JustJames

I don't really wanna think about fall fishing, it was pretty much suck last year. I didn't get a whole lot of bite but I did get my PB 7.7lbs. I got all my big swimbait set up ready tho and will start as soon as September come.

Have you tried the shrink tube route for bait keeper (cut 45 degree)?

Make sure to set spool tension not too loose, no to little side to side play. When spooling, was the reel on a rod? I can see a problem when spooling with just reel in your hand, your fingers that hold the line tight might be on either left or right side thus make the line spool uneven. I normally move my finger corresponding to line guide (benefit of fishing with conventional reel for quite awhile lol)

You can try to jerk the line out hard and quick not pull. If AR is bad you would see the line come out with no drag.

Congrat on your PB, I'm not sure about small mouth bass but 3lber is reasonable.

If you plan on just that, aldebaran 50 should be good to go. Now you have to find the rod with soft flex tip with lure rate 1/8oz and up. My dropshot weight usually 3/16oz so I can pitch to target easier, never try 1/8 oz. With the weight plus plastic the total weight should be at least 1/4oz and Finesse worm plus hook also right around 3/16oz, so any rods with lure rate 1/8oz should be able to handle those just find.

What are you trying to achieve really, BFS, Weighless worm(trick/finesse)? There are 3 version of aldebaran as of now, Aldebaran 50, Aldebaran MGL 30 and Aldebaran BFS. Which one do you plan to buy? As @fishballer06mentioned the rod also play the important role in this Ultra Finesse area/BFS. If you plan on 1/8 oz total weight any of these reel should be able too, just match with proper rod. My goal is to be able to cast weightless finesse worm 4.7g/.17oz and Jr. Fluke 5.3g/.19oz and Husky Jerk 06 and I can achieve that with Daiwa SV105 and rod with 1/8oz with soft tip. Picture with Zoom Jr. Fluke, 2/0 EWG hook, Daiwa Alpha SV105, Major Craft Go emotion 652L and a 3lb bass. Ive been using this setup for the last few days and caught a handful of bass but mostly under 12" , Is this your goal, it fun to catch bass on light lure but majority of your catch would be pretty light too.

@new2BC4bassthanks a lot for your comment and yes I had read the post in the past where you inquired about this same rod. I might have confused you guys about the main goal of this rod (Dropshot specific) which I use for Fluke and bottom contact like Senko and wacky rig most of the time. I don't fish dropshot as often as I used to but it nice to have the rod that can feel even slightest pull which happen a lot when dropshot around weed area. @MickD I like more soft MF-F tip for jerkbait so the bend can help jerking bait not pulling. I fish a lot of small jerk bait HJ08 SP65-78. Im mostly bank fish so only one rod/reel would be ideal, the Crucial used to be my all around in light sprectum where Tatula 610 MH/F is my all around in heavier techniques.

About 150 top, I've already spent all the budget my wife give me for this year, LOL. Just came back from local shop, there is one that I like and might work, Major craft Don Ioveno Series 6'10 M/XF.

Okay, this is gonna be wired. I need a replacement for my Shimano Crucial Dropshot specific (Casting) Lure Rate 1/8 - 3/8 oz Power Medium, Action Fast 6'11. This rod mainly use for Fluke, Jerkbait, light bottom contact and also weightless trick/finesse worm. My old rod can perform these tasks very well. It is soft enough to cast weightless trick worm but has backbone that I can set 4/0 hook into bass mouth even at long distance. Yesterday I tried my Shimano Compare worm/jig rod 6'8" Medium Power, Action Fast lure rate 1/8-1/4. This rod got pretty soft tip which is perfect for Fluke and Weightless worm but has no backbone. I can see a problem in the long run mostly with Fluke (2-3 fish I caught barely hooked). I also don't really like XF action since that would be harder for me to use this rod for jerkbait. The rod that I have in mine are 1. Daiwa Tatula 6101 Medium XF Lure Rate 3/32 - 1 Oz with Megatop. 2. M U S E black ML 6'10 Lure Rate 1/8-3/8Oz Action Fast. What do you think would be good for my replacement. I check Zodias ML6'10 Medium but a lot of review seem to indicate that it is pretty soft and less backbone than others. I do have some experience with Tatula Series and like it enough only drawback is that huge aluminum lock nut, but don't have no clue about M U S E Black Series. I can buy both new about same price (110-130) or I can buy Crucial at 160 from some I've never heard of website. What do you guys think?

I also prefer hoodie especially when bank fish. I got a few Columbia PFG, pretty reasonable price and breathable. On boat and kayak I don't care much as long as it wicked material and long sleeves, I use sun mask and gloves. BTW even dark/black color looks cool but not so cool on your body and skin.

@Burrowsyup it pure base on my speculation, but it is a trend, a very popular trend. Chornarch got micro module, K got micro module gear, new bantam also with micro module gear. New Daiwa reels also feature Hyper mesh gear (similar to micro module gear). It's just a matter of when. Actually micro module gear already feature in 70 series body (check Engetsu reel).

If the K is too big for ya, try curado 70 and if you don't mind the sub 8oz weight get bantam MGL. Other wise wait for new 70 (k?) with micro module gear.

I don't think you should call him fishing buddy, just a friend. He might not care about fishing as much as you do and think that he does you a favor to accompany you fishing that why he entitles to use your stuffs. Tell him up front he is on his own if he wanna go fishing with you and see what he says.

To all of you guys, Which reel are we talking here? There are such a wide range from 70 dollars reels to 500 or more reels. You just can't say Shimano is smooth but if you say Daiwa is smoother than Shimano I totally agree. 2 of my curado 70 and 1 scorpion 70 develop geary feel and noise (my everyday reel), 1 has not but it is still pretty much new. My curado 200IPG is still smooth but I don't use this reel very often (it is my medium swimbait reel) Chornarch 50e also had some geary feel before I sold it but Aldebaran MG7 is still super smooth same as Scorpion XT1000, but I don't use Scorpion often enough. Bantam MGL, the smooth of them all, Caught quite a few fish with it, and every time I use this reel still surprise me of how smooth it feel, I don't feel a darn thing.

Congrat on 2nd place anyway.

Curado 70

You read my mind. I planned to bring a chair next time when I do my drop shot fishing lol. Actually im kind of opposite from you. I don't cast and walk, unless I plan to walk to another spot then I would cast parallel to the bank direction that I'm gonna walk to. I normally stand at one spot and fan casting work the area throughout. The more you walk you might spook a fish nearby. I like to work the area close to shore first and work it slowly then I'll cast further out but work faster until it get closer to shore. On boat or kayak, I like to fish a little faster since boat move and sometime it harder to get a feel of bite.

try this ^^^ if you have weedy area to fish. I went out the day I saw this video in 104 degree right at noon time fishing shallow weedy area and caught about a dozen bass.

Yup it happens to all my curado 70. As long as it doesn't effect casting and reeling in fish, you should be fine.

Not bad for a dropshot ehh? HAHA, just kidding. I stopped by the spot this morning to try this Zoom finesse worm, since I saw a lot of bluegill and bass chasing them like no tomorrow. Anyway I understand you guys point of having to see the explosion is so much fun. I too like top water if opportunity come. Im not sure if water clarity has anything to do with my top water bite. And also 95% I bank fish and only a couple hours, There are time that I'd go out with only top water but if I'm in the mood to catch fish, I'd rather fish with some other techniques. Unlike Fluke (my favorite), I can fish with just Fluke for weeks and not getting tired of it until I don't get bite for a couple of trips and I would think of something else.

If asked I know more than 90% would say top water bite is the best and most exciting especially on Frog. Also more than 70 would also say Top water is their favorite way to catch bass. My question is one top water bite equal how many bass caught with any other ways like Texas rig, Jig dropshot or even paddle tail swimbait? I had a talked with my fishing buddy, he said he would give up all other fishing with just one top water bite. I went out this morning with two rods Frog and Dropshot the first hour I missed two bites on Frog, I gave up and started dropshot, caught about 6-7 decent size for the next hour or so. I didn't even brother grabbing my frog rod when there were boiling of bass chasing bluegill near by. How about you guys would you do the same or just continue your top water until you catch one and be satisfied with it?

Same weight as EGbassing's fish or maybe same fish.

When bass shake head that would send any worm up the line, if it is not tear or damage you still can use it, otherwise save it and Mend-it later. If I don't have any worm on hand, I will bite about 1/4" of head and can use it again. You can hook to the tail end too but I don't normally do it.

My regular dropshot hook #2 Gamakatsu EWG. I don't want dropshot hook to be too heavy so my plastic can get a lot of movement. I use rebarb hook especially for Elaztech stuff and EWG hook for others. Compare to 4/0 EWG hook I plan to use 1/0 medium wire for weightless worm, so I can get a little bit more weight to sink faster and make more vibrations when pulling through weed. To be honest I don't see much different between light wire VS medium wire. I do believe that my old one is 3/0 which I use mostly for 7" and longer worm.