ksfishinguy

What about the BB1 do you like in comparison to other brands, specifically?

I have an opportunity to pick one up at a pretty good price, and I've never owned a Lew's. The one I'm looking at is a 7.1.1 (newest gen). My question is, what is this reel in this ratio good at? I know the BB1 is known for cranking, but that's probably not ideal with that gearing. I own 5 reels already in the 7.1.1+ gear ratio ranging from Curado I's up to Chronarch's and MGX's. Is the BB1 going to handle the same types of baits? How does it compare? Thanks in advance.

I'd normally agree, but this reel isn't your everyday Laser. It's more refined, and actually quite a bit smoother than my LFS's. I picked mine up yesterday and got it out on the water this morning. It's pretty nice for $70. I definitely wouldn't put it on par with most of my reels, but they're $150+. We'll see how it handles if and when I hook into a bigger fish, but it's every bit the caster of an LFS but noticeably smoother. I did some searching, and they sell the same reel at Cabelas for $130, same price as Academy. One's white, one's black. It's not a bad deal if you can find them on clearance or on an auction site.

Anyone have experience with this reel? I can pick up a new one relatively cheap ($70), but I also can get a new LFS at the same price. It looks like it's a graphite frame. I can only find it sold from Academy or Auction sites, so there's not a whole lot on it, but it retails for $130, so from a price standpoint it seems like a great deal. Anyone fished it?

I can't be the only one. I own some fantastic reels, and I believe there's something to gained by spending $300 on a higher end reel like a Core, Chronarch, or Zillion. I love the added refinement. However, when it comes to rods, I seldom spend more than $150. I just don't think an NRX feels THAT much better than a Veritas, Mojo, ect. I even think the BPS rods are pretty nice depending on the application. I fish all techniques including BFS, and I definitely understand the value of an appropriate setup there, but I fail to see much difference in the best rods at different price points. I have no issue spending 3 to 1 reel to rod. Am I alone in this or just numb?

What do you have most fun fishing with? I'm curious what gear people most ENJOY fishing, not necessarily what's most effective. Include what reel, rod, line, lure, and technique you like most, assuming you're going to catch the same number/size of fish no matter what. For me, I love T-rigging with a 5" senko in cover. Deep timber, brush piles, and weed beds are always fun because there's always that opportunity of hooking a monster. For this, I usually go with something like a Chronarch Ci4, a good MH 7' rod, 12lb fluoro, and work the senko depending on the bite. It's always exciting when you feel that first tug, especially on a slow day, and in some lakes, you might find a gigantic cat or walleye on the other end. It's the surprise aspect that gets me. However, if they're just CRUSHING it, a walking bait or popper can be insanely fun. What about you guys?

Yeah I actually went the leader route. Seems to work pretty well except for the deepest presentations.

Hey BR, I've been fishing baitcasters for 20+ years, mostly on mono and now braid. I used to fish every single day and have a ton of experience with multiple lines and diameters. This season was my first in about eight years of really fishing again. School, getting married, and young kids just took up all my time. Things have relaxed a little and I've hit the water again! Picked up some new gear at the beginning of the season, Chronarch Ci4, Curado I, Citica G (I got for 50 bucks new!), and a Chronarch 50e. Love all of them, even the Citica G, which I was really surprised by. I also really have become an enthusiast, getting into different lines, different presentations and the like. Still using mono for most cranking and some top water. I'm using braid for everything else with the exception of weightless plastics, spinner baits, and jerkbaits/squarebills. However, my problem is with fluoro. I've ruined two spools (not entirely, I used backing) of Sniper FC 12lb on my Ci4. Anytime I use a lighter lure like a weightless senko, jerkbait, or Mepps, I just have backlashing issues unless the tension knob is very tight. Any other line on this reel, no problem. It's the smoothest and farthest casting reel I've ever used, stock. I really want to use fluoro for weightless applications and some cranking, as presentation wise it seems like the way to go. However, I just can't seem to get it down. I've noticed the problem is more at the beginning and middle of casts rather than the end, so I believe it has less to do with thumbing or the brakes. I've tried casting as smooth as possible, and that helps, but if I want distance with a light lure I'll inevitably run into a problem. The only thing I might point to is maybe I've overfilled the spool. It's right where I keep it with any other line, with which I don't have issues. The edge of the line sits just below the tallest point on the spool. I've never had issues with backlashing of any kind before this and I'm a little perplexed. Anyone else run into this problem and have suggestions? Thanks in advance!

I fished Bone Creek on Sunday Morning and then again in the evening. Completely new to the lake and didn't really know where to start. Had your suggestions tied on and then some: Fat, shallow running squarebill, trigged senko, white spinner bait, popper, deep crank, and a jerkbait. I targeted the timber in the first cove northwest of the dam, caught two (both on the popper) right off the bat, one pretty decent going for 2.45lbs. There was a fair amount of traffic on the lake, so I watched where people went. It looked like the south and west sides of the lake where were people headed so so did I. I was in a buster boat so it took me awhile, but I made it to the south side of the lake and I fished the submerged timber there and the areas around the shore. That was important for me because it was out of the wind. I caught eight more before 10:30am, the biggest being 3.5lbs on the white spinner bait. I was having such good luck with the popper early on that the only reason I even used the spinner bait is because I got hung up and I didn't want to miss an opportunity for an area I hadn't fished yet. Good thing, caught him deep right in front of where the popper was hung up. Anyway, I had been up since 2am, so I headed back to camp and got some sleep. That evening, the bite was a little tougher, but I caught five more LM's, one 19" but only weighing 2.3lbs... one of the skinniest bass I've ever caught, on a deep diving crank. Looked healthy but very underfed. The rest were nothing to write home about. It was interesting. Other than first thing Sunday morning, I couldn't find any consistency with the bite. Everything worked, but didn't catch me a bunch of fish. I literally caught something with everything I threw, but the popper was the only lure that caught me more than one fish the whole trip. The fish were hard to find, but that might be my unfamiliarity with the lake too. I planned on fishing all day Monday also, but the wind was just too much for my little boat, and I packed it up and went home. LOVE the lake though. It's 2+ hours from me, but I can't wait to get down there again. Before I go next time, I need to learn the lake better though. I think once I get to know it, it can be one of my absolute favorites, but it's tough for someone who doesn't know it that well, especially in late summer/early fall. The fish are usually a little harder to find this time of year, and that lake has so many different was to fish it (which I love), that you have to KNOW where to look. I pretty much stuck to the south side, between the dam and the third cove, the whole time. It was just where I could stay out of the wind. I wish I had more time and some better weather, but it was a blast regardless. Thanks for the recommendation!

WOW thanks for all the replies! I didn't expect so much excellent information. You guys are awesome.

Been fishing for 20 years now and I feel dumb. How does someone get the weight and bead snug at the top of a plastic bait? I see them done that way all the time in videos but I see the actual tying on part skipped. Thanks in advance.

That's some great information, thank you! Bone Creek it is! I have to admit, I was a little excited when you referenced it as a mini Lake Fork. The weather next week looks beautiful, so the bite might be a little tough, but I'll give em hell anyway. I'll be out there Sunday night, Monday, and Tuesday. Maybe I'll see you around. Thanks again!

Headed to your neck of the woods next week. How's it looking around there? I was thinking of Cedar Creek if the fish have been biting there, any advice? I can always camp at Ft. Scott if I need to recharge.

That's a pretty good answer. Really you could use more than two set ups but I get your point. As far as brands go, some of the best braids are powerpro and sufix. Fluro, Sunline, Seagur. Mono, Sufix, Berkley, or even good 'ole Stren.

Great information, thank you. I have been reading, and Cedar Creek has had my eye for quite awhile. Couple more questions, is it a SFL? If not, do you need a separate license to fish? Does it have decent places to camp? Any electric hook ups?

Thanks for the input. Do any of those have power to charge a battery? Also, do you have a preference for camping?

Hey guys. I'm newer to this area, and I'm planning a three day weekend for a getaway fishing trip. I'll be headed to SE Kansas, by myself, with just a 10' Pelican Bass Raider and no depth finder. I love smaller SFL's, so I'm looking to target those or similar bodies of water. Other than the boat, I have a full arsenal. I can fish whatever technique, but I love finesse plastics or power cranking/ spinner baits. Fun lakes with a lot of cover are up my alley. Aaaanyway, I've read there are some good lakes in SE Kansas. I'm planning for Sept 13,14, and 15. Hopefully heavily fished lakes won't be too stressed after Labor day. Anyone have recommendations based on my information? I'd like a lake with a decent population of bass, but I want somewhere that has some big fish in it too, so not something full of small fish. Thanks for your input!

Thanks. I'll continue to be careful. Surprising coming from Shimano. I've always thought their paint jobs were top notch.

How is it getting dinged up? I haven't had that happen, but I keep my reel in a sleeve when I'm not using it. Just normal dings or what? I want to ensure this doesn't happen to me.

The boat rash is surprising to me. I haven't been super gentle with mine and it has held up so far like all my other Shimanos. In fact, I think the finish has seemed pretty scratch resistant to me. So the material chips? What has happened for it to do that? I would think that if you're in the warranty Shimano would take care of you unless you're clubbing the dock with your reel when you lose a fish.

I'm excited! Definitely picking up josh Gordon if I have the first pick. Crossing my fingers...

Hey! Been lurking for awhile but I've decided to contribute by... well I guess I'm really just asking a question. I recently purchased a new Chronarch Ci4+. Sweet, sweet reel. Best I've owned including Curado I's and Diawa Steez Ex. You guys should check this reel out if you haven't. But... I wanted a new rod. I had read some good things about the BPS Carbonlite rods here on the boards. Considering the price, I thought I'd give them a try. Am I missing something or do I have a possibly defective rod? I bought a 6'6 MF and was using it for plastics. It performed okay, nothing special. But then I threw on a Rattlin Rap, and I couldn't feel a thing while reeling it in. Tried a squarebill, same thing. Something to mention- when I got the rod, the eyes were off center. It looks like they pivot at the second largest eye (you can twist the rod back and forth, almost like it's two pieces), so I straightened everything out. I'm not used to that. Is it just broken? I'm using 12lb Berkley XL with the rod and reel mentioned above. I get that it's an inexpensive rod, but I'd heard good things. Am I missing something? Thanks in advance for the feedback.