The Bassman

Just checked it out. Bail appears the same. It has one more bearing than the Nasci. I love Shimano but they do really jump price points over small things. That said it's a good looking reel. Kind of looks like a poor man's Stella.

I agree about Windtamer's line management advantage. I've just gotton so spoiled to 8 carrier and fused lines that 4 carrier seems noisy. Not many guys know about the product but it's made in Kentucky by a company that has been involved in the manufacture of super lines for some time. They've produced Spectra products for other brands.

At that price point it would surely have the screw in handle. I agree about the bail design. I'm not the only one who's had issues with line hanging up. Good observations.

That's an impressive pickerel! Do you know what it weighed? The world record isn't ten lb.

Words of wisdom!

Sure beats fightin' a big ol' fat ugly........oops better not say. I stay in enough trouble.

I can see how that would work but I spend a lot of time in small creeks. Overhanging branches and such would make that impractical for me. I'm glad it serves your fishing style.

Contrary to popular thinking I tend to be more productive with a minimum of tackle. I try to think out what will work best before I go. Too much stuff has me changing too often. Besides, in my case just try wading with two outfits.

The difference might have been from your being more comfortable letting you get your mojo. My hat's off to anyone producing in cold climes at this stage.

Double the eye loop and it becomes the Fish'n Fool knot. Virtually slip proof with braid. By the way welcome aboard.

You're a fast learner. Mighty brave too ,starting out with baitcasting!

I've been using the Trilene knot in mono for many years and have had real good luck with it. When I'm teaching others I always show them how I keep the two eye loops around my index finger until I finish it off.

Swimming Fluke Jr. and wacky 4" Senko type kept me in them last summer.

It's neat to hear so much input about Mepps. I figured they weren't nearly as popular anymore. Real sleepers for just about anything. I grew up on them. #1 silver/squirrel tail cast from a Garcia Brown Conolon rod and Mitchell 300 reel.

I get the essence of what you're saying. We've become accustomed to calling nylon mono. Mono is short for monofilament meaning one strand. The input in this thread benefits the OP in the sense that different lines have different virtues.

It's all mono. Some's nylon. Some's a mix.

It's a great reel. I'm assuming your'e talking about the FE. What size did you get? I think the handle is a bit small on the 2500 size. I had a symetre that I ordered a 3000 handle for. Made a big difference.

I have a '13 Shimano CI4+ 2500 that does everything from ultralight to inshore saltwater depending on the rod it's on and the line I'm using.

Thanks for the input. You're not the first to say that the '15 bfs was touchy.

I would definitely go with the 2500 for the weight savings.

I'm thinking of converting my '15 ald 50 to bfs. Do you see any improvement with mag brakes vs. centrifugal? Hedgehog has an Avail spool with a mag brake kit.

This Curado was affectionately called "The Tomato". Bridged the era of Magnumlite GTs, Speedmasters and such with the modern era starting with the B (greenie) series.

I'm really excited to have come across this thread. I've just recently joined BR and didn't notice this. I'm a fellow hoosier who really loves our sport. My biggest difference is that I'm shore bound. I really envy you guys having such good action so late. Will look forward to contributing. I really get going come warmer weather as I love to wade for smallmouth. By the way, I just realized that a blog I've been following until it was discontinued was run by Team9nine.

The old Boy Scout jingle was "one inch stay off..two inch one may...three inch small groups...four inch OK!" That's assuming you was a 90 lb. Boy Scout. I quit ice fishing years ago because I don't like the cold. In the late 70's I remember driving my car on Monroe reservoir when the ice was 14 inches thick.

I put a left handed PGII septon on mine. Shimano spinning reel posts are the same as baitcasting. Made my 2500 feel right at home in my hand. Footnote: Just noticed earlier post to the same effect. Sorry.