Brett's_daddy

The thing is I do love the reel but as you have stated I think myself and a few hundred thousand other customers got sucked in with the premise that even a beginning angler could cast this reel without using the thumb (I mean how many YouTube videos showed exactly that...pros making cast after cast and holding the reel up so you could see they never once applied any thumb). This reel was also marketed as allowing you to cast in windy conditions with minimal effort where "non-dc" reels would be extremely hard to dial in. I mean I can use my thumb alright but the premise being this reel was you didn't have to or at least very little and in my experience you have to every cast like a non-dc reel if you don't want a birds nest. Now I could tighten down the spool control knob and achieve this but you could do that on almost any reel. Maybe the weight of the baits were an issue, I was tossing a 1/2oz. spinner bait, 1/2oz buzz bait and a 1/2oz jig (w/trailer)...maybe those are too light but I don't think so as I see many anglers who have the DC using jigs. I don't know, I just don't see any difference between this reel and let's say a Curado K which doesn't have the DC braking system. I hope things will change for me, I still like the reel but as of right now I can't help but think I was sucked in my some fancy marketing with false promises!

I had the exact same experience...even used a Rage Swimmer like you and mine did the same thing, went sideways. No more trailers for me on buzzbaits!!!

Okay, I have a new Shimano Curado DC and I love it (typical Shimano quality) but...I don't believe I'm seeing the benefit of the DC system which leads me to wonder if I've set it up properly. I adjusted the spool tension knob to the point where there's just a little side to side play in the spool. I have it spooled with 65lb. Sufix 832 braid so I have it set on the braid setting, #2 position. When I cast I have to apply thumb at the end...if I don't I'll get a birds nest. I see on YouTube people casting into the side of their garage doors and not getting a birds nest, there's no way i could do that. Is there something I'm not doing right? I mean one of the major reasons of buying this reel was for the ability to cast without thumbing it with no fear of birds nest. Thanks for any who can help!!!

Nope, it's running on it's side, not to the side. If I don't reel fast enough though the blade doesn't stay on the surface and runs just under the water.

Honestly I didn't try it without the trailer but yes, the trailer looked centered to me.

I went fishing today and decided to try my Cavitron buzzbait. I rigged it with a 3.75" Rage Swimmer but on retrieve it kept listing sideways instead of running straight. any ideas?

Not on this day for me, this lure is all I caught ?.

So, I found a lure the other day while fishing. It was a jerkbait...Smithwick Rogue in what appears to be a Baby Bass color scheme. It was stuck up in a branch of a tree overhanging the water. I was able to snag it with my rod. The lure itself is in great shape but the hooks and split rings were all rusty so it had been there a while is my guess. Well, the 1st picture shows the lure as I found it, rusty hooks and all...the 2nd picture is how the lure looks now with some new Owner Hyper Wire split rings and VMC Round Bend Short Shank treble hooks .

And won't work for fishing tackle...limited item's only!

For what it's worth Mike McClelland uses Sunline Super Natural mono on all his jerkbait rods when using his mcStick jerkbaits...he's been pretty successful so if he uses it for jerkbaits who am I to disagree so I'm trying it this season in the 12lb. test .

3/8 and 1/2 are all I use but...I did buy a new Mega Blade this year that is a full 1oz. with a HUGE blade. The creator says he fishes it in the entire water column from shallow to deep so I'm anxious to try if I ever get the time!

I have this coming tomorrow from Amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAVAT9S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Not sure if it has a fuse or a breaker...I will check. I am also going to check the battery connections and clean the terminals but won't get to that until this weekend. I have not tried jumping the kill switch but I also don't know how to do that (not very electrically or mechanically inclined...lol...but I'm trying to learn).

It shouldn't be though...it's only 2 years old, is an Interstate battery and hasn't had heavy use (the past couple of years I've only been able to get out maybe a half dozen times). The electric meter on my dash goes right to 12 when I turn the key but I'm guessing just because it does that doesn't necessarily mean the starter battery isn't dead?

My starter battery is 2 years old, that has all my electronics hooked to it (fish finder, dash gauges). The trolling motor battery is probably 3 years old and just has the trolling motor hooked to it. Can you test a battery with a multimeter or do you need a specific battery tester? I just ordered one so I can try and figure this out. I can't help but think it's something simple...electrical but a simple fix and the biggest challenge is to find it.

I would definitely get some Jerkbaits but with your money shrinking I'd probably get me some of those Academy H2o Ultimate Jerkbaits (look like Vision 110's) at $6 each. After that I'd get some flat sided crankbaits like the KVD Flat Side 1.5 or the 6th Sense Flat 75x. A few colors in either one of those (or both if you want to spend your money fast). Any left over and I'd get some Owner Flashy Swimmers and a couple packs of River2Sea's D-Walker plastic swimbaits.

Umm, yeah...my pockets just have lint in them...lol. The more I can do myself without doing more damage to my boat the better off I'll be :).

KVD Flat Side crankbait would be one I can think of. I have the 6th Sense Flat 75X which I bought new at the end of last season and can't wait to try this Fall.

These are what I was looking at...https://www.tackledirect.com/fish-monkey-chilly-willie-gloves-black-l.html.

Wow, this is all really good info and much appreciated! I do not have a voltmeter but I can probably either rent one from Autozone or I just did a quick Amazon search and found a nice looking multimeter for $20. As for the rest, I'm embarrassed to say it but you'll have to treat me like a 5th grader on this as I don't know where the solenoid is or what it looks like (I'm amazed that I was able to install my fish finder myself...lol), what are the terminals your talking about and what do they look like (the small metal posts)? I'll see how much it is to rent the multimeter and if it's close to $20 I'll just buy one off Amazon (in fact, owning a boat I should probably have one anyway).

Thanks10, 25freeship, welcomelure all should work too, at least they did yesterday.

Well, for those of us in the northern tier of States Fall is almost upon us. The mornings have had some cool, crisp air and the daytime temps are starting to dip a bit as well. That means the Fall bite is almost here and with it some chillier water and air temps. What gloves do you use in the Fall when this happens? I remember last year fishing in late Fall and my fingers just about froze, that water was cold and the air temp was around 50 degrees. I would want something waterproof but with a layer of insulation and maybe tipless on at least the thumb and pointer finger for handling line/lures. I saw that Tackle Direct has the Chilley Willey gloves by Fish Monkey on sale for $23.95, anybody use these?

My tether is still attached to the kill switch...anything else to check about that? Nope, haven't checked those.

Why? It ran beautifully the last time out. Was serviced this year with the carbs cleaned and everything was running like a top...why would it just stop with no warning?

Okay, I have an older 1990 Sea Nymph FM161 with a Johnson 40hp motor. It's in really good shape for it's age. This summer I used it once at the beginning of June and than haven't used it since due to our schedules. I went to take it out this Sunday and it wouldn't start. I turned the key and nothing...not a sound, the motor didn't even try to start. The rest of my electrical works, bilge pump, aerator, lights, fish finder. I figured well, I'll charge the battery just in case. I came home Monday night and tried it and same thing, no sound at all, no clicking, no motor trying to turnover...nothing. I'll recheck that all of my wiring is firmly attached to the battery but if the other electrical stuff works I'm assuming it probably is. Other than that I'm going to check the fuse for the starter underneath my dash if I can find it. If that doesn't turn up anything I'll bring it to my local dealer and have him take a look but unfortunately they are booking out 2 weeks. Anyone else have any ideas (I'm not to technical but I'll try if I think it's within my capabilities)?