrywood strikes me as a tough, flexible, sensitive rod. Josh

It sounds like something weird was happening. Indiana and West Virginia had similar weather patterns yesterday, and I'm betting Bruce lives in IN, OH, KY, WV, or PA. Everything about that front says that we should have been catching a lot of bass, but it seems to have shut them down instead. Regards, Josh

Thanks folks! I don't know about eating them; I guess I'll take a cooler full of ice along and see. Been trying a couple Booyah Boo rigs this year and I think the spinners would be about perfect. I also have some ultralight lipless Rattletraps in white. Thinking I might go this week when I can be alone with them. Thanks again! Josh

I have some very small spoons I got from a trout fisherman. Some are friggin' tiny. Would these work? I don't have a Little George. Thank you, Josh

Hi Folks, This Cherrywood HD I bought to hold me over until BPS gets me my new rod (see http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/144789-cherrywood-hd-casting-rod/ for my short review.) If those of you who can afford it would go out and buy one of these things, I'd really like to compare notes. They're like 20 bucks, hybrid, and sensitive. I'm guessing "hybrid" means carbon and glass. I can't find anything on the subject of their construction. There's almost literally nothing out there on these rods, but I was impressed, at least in one day of fishing. There's opinions on almost all else here, but these Cherrywood rods kick up almost nothing. Regards, Josh

Hi Folks, I apologize if this is in the wrong section. White bass are bass more than black bass, so I wasn't sure where to put this! The other day Dad told me that folks were catching a whole lotta white bass in a certain spot. Now, I've never targeted white bass and know next to nothing about them. I read the Wikipedia entry which may or may not be accurate, and before that I only knew that a critter called the white bass exists. I will, of course, be doing a bit more research after I post this. I'd like to hear from you all, too, what these critters are and what techniques work. From what I gather, my bucketmouth 1/2oz tackle isn't ideal. Thank you! Josh

It almost feels wrong to like a rod that's this inexpensive! _____________________________________________ Does anyone know if it's part fiberglass? It says it's a hybrid design; not sure what that entails. I can't find an explanation for what they mean by this. I've always assumed hybrid was always glass and graphite, but I'm not all that sure. It says "Hybrid Design construction for un-matched sensitivity with the security of blank-through handle construction." Thanks, Josh

This. We need a support group!

Thanks folks. I used to get "skunked" (learned a new term!) when I was a teenager, now and again, but since I've been an adult it's only happened a couple times, and I chalked that up to not having enough time to fish thoroughly. The two other times I was on time constraints and couldn't fish thoroughly. I've always been under the impression that if you find where the bass are, then you can get them to bite, even if it means ramming them with something. Thanks again, Josh

Hi Folks, I have fast days and I have slow days when fishing, but I never have days when I catch nothing. That changed today. I'm at the point in my life where it's a personal failure to not catch bass when go bass fishing. While I was out, a front was coming through; a warm front I believe. The barmometer was dropping. I started fishing right at sunrise. So far as I know, I did everything right. I went through every lure I had with me, and finally ended up using deep divers to ram the bottom. That usually gets a strike when all else fails, but it's also hard on equipment. I was out from 7am to 12pm and nothing. The only differences between today and every other day is that today was a weekend. Still, I had the lake to myself for a while before anyone else showed up, and even then it was three teenagers on the other end. I have that shoreline mapped, I know where all the bass hangouts are, and I still got nothing. One thing that has changed is that there are a lot of acorns and walnuts falling into the water, and I'm sure that's spooked all the fish some. Still, last time I went it was like this and I the bass had just moved to places where the nuts weren't falling. The only thing that really was different was the weekend vs weekday. Can bass get into a weekly pattern where they shut down for the weekend? I've never heard of it, but that's almost what seems to have happened. I did get one response from one bass, so I know it was there. I threw a Hula Popper, and it tapped it. I'm not sure if it tapped it with its body or if it tried to eat it, but it seemed half-hearted, I'd been distracted by something else, and I missed the hook set. The birds seemed to have trouble finding the fish, too. I saw one, early on, grab a meal. The rest of the day they were flying along a channel but I didn't see anymore swoop'n'scores. Is this only me? Or do others here sometimes have unproductive days even after trying for five hours? Josh

Thank you folks. I just got in from five hours of fishing. Caught friggin' nothing and that never happens to me! I'll make another thread for that. Anyway, I really like this rod. Cheap or not, it works. The action is slightly slower. I was able to turn off one of my brakes on my 5500c3 and use almost no tension. That was an experience! Trying to get something to bite, I was burning deep running lures and hitting the bottom at around 20' and shallower trying to make enough racket to tick off a bass. (I'd exhausted everything else at this point.) The rod held up admirably, as did the reel and the 65lb Suffix 832 I tried on recommendation. I'd tossed the leader long ago at this point. The rod held up fine. I hope it continues to hold up. I talked to BPS and they're replacing that rod, which is excellent. I might put the 5600 Mag on the replacement. This Cherrywood HD and 5500c3 combo is just too excellent to not use. Cons? I'm not sure. The Cherrywood feels slightly less sensitive when fishing than some others I've used, but that slightly slower action is probably a large part of it and is an acceptable tradeoff. It just seems strange to me that I'm finding a cheap rod to be among my favorites. I've used other cheap rods before and they were utter junk. The Cherrywood doesn't feel like junk. It doesn't exactly feel high-end, but it feels about the same as a $50 or $75 rod, just maybe a little heavier, but a little heavier is OK with me. Josh

Hi Folks, I mentioned here that my BPS rod up and snapped on me. I'm still not 100% sure what happened; I certainly did nothing with it that I haven't done to all my other rods. To get the new reel back fishing, I pulled the modified Abu 5000 off my old Bill Dance (Daiwa) Spinnerbait rod. Well, that didn't fly. There's always been a red reel on that rod, I mean, always, and I wasn't going to bench my old 5000. So, I ran to Walmart for a stopgap rod. I was looking at Berkely Lightning Rods, the Shock models. I have a regular Lightning Rod mounting my 5600 Mag, and while it's a bit long and heavy, it's also not really made for my everyday bass excursions. I remembered an old rod Grandpa gave me. It was called a Cherrywood and it's mounting an old spincast reel. It's a ML fiberglass job. I started looking for the Berkely Cherrywood as I seemed to recall they were still made. Sure enough, I found one. Short handle (though not pistol grip), MH, looks like medium-fast or fast action, and the dang thing is really sensitive. Price? A little under $25. In looking at it, I see how Berkely managed to build a decent, basic rod at a really good price. The guides, for example, are regular ol' stainless steel. I don't have a problem with that. It's sensitive because it's stiff and relatively light; lighter, anyway, than the rods I generally prefer. It's well balanced. Still, I'm a little edgy about it. I've never heard of a quality rod for under $25. I"m sitting here looking it over trying to find the weak spot(s). Does anyone have opinions about these rods born from firsthand experience? I'm not out a lot if this thing busts, but it just doesn't look like it's going to. I stopped by to talk to Dad (retired GM engineer who still gets up at 4am). He said they're not bad rods. They're not the best, but they're not bad at all. This is my initial impression as well. This is at least as sensitive as my '90s Daiwa "Bill Dance" spinnerbait rod that's been with me for more bass (and even catfish, when I couldn't afford a dedicated rod) than I can count. What should I be watching for on this thing? Anything in particular? Thank you, Josh

Thank you gents. I'm calling them today. I have no idea where the closest BPS is to here. (Edit: Looks like Clarksville, which is a good four to six hour drive south) Reckon I'll have to send it in anyway then. 'Til then, I'm trying a 6' Cherrywood HD by Berkely. Initial impressions are good, especially given the price. Weird. I'll make a new thread for that. Regards, Josh

On the other hand, Gold Dot works fine, too... 124 grain +P was my choice. Actually liked the Black Hills flavor. Josh

Hi Folks, The rod that I bought from BPS with the new reel snapped. It was not being abused; it just sort of fell in two after my fishing trip today. I did two hook sets with it and fished a couple half oz lures. I did absolutely nothing that should have caused it to break. I'm wondering what your experiences with their return policy is. I'm still trying to find the return policy on their website; likely I'll just end up calling them. Thoughts? Thank you, Josh