zelmo

So how do the BPS reels compare to the Quantum Accurist II which can be had on sale for $50? Keep in mind this will be a specialized, low usage reel for me.

What are your thoughts on flipping switches? There are a few reels around in my price range that have that feature, but I have never used one. I am right handed and use left handed baitcasters so I don't need to switch hands, but the concept still seems worth checking out.

I started wearing long sleeve fishing shirts in the hot weather this summer and couldn't believe how cool I felt. Do you wear a cotton T under them, or does that defeat one of the purposes (wicking)?

The wakeboarders and jet skis are still out starting around 8 am, so if I get out before dawn I can still have some time without them. If I catch fish it is a bonus.

I don't know how you feel about house branded reels I got some BPS Crankin Sticks a while back because they got good reviews and they were on clearance. Wound up paying $26 per. Certainly not in the same class as my Loomis or Kistlers, but at the time I was setting up multiple rigs. For this application I really don't care. It won't get used much so durability and repairability aren't issues. I do have a thing about getting a deal, and if they run a sale I will look into those. I also don't need to make a purchase until next March.

Mostly 3/4" with a craw or beaver.

Last winter I picked up a 7'6" Clarus flipping rod because it was a clearance item and I didn't have anything like it. I had an extra Curado D so I put that on it spooled with braid. Problem is the lakes I fish don't have many areas that call for flipping, so I think I only used it twice. Now I want to use the Curado on a different rod, so I need something for the Clarus. What would be an inexpensive reel for a rod that won't get used much, but is beefy enough for this application?

How does boat traffic affect the bass? If someone runs through a spot you want to fish, how long does it take to settle down and is that affected by the depth? Or do they just scatter and move on?

The rod I am considering is the BCR802 GLX. It will be my first GLX and I want to make sure if I am going to do it isn't a mistake.

OK. I want to throw 2 3/4" tubes with 1/4 oz weights. Thinking of medium 6'8" to 7' casting rod. Do I want it in F or XF?

I have wondered about this too. I understand using line above the rating runs the risk of breaking the rod, but don't see the need to have any minimum.

These seem to be similar baits. Would you use the same rod for both if tossing similar weights? Or do they call for different characteristics? There are many suggestions and recommendations for rods to use for jigs, but I haven't found any for tubes.

I wanted to get an inexpensive combo to have on the boat for my kids or wife to use. Dick's had their Daiwa Capricorn XTC paired with the St. Croix Triumph in a spinning rig on sale for $75, plus I got another $10 off with a coupon I had. I figured that was a decent set up and it turns out I use it myself occasionally. I have never had someone on the boat who knew how to use a baitcaster that didn't bring their own. If it came up I would give them something I didn't plan to use that day.

Although I like casting setups, I have always considered spinning gear more appropriate for finesse and other light applications. Yet I see many posts relating to using casting gear for these, and the rod manufacturers certainly have enough offerings to indicate a good demand. Am I missing something? I know I am more accurate with casting rigs; is that the point?

If the Legend Elite compares to the IMX, what does the Legend Tournament compare to?

Hmmm....Blue reel on a blue rod. Not sure how I feel about that. I have an Abu Soron on mine and it look's awesome. (Not that I care about that kind of stuff ) My first reaction was that it would look good (assuming the shades of blue are complimentary), but then I realized people might think I picked it just for the looks. Maybe I should pick a red reel so no one can think that.

Hmmm....Blue reel on a blue rod. Not sure how I feel about that. Back to the mgfb, in the older models the 1000 and 2500 shared the same frame. The specs on the current ones would indicate that is not the case. Correct?

Then again I could just get a Stradic 2500 FI.

I am going to set up a tube and grub jig spinning rig, probably with a SC Legend 6'8" rod in medium power. I would be inclined to put a 2500 size reel on this spooled with 6lb mono or flouro, but since I am late to the dance on the Shimano Stradic MgFB sale, all I can find is the 1000 size reel in stock at the sites that have the sale. Would you go with the smaller reel, or go with a different model in the 2500 size?

One of the episodes a little while ago had two guys on the same lake. One found fish chasing the baitfish out in the open (it was overcast and foggy). He kept catching them by watching for activity and casting a jerk bait to the area. He tried to move a few times and got nothing until he went back to the same spot. The other angler never figured that out and had a very difficult day. I think about that show and wonder if the first guy got lucky and was smart enough to realize it, or if the second guy was just unlucky because of the parts of the lake he went to. Thanks for all of the responses. I went back to my lake again this weekend and found it muddy in parts to very stained in others. Using the suggestions about spots and covering all of the water column I did eventually figure out something that worked. Not a great day but I didn't get skunked. The tips I got here helped.

Thanks for all of the great comments. I can see that I have been much too patient before making changes in what I am doing, and the changes I do make are probably not accomplishing much. Another post mentined the fish moving. Do you go back to a spot that was unproductive later in the day, or are they only moving a small distance?

The lake I have been fishing lately is formed by a relatively low dam on a wide river. The result is a body of water that averages 5 to 8 feet deep for about 5 miles. There are islands but few creeks feeding it. At this time of year the flow is heavy making a slow presentation difficult. There are some areas that have grass and some that are shallow on the downstream side of the islands. I have also found some ledges in the main part. I do have a boat with sonar. I can have 12 rods on the deck rigged anyway I want. I usually try jigs and tubes, spinnerbaits and cranks, and soft plastics weighted and unweighted. Sometimes everything falls in place and I do well, but if it starts slow I never seem to find them. I have that same problem anyplace I fish. I don't tournament fish; I do it for relaxation. I don't mind going out with little to show for it - I can just enjoy being out. When I take someone it bothers me if I can't find fish for them.

One of my challenges is finding the bass when on lakes. Lets say you are on a body of water that you know and start fishing a spot where you think fish should be. If you aren't having any luck, how long do you wait before you change something and then in what order? Do you keep the same type of bait but change the color, or change the bait type to target different depths? When do move to a similar spot and when do you look for a completely different pattern?

Hanover is only 20 minutes from Gettysburg, and there is a lot of rural living around both. As mentioned before, Lake Marburg (Codorus State Park) is on the east side of Hanover. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/codorus.aspx It is a pretty good fishery. Do you have a boat? They do rent boats there. http://www.appalachianoutdoorschool.com/marina.htm I have never fished there from the shore, but seems like you should be able to catch panfish there.

Have you visited the area yet? Within a very short drive of any of the hubs you can go from small city living to very rural. Gettysburg is more of a big town, where HBG, York, and Lancaster have some dense suburban areas as well as the cities. Traveling between HBG and York, and HBG and Lancaster you will find a number of small towns and wide open areas. You need to see it to find what appeals to you, then balance the commute to work with closeness to the river (if that is a priority.)