bitsandbass

This is what I think would be best. Something that floats, has some weight so it can be cast at distance, and that swims by itself on return not requiring rod action to work. Do you guys know SP Minnows. Great lure for stripers. Anything comprable for the pond?

I actually looked these up. I have a bunch of them at home. I dont know where I got them. But surely these would get snagged like crazy on the bottom?

Yeah I dont know if you saw my other posts about trying to find him a rod & reel. I found a decent deal on a reel today, well at least I hope so. Are Shimano Nexave FD spinning reels any good? I got the 1000 for $15 at Dicks. I figured it would be better than the Chinese Pisfun at at the same price I was planning to get. Now I just need to find an ultralight rod. The 6' rod he is learning to cast on is a bit large. I think 5' would be ideal, but then again, he will get less casting distance with a shorter rod, and next year a 5 footer may be too small for him, so I want to invest for the future. I was thinking about just getting him a 6'6 and hoping he grows into it. Still trying to figure out what length is best, and trying to find a deal on a decent rod. More to come.

Yeah we're fishing in a really small pond. I think the bass are maybe ~6 inches big. The bottom of pond seems to have a lot of a plant life/weeds. Perhaps the first 6 feet or so is shallowish and then it starts to drop. I was thinking a swimbait could work. I use Sebile Magic Swimmers for stripers and they work great. Anything similar for a 6 inch bass? The little guy also needs something with a bit of weight to get out as he is still learning to cast! Wont a texas rig need rod action to work and get snagged in the weeds?

I've never used spinnerbaits but they seem popular. What lure could I get for the little guy that is fool proof (i.e. wont get snagged, doesnt need rod action to make it effective etc). You know, just cast out and retrieve, nothing else too it. Any of course, something that WONT GET SNAGGED. Thanks guys.

Thanks guys. Fishing was a success! We caught a bunch of rainbow trout. Note: Gamakatsu inline circle hooks size 6 DO NOT WORK. All trout got gut hooked. It sucked. These hooks are overpriced and do not work as advertised. I highly recommend you avoid these for C&R trout.

This is what I've found. Suggestions to expand this list are welcomed. List of reels under $20: Shimano IX Spinning Reel ($15, 8.4oz, ?? BB, 19 inches per turn, 7lbs drag) http://www.basspro.com/Shimano-IX-Spinning-Reel/product/1208290532158/ Bass Pro Shops TinyLite Spinning Reel ($20, 5.4oz, 2BB, 22 inches per turn, 10lbs drag) http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-TinyLite-Spinning-Reel/product/91147/ Pisfun Spinning Fishing Reel Metal Spool 500 ($14, 7oz, 6BB, ?? inches per turn, ?? max drag) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BR3QJYO/ref=twister_dp_update?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 List of rods under $20: Bass Pro Shops Micro Lite Glass Spinning Rod ($20, fiberglass, 5ft, 3/8oz max lure weight, ceramic guides) http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Micro-Lite-Glass-Spinning-Rod/product/36946/ Bass Pro Shops Power Plus Graphite Spinning Rod ($20, graphite composite, 5ft, 3/8oz max lure weight, aluminum oxide guides) http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Power-Plus-Graphite-Spinning-Rod/product/98364/ Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod ($20, graphite composite, 5ft, 1/4oz max lure weight, stainless steel guides) http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/shakespeare-rods-casting-rods/shakespeare-micro-series-spinning-rod/1363823.html List of rod/reel combos under $40: Bass Pro Shops TinyLite Spinning Rod and Reel Combo ($30, 5.4oz reel, 2BB, 22inches per turn, 10lbs drag, 4'6" UL graphite composite rod, stainless steel guides) http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-TinyLite-Spinning-Rod-and-Reel-Combo/product/91148/

Yeah Im just trying to find a real budget setup. I nearly bought a Pflueger President the other night but after I gave my son a spinning reel to practice cast in the back yard, I realized it was a bad idea. The little man is actually pretty good! Took to spinning much quicker than I ever thought (thanks to another posted in a different thread who recommended skipping the spincaster and going straight for spinning). I was so surprised. Great recommendation. But what a realized is that if I buy a $50 reel, Im going to be paranoid about it taking damage. With kids, they just cant be relied upon to take care of it. The reel will get dropped in the sand, its 100% guaranteed. Probably will land in the water at some point. Its going to get scratched and banged up. So yeah, any half decent reel that will last 4 seasons for under $20 would be nice. The hunt continues.

Wow ok. Sounds like a POS then. TY

Reel looks decent on paper. 6 ball bearings. Perhaps a bit heavy at 7oz. Anyone used one of these? For $15, will it last a couple of seasons???

Has anyone tried these $20 Bass Pro reels. They only weigh 5.5oz and have great reviews. I know now it's only $20 but I don't want to get burned if its a total POS. Thanks. http://m.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-TinyLite-Spinning-Reel/product/91147/

"Okuma Celilo Graphite Lightweight Ultra Light Trout Rod" VS. "Bass Pro Shops Micro Lite Glass Spinning Rod" ???? These rods cost just about the same. Which one do you guys recommend for trout and small pond bass? The Okuma is graphite. The BPS rod is fiberglass.

Good info, thanks. I was thinking about buying one of these Bass Pro Micro Lite glass rods; http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Micro-Lite-Glass-Spinning-Rod/product/36946/ Seems like the 6'6" is the way to go. Is this rod the same blank? http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-MicroLite-Plus-Spinning-Rod-and-Reel-Combo/product/2327453/ Would this setup be any good? Thanks.

Are there any UL reels that are half decent in the $20 range for my 5 year old? He obviously doesnt need a Stradic, but I also dont want to buy something that rusts on day 1. What about the Bass Pro Tinylite reels? Total POS or will they last? Anyone know who the manufacturer is? What about the Microlite Plus combo. I know the rod has great reviews. Very popular. But what about the $5 reel? Again, total POS or will it survive a few years? Thanks. http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-TinyLite-Spinning-Reel/product/91147/ http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-MicroLite-Plus-Spinning-Rod-and-Reel-Combo/product/2327453/

Rods are ready to go for this weekend! A question though. No one mentioned using ultra lite trout rods, like the Bass Pro Microlite spinning rods. They look really cool. Noodle like action for maximum fun. The more I research using an ultralight setup, the more I like the idea. Im curious as to why this isnt more popular?

This is hilarious. How about this one? "Ken Leeeeeeeeeeee, leebadibadachoooooooo"

Ok thanks. I keep ending up in the live bait camp. I was hoping to not bother with buying or finding nightcrawlers. I think Im going to try and catch some shiners with bread. Even better, let the kids do it. Will give them something to focus on.

I have a spring scale and a Rapala digital scale. Both with hooks. Anyway to modify these to weigh a bass when hanging from the lip? TY guys.

Hey at least Im using the search button!

If I deadstick a YUM dinger or a Gulp nightcrawler under a bobber , which one will be more effective. If there is no action on the rubber, I can only assume that scent will be the differentiating factor right? Which of these plastics would be most effective for dead sticking?

Guys I keep reading I should use a 1/0 hook with the YUM and with shiners. However, I have yet to hold one of these hooks in my hand so I cant judge it for myself. What size shiner should I be looking to put on a 1/0? I dont know whats in our local pond but say I catch a ***/4 inch shiner, would that size fish work on a 1/0? Thanks.

Guys about rigging floats. I've always just popped the spring, looped the line around it a couple of times, and popped the spring back. This keeps the float in place and allows me to set depth. Now I get that its like a knot thats formed and decreases breaking strength, but this is bass..... We're not fighting tuna. I see some people use slip bobbers. Is that just for fishing deep or other reasons? Also, Im planning to use the bobber above. Do they cast well if just spring popped onto the main line (my guess is they will helicopter during casting no?). Thanks.

Hey Snake. So your thread inspired me. I went into my garage last night to dig out my old freshwater spinning rods. They looked like pewp, but I decided to clean them up and see if they were salvageable. They were covered in mold so I grabbed some Lysol wipes. Some of the reels hardly cranked so I grabbed some WD40. Im embarrassed to say I found 8 rods just lying there (I had an addiction....). I got so inspired I was up to 2:30am last night cleaning them. I was blown away at what a little oil can do, for REEL! They are running so smoothly. Two of the rods I think I got at Dicks, Daiwa Cygnus, maybe like 6.5 footers. The line looks really thin, dont know the #, but its very thin. Boy these reels run smooth, drag is good. Rod tips are a bit stiff/fast but they were work fine for slinging sinkers. The other two rods I think I got on vacation once when the fish were jumping down in Florida. I couldnt resist (the addiction......), probably a local Walmart (Edit: I just looked these up, they are made by Eagle Claw). I think I planned to toss them but managed to get them on the plane before there were things like airlines fees (years back). Rods have super slow action and would feel great on a small fish. These are 6 footers (see pics). Line feels good, thicker diameter than the Daiwas. I must have respooled these with Trilene. Dont know what # test? I think Im going to setup dead sticked trout rigs (sinkers, bait) for the kids on the Daiwas, and let them use the 6 footer el cheapos for casting a bobber on the side. None of these rods are ideal for a 3 and 5 year old (long rods, heavy for them, spinning), but its probably worth a shot before buying some new spincasts, particularly since the quality is so poor. Im like you, frugal, however, I would rather spend 3X more on on a product if it will last years & years vs buying cheaply. But it doesnt seem like there are really decent value options in spincast (and at somepoint you got to put a cap on it, I cant buy my kids Stradics haha). I'll let you know how it goes. Im waiting on hooks, YUMs etc in the mail. Probably will only get out next weekend. Tight lines!

HA good point thanks! Im planning to use: 1) #8 inline circles for trout if I can find who makes these!? Otherwise Im just going to get some #6 Gamakatsus inline circles 2) 1/0 Gamakatsu inline circles for bass 3) #12 hooks of whatever brand to try catch some shiners on the side while the kids fish (any recommendation for brand?) Its freshwater and its trout/bass! Gamakatsus seem like an overkill but I cant really find alternatives easily (need to scroll through pages and pages on the web). If anyone has recommendations for manufactures, cheaper hooks etc, please let me know.

I really like this. Thanks for the detailed info. I think I'm going to give it a shot with straight spinning and will report back. Appreciate your feedback (I feel Im in exactly the same boat).