Fisher-O-men

In CA? Most lakes are municipal water reservoirs. I would not dump anything in the water for fear of going straight to jail! Get this, some lakes allow water skiing but no swimming! Only in CA!

Hate to mention it, but if your Dad is that old and the reels are by those manufacturers, their worth is more sentimental than anything else. Put them in a case or on a shelf. The rods are not likely worth much either. Not trying to be mean, just practical.

So... you are just trying to learn to guess better???

If you don't constantly re-tie, you WILL break off fish!

What did your scale say? For less that $4 everybody should have one! My guess would be 4-5 lbs.

Micropterus salmoides

If it was on the cast, how do you know the knot failed? With braid there is not the tell-tale curly cue at the end of the line when the knot pulls out. I agree with the Uni Knot. I got tired of putting the bait and all the trebles through that loop! I recommend 7 wraps with braid. You can double the line if you want, but I do not.

I see your first million coming! Fish maybe!

12 lb, you should be fine. With the buzz bit you have to start reeling before the lure hits the water.

The 130 would be marginal on that rod. As to a leader, yeah the front hook does foul occasionally, but not often enough for me to use a leader.

I'll bet your garage is clean as well. You're a sick man, I tell ya, a very sick man!

The fishing show I enjoy the most is the one I see develop right before my eyes, while I am fishing!

Better go with the Baitcaster. You don't sleep with your buddy!

Looks like a 25 or 30. 10 pound Yozuri would be good. Make sure you spool it correctly. See YouTube for instructions. Don't do the pencil thing.

Nah, I was pulling your leg! I figured it at 4+.

Yeah, them 2 pounders fight like crazy!

I've bought two nice reels on Ebay that had this "problem". Line slipped when I got them, minutes later, did not! Funny thing is, the "defect" was not mentioned in the description.

You don't want a pistol grip rod. You will have much better control casting with two hands.

Most right handed people crank a spinning reel with their left hand. Then they crank a baitcaster with their right. That has always been quite common. This is changing. Right handed guys are trying lefty Baitcasters and liking it! I only have a couple righty reels now. I can crank faster with my right hand, but I can work lures better when cranking with my left, and I do not have to change hands after I cast. Cranking with the left on baitcasters will feel odd at first.

Yeah, they are likely grabbing the legs and pulling under. Find bigger fish and you're golden.

Are you using a leader?

There once was a crooked man who caught a crooked bass...

And probably the reason shotguns were invented! BTW, looks like it was not a dude date but a dudette date!

Both are unacceptable! That is why I like San Diego! But the bass fishing here is terrible, so stay away!

There are places hotter, but not many more humid! The problem with humidity is that it prevents your body from cooling itself through evaporation. The surrounding air has pretty much all the moisture it can handle. So wet yourself all you want, it won't help much. Being submerged in water will help if the water is cool.