tstraub

I did put just a drop on each and take it out for several casts in the yard. The wind is blowing about 40 mph here today so I didn't try to go for super long casts but I can defiantly tell a night and day difference in this reel. I was mostly doing roll casts to keep it low to the ground and out of as much wind as possible. The breaks now do work as they should. Before it didn't matter where I set the dial they just felt full on. Thanks Tyler

They could be some sort of nylon but must have graphite in them or something. They look like plastic or nylon to me. the reel has 2 graphite bearings printed on the side plate. I've never heard of graphite bearings so it just confused me as to what to do with them. Tyler

Ok I have the magnets secured and set the dial knob to max while all the marks were aligned. Now do these graphite bearings need anything special or do you treat them the same as regular ball bearings? I have reel butter oil and grease as well as quantum hot sauce oil and grease on hand. Thanks Tyler

Thanks I glue them tight and see if it helps

I have an old Daiwa BW2 reel that I bought used years ago and it has never casted any distance. It just feels like the brakes are always on full. So its just been sitting unused for a while. Anyway today since its cold and switching between rain and snow here I'm cleaning and lubing reels. Both of the magnets are loose and just turn freely. I assume that the center magnet should be glued tight to the side plate and the outer magnet should be glued to the red gear that turns with the break adjustment knob. I'm just not sure how to index them before gluing them in place. Both magnets, the gear, and the side plate have index marks so I guess that I should line them all up then install the knob so it points to 0 or 10 not sure which. If anybody knows for sure I would appreciate some advice. Also any on type of glue to use and what to use to lube the bearings would be great. This reel has graphite bearings so I'm not sure if they should be dry or oiled. Attached is a picture for reference of the index marks. They are not lined up currently I think the should all point straight up towards the top of the reel. Thanks Tyler

I use a pair of scissors that came free with a spool of suffix braid. Sometimes I also use a pocket knife if the scissors are not in reach. Tyler

The quickest way I know to tell any mono any from floro is with a lighter. Mono is nylon and will keep burning after you remove the flame. Floro will smoke, melt and smell terrible but the flame will go out as soon as you remove the lighter. Tyler

Guest on my boat tend to fall into 2 categories people who rarely fish and I supply everything including rods, reels, and all tackle. Or my In-laws who bring all of their own stuff. With my father in-law it's an open tackle box policy if something's working and one of us doesn't have it we are free to borrow. Whatever it takes to fill the livewell. He often rigs my kids rods with his tackle if they break off. My boat runs on battery power only so never any fuel to buy. The only lost lures that bother me are the ones I lose to bad knots. My kids are still learning to tie good knots I know I need to let them do it so the get better so I usually let them tie hooks for plastics but I tie the hard baits and frogs. Tyler

Wow, I didn't know koi were valuable. About 20 years ago My wife's uncle bought a house with a 1 acre pond stocked with a bunch of koi. I have no idea if the were the worthless variety or the high dollar ones. Anyway he wanted the koi out of the pond so every time we hooked one we threw it in the field. He might have had a gold mine and we feed it to the coons. Tyler

I went to a bran sale this past weekend and was looking at some fishing rods the had on sale. They were both older short pistol grip rods. I'm not a huge fan of pistol grips but my 14 year old son loves using a baitcatser with a pistol grip. As soon as the guy running the sale saw me show any interest he said "If you want them I'll sell them both for the price of one" They were only marked $4 each so no I own 2 more pistol grip rods. 2 bucks a piece was just too cheap to turn down. Still not sure what I'm going to use them for but worst case I'll put a couple Zebco 33's or 202's on them and keep them at the camper for loaners. Rod 1 Daiwa 1330P 5'6" medium light lure weight 1/4-1/2 oz Rod 2 not marked with and maker, power, action, or lure size. Its 5' long black and yellow in color and has a J on the handle. Power feels comparable to the Daiwa and just a touch faster in action. Does anybody have any idea what that J logo stands for on the handle?

I had the same problem when I was learning to use a baitcaster. I would overpower the rod, release too late and throw it at the ground. Just to much mussel memory from using a spinning rod for so many years . I practiced for days until my arm hurt to try casting it. Then I switched hands and made a cast the went easily double the distance of my best right handed cast on the first try and no backlash. I fished spinning rods right and casting rods left for a year or two. Now I tend to throw both right handed but still throw left somewhat regularly if a left handed cast will help avoid overhanging limbs or I have a kid behind me on the right. I'm not sure why left came so much easier for me but I think it had a lot to do with the fact that my left arm is not as strong so I didn't overpower the rod. When you have a lure that properly loads the rod it really takes very little power to send that lure flying. you just need to let the rod do the work and work on your timing you'll get it. Tyler

I'm pretty sure hand line is 1:1 the line moves exactly the same amount as your hand.

Were going to try hominy ridge lake this afternoon. I have never fished it before but I understand it offers largemouth, bluegill, and catfish so something for everybody in the family to try for. I'm not expecting great fishing with the cold front that came threw but hopefully we'll find some fish. Tyler

Jug fishing does not require sensitivity or hook setting power the only thing you need to worry about is line shy fish. So I suggest the most expensive FC you can find.

Exactly, and if they ever televise jug fishing we'll see the pros telling us why a Prairie Farms milk jug is better than a Deans. And when to use a full gallon , 1/2 gallon, or really lighten up and go with the 1 quart to really finesse jug fish.

I think the old timers were catching the slow fish and eating them. Leaving only the fastest fish to breed and pass on their genes. Now we're faced with a population of faster fish. Tyler

I cant imagine that it would hurt anything but the label on the spool. Fishing line is made to be used in lake water.

I have a low profile megacast and I can't say that it casts any better than my 20ish year old quantum predators. The megacast does feel a lot smother on retrieve than the old quantums but casting it can be pretty touchy on the settings to get it dialed it just right. I also have a BPS extreme I got on clearance this past winter I haven't had a lot of time on the water with the extreme but so far I love it. The dual breaks are very easy to dial in and it did my hand perfectly. Never fished a pro qualifier but I hear very good things about it. Tyler

All of my casting reels are right hand retrieve and most of the time I throw with my right and catch with my left just like baseball. But if I'm covering water with a do OK casting left. I have considered trying a lefty but I like to palm the reel rather than hold the rod by the handle so it seems like a lefty would require a double hand switch to palm the reel if casted right. Tyler

Just a guess but reel speeds have been getting higher over the years as rod lengths have been getting longer and longer. My thought is that with today's longer rods and longer casts the reel needs to pick up line faster so you can get that lure back in approximately the same amount of time keeping your casts per hour equal. Either that our the marketing department just likes bigger numbers. And once one brand jumps up a speed or size everybody else has to follow suit. Tyler

Thanks I might have to get a few and try that. The ones I had on hand are currently decorating trees and the river bed at the Wabash. Anyway today's efforts were fruitless again. I did see a guy and his son bring in a stringer full of channel cats today. Nothing huge but some good 2-4 pound eaters. Of course I didn't bring anything to offer the cats today. Tomorrow I might target the cats or at least throw my Abu 5500 out on bottom and listen for the clicker to go off while I throw for bass. Tyler

Well it sounds like you have already had $10 worth of fun out of that rod, and you haven't even broke it yet. The real question is does it catch fish? Tyler

Well maybe I'll have to try a jig. I have never fished a jerk bait and don't even own any. I guess I do have some flukes so I do have soft jerk baits. I just don't know if I can throw one weightless in the wind we have been getting here lately, something to try I guess. Yesterday I spent most of my time throwing a Meeps inline spinner hoping to increase the types of fish that might take the bait. I'm getting to the point where I don't care if it's big or even a bass. I just need a fish. Tyler

Where are you fishing? I came up empty again today at Mississenewa.

I wish I had some good advice for you but I can't find the fish this year myself. I'm off work on vacation and don't go back until Tuesday the 29th so I'm hoping to find some fish.