FishTank

I have this one and have had no issues but it did take some getting use to initially. It's smooth and easy to retrieve. As far as your reel goes, I would check to see if the line you have on is making contact with frame or is digging in under the spool. Caught this guy tonight on it with a topwater bug and 5lb test line. Always a blast to catch them on BFS gear.

The JDM Zillion to me is the best bang for the buck out there. I would also throw the JDM Metanium in there as well. Both reels at under $250 are amazing. I also have one other honorable mention, the Shimano Twin Power. At around $300 or less, you are basically getting what feels and performs like a Stella at (not quite) half the price. I can't speak for the Alpha but I have never heard any complaints from the people who own them, unlike the Tatulas.

I tend to rotate them based on what bait or technique is hot at the moment but I always take these two.... Megabass P5 Six Eleven G. Loomis NRX+ 803S

On long casts I like either braid to leader spinning or fluorocarbon on casting. On a side note, this time of year, at least for me, I tend to get a lot of short strikes on spinnerbaits. It's like the fish only want to hit the blades. I tend to use a spinnerbait only when I want to cover a lot of water and as a sort of search tool for fish. If they hit it, they will hit anything. I am not a fan of mono on a kayak (except for maybe crankbaits), especially Big Game (like I have said in the past, good line until it's not). The longer you cast with it the more you need a good strong hook set and you usually can't get that sitting down in a kayak or standing up for that matter. I like to use BFS gear in a kayak. It's a blast. I use 5lb FC and have caught some big ones on it.

I have been using lines from YGK as of late. So far so good. I especially like Ohdragon on spinning reels and Upgrade on casting. Super Jigman is also good as well.

I've been using the same set up and have been very pleased with it. @Fishing_FL_WI_Will What lures do you intend to use, what line and what rod?

I start out with my leaders around 6-7 feet and once it gets down to 2-3 feet, I change it. At that point it starts to loose its main purpose as a shock absorber.

So a similar story of a mystery lake in Indiana that was real. It was urban legend about a lake/strip pit that had a boat launch over an old discarded cemetery. The road to it was like going rock crawling in a Jeep. DNR always claimed it was real and that they stocked it but would never tell anyone where it was because it was supposedly haunted. Yet here it is.

I spent 8 hours on the water today at a new lake to me that has grass everywhere. It was a nightmare. I caught one bass all day, which is one more than everyone else I talked to. On my way home I spotted this sign. I have no idea what the intention is for it but it pretty much summed up my day.

I got a pair for Christmas when they first came out. I have asked for a pair each Christmas since then. I really like them, even more so than the drawer full of Smartwool socks I have.

I have the Coastal. It's nice reel. I hate to say it I bought for two reasons... It's blue and I had some gift cards. So far no complaints. I use it for Texas rigged soft plastic. It casts well. It's pretty smooth on the retrieve. It does have one odd thing. It squeals on the cast. I have worked on it and can't find what the real cause is. I know it's the braking system but it's the only Daiwa I have that does this. It almost sounds like a DC reel. In the end, it does't effect how the reel performs at all.

Try a Patagonia Capilene Hoody. It works great. I wore it today in about 85 degree temps. My buddy that had on a cotton t-shirt was baked. He kept staring like there was something wrong with me and asking "Why aren't you sweating?". I told him it was the shirt. He still can't believe a long sleeve shirt is cooler than a cotton one. Another key is a cooling rag and a big, goofy, but good, hat. I wore this guy today and it did a good job of keeping the sun off. Just added a little cold water to it from time to time and I was good to go.

Getting bites in that stuff generally isn't the issue. It's getting the fish out of it that can be challenging. Good luck.

So outside of the usual dink fest, I found the master of my favorite local pond. I have been chasing this fish for a few years, I believe. I couldn't believe it when it crushed a buzzbait. It was as epic as any catch I have ever had. It came out from under a mat, jumped two or three feet out of the water and crushed it.

I have been using this line since the beginning of the year on my main Texas rig set up and I say it's pretty close to Tatsu. Great line.

I have been fishing braid to leader on spinning tackle for quite some time now without too many issues. Wind has been my worst enemy. I always close the bail by hand and then pull the line tight on the spool just after the bait hits the water. I think it is crucial to know what line you are using, what reel and rod, what knots and what lures.

I would of course suggest the Vanquish but also look at the Twin Power. I have been fishing both and like both. The Twin Power for a about $50 to $75 less (JDM Price) is equally as smooth but it is a bit heavier and the drag is not quite as nice as the Vanquish.

In the stained water I fish, action is everything so no, a different brand in the same color will not produce the same.

OSP Hunt Jig. I use it all the time. Another is the Keitech Football jig model 2.

My favorites are the Simms Solar Flex and a Patagonia Capilene Hoodie for the hottest days. I also have a few from Huk. I have one from a few years ago that was discontinued and has a built in face cover. It does a good job but is more heavy duty than the others. I have a collection of others that have gotten for birthdays and various other holidays. It seems to be "the" gift for Dad.

I use to handle heat fine. As long as I had water, I was good. But now as I have gotten older, I need to be careful. I find a good cooling shirt and a sun hat helps but more importantly, I always wet my feet and head and I keep a cold wet cooling towel wrapped around my neck. If I have to, I fish in the shade. I try to be smart about it and I try to not over exert myself.

Here is the answer. They use loctite and do not tighten the screws all they way down. I've noticed this on several Daiwa reels. Once you figure out how far to tighten the screws, it's no big deal. Wait till you take a reel apart and some of the screws have it but not others.

Flambeau boxes work for my buddy's boat.

X Zone Adrenaline Craw and Bug Reaction Innovation Beaver Zoom Z Craw OSP Dolive Beaver 4in I use a 5/8 or 3/4 oz tungsten weight and sometimes a 1oz with a either a VMC Flipping hook or an Owner Jungle Flipping hook. I use 16lb FC around wood and 50lb braid in grass.

I got a collection of gift cards to the Hook Up Tackle for Father's Day and I was thinking of trying this guy on my Vanquish C3000MHG but I am not sure about size. It's 58mm. Also for $180, I can get a lot of tackle.