The Bassman

Welcome. With that resume' you'll be a good source of input. I need all the help I can get.

Two days of wind and low 30's. New Year's day: low 40's and sun. Gonna try to get that Jan. bass on the books right away.

It's 1:00 AM here, I'm looking at this and can't have it. Now that's not fair.

It's a very cost effective idea. I've got three Stradics with spare spools that I rotate. Not sure if you're speaking of spinning or casting. Depending on the reel either can be pricey but certainly cheaper than another reel.

Wish I knew a shop here that turned rotors. Any more they all say they have to be replaced because by the time the pads are worn the rotors are too thin. Nice smallies, too. I miss creek wading for them.

Search In-Fisherman crappie. Lots of info. Welcome to BR.

I don't give up on anything. Baits just go into hibernation then I "rediscover" them. Seems everything has its moment. It's all in my head, not the bass's.

Experienced a very good bite this afternoon. Seemed more like early spring than late Dec. Fished a large neighborhood lake near me that has a shad forage base. Shad were splashing on top and bass were eating my small lipless crank. Caught 5 between 2-4 lb. and several smaller. Good way to close out 2019. Like Sinatra sang it's been a very good year.

I carry stuff in my pockets most of the time since I fish on foot. Can't remember how many times things have come up missing.

Agreed. Lots of good stories here, Mike. Hope it doesn't take attention away from the thread.

No coal but got a new stick for myself, a JDM Zodias for right at 100.00 shipped. Absolute steal.

That would be the drive shaft bearing and I believe they're pretty much universal in size (5x9x3mm) You should be able to get it cheaper (Shimano charges 6.00 shipping, too). Try Dad's Ole Tackle, Conroe TX. Easy to bring up on Google. He'll have it and it should be cheaper. Kinda surprised that the Casitas had a bearing instead of a bushing. Bushing would be real cheap and serve just fine. Hope this helps. Edit: Schematic is calling it a spool shaft bearing but it is in fact the drive shaft bearing. Don't mean to refute Shimano but it looks like a goof on their part. Spool shaft bearings are bnt 4343.

fishshop.shimano.com. Sounds like you're talking about the A/R roller bearing BNT 2396. Check the schematic under low profile reels drop down menu.

Both are great. If you're having knot issues with XL then you will with Stren.

Nice pose. Looks like a DD.

Six pounder in the making.

Well, I guess you can't have a forum site without trolls. (I can dis Santa's elves cause I already got my Christmas stuff.) Merry Christmas!

Jacob Wheeler comes to mind.

National snow cover map shows one stripe right across our area (shrinking). That's contributing to our mid-upper 20's nights. We take one step forward then a half step backward. Should be full open by Christmas day. Warm weather till rain Sat. P.M.

I'll take your 42* water in a heart beat.

I found a completely decomposed bass with a bubblegum fluke in its throat a couple of weeks ago. It was pretty far up on the bank so whoever caught it just tossed it. No excuse for that.

Solstice sun angle and gold tinted bass--beautiful!

Hey! You cheated. They didn't shut their fountain down. Just messing with you. I think there's at least a full inch everywhere else. Looked at a Nextdoor post where people were concerned because kids were walking on ponds. Hoping things open up soon. NWS still saying we're warm past New Year. Congrats on the snow bass.

Daiwa Fuego rods seem heavier than their stated power. I have a 6'6" medium that I can fish plastics in vegetation with no problem. They're also real light and a good deal at under 70.00.

I lived for ice fishing as a young man. I looked forward to ice up. In the 70's and 80's we had some very hard winters with ice from Dec. to March. But as I reached my 40's I decided that standing stationary over a six inch hole in single digit weather made no sense. I can tolerate thirty degree temps as long as I'm moving.