JustJames

Me thanks you a lot, but not my wallet since I have to go out and buy all the lures you mention lol.

I used a lot of blood knot before but just for mono to mono, for braid to mono/fluro I either use uni to uni or surgeon knot depends on where I tid the knot. Note all my braid to backup line use uni to uni.

So what do you have? You might already have one that match your need.

Not a lot for me and not on hard lure either. I caught two on chatter bait, one on dropshot zman trd and another one on marabou jig while fishing for crappie. It was fun fighting with 5lbs catfish with light spinning rod.

Hi welcome here, I fish the same lake with you, but for bass only. I wanna learn to fish those sunfish and crappie at perris, maybe you can show me some rope.

really too soon ? I lost 2 of LC jerkbait last week on seperate trip one of them just open the package got a shot bite and then ... RIP.

Welcome man, I used to fish a lot of saltwater too but move way inland. Now I fish mainly for bass and catfish in summer. Im in riverside area,btw.

Welcome aboard friend from CA.

That is a great start and would last you for a long long time until you urge to buy a new set up which might be sooner than you think lol. One thing thou, what size is your reel 6930? That what I use for my bass fishing. senko weight less is good start, you can cast as far as you want from that setup without any weight at all. If Im gonna add from what you have would be wacky hook and 4/0 worm hook for 5" senko. Check out wacky rig senko with shrink tube, that way you wont lost as many senko. Another thing, what 6lb free line they give you? If it is garbage line just dump that and go with hybrid/copolymer line instead or go with 15-20lb braid line.

for lighter plastic, I have no problem with my shimano curado 70 or chornarch 50e. I like both reel but trend to grab my 50e before 70hg dont know why? May be smoothness or easiness or the black accent match my black crucial rod. The 50e is abit old school reel where you just set it and forget it. I have my set 2 brake on and I can cast from 1/16 ned jig with trd up to 1/2 oz no problem. On the othen hand 70HG would need a little of learning curve. Ppl say to have all 4 brake on but use side dial to adjust according to lure weight(4 brakes on with dial at 1 equal 2 brake on in old reel). My have 2 brake on dial at 3. Im still try to figure which is the best for me. With that said I think a guy selling his curafo 50e upgrade version for 200 here which is pretty good deal.

I think I also have one huge low profile reel from Abu garcia pro max 2 concept 2000, which supposedly has 2 gear ratios. Mine doesnt say anything about gear ration but has word winch in it. I think it is 6.1 and 3.8 or something like that. I got this reel from a friend of mine long time ago.

New2bc4 bass is right, pitching might be the way to go in your case or learn how to do underhand cast. Now you rod and reel ( abu max combo) might not be suitable for light plastic but you can do weghted texas rig in those lily pad where you might be surpise with some big bass in there. If you cannot exchange your right now, I recommend to learn how to cast in tight space with whatever you have before checking out new reel.

Of course spinning set up would be excel in your condition especially with unweight plastic and tight space If I were in your shoe I would take my spinningjng gear as well. But baitcaster also has it place where you dont have to deal with line twisting easy casting and retreving and also more power to deal with bigger fish. I think you'd better use your spinning gear and in the same time pratice casting unweight plastic like senko or super fluke with your caster. How long is your casting rod anyway? I hope is not longer than 6'6" but in your condition I prefer 6'6" or shorter.

Awesome man, you seemed to have a good time there. I might have to try one of those A-rig soon.

I just use regular jansport school backpack. It is very simple and inexpensive, one big open for all boxes and bags, small open for pliers, hooks and scents.

why dont you go to tackle store near you and try to hold both of them, pick whatever feel more comfortable for you. The 70 will do everything 200 can but a bit better with very light lure, on the other hand 200 would give you the benefit of holding more line. I myself like 70 better due to smaller size, but believe me the line capacity is also very important if you need bigger line.

I feel the same that why I like original scent which doesnt stink as bad. I dont even have to wash my finger after applied it like other stuff. Is it really work? Dont know, but it help boost my confident and thats count.

I dont have underwater video nor expert on dropshot but let me tell you the way I look at my drop shot rig. When I fish dropshot I will try to choose the plastic that float at the tail so it would stay up under water by the tail. Also when dropshot I dont fish tight line, but let the line slack (semi slock line technique) a little bit so plastic can drop down or move after shake rod tip. The distance between the hook and the weight will determine how much plastic can move without moving your weight. I always leave about 6" up to a feet which should be enough for my most bank fishing (not too deep).

If money is no object why not? Any reel still better than no reel cheap or ridiculously expensive. BUT, for me I'd rather spent xtra money toward the rods more than reel.

If I remember correctly, you loosen both screws pull out handle cover side out. Next take the spool out from body, there you will see brake attach to other side of spool. Ill confirm tomorrow with picture from my calcatta 50.

I think best all around would be medium mf/fast where you can use for most of top water but if you get something heavy like whopper plopper 130 then MH is the way togo. I normally use spinning gear (medium) with pops bait.

I narmally will pickup 6.1 for top water / jerk since I trend to reel in too fast. I use 7.1 for plastic where I can cast reel in and cast again.

Got something different in power than what you have, if you have medium then get MH, fast action for all around rod.

I dont fish texas rig very often, but if I do I would use the same rod that I use for dropshot or jig rod depend on weight and how deep water. My setup, bank or shallow water, weight 1/4 or less, crucial Medium Fast 6'8", curado 70hg line hybrid #6 deeper water weight 1/4 or higher, ateos MH xtra fast 7'2", chornarch 50e with hybrid #8 or curado 100d with 30# braid

I dont use liquid meyhem, but do carry Mega Strike for the last 2-3 years. I dont know for sure if this thing really work but it helps boost my confident.