JustJames

Agreed to this ^^^^, the weed guard on 1/10 Zman shroom only 2 stands of thin wire. I don’t see any problem with hook up. You can trim one weed guard off easily. I only use 1/10 weedless shroom with medium size bait, like baby brush hog, hula grub and Zman turbo crawZ. If you don’t need weed guard, you can try 1/16 Berkeley half head jig, I had pretty good result with it, the price pretty reasonable and wildly available. picture of a 4-5lbers caught last week.

Any day should be good as long as it is not between April 23 - May 23.

Sometime reels that I bought from forums not eBay, didn’t seem like owner ever taking care of the reel, a lot of dirty grease in worm gear and inside, a lot of moisture on drag or drag locked down etc. It is easy fix or cheap replacement, though if you know how to maintenance the reel. If you don’t know how to care or clean the reel or if you only target budget - mid end reel, buy new when on sale or buy used but like new from reputable forum members.

I buy used rods and reels all the time, eBay or not as long as the seller got at least 95% rating. Yes sometime you got lemon but that happen when you wanna pay a deep discount. The problem buying from eBay is the seller mostly not the one who used the rods/reels themselves so they don’t really know how the inside or how they’ve been used.

Now it depends on what you plan to use bantam for? Curado K cast way better than bantam even bantam got MGL spool in medium to heavy weight department, but bantam is way smoother can compare to those super smooth daiwa. Regarding heavy weight if you match with the right rod you won’t feel heavy at all for Jig/Texas rig, pitching/flipping or casting. Did I mention beautiful reel? So much that I hardly use it lol. Or CQ 50 on steroids.

Man I don’t think I ever caught a catfish that big. I think I’m gonna turn myself in to catfish fisherman lol.

This ^^^^ definitely, as slow or still as possible, especially black crappie. It seems they don’t like chasing bait nor a big movement. At my lake anything yellow or chartreuse color is the best. Pink or red also work but with yellow mix in. Stinger shad (Bobby Garland baby shad) is the best you can hop on the bottom (watch out on the drop) or steady slow retrieve.

I just love fishing with Fluke, period. I use from Magnum Fluke all the way down to Tiny Fluke. Magnum Fluke, Rod MH/F Line 14lbs FC. Fluke Jr. Rod L/F line 6lb not sure if FC or Copolymer. Tiny Fluke Rod UL/F solid tip line 18lb gliss line to 4lb copolymer leader. Too bad I haven’t fish Super Fluke much this year because I lost my Fav Fluke Rod. Shimano Crucial (dropshot specific) M/F.

I don’t even fish all those you mentioned, so I can’t give you the definitely answer, only experiment would help. I drag, hop, double hop, jerk, big jerk, let it soak for as long as I could. One thing I know for sure I wouldn’t cast senko 50yds out. I would get tired of hoping, draging and jerking by the time Senko comes into most strike zone which is 10’ - 20 yds from shore.

Thanks @WRB Tom, turn out the poa board who over see all security knows about this regulation so I don’t need that, but I’ll make sure to save a copy on my phone for those patrols. Funny thing is, when I got there he said he knew why I’m here. He showed me the report that he just got from this patrol and in pictures it clearly shown that There is no one on that dock.

@Hammer 4it does and that the first thing our POA regulation written to follow CA Fishing regulation. @WRBthat it is what I understand all along, two poles stamp meaning to have two line in water at once. My three rods were laying on dock. I tried to look up CA hunting and fishing regulation but can’t find the written regarding to this. The thing is all of them patrol seem to not knowing about this rule that why I need in written. I hope the POA board know what they are doing. @The Bassmanit is not game warden it is about this nonsense citation because they think they can issue so they use that to threaten us homeowners. I think they think themselves as a cop? Not all though just some mostly brand new and young ones.

Today I almost got a citation from our patrol officer because I have 3 fishing poles with me. I tried to explain to them the different between having in possession vs fishing more than one pole. I even give the the example of how many setups on a bass boat but doesn’t seem it help. Too bad to have someone enforce the rules when they don’t know it clearly. I even paid for 2 poles stamps. I’m going to POA tomorrow to talk about this. In our POA stated only 1 pole allow per guest and these guys just only goes by that, don’t even care if I’m a resident not a guest. I need CA fishing regulation where it shows or explain the different. BTW, I actually did get a citation for fishing on common docks. This is really stupid when you have patrols (minimum paying job) that think they are so much in power to give anyone citation. There are a lot of stories of home owners here get citations for talking back to those Patrols. This lady patrol just said I cannot fish from a dock and want me to leave, I asked her back when this rule or regulation said I cannot fish from common dock. I tried to explain to her the last time I’ve heard is “Fishing from common docks is prohibited WHEN boats and/or swimmers present”. There was no one on the dock. The next thing I know she handed me the citation to signed. I had to go all the way to POA office to fight with this citation with her captain. Of course I win, but I had to explain a lot and point to those regulation to them. Man don’t they supposed to study rules and regulations where they work?

Some use swivel to help about line twisted especially on spinning setup, some also use bigger swivel to help weight the Fluke down to fish deeper. I use small line diameter 6-10lb copolymer or sometime fluorocarbon to get the Fluke deeper and sink faster. And smaller line will help in Fluke action, remember you want the Fluke to dance side to side not pulling in straight line. Smaller braid might work with super soft tip but with stiffer rod tip on MH you might end up pulling the lure instead of jerking it.

I’m with @CattI would invest in reel first then rod. With reel at least higher price ones, you would get smoothness, better drag smooth system, not BS max drag, trouble free and worry free and better ergonomic and better material and tolerance. With rod higher price rod, you might get lighter and better components but not durability. Also sensitivity is very subjective, in the hand of experiences even a cheap Walmart rod they still can feel fish bite, but $1000 rod in a hand of others might feel like broomstick. With all these, I don’t have any high end reels or rods. I believe in comfortable, light weight, color and budget.

Remember when you think you slow enough, slow down even more, especially after you fish a lot of moving bait.

Some what similar with weightless senko you have more chance of not feeling anything but the worm already in fish mouth (watch the line, watch the tension) with light Texas you will have to distinguish between a mud tab from dragging the weight on rock and sharp tab when fish inhale your bait.

It might or might not, but if you eat them at least it’s served some purpose.

Only thing I can say is spend more time with it and don’t give up. You can try something simple and proven like weightless senko (Texas rig or wacky rig), light 1/8oz Texas rig with 5-6” finesse worm or even dropshot.

On the way far opposite end, this year our HOA does pretty good job on getting rid of weed (and fish). I can’t find a single weed pad near shoreline. All my usual spot is still a lot of small and decent size bass cruising around and also a huge load of bluegill close to shore but these bass don’t bite. I got a few good one follow my bait but that is all. When there is no weed for bluegill to hide and bass to ambush, it is just tough. On the other hand, I didn’t pay much attention to bass this year, just check from time to time and give up even quicker. I’m not really too upset though, because I enjoy catching these most every trip.

What line, rod power and action? bigger line or bigger braid some time prevent you from contact with the bait. Rod is also part of equation, MH rod with stiff tip might not response as well as M/F or XF. You will have to learn weight of senko where when you lift it how much resistance you feel, any different might be a bite. I don’t normally just lift but slight jerk when pre-hook set or move Senko. If I feel sharp tab that might be a bite if I feel a tab plus pull back that is definitely a bite. If I don’t feel nothing and my line is floating, I reel fast and set hook.

Good choice you’ll be happy with the set.

Abu Garcia used to be my brand as well, My first baitcaster was Abu6500c3 30 years ago, the first reel I bought when moved here in US was abu 5600, my first low profile reel was Abu Garcia almost 20 years ago as well as my Spining reel (cd4 2000). My dream reel used to be Morrum over Shimano Conquest (and still might get one if I have a chance) These days things have changed, most of Abu Garcia made from Third Party Company (OEM reel) just like others like Kastking, Lews, Favorite etc. I’d rather pay for unique and R&D than getting cheap mass production reels. That is just me, though but if all about old Abu Garcia I’m in any day of the week.

As @WRBmention make sure to match single hook size with trebles hook size especially on weight to keep the action close to original. I normally replace only topwater lure since that I use most at night or very early morning. I don’t mess with jerkbait or anything suspended which gonna be harder to match (I did tune my jerkbait to be either suspended on slow float with some weight or split rings). This lipless you will see some lead weight on front hook. I don’t see much difference hook up ratio on top water but with this lipless I had lost a few after hook up and a few more bites but no hook up.

Do I win one of them? Lol what wrong with you, I thought you were into big swimbait earlier this year, now you turn into finesse stuffs too? I myself just got a few of LuckyCraft bevy series mostly 50 for my crappie fishing.

I don’t know but I want one of those lol. Look like Sammy 65