JustJames

I caught plenty of bass at night on Texas rig with 10” ribbon worm and my favorite missile bait destroyer. The 4 night bass I caught last week were on Neko Rig Zman ZinkerZ. I have luck with chatterbait at night but never with big Colorado spinnerbait. Jig is also work at night. I try to avoid top water lure unless I have good landing spot and a net.

Another example of putting spinning is good use.

Just buy or use whatever make you happy, doesn’t matter cheap or expensive, as long as that doesn’t effect you or your family financial, period. Don’t worry about other‘s budget, be happy of what you have or can afford. My wife and I agreed to buy her LV purse every year or other year as long as our budget is maintain, “no credit card debt”. We only have mortgage payment oh and that expensive HOA. I think she has more purses than my reels. Is it too much, yes for some but as long as make my wife happy, I see why not? She can sell those when needed and not loosing much. On the other hand, one time she bought me a nice expensive automatic watch, we had a big fight. I don’t need those and as clumsy and outdoor type as I am, I happy with 3 of my Seiko Watches. I don’t look down ppl that use budget stuff and I’m happy (or sometime envy) those that use expensive stuffs, as long as they use it for what they love. I quite sure one thing, those ppl in Asian, they buy expensive stuffs, sometime too expensive, but they use those for what the love and to full potential, but here quite a lot buy expensive reel just to be a shelf queen. IMHO.

Yes line twisted come from improper rig, but even with proper rig but if reel in too fast (for next cast) line twisted can happen as well. IMHO.

They both tools just like nail and screw, they might work in same situation. I’m not saying which one is better just use whatever comfortable to you. I have baitcasters that can cast a whole length of weight but again I only use spinning on some techniques like Ned, Neko rig and light shakey head. Yes I catch plenty of fish from these techniques on both baitcaster and spinning, but I want to be able to shake/twist in same spot for long period of time, I found that baitcaster make it uncomfortable and get tired quicker (when I use baitcaster it is more like short hop or drag). This morning I went to one of the spot that hold fish but in tight location (3 tunnels and @OCdockskippercan confirm that) I drag the craw in that area for about 30 mins for nothing (baitcaster) switched to Neko Rig, second cast and a little bit of twisted and land this one. Again I don’t want to proof anything like I’m in the trend or I can cast light lure with baitcaster or it looks cool. Yesterday I used one of my baitcaster with 1.2 gram jig head with baby shad and caught a few of 10-12” crappies. I only use baitcaster a few time this year. Why? Yes it is fun and cool to be able to cast light lure, and that’s that. Those baitcaster or what you call BFS is so over power not even one pull drag unlike UL spinning, you got a whole lot of fun catching and fighting fish. Another reason I sold my Alphas Air. P.S I’m not a guy who buy/collect gears to talk, I buy whatever I like and fish the hell out of it.

Long night ago, there were 2 guys on a boat, one “macho” man with his 3/8jig on baitcaster and another one “sissy” with shakey head senko on spinning out fit. The macho man kept casting his jig to shore and drag it down while the sissy just kept shaking at about the end of weed line. The result macho man got his a-s-s kicked with 8 to 0, actually 8 to 1 if you wanna count his only 1 carp.

Congrats man

If you want to know if there are any catfish in the lake, cut bluegill in half, 2/0 circle hook thru the head part and chunk it out no weight (if no current).

300 Stella dedicated to pretty old reel. Buying old reel, even higher end, you’d better be prepare on what gonna happen, part, service. If this reel gonna be fish day in day out and if you are not a collector, I think new reel would be better fit. best bang for the buck is to shop around for deep discount, the Stradic ci4+ or searching for lightly use, just recently drop price to 160 (discontinued). You can post picture of that Stella and a lot can tell you more in detail

It is illegal even thinking here in SoCal lol. I caught a bunch of perfect bait size bluegill lately and talk to myself what if I switch to 2/0 circle hook and let bluegill run around just for fun.

The bantam MGL if you look pass through the weight, it can handle down to 1/4oz with right line and rod. It also handle 1oz lure with no problem at all. I use bantam for mostly dragging Jig, chatterbait, flashy swimmer. I can cast 3/8oz swimbait hook plus 4.8 keitech into strong wind all day. Why I don’t need DC reel. The curado 70 (none MGL) I use for everything from frog, 1oz topwater lure, 1/4 jerkbait and finesse Ned rig, weightless worm. The problem is you can spool about 80 yds of 14lb FC. Enough for fishing, yes? But once you have a few snag, you might need to spool new line. If I ever get the 70 MGL, I would dedicate that reel for light jerkbait or finesse fishing techniques.

Totally agree with this, the new Stradic ci4+ come with everything you might need for spinning reel, except 2 roller ball bearing. The more you spend, you might only get lighter handle and spool or more bearing count, better cosmetic but the main important you enjoy the gears you choose and have fun with it. I’m on kind of budget type, so The new Stradic ci4+ is as high dollar reel I would go. If I ever have xtra money to spend, of course Stella here I come. BTW, that is one beautiful and classy reel. How is the magnesium feel compare to CI4+?

There is no reason whatsoever do however you like it. I normally use whatever handle come with the reel, 80mm Daiwa, 84mm shimano only exception is all my lefty reels (only 2 right now) have to have at least 90mm for me to be able to crank smoothly.

Very easy, remove nut cap, then remove nut bolt with I believe 10mm wrench. Keep pressure on handle when removing the nut bolt since that handle is sit on spring load. The only hard part is to align the slot under handle with drag pressure bolt (square type) when installing handle back on.

The difference between Daiwa and Shimano is, Daiwa utilizes the same frame, only change spool and slab a new name. I believe now these new Tatulas use two different frames, old Tatula CT frame a little bigger with no zero adjustment and old Steez frame a little smaller. The 150 and above plus Tatula SV use CT frame. The 100 and below plus Tatula SV 103 use old Steez frame. Confusing? Yes but good thing is most of the spool would fit into other reel in same type frame, unless Daiwa change spool dimension. We had gone to this once and now Daiwa did it again, remember the old day with SV 103 (zillion frame), SS SV 103 and 105(Steez frame) , then SV 105(Alphas frame)

You might have to look elsewhere, like eBay or Japan. You won’t have warranty but you have more options. The FL I was gonna buy 1000S or C2000S is about 170 from Japan. I use spinning for finesse light line fishing (braid) so the 1000-2000 size is more than enough, a little less max drag but save a lot in weight (6.5oz compare to 7.9oz on 2500). I also use 1000-2000 for my Ultralight fishing for panfish as well. asian portal, ship to your door within a week.

The old shimano septon knob is notorious to get sticky. It would get sticky with some type oil/greases, it would get sticky when old and not being use for a long time.

If I can like this ^^^^^ more than once. For all around the 30lb braid is enough and best compromise for the techniques you listed. Enough to be used in baitcaster with out headache, you can’t avoid dig in but with proper use, this problem can be handle easily. Best compromise, line bowing and less drag in water equal better sensitivity. Good choice on Sufix 832, I like that line better than PP or J-braid.

That is a tough choice between FL vs ci4+FB. The FL is a fine reel, and everything you ever need for spinning reel. The ci4+ With an ounce lighter is very enjoyable to fish with. If you can get both at the same price around 160. I might get FL in 1000 size, but CI4+ in 2500+ size. If this reel will be use for salt water then FL all the way. If you gonna pay 190 or more, I would wait for new Ci4+.

There is Yozuri hybrid #12 at .338mm. That is largest diameter line I would use for baitcasters unless it is for medium swimbait reel which I use #15 izorline. I like Izorline for its line management and pretty strong mostly #8 is enough for my everyday use.

I think I trend to agree with JJ that most UL rods in US, especially 6’6 and over are pretty noddleish. I’ve never tried St Croix rod but heard a lot of good review about them and might buy one myself in near future. If I may suggest other beside St Croix? I have 4 pcs Presso 5’6 which perfect for traveling and those 3 connection would make the rod stiffer (I assume should be the same with 6’6) compare to my 2 pcs 7’ spinmatic, it like night and day. Another long route to be able to get what you after, is to go with bass class UL rod or AJing rod mostly available in Japan. These type rods will have a lot more backbone than usual and to be able to achieve soft tip for light lure) most will come with solid tip. I have Majorcraft Speedstyle SSS S632UL (2 pcs) lure rate 1/64-3/16oz. This rod can cast 1/64oz trout magnet 40’ easily but have a pretty good backbone. It is not whipping at all compare to 4 of my UL rod. I’m really having fun using this rod for bluegill.

Congrats

Neko can fish fast too, just like you mentioned most bite come from the drop. Instead of twisting along bottom, I would do hard few pops (just like when fish wacky rig) let the worm come up (lift the rod to at least 45 degree) and let it fall on slack line and let it sit a few seconds. Rinse and replete, most bite I got either the first pop or on the fall. But don’t count me on it, I just started fishing Neko this year exclusively. I’m still listening to more experience like you.

That is a little bit too extreme comment, don’t you think. It might apply to those fishing structures, target cover, but as bank fishermen I found it not 100% true. Bass close to shore in shallow water they trend to roaming around looking for bait fish especially around weed area. I see them all the time going left and right in wolf pack sometime a feet from shore and most time around weed edge. For those structures fishing, blind casting is a waste but for us shore fishing we have no choice but to work the whole shoreline looking for those bass.

Because Shimano Stradic ci4 is one of the popular reel. A lot of ppl have it or want to have one. These are big group and a majority of market group compare to those high end or budget stuffs. you won’t here majority of ppl going crazy over new Stella nor Sedona.