jimmyjoe

Just out of curiosity ..... have you ever tried a closed-eye spinnerbait? Like these: jj

I use the Wasp, and I use it in the shallows. Seems to work OK. For deeper dirty water, I'd agree with @NittyGrittyBoy. jj

I used the 3/16 size, in Spot Remover and Mouse. They were wonderful for catching fish; they got fish to bite like magic. Unfortunately, they didn't last. They bent easily, and the wire broke easily. I sure hope that the 5/16 size is more durable. They're now owned by Pradco, so I have no idea which direction that's gonna go. jj

Yeah, I've broken a few. Then again, I specialize in cheap spinnerbaits, because I beat them to death. I have NO idea why this is happening to you regularly. If I were you, I'd go for some small-size musky spinnerbaits. J-Mac makes one that's 1.5 oz. total weight; I think it's a 3/4 or 7/8 oz. head. And before you ask ........ yes, they catch bass just fine. ? jj

I've been thinking about what you said, and maybe you're asking for something different that what I had supposed. Maybe. Watch this video from 0:40. Maybe that's what you're asking about.

The best way to master a baitcasting reel is by using your thumb. It's difficult, especially starting out. You'll be frustrated, because you want the learning process to proceed faster than what it seems to be going. Relax. Give it awhile. The potential control from using your thumb is much, much greater than the potential offered by braking mechanisms. However .... if that's the route you want to go, get the one you want, and use it to take care of the problems as you see fit. Just be careful not to use it as a permanent crutch. And BTW ...... have fun and catch fish! ?? jj p.s. - If I were forced to choose, I'd agree with @ATA

Cashion. jj

Ditto. I started rigging it that way because I thought the hookset might be easier. It's not. But it can, if you're careful, make the rig more weedless. That's important to me. jj

They must have found the old Terraplanes! ??? jj

I don't want you to feel bad, and I'm sure that stuff tastes great, but I can think of a LOT better use for bourbon! ??? jj

Now you know another reason I overcast my target. jj

And is it not true that these "resident bass" tend to be bigger? IOW, doesn't prime real estate go to the dominant fish? Jim

America the Beautiful. jj

St. Croix Mojo Bass 7'-04" H/F "Slop-n-frog" is good. jj

Absolutely true. But ............ what size reel do you have? Larger diameter line needs to go on larger diameter spools. jj

25 years ago, one of my friends (I had 2 at the time ?) made a rifle range behind his house. A half a dozen or so of us would get together on a Sunday afternoon and shoot thumbtacks at 96 yards with .22 rifles, using the benches. You had to use a scope at that range, but you could use any scope you wanted. Everyone put a dollar in the pot, and the one to blow the most thumbtacks through the cardboard backer would take the pot. Then you'd do it all over again. We would spend a very enjoyable afternoon, sometimes doing more B.S.ing than shooting. I lost a LOT of dollar bills doing that, but I had a LOT of fun. ?? jj

Remember the old saying, "Lures are made to catch fishermen, not to catch fish"? Well, Googan simply does better at attracting that kind of customer. jj

Yes. I like lower gear ratios, especially for throwing smaller lures. Smaller lures represent smaller creatures, and smaller creatures don't dash around the lakes and rivers at 90mph; they swim slower. jj

Most people have a definite preference; magnetic cast control or centrifugal cast control. The Lew's is magnetic. The Shimano SLX is centrifugal. Both good reels. I'd personally tend to take the Shimano, but you are good to go either way. jj

Correct. Scorpion is JDM though, not USDM. The "dance" that Shimano may be late for is not manufacturing, but selling in the US market. Actually, it makes more sense to me for the lighter reels with their lighter line to be deeper and take more line compared to the 150-size and 200-size reels. In the years when I was confined to lighter spinning gear, there were many times a large or vigorous fish almost spooled me. BFS will probably have the same problem if the fisherman uses the light line that seems to be recommended. This was in the river, though, not a lake. Slightly different environment. jj

I already have a UL rod, but the reel I've been using is a re-lubed Curado 70. It's OK, but not anything like a true BFS reel. This new reel could be (I said could) a reel game-changer. (pun intended ?) I don't use light stuff all the time. In fact, I prefer heavy stuff. But sometimes the fish don't. ? Not only that, but the light stuff is easier to use, because I have arthritis. So I've learned to be versatile, for several different reasons. ?? jj

I hope you're right and I'm wrong. I could say bye-bye to line twist on small spoons. Not fishing for trout or crappie either, but fishing for bass. jj

It's possible that Shimano is going to learn a hard lesson; they should have struck while the iron was hot. Timing is everything, especially in niche markets, and they're late to the dance. jj

I've noticed that when I have one of those "almost" lures and retrieve it slow, fish may (or may not) turn away. But if I speed it up, I have better luck. jj

Are these what you saw? https://stinkyballs.com/