The Bassman

Go to digitaka.com. Find Shimano in left column, drop down to reel/baitcasting/SLX MGL. Click on it. Choose any model then click on web catalogue. You'll have to use your browser to translate. Click on the + to drop down specs. Digitaka is about the best price out there and includes shipping.

Never understood the comparison of a chatterbait to a spinnerbait. I see them as not having any real similarity. To me a chatterbait can both serve as a jig or a crankbait depending how it's retrieved. I like to let mine drop a little then give it a light jerk then vary the retrieve. Sometimes I let it drop and it gets bit on the fall. I caught a nice one around 4 lbs. this afternoon doing just that. You really can't do that with most spinnerbaits. Strike King used to make a short arm for drop fishing.

This. ^^These second gen. SVS reels are actually designed to use all four brakes and focus adjusting from the dial.

Funny how everyone comments on the weight of the Bantam. We forget that the E series weighed the same and were wider. No one ever mentioned how heavy they were but thinks they were the best Shimanos ever. Guys are trying to sell mint Curado E's for about the same as a JDM Bantam (mid 200.00's).

Saw this thread at 5:00 this morning with no replies yet. Ran away as fast as I could. Something about this topic that always gets everyone riled up.

I pull rather than push them on. Pushing makes the bait roll over itself. For all their other shortcomings 'Shroom heads have the easiest keeper. Most others you have to pull down hard over it to even remotely get it to grab the bait. Ratchet type keepers such as Berkley half heads don't hold well at all for me. A drop of super glue, as stated will in fact keep a bait in place a long time.

One of my favorite reels is a Curado 100B from e-bay that was all gummed up and slow. After a little TLC and some mods I think I've got the best 100B on the planet. Looks perfect as there was no rash or nicks.

I'm finding KVD Elite Triple Grips with the barbs smashed down to be the best of both worlds. They hold well and make handling fish so much easier.

Yep. Wouldn't be a challenge otherwise.

My goal is to catch bass in every month. Fished all winter with a few interruptions this past year. Dec. is my only possible obstacle coming up if we have a hard winter. I'm in IN and winters can be anything from light jacket weather to minus teens and thick ice.

I would typically be finessing in such conditions. Today was a good example though how one has to adjust to conditions. Gusty winds ahead of a front put the kibash on small stuff for me. I did a 180 and threw a big wake bait on casting tackle. Result: app. 30 fish with one over 5 and several over 3lb. I know this all sounds impractical on pressured water but it might just be what your fish haven't seen. Was influenced by an article I read to this effect by Doug Stange a while back.

Maybe not but at least he'll look like he sees the humor in it.

I get my prescription ones online from Zenni. Price is a fraction of retail and they're really good quality.

We've had zero measurable rain for three weeks here. I can walk on dry ground where I was catching bass a month ago. One would have thought that after Harvey such an event wouldn't happen again in our lifetime. Weather gurus are citing high gulf temps.

Good job with the weather, Catt. But I still prefer it from the girls on the Weather Channel.

It's every day. I buy from there.

I would have a hard time holding my tongue over such nonsense. Glad I'm in IN. The few times I've crossed paths with a game warden have only resulted in enjoyable chats.

Man, ain't that the truth? Very frustrating to lay out a perfect cast only to have a bait floundering on the surface. Definitely a bigger problem when fishing into the wind.

Haven't fished bait in a long time but have good memories of pulling nightcrawlers, catching grasshoppers and craws one at a time as I fished. Presents a whole different appeal to our sport. It's all good. I think it's the best way to introduce a kid and as mentioned it broadens the specie possibilities. Gotta think that a minnow or crawler is going to work anywhere I'm throwing lures.

I carry a cheap pair of hemostats. I personally find them easier to use without the locks so I cut them off.

Gets to be instinctive. Once you develop that feel you're on your way.

When I tried fly fishing I was fishing in trees plenty. Never got bit, though.

Read up on ned rig/midwest finesse. I know you're not in the midwest but trust me, it'll work there. Focus on guys talking about very light jigs not the 1/10 on up stuff. Read Ned Kehde's own articles on In Fisherman's site. Don't let his attention to detail put you off. It's really very simple. I just got home from a quick one hour outing that produced 10 fish up to around two lbs. Not bigs for sure but plenty good on a too hot calm Sept. day. Devoted more time to it yesterday and caught app. 35, one that was about 4 and a couple over 3. It works.

Made my weekly foray to some choice HOA lakes I fish across town. Was expecting calm, bright conditions but met with cloudy, cool, and even rain. (Didn't rain a drop at my place). We're getting like @lo n slo here. Fishing was excellent with steady action on finesse plastics. Caught one 4 lbr. and a couple of 3's. Scads of 1-2's. Supposed to be dry and hot for Sept. all week. Fall will come eventually.

Been using screw lock hooks for t-rigging and vinyl tubing for wacky with senkos. Really saves on baits.