JustJames

I just stick which what I can find locally, half head is good, as well as Zman shroom head. I like 1/15 or lower for TRD and 1/2 ZinkerZ. I normally pre-rig Zman with a drop of super glue, since you don’t really need to change plastic unless it got snag and lost the whole rig. I don’t use Zman plastic keeper becuz just one fish and would make your bait crooked.

If we would have snakehead here, i’d be a happy camper. It fun to catch, fight hard and good to consume, I think it like them more than catfish.

Hi there, I was in your shoes long ago, living in OC. Now moved to paradise of bass fishing in Canyon Lake (riverside county). Hang around, post/ask anything there are quite a few experienced that can help you. Hang around when the bites get better, I might get in touch with you.

Try Yorba Linda regional park? You pay to park but it is a good size lake and if you get there early should be some room. Pudding stone lake, north of 57, there is guy alway catch bass in the evening and after hour. For OC pond and lake the best technique for me is dropshot 4-6” worm or split shot again 4-6” worm drag slowly across the bottom. As Tom said it is pretty tough bite right now even in here, but hang around and I’ll hook you up in Canyon Lake next spring.

This ^^^^^, another reason I traded my symetre 2500 for Legalis LT 1000.

It not gonna be well made as bantam, but should definitely cast lighter lure better. You should try 1/8 - 1/4oz lure with that reel given you have the right rod to do so. Let us know how it cast. Just to remind you don’t try to put any line bigger than 0.013” the spool capacity is only 70 you might not have enough line if you bomb cast.

Like you said the tatula lt 2000 and 2500 both weight still under 7oz. If you only target bass, I would recommend to get 2500 or even 3000 shallow spool for bigger spool and mag drag capacity (huge different there). I think the 2000 is about the same size as 1000 with deeper spool that hold a lot more line. On the other hand if it were me (and I really want one) I would get 2000 for super light weight under 6 oz. This would match UL rod for crappie fishing perfectly.

Luckily cast net is prohibited in CA, no fish fine, I’ll go home have a cup of joe in front of TV.

Thanks, I already dig out my Norman 200 and 300 in hope of catching both bass and crappie after have some success with 1/8 and 1/4 lipless.

You shouldn’t compare $300 reels bantam to $180 Curado K, of course material, fit and finished is gonna be better on high price reel. @Jungerjust like @mrpaomentioned MGL spool is just a lot more holes and thinner material to make spool lighter. If it better than K, a lot depends on lure type and weight, if it is 3/8 and up with aerodynamic shape lure I don’t really see advantages of MGL (if I tell you SLX cast further and easier than bantam would you believe me). MGL is the way Shimano try to answer those daiwa SV spool, I like true free floating spool (no shaft) on Daiwa better for lighter lure. US market is just a hyped after whatever Japan market introduced. If you want real answer it should be those that own Chornarch MGL vs Chornarch G, Casita USDM vs Casita MGL or the K vs new scorpion MGL. Now is MGL is a gimmick or not. I’d say NO, there are markets for MGL spool especially in Asian where they are truly fishing finesse style for big fish. Too bad I didn’t test casting light weight 1/4oz lure before shipped one out to my best friend in Thailand and the one I currently use loaded with 15lb fluorocarbon which is not optimum for lighter lure. I can comment one thing between lighter weight spool. I happened to be able to compare CQ50 spool (JDM) with Calcutta TE 50 GT (USDM). Even though they are kind of same reel but USDM market required heftier specs for the way we fish, thus spool on USDM is thicker and heavier with less holes. Casting light weigh lure 1/20oz Ned rig with TDR, the CQ50 is cast better, easier and further. I got more accuracy on CQ 50 compare to TE GT reel. CQ spool left is 17.5 grams vs TE 50 GT right 23.5 grams. Note a lot of new shimano high price reel (bantam MGL, etc)start using middle shaft support spool to accomplish floating spool which help spool spin faster and easier start up. The one that I really wanna try and compare with my beloved Curado 70 is SLX 70 MGL (again JDM) but I don’t own one yet because shimano p i ssed me off by giving everything to SLX line but no love to Curado 70.

Nope if you dip it fast enough, especially on ZinkerZ where it less plastic don’t let it sit too long (too long mean more than 2 seconds).

Yeah don’t see many mention Cotton Cordell. It is widely available and pretty cheap. Today was a good day and I targeted bass instead of crappie. I took my old cotton Cordell 1/4oz and this is a result. (Lost one at beginning due to too loose drag, and I haven’t caught 12” crappie for awhile)

It super easy to tie, hardly ever mess up and hook always stay 90 degree to the line. I have used this knot ever since I saw it 4-5 years ago. Now strong knot is somewhat questionable, someday it hold quite well some day not. I would rate it as strong as trilene knot. If you use light line 6-8lb 6 warps is expected.

Love the hula grub, when bite is tough and fat Ika is not producing I turn to Hula Grub. I like it on plain jig head 1/8, 1/4 and 3/8, and around weed I use 1/10oz Zman weedless.

Which one is worst, a bear or crocodile?

Comfort > size line capacity > color scheme > braking system (centrifugal/magnet) > price and lastly brand (has to start with either S or D)

You should move to Asian so you would feel mixed in. They wear this super colorful, bold logo, brand all over the places. I felt like out of place when wear plain Columbia PFG hoodie.

No I’m not gonna click on that link @A-Jaylast year I lost quite a bit of money on that seller. Oh well now think about it, I want LC pointer 48SP.

There is rat’l trap, tiny trap 1/8 oz. I also like what @QUAKEnSHAKEmentioned Rapala UL series ripping rap. I have these 2 cranks in my cart and ready to check out. I target crappies not bass but sometime get bass as a bonus. As of now I only use Lucky Craft vibration 50SP 2” 1/8oz.

Do it all the time but mostly with finesse or crappie fishing where I use a lot of one hand fishing (one hand move the rod and spin the handle). I don’t do it with regular fishing when expecting big bass, if the bass set hook back, one hand you might loose all your gears.

Chornarch MGL is nice capable of what bantam can do plus more and super light weight of ci4+ frame. It is same line capacity as bantam MGL which is 150. If I’m gonna buy another reel this would be my pick. SLX MGL is just an upgrade of SLX with fine tune dial and MGL spool (70 size). A lot of user praise them some even over Curado 70. I myself find that the internal of SLX is inferior than 70 (more plastic parts) and the drag system the Curado is way better (better than a lot of reels these day) just a 1/2 turn you can go from loose drag to tight drag, 1/4 turn can get you from 2 lbs drag to lock down. I’m not sure if I ever need SLX MGL at about the same price as Curado 70 (smart shopper can get them way below $150).

Use whatever setting you are comfortable with, there is no set rule, that why shimano offering 4 brake shoe and fine tune dial. It is gonna be hard to find anything smaller than Bantam, May be 19 Antares.

Low end and mid end shimano are made in Malaysia, that include Curado and Scorpion equivalent to Curado (scorpion 70, scorpion MGL). The chornarch and up still made in Japan, I believe.

Congrats man nice bass That what we are here for, brag all the way lol.

Gotten several bite but no hook up, that is probably small sunfish. They love Ned rig with TRD too. if you manage to pull and break 2 hooks from snag, you are using too big of a line. If you snag a lot, try lighter weight possible 1/16 and 1/20oz and fish faster you will be surprised how many you can catch just swim it a long the bottom. Or you could try EWG Ned head (i’ve Never try that but might try one soon). I almost always beat up my TRD or 1/2 ZinkerZ before put it on hook to make is softer and more buoyancy. This one caught in 1/20oz Zman Head 6lbs line.