jimmyjoe

Hey Brayberry! I'm doing the same thing. I have a heat gun called the Master-Mite. Gets darn hot. I soak round toothpicks for about an hour, then impale the weights on the wet toothpicks. I heat them over the heat gun for about 5 seconds, then dip them in Pro-Tec powder paint. Then I immediately return them to the airflow and watch then closely. About 5 more seconds, and they turn shiny. That means they're done. A quick dunk in cool water and I go to the next one. My friends say that they can't be cured, and they're not toughened. But I tell you what .... if you can cut that finish off with a knife, you gotta work at it, and work hard. I think part of the secret is to clean the worm weights first with electronic contact cleaner. And by the way .... if you're gonna use contact cleaner, do it in the open air. jj

For me, it's simple. I don't use braid/superline with a fast speed rod. I use mono with a fast speed rod. For a low-stretch line like braid, I figure I NEED the give and cushioning effect of moderate speed rods. The problem is that some companies offer "fast" speed rods that are what I would call "moderately slow". Better to see and handle the rod in person. jj

Administration of Abu products in this country falls under their parent company, Purefishing. I have had 4 Pflueger spinning reels and 3 Abu spinning reels, and all but one (a President 6925x were either defective right out of the box or proved to be so within 2 weeks, max. My opinion of Purefishing's rods is okay, but my opinion of their higher-line reels is ... well, ... bad. I have to say, though, that their customer service people have been GREAT. Wonderful people, and a lot of help. Too bad the product quality isn't as high. Needless to say, I am now Shimano/Daiwa. It's sad to see a good company go downhill. jj

2500 stradic ci4+ on a 7 1/2 foot Daiwa Presso. 4 lb Trilene XL 2500 stradic ci4+ on a 7'3" ML/F St. Croix. 6 lb. AN40. 2500 stradic ci4+ on a Fenwick HMG ML/F. 12 lb. Nanofil. 2500 stradic FK on a Shimano Compre travel, M/F. 12 lb. Nanofil, soon to be changed. Only one other stradic, a 4000 with 10 lb. line. on a 6'6" Avid M/F .....must .... buy ...... more .....:D jj

A-Jay was right on. You have to have "give" somewhere along the line in your setup. If you use a fast rod and stretchy mono, then the give at 20 yards is perfect. But when you get the fish 5 feet from you, there's not enough stretch in that short a shank of mono to act as a shock absorber. If you use braid and a moderate or moderate-slow rod, then you have the same "give" at 5 feet as you had a 25 yards. And the maximum flex of a slower rod can be especially useful in a 'yak. jj

When I used a baitcaster, it was always Trilene XT. For spinning at 4 or 6 lb., it's AN40. 8 lb and above is Trilene XL . What's been the problem with the lines you've used and didn't like? jj

Don't want to dredge up old threads, and I don't now whether anyone cares, but I think I found my rod. I went into my favorite store to look at Fenwicks. Came back out with a Shimano Compre Travel, CPS70M2C spinning rod. Not a stiff tip, but not too soft either. Had it out on the river this afternoon (bought it this morning) and got 2 bass on cranks. Tried mono and braid, both. I think I'm gonna like this one .... jj

Thanks for the replies. I have the MF 6'6" Avid. Great rod, but too stiff for an all-rounder. Fenwick is interesting. I noticed that in the HMG line, both the ML and Med are fast speed. Can someone tell me how fast the Fenwick "fast" is compared to the Avid? In an unknown situation, my first crankbait would be a Rapala Countdown. Next would be a Senko. jj

The newly retired guy (me) and his wife will be taking some Fri-Sat-Sun trips this summer. Anywhere there's a casino in the northern Midwest is a possible destination. I need advice on a do-all, jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none two-piece spinning rod. All these places will be new, unknown water for me. Although I like rivers, I might find only still waters. Don't know. I had thought of a ML rod, and then wondered whether that would have enough "authority". All fishing will be done from shoreline. I can use both braid and mono lines. I've always divided my rods into hard-tip and soft-tip groups. I'm not used to thinking "do-all". First target will be smallmouth, but I'll have to take whatever's there. Any advice? Thx. jj

Always in current, always in rocks: Early- Betts spin, dark, low and slow. Countdown in the shallows. Prespawn- Chartreuse spinnerbait low. Rat-l-trap high Postspawn- Deep Little N low Dadevle up high Fall- Black Fury combo (red) low Countdown high The lips on those Countdowns break really easy on rocks. I think I keep Rapala in business.

Recently retired (10 days ago) shorecaster from Iowa says "hi". I fish rivers/90% and lakes/10%. Use spinning gear (only) because of arthritis, but used casting gear for 40+ years. I fish for almost anything, but use artificials only. Main focus is smallmouths. Main banes are pike and bowfin. I also fish from ice-out to ice-up. Yes, I'm crazy. You can call me Jimmyjoe, Jim, or JJ. You can call me other things, too, but I prefer we don't go there .....

Thank you! Jj

" I just use a different/better knot. My 6# nanofill with different knot holds to 9#. My 8#nanofil with different knot holds to 12#." YOU HAVE MY ABSOLUTE, UNDIVIDED ATTENTION ......! Which knot is that? Jj

Wetting did nothing. That line needs an actual film lubricant. Both of those named dissolve in water, which helps loads over other lubes like silicone grease or frying pan spray, neither of which I want to use. Test 3 knots with water or saliva, then test 3 with liquid soap. You'll see a big difference.Jj

How many people here use Nanofil? For open water, it's my line of choice. However, it wasn't always that way. When I first tried Nanofil, I hated it. I used the recommended double Palomar, but knot after knot after knot broke at low pull weights. I was disgusted. But then I discovered something, and I've been a Nanofil fan ever since. I form the double Palomar like usual, but then I put a drop of either liquid soap (a lubricant) or no-scent fabric softener (ditto) on the bight and pull slowly. To prevent those chemicals messing with the water, I use a wet kerchief to daub the knot. Doing it this way, I have no trouble anymore. Anyone else tie knots this way? Jimmyjoe.

Yes, I'm getting that idea. I used to think that there are stiff-tip rods and soft-tip rods, and that's it. But it's more complex than that. I didn't realize the power of my M/F Avid until I lit into a large wiper (hybrid bass). All I had on at the time was 10-lb. Sufix 832, and I hooked him on a Worden's roostertail, which is a spinner that is relatively easy to shake off. So here am pulling like all get-out ... and the rod actually takes a classic "fast" load curve. Textbook. So yes, I describe it as a stiff-tip rod. And it is, for the way I use it. But I realize that it has plenty of reserve, too. Jj

Thank you, everyone!This site was recommended by a friend of mine, and now I see why. I surfed several other fishing forums, and they seemed to be 90% hot air and misinformation and 10% infighting. I'm glad I registered here. If you all don't mind, I think I'll stay here and ask a question from time to time. Again .... thank you. Jj

Thank you, Klebs01. That's the info I needed. Jj

I apologize for not filling in some background. I used casting gear for 40 years ..... then I got arthritis. It's only in my thumbs, but that's the worst possible place for a baitcaster. So I've gone to spinning equipment. Not only that, but lightweight spinning equipment. Yes, it really makes a difference. That's why I wanted to get an idea about the 2500 on that particular rod. Jimmyjoe

Good evening, gentlemen. I have come here (newbie) to find an answer based on your experience. I have a Shimano Stradic ci4+ 2500 FA reel. I also have a St. Croix Avid 6 1/2 ft rod, med/fast, rated 3/16ths to 5/8 oz. lures. I would like to put this reel on this rod, particularly for using spinnerbaits. I have several 1/2 oz spinnerbaits, and I shorecast along the banks of the Mississippi river. Naturally, I cast hard; I pivot cast and step into the pivot. This rod is a fairly stiff tipped rod, and several of my friends tell me that this reel won't take that kind of load. However, none of them have one. I think they're judging by appearances. Have any of you used this reel with a stiff-tipped rod to throw a 1/2 oz. load? All my searches on the web, by the way, describe the ci4+2500 as a "finesse reel", and that's certainly not how I'm going to use it. I target SMB and LMB, and occasionally a pike saunters over to have a conversation. I do not, however, deliberately fish for pike. I just want to get my lure back. My line is 12 lb. Nanofil. Thank you for your consideration. Jimmyjoe