JustJames

Smell way better than smelly jelly, I don’t mind having megastrike on my hand. I actually rub my hand with megastrike before fishing when I was a smoker). To hold the bait longer, I’ve never wait to found out but last couple time with smelly jelly, I was surprised, I thought I set a fouled hook into weed but the bass either come back or hold on to a lure.

Whoa 600 budget, hell of an upgrade from your old setup. If i remember correctly, you posted about cannot feel the bite on your plastic. If I were you I would instead get one super nice $600 setup and split to two setup. What can I say I don’t even own any 600 setup myself ???. First setup for your Senko, dropshot or any alike, Shimano Curado 6’10 or 7’2 ML pair with Shimano SLX MGL or Daiwa Tatula TW 80, SV70, line 8-12lb Mono or FC line. The lighter setup and lighter line would get better feedback from your lure and line better. A little bit softer rod tip would transfer any vibration from your line better. Second setup for medium heavy bottom contact like jig, Texas rig, Curado 7’MH pair with SLX 150XT, line 12-15lb mono FC or 30lb braid. You can upgrade to zodias if you like for the rod or use same Daiwa Tatula tw 80. The new Curado is pretty light and exceptional sensitivity with very good backbone. Your old setup can be use for moving bait, chatterbait spinnerbait or even top water.

Listen to the old wise guy ???. Once you master the tension, feel and know the difference you will catch a lot more and bigger bass than just waiting to feel the tap or watch the line alone. I’m not as good and far behind @Catt but I’m learning. One of these days.???

This is true but the good part is, Amazon easy return plus Amazon use it own driver/delivery truck which might be better than USPS conveyor and better care than UPS driver. BTW I used to be a city carrier for USPS.

Two setups one lure? Why? So I can switch hand when one get tired. I’m too old or what? cannot hold and shake a rod in one hand for too long. Not bad 7 nice little bass in less than two hours, shaking Fatika on top of the weed. Gotta love them finesse Fatika lol and thanks these two smooth, reliable, light weight reels.

If you really wanna try some, find Asian ppl (Chinese to be the best) or Middle East, they might be able to cook you delicious meal out from those carp. I think I seen some menu with those type carp or even in Thailand some carp species considered as good fish to eat. Here is SoCal my friend know someone (Lebanese?) who willing to pay for common carp.

Also upgrade from 6’ to 7’ rod doesn’t really mean you gain 12” of casting advantage. Often time longer rod would have longer handle to balance out the whole length.

Your sound like my young friend who is very new at bass fishing. I took him fishing a couple week ago, he caught a couple bass already until one of the bite bass hit Senko right when the lure hit the water. He didn’t know what it was but he felt something different, he reeled in and land the fish. Another one (kids), he set hook on every rock or weed because he moves the rod too much and too quick, everything underwater feel like a bite. You should consider yourself lucky, reeled in with 5 bass and didn’t even know you got bites. Like @Cattmentioned, you might felt something different to reel in and found surprise bass. As a guy who used to be new at bass fishing. There are a lot of good recommendations here which I used to do the same when started or even now. I fish 80% of the time with weightless plastic. Using lighter mono line, Rod tip high for bottom contact always have finger in the line. I don’t really wait for the obvious bite but I more concentrate on different feel when moving rod tip and movement of the line. Last evening I caught 3 fish with Senko, first fish obvious tap bite, second fish line moving to straight line quicker than normal and last fish, resistance on the weed felt more than usual plus a little pull back.

Nope I can’t comment on this question.

If I don’t have fish grip I don’t fish treble hook even it’s just a bass, period. I have 6” Rapala ready in a car, 9” attract to my kayak.

I use all kind of scents, cast the lure out into a pool and never caught a fish ????. Seriously I found my bite rate is about the same using attractant/scent or not. Even most of the scented plastic infused would be gone with in 30 minutes of fishing. I concentrate more on moving the lure than scent. With that said, I have all kind of scented/attractant, mega strike, pro cure, jelly smelly, jj magic or even spike it pen and just last month bought 100% pure Anise oil to try out ????. I would apply attractant (if not lazy) mostly at night, fish super slow or fishing around moss. I add a small amount of jelly smelly + Anise oil into a bag of plastic that smell plasticky.

What size jerkbait is your primary? If it is something not gonna be over 3/8oz I would op for 6’10ML, this rod will be more versatile and can be use as good Fluke /Senko rod as well.

I have original one (Eva not cork). It is one of my favorite all around MH bottom contact and slow moving bait. I used this for 1/4-3/8 Texas rig, weightless Fatika, or even dark sleeper. Anything that requires a little bit more hook set at long distance. It is great rod, light and exceptional sensitive, better? I’m not sure. I don’t really use this rod to drag 3/8 and up jig. I feel the tip is a little bit soft and loaded too easily.

these are two parts that you need. https://www.ereplacementparts.com/drive-gear-p-1541200.html https://www.ereplacementparts.com/pinion-gear-p-1541201.html

As a lot of ppl from TT mentioned, zillion and alphas using the same gear (or same cut teeth). I don’t really see why alphas cannot handle any heavy duty task. One way to find out try it ???.

Loving it, a lot easier to handle the fish compare to 6-9 hooks hanging around to poke into my fingers. I always bank fish and often time I have to reach down to grab the fish. I only use single hook on lipless and some topwater, never on jerkbait.

How about Zillion SV TW G (USDM)? A little bit bigger than Alphas SV TW but smaller than Tatula. I think I prefer the zillion compare to alphas when Frogging.

8lb Copolymer or 10lb FC, 6’10 Medium/Fast rod. I prefer fishing fluke with casting gear. I fish Fluke both fast and slow and spinning rig would get windknot fast.

Higher number is better in some sense but not for Bass Fishing in General. I never once considered buying a reel base on Drag capacity. We don’t use full capacity of the drag anyway. I set my drag base on rod, line and structure where I fish. How long do you think bass can run? 5 seconds? A minute? Do we really need high drag reel for bass? YES, there are some situations that lock down high rating drag is better like Frog or punching thick weed but I call that special reel type. Line capacity, I buying a reel also base on what type line I’m gonna use. I only have two 200 size reel 15-17lb line for 2oz swimbait and topwater, mostly 50-70 size reel and a few 150 (103 Daiwa) for 8-12lb line which is plenty for bass fishing and I don’t have to worry much about backing the reel or add unnecessary weight to spool. Not that I disagree with you, but this is how I consider which reel best.

Just to say, higher drag rating and more line capacity have nothing to be considered as one reel better than others. Longevity, comfort, smooth drag and smooth operation and standup to abusive are better consideration when buying a reel.

Once I see the sign of FC damage from clear to become none transparent, I remove the line right away. That a sign or weakest point and would brake off after next hook set. I wonder with those ppl who fix backlash by apply pressure while reeling tangled line in, that damage FC line quicker than anything else.

Linen light and kind of see-through is good very comfortable to wear but UV protection might not be the best. Those are the fabric choice for native ppl in hot and humid climate.

That shirt is kind of I’ve seen all the time when I was younger. I searched for South East Asian native shirt and come up with this. https://polomano.com/products/breathable-loose-linen-blend-shirt?utm_source=googleshopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwgr6TBhAGEiwA3aVuIZV-ObOUiu3mKKmCH2gvftFc1uR7O26I2CERMdi6DZydtPM-9f6BPRoCyhgQAvD_BwE Im not sure how comfortable it is gonna be since mostly it is cotton shirt and take longer time to dry. I prefer polyester performance shirt these days like Columbia PFG series.

Shimano SLX is really best bang for bucks, light enough weight, compact and very comfortable to palm, aluminum frame, good casting performance. Daiwa CT is not that bad, might not cast as well as SLX, a little bit bigger and heavier, but reliable enough and should last as long as your next upgrade. You should be able compare both reels in person at a lot of places, pick the one you are most comfortable.

Cool, we need that but last time I walked into BPS Las Vegas, I don’t know what to buy there. I forced myself to buy some crappie stuffs since it was my vacation and my wife already gave me some budget.