The Bassman

I've been using it on my medium spinning setup lately. It's more visible than green. Actually a combination of blue and white. Like @Scott F said it helps me differentiate from other spools. Really don't notice any bleed just the usual fade.

I've said it before, as much as I love my baitcasters I'm finding my spinning rigs to be much more practical. There's definitely a place for baitcasting gear. In my applications baitcasters are toys to be tinkered with but spinners are tools to get the job done.

That's plenty of distance. I think a lot of guys don't really know how far they're casting and tend to overestimate. BTW I think I would change out that weight for a practice plug. One wrong pull when it's stuck in the grass and you're out a tooth or possibly an eye.

I've actually had two rods (not high end) modified by cutting to the first guide and replacing it with a new tip guide. Made the rods less tip heavy. That said, rods have a taper that's engineered to their length. Such changes interrupt the rod's flow and make them a bit clubby.

Just quoting some idiot who thought this snow was going to be a non-event.

Thought he closed that site (Big Indiana Bass) a couple of years ago. Thanks for the heads-up.

Latest word is just for a big slushee. Strange spring. One day walking in the sunshine catching bass. The next watching traffic reports to see where all the wrecks are.

What he said. I'm primarily a Shimano user but I hear nothing but good things about these. I think they're going around 140.00 now. Still a good deal considering they retail 200.00.

Doug Stange did an article in In Fisherman about this very thing a while back. Thanks for reminding me. Could have bailed me out of some slow days.

I thought they felt real good in the store. I just don't have a lot of confidence with the SS guides.

That's a tall order given your time frame and our weather forecast. Wish I could help.

I use denatured alcohol from my painting stuff. Cleans real good and dries immediately so will not dissolve any filler.

Sure looking forward to my first smallie of the season. Streams look good right now. I think that's going to change, though. Weather service is calling for a wet pattern. I'll never forget this week six years ago when we had a string of eighty degree days. I was wet wading and catching smallmouth on March 21! That's the summer when we had so many 100 degree days and no rain for almost eight weeks.

Homer Circle had a campy wit that's never been duplicated. I always liked his reference that "the fish knew but weren't talking."

Would at least like to say welcome to another Hoosier. Wish I could be more help but honestly I'd just be winging it. Years ago I fished around Washington St. without much success. I know you're interested in cats but I have heard mention of great bass fishing in that area. With the EPA sewer project progressing the White might really take off.

What @JustJamessaid about the drag star is really important. If you tighten the handle over a loose drag it will go loose as soon as you tighten the drag. I hand tighten the star nut then line the star up and tighten all the way. Install handle then loosen drag.

Good to hear. I've let this cold weather put me on hold. I love to fish but hate to be cold.

In warm weather I wear a vest. When it's cool out I have a westherproof jacket with big pockets. Accomplishes two things: Keeps me mobile and limits my lure choices which helps me focus on my techniques.

As a bank fisherman I find lipless easier to control than anything that dives even a foot or two. Also, I like the less water resistance of lipless crankbaits and the fact that they cast so well. A squarebill may be more effective at times but the reasons mentioned trump that for me. I do like wakebaits though in warm weather if I'd rather crank than fish contact baits.

Had mentioned in an earlier thread that I was trying TG Liquid grease. Time will tell, but initially it has made my Ald 50 smoother than ever.

It's fishshop.shimano.com. They finally updated their parts for newer models. One thing that's irritating is that the parts lists on the schematics are in no particular numeric order. You have to go looking for the #.

I've been using TSI 321 for a while. Cheap, lasts a long time, and lower viscosity than most give it credit for.

Curado K is a workhorse reel intended for lures over a quarter oz. Above that, your rod is the only limiting factor.

I'm surprised you found these reels new. They've both been discontinued for some time. You really can't compare them to each other. They're two different tiers of quality. At 135 USD there are many better current choices. Curado K can be had under 150.00 on E-Bay.

I use E-Bay all the time. Between Pay Pal and E-Bay you are at no risk.