NYWayfarer

My excursions this year so far have been limited to a local pond at sunrise. The Hudson River is still freezing cold and the current is strong with all the rain and snow melt. It will be mid to late May before the conditions are right to launch my Kayak, fingers crossed. I am thankful to have the pond to scratch my fishing itch. No one is there and I have an hour or two to myself before the first joggers and dog walkers show up. I have caught many Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Chain Pickerel and a lone Largemouth Bass. On the bright side since I am working at home due to the quarantine I have had more time to fish than ever. I am able to get out in the mornings in the times I would be in my commute to the office.

Plenty of brands have pistol grip rods for sale. Bass Pro, Berkley (Lightning Rod), Lew’s (American Hero and SG1) and Cashion. I have a Bass Pro telescopic pistol grip for traveling. While I like it I get more use out of an old 6’ Fenwick Eagle GT I have. It’s medium action with a very short handle.

Those Curados are true works of art. I wish I had bought one back then. I had it in my hands but didn’t pull the trigger. I bought 2 spinning reels instead ?

I agree. I also would not use braid. Try some 12# Berkley Big Game mono instead. I recommend that reel to all folks that are new to baitcasters as it is very forgiving. It will also hold a place in your lineup long after you have come to love baitcasters and buy a dozen more. My first caster, a Abu Black Max, sits in a box somewhere long forgotten. The rod is basically a Lew’s TP1 in a different color, a Academy exclusive rod. I have one of these and it’s been great. They are light rods that won’t fatigue you casting them all day.

Lew’s Tournament MP $149.99 aluminum framed, dual brake reel. I highly recommend this reel to those new to baitcasters. Once it’s set properly it’s very forgiving of the mistakes most folks make. Anything short of hooking a bush on the back cast and you will be ok. Spool it with 12 Berkley Big Game and have fun.

I fish for what the water will give me. I would love to catch Smallmouth Bass right now. No access to a boat and waters to cold to launch a kayak safely in my area. That means I am shore bound at the moment. I have been hitting a local pond at sunrise for Sunfish, Perch, Pickerel and finally Largemouth action. It relieves the stress of what’s going on right now.

https://www.amazon.com/RED-GILLS-Fishing-Tackle-Backpack/dp/B07FRKF225 How about something like this?

+1 My Lew’s Pro-TI came with a tube of oil and instructions on oiling the drum.

You won’t regret it. I love mine. Got a 200 size on a medium light rod with some 8# mono. This week I got my first Largemouth on it. I expect it’s the same quality as my Mach 2 speed spin which has 3 seasons under its belt and still going strong.

Can’t go wrong with that Daiwa reel. I have been partial to aluminum framed spinning reels lately. I dropped a graphite body 13 Fishing reel a couple of years ago and the reel broke at the stem. Since then I have bought aluminum framed spinning reels like the Lew’s Mach 2 and Custom Pro. The Winn grip knobs are also pretty nice.

My recommendation is the new generation of Lew’s Carbon Fire spinning reels. Dick’s exclusive reels. They are basically a Mach 2 speed spin with 2 less bearings. 8 bearing drive,Aluminum framed spinning reel with Winn grip knobs. Aesthetically pleasing as well, all blacked out look with some red accents. MSRP is $69.99 on sale now for $59.98

I am fishing more than ever! I get up at 5am, shower and shave. Out the door at 6am to my fishing spot. Get there by 6:15am No one is there at that time. I fish for an hour, hour and a half at most. So far my record is 8 fish in that time frame. Most days I get half that. Lots of Pumpkinseed and Yellow Perch. Still looking for Trout and of course Bass. I am home before 8am to log on and work from home. I put in anywhere from an 8-9 hour day of work. My wife gets home from the Hospital where she works about an hour before I am done. Dinner is ready when I log off. We enjoy a glass of wine together, eat watch some TV then time for bed. My son is home as the schools are closed. He does his assignments from his laptop. After that he is on his Xbox with his friends.

A Lew’s Custom Black combo will run you about $190 and it should handle a dropshot in the conditions you mention.

Horrible time to be in the hospital. My heart goes out to you and your family. So sorry to hear this.

Rebel Pop-R, Megabass Pop-Max and Yozuri 3DR popper are my favorites.

Quarantined like everyone else. The Bass heard Tigers can get it and now they are in hiding.

This sums it up nicely. I like my Favorite Balance but at it’s MSRP there are better options. My recommendation is the Lew’s TP1 Black at $129 it’s a nice stick. Light and sensitive.

People love their fluorocarbon for sinking and bottom baits and so do I but in 12# or greater line. Won’t catch me using it on a spinning reel. Sufix Elite or Siege in 6-8# line for the reel you mention. I would lean towards elite as it is friendlier than siege on spinning reels unless you have line conditioner.

I believe I have the same reel from the same year. Mine is a light blue pearl color. It’s long since been retired from my rotation of reels. It’s not a crazy idea but it is impractical. I doubt even if I serviced this old reel I would enjoy fishing it more than my newer ones.

I went fishing today. No Bass yet. Just Perch. Trout will be next

That Zebco Omniflex line at Walmart is dirt cheap and more than enough for catching Bluegill.

https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-50842-Portable-Electronic-Scale/dp/B01G34LLH2 Here is the scale I ordered. Got mine for $12 off eBay. Nice little gadget fits in my tackle pack nicely.

I have the same scale. It got wet a season ago and was acting wonky. I bought a water resistant Kastking scale to replace it. That scale died over the winter. I opened 2 packs of fresh batteries and it won’t turn on anymore. I then went and purchased a Smith’s portable electronic scale. While putting it in my tackle box I came across the Real Sonar scale and turned it on. It works! It must have dried out. I put fresh batteries in it and now have 2 working scales

I have used the Lew’s line conditioner on two combos I have used so far this season. A baitcaster spooled with fluoro and a spinning reel spooled with 8# mono. Sprayed it on the line and rod guides. It seems to work better than reel snot as no oily residues left on the line. I noticed the line on both reels were tame as opposed to untreated line. Especially on spinning reels the line didn’t have the coils that my untreated line usually has. One thing I have to mention is this stuff smells good! Like cologne good! I was thinking of spraying some on my chest but the hair On it would get all relaxed ? from the conditioners. No joke this stuff has a very pleasant odor.

Lew’s Xfinity spinning combo will run you $68 bucks at Walmart. IM7 rod with Winn Grips paired with an 8bearing system reel with Winn Grip knob. Using mine right now for Trout. I have caught SMB, LMB, Perch and Panfish on this combo.