JustJames

I grab the line all the time, especially for those 12” crappie. Yes I lost fish many times over but most of them smaller less than 2.5lb so it is not so big deal. I mostly fish from dock or rocky step by using finesse setup, flipping fish is not an option. Before I grab the line I’ll make sure the bass tired enough, make sure to grab below leader knot, and another hand is ready to grab/control the fish. If big fish and I have to step down in water to be able to lip it, so be it. I’m always ready with water shoe and ready to get down in water anytime.

I like split grip more than full cork and Eva foam more than cork. Less thing to clean and worried about showing dirtiness.

Agreed, The knot with tag end point up (uni knot) would catch weed more than knot with tag end down toward hook (trilene knot), even with shorter tag end. You can fix this by insert tag end to bottom hole before clinch.

Necessary? Not, neat yes.

Curado 70 is my favorite reel for jerk bait even more so than 50e series. It cast further than any reels from 1/4oz and up. I use 70 for anything from finesse all the way to 1/2jig to a frog. Now I agree about grinding or gearly which happened quite a bit with modern shimano, it even happen with my Bantam MGL HG after a hard used on Colorado blade spinnerbait. I’m not sure how new 70MGL gonna hold up for a long term. If you can find any of Shimano 50e series, you should give that a try. It is super smooth after all the hard used and handle light weight baits very well. Beside this you might have to switch to Daiwa.

If I use light line 6-8lb, I try not to grab the line, my problem is once fish especially smaller 1-2lb ones out of water and start shaking the whole body. That can stretch the knot and brake off.

My favorite jig color, not just pre spawn is Bama craw color. This one caught two days ago slowly drag across the bottom.

I think I’m crazy but you even more lol. Copolymer, clear, light blue, gold, smoke, green, fluorescent, chartreuse. Braid, white, dark green, yellow, chartreuse, red, blue, coastal camo (white mix blue) and multicolor.

I think I remember reading someone post about new zillion 1000 and also included measurements compare with Metanium here. I’ve searching for that post the last few days. Anyone remember, or am I just old?

Lol. depends on which spool original or shallow spool. most of shallow spool got smaller spool shaft than original pixy spool shaft. I’m not sure about Presso spool. You can also order from tackle trap and ask them for the right bearing. Make sure to let them know you want bearing for shallow spool or alphas air. Ray’s spool https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/phone/product/630 original pixy spool https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/phone/product/512

I’m still prefer HH style pin remover tool, quicker and easier. I have to get Boca pliers because some of the spool that small or shallow on the side got damage even I cover the side with painter tape. You won’t believe which spool give me the most problem, conquest 50.

Now you made me do this, some of them haven’t got acetone bath for years ???

I’m now pretty good with spinning after about a decade of hating it ?. One spinning will always be on my kayak no matter what. I skip everything from wacky, Texas, Neko rig Ned rig with it. When skipping with spinning I aim to the open spot and try to let the lure first drop right in front of it. I haven’t lost any lures to the tree for at least 6 months, I think I’m good now ?.

Of course spinning gonna skip senko far better than and less trouble than baitcaster especially when you are on kayak. Any rods length M or MH, Any line types should work. For baitcaster though I would use M/F or XF 6’6 to 6’10, line size 6- 8lb copolymer. I might not be as proficient as you call it but I can do in a pitch. Have you tried Fatika on baitcaster? this is a lot more forgiving and you get more distance than senko.

Brand new baitcaster reel, straight out of the box, spool with choice of line and try to catch fish first time out. If the reel cast well and smooth no need to do anything else. The most I do with brand new reel is flush the two spool bearing and add a drop of bantam oil after dry. Spinning leave it alone for at least a year unless it is not smooth or too much resistance when spin handle. After that send to professional to clean it lol. Make sure to take pictures every step or as much as you can when remove something. After that episode, I believe you can do it. Baitcaster is a lot easy and hard to mess up unlike spinning. Oil only on bearing, lightly grease on gear and clean all the drag washer. You know where to find me if you need help.

How do we know a shallow spool from Walmart lol. It doesn’t look like Ray’s spool but as long as it fit and no wobble you should be okay. From the look, it is more like Ray’s copied so hopefully it come with air brake. I use my SS SV for only bass fishing with 15lb braid on shallow spool and original spool with 10-12lb copolymer. I use 8-10lb braid on some of shallow spool for panfish which to me is good enough. I have 6lb windtamer but I don’t think I need to go that light. If you like mono or FC, the Ray’s spool should have enough capacity (about 50yds)with 4lb copolymer or 6lb FC.

Let me give you another opinion, I won’t say anyone method is wrong just a plain fact opinion. To me the most economic method to use braid is fill up the full spoon. Why? Braid doesn’t have memory or coil up so you can use all the way to the end of the line (in theory). In real life we replace braid way before that 30, 40 or even 50 yds depends on techniques and how far you can cast. For punching, pitching rig you might wait until 20-30yds of line left but for bomb casting techniques like long distance casting jig, frog you might consider replace braid when 40-50 yds left on spool because that might be the end of you line. First option 150yds spool, if you do half spool 75yds , and replace line at 40yds meaning you throw away 40+40=80yds on line. If you do full spool in your case would be 15+40=55yds. if 300yds spool you can op to do 100 yds for 3 refill, again 40*3=120yds versus 2 full spool wasted 30+40+40=110yds The ultimatum of 600yds spool, 6 fill of 100yds wasted 240yds versus 4 full spool, wasted 160+60(left over) 220yds. Now how long would it take to finish 600 yds if you only have 1 reel. 10-15years? I know full spool would last me well over 2-3 years with no leader fishing. P.S I haven’t start with those shallow spool reel with tiny braid and alway leader that only get 50 or 75yds of braid. Now you can compare which is the most economic for you. Man I need to go out and get some more fishing LOL.

You owe to yourself to try it man. You already have a rod and reels that capable off just need some shallow spool. Worst come to worst just sell the spool with some loss but at least you don’t have to keep wondering. All opinions are good but individual experiences make different. I say if you don’t expect too much out of it like casting “trout magnet”(a lot of youtubers target nowadays) it can be done. I told myself not to persuade anymore UL but you know what I got myself Tsurinoya Ares 5’6 a whole solid blank UL to try out this year when I’m on float tube and just because I like the color lol. you might already seen this but this show two different braking system and why some can handle one better than other.

It used to be as low as 135 from some discount online retailers but recently it stays at around 165. You missed a lot of good sell earlier but now Daiwa has new promotion for Hulk hooded L/S shirt with any Tatula purchase.

I can cast down to 1/24oz jig head with 1 gram plastic about 50- 60’ away. I can’t do that with Revo ALX with AMO spool nor 70 with Ray’s spool. I alway whip cast so lob cast with free spool of Revo ALX with AMO spool doesn’t work for me. (edit link) I’m sorry I just talked from my experience not stay at home and use imagination or theory. Don’t wanna knock anyone down, different ppl cast differently another video show how I adjust my cast with centrifugal brake. I can do it but not long enough before I start whip it again. If you want to try I can send my ray spool out your way to try out. If you have Revo ALX I can send AMO spool (linear mag brake). For your shimano, I also have Yumeya spool. I don’t recommend it for ultralight but excellent for 4-5 grams and above. I use mostly for 1/8oz hair jig or 1/16oz roadrunner or 1/8oz lipless. The centrifugal brake sometimes spool goes wild and harder to control. I can send any or all for you to try.

I’m sorry, I’m at loss here. You weight a bunch of rods just to find a few under 4oz to catch bass. That is a lot of effort for such a low return.

You have plenty of option there with a whole bunch of your collections. Me on the other hand cannot cast a dime with linear mag brake but with air brake I can whip it good and don’t worry much about backlash. On opposite end, with a little more weight like 1/8oz total weight, I prefer linear mag brake or centrifugal brake where I can got an oomph into the cast. I would start off with pixy and Ray’s spool. I found smaller diameter spool cast better than bigger spool or if you want get ASC custom spool for fix inductor. Two of my ultralight group friends bought new alphas air TW and like it a lot too. I think one of them own that ace hawk as well and he usually use 1/32-1/16 bugger jig.

All the reel mentioned here is good or super good but if you are looking for 200 and light weight category with best bang for bucks nothing beat Daiwa Tatula LT. If Tatula LT come with lower gear ratio, I don’t think I would own either Vanford or even Ballistic FW. You can find Tatula right around 160 while Vanford 220. But just like @Revivali sold my Tatula LT to a good friend (he really want it) but kept the Kage LT ?. All the reels, I like ballistic FW the most and might get another one if my wife allow.

You should be able to fill a lot more than 100 yds especially with 10lb PP braid on 2000S. PP braid is a little bit thinner compare to other brand in smaller line size. I even use some backing on my Vanford c2000s.

I can see it work since I fish weightless paddle tail sometimes. Another suggestion if you don’t mind, you want CPS screw lock not hitch hiking type, fish might shake the whole bait of with hitch hiker. You might also need new type hook 45 degree bend instead of EWG hook. Amazon sell this by 100 cheap. 45 degree bend Mustad hook.