The Bassman

Here in central IN we're looking at a warmup with a lot of rain over the next week. Murky water and warm inflow seem like a good combo for one or the other of these baits. Never thought of spinnerbaits as more of a clean water app. Appreciate your experiences.

Give me some situations.

I frequently see reference made that the two are interchangeable. Curious to see some input on this.

Very true, but my biggest last year came on a dink that was pinned to my lipless. Now that's luck.

Call them tomorrow (877-577-0600). They're PST so call later. Just order the handle shank not the whole assembly. It's BNT 5090. Found it on my Aldebaran schem. Same as CU71.

I was really anticipating Cabela's opening a couple of summers ago. Since then I've gotten pretty nonplussed about the place. I know it's a scaled down version but to me it's no better than GM was. I actually kind of miss them. The new Gander Outdoors web site doesn't have me holding my breath about their store opening. What we need in Indy (at least from a fisherman's perspective) is something like good old Galyan's. I really miss them.

Is that a white cat or a channel. I've got a friend near the space center who has two lakes loaded with white cats. Reminds me of our bullheads up here, only gray.

Noticed that this was your first post and just wanted to welcome you. You'll find that these forums are full of ordinary down to earth people who's skill set ranges from beginner to professional. I found your viewpoint on economical reels refreshing.

I just started using the Berkley heads in late fall. Great hooks, perfect hook to head size ratio for MWF technique. Jury still out on the keeper. Some elaztech baits held OK. Soft used ones wanted to walk off of it. I liked the wire keeper on the Shrooms but the hooks were very brittle.

I don't use leaders often but when I do I use an Alberto knot. What I like about it is that the tag ends face rearward so it's quieter when you cast. Uni to Uni is easier for me to tie but I primarily use it for tying new line to my backing.

One thing to consider also is that other factors affect retrieve rate. How large a spool is, as @reason mentioned and how full it is play into the equation.

I really feel this is the sweet spot for most apps.

Caught three 14 inchers after work yesterday. The pond I was fishing was half covered with skim ice when I started at 2:00. It was gone an hour later. Hope this colder weather is interspersed with some warm days so the ice can't get established like it did earlier. ( Sorry ice fishing guys).

Reel is from the early 80's. Represented the early transition to today's low profile reels. They were very popular along with Shimano's Bantams at the time. Actually very able casters albeit slow by today's retrieve ratios. They looked great on short pistol grip rods.

Also, any straight Shimano handle will fit. I have a Chronarch 200E handle on mine. It looks like it was designed to be there. I also have a Chronarch 50 MG spool in mine which makes it a completely different animal. Casts as well as my newer stuff. I find myself reaching for it all the time over my Ald 50.

If memory serves me it was called the Falls City Fishing Show in its' early years. I used to enjoy the end of each episode as he referred to his dad who "always had time to take me fishing".

Retention lakes are opening up in Indy. Got out for a little while this afternoon and managed a few small ones. Sure felt good after this past month. I just hope we don't go into a long cold spell like before and have to wait till March for ice out.

You can get a new Curado K for under 150 on the Bay. Daiwa SV TW can be had for less. Both are great reels.

My biggest of '17 (7 lb.ish) came on a dink bass stuck to a #5 Rippin' Rap. Both bass were released unharmed.

Noisy ice is strong ice. Dangerous ice is quiet. It used to make me nervous, too. I've had ice crack right through the hole I was fishing. When ice gets real thick you have to be careful not to trip over the pressure ridges that form from the heaving. What keeps me off the ice anymore is the cold. Give me an April day in the 70's.

I've been fishing most of my 64 years and have considered myself pretty proficient since I was a young adult. However, as I've gotten older I realize how much I don't know. Input from these forums has enhanced my skills considerably in just the past year or so. That said, what I do know is that my skill set involves a very small slice of this sport. I bank fish so knowledge involving boats, finding bass in large waters, and electronics is totally lacking. The wonderful thing about bass fishing is that it can be enjoyed in different ways. I love a warm afternoon of wading for smallmouth. A person in Fla. can't say that because it's not available to him locally. I'd like to think that I'm always learning and improving within the scope of what I do.

Been using TSI 321 for a while now and have no complaints. I bought a 4 oz. bottle for around 18.00 bucks that should last a very long time. I'm not sure about all of its claims but it does seem to last a good while in my spool bearings.

Thawing and refreezing can be hard to predict. There are factors other than just thickness at this point. A brief warm up won't thin ice as much as it will saturate it. A lot of strength is lost when water gets into it. That said, it will eventually become safe after refreezing. This where it becomes difficult to be specific. Test it close to the bank and several times on your way out. Any stratification with slush (think parfait) is bad news. Be careful.

I use and really like G Loomis classic bass rods. American Legacy is a good source. Several vendors on E-Bay have them too.