learnin

Too many good things to pick one but I'll start with the first bass I ever caught when I was around twelve years old. Fishing a long black plastic, or rubber, worm from shore at a public reservoir with a split shot on the bottom with no luck. Someone said time to go so I started reeling in pretty fast. When the worm got up on the surface it was really moving and about a 12" bass hit it so hard it came out of the water and I was hooked.

I had read and heard this reel might be the"best" $100 reel . I've always been a Shimamo fan but Cabelas has the Lew's LFS on sale for $75 a couple of weeks ago. I had enough of their "Club" points and got one. So far it casts as well and is as smooth as any of my Curados. Don't know if it will last as long as some of them have but I'd have to agree that Lew's Speed Spool LFS is a good reel and IMO would be hard to beat at it's regular $100 price.

In my OP I should have included the question, will a DC reel actuallly minimize or eliminate backlashes?

My nieces son has decided he wants to try bass fishing with a baitcaster. He's never used one but seems to think the digital control will eliminate backlashes and the need to learn to use his thumb for spool control. I've got my doubts but I've never used a DC reel or fish with anyone who does. My guess is he may be right to a degree but he should learn to cast with a non DC reel first. Am I wrong on this?

Anyone tried these? At 9/16ths & 3&1/2" they're noticeably bigger than the original. Was wondering if the size difference changes the action.

This is a smaller crankbait, a litlle under two inches long. It look like a spinning rod bait but supposedly because of their enclosed magnetic bearings they cast ok with a baitcaster. IF anyone here has tried these this one with a baitcaster how does it cast?

Thanks for a great post and congrats on a great morning. With those conditions you earned it.

Stale KracKer, Looking at them side by side the 50E IMO is noticeably smaller than my 100B but since the 50E's on a 5'6" rod it works fine for balance and feel. IMO it's not a better reel than a bigger Curado but I'm more accurate with it on the 5'6" rod than with a full size, by today's bass fishing standards, 7' rod and a larger reel.

Thanks to all that answered. Looks like there's still plenty of users. I agree, it's one worth keeping. When I use mine it's for lighter topwater baits, primarily the Pop R.

A lot of good info, looks like about all I've got for this is the reel, Curado 200K. Guess I'll use my med/hvy rod and go with the lighter and soft plastic swimbaits for starters. Thanks to all that responded,

Looking for general info and experience re what's worked as far as brands and rod and reel weight/size to use with them? Didn't realize how much some swim baits cost. Are the more expensive ones that much more effective? Are there relatively lower priced ones that work well?

Anyone else using one of these? I've got one on an old 5'6" med/lt Bass Pro Tourney rod. I'm using 10lb trilene on it. Never caught anything more than about three lbs but it's been a good combination in tight areas.

Thanks for the info Tom, spoke with them this morning. sending it to them today..

My 20 year old Curado 100B while smooth enough with good distance has started making consistent noise when casting. The retrieve is still quiet and smooth. I cleaned and lubed it a year ago. Time to replace the bearings, what kind if it is?

Thanks for all the responses, also watched some videos. Found an extra spool for one of my spinning reels and ordered some 6Lb fluro line. Sounds like the simplest way to start if I can keep the fluro from jumping off the reel.

Gonna try drop shot, never fished it before. I've got braid on all my spinning reels. Will this work for drop shot fishing with a fluro leader? I seem to remember reading somewhere a while back mono line is better for this.

Thanks to all for the info. Sounds like it's doable with a longer leader.

Anyone using high visibility braid with a Fluro leader successfully with Ned Rigs, Senkos, other soft plastics on clear water western reservoirs?

No problem with power on the Edge for a boat like mine, even on windy days. Only thing I don't like about it is the foot pedal. Seems like the heel area ends up higher than the toe which is where the power switch/button is. I've read complaints about that elsewhere but most people seem to like the Edge well enough. Loosened up the cables and took it apart yesterday and made an adjustment which is supposed to change the pedal position based on a you tube article I read. Looks like it did, we'll see if it holds up.

I've got a 2013 Pro 17 with a 40hp Merc & 45Lb Minn Kota Edge I bought new in early 2014 that I like real well for what is. Never fished it on real big lakes. Fished it once or twice a week From March into November since then. The only mods on it are a trolling plate & Bimini top. When it gets too hot in the valley for daytime bass we fish the high lakes for trout. It has a scratch or two as it's bounced off rocks & docks a few times and been in the brush once and a while. With routine maintenance I do myself there's never been a problem with it or the trailer. They've always worked. Still running smooth with the original spark plugs. The initial price was relatively inexpensive, easy to tow, easy to store, easy on gas and has plenty of storage space for a boat this size. Only thing I don't like about it is the sharp up & down angle of the foot pedal on the trolling motor. It's some work on windy days.

Just got back from Eastman. Time fished, weather conditions, areas fished, bait used identical to the trip on the 27th. Didn't get skunked but only caught eight and had to work for them. ironbjorn, Thanks for the info re lighter terminal tackle. Going again Thursday will give it a try. TnRiver46, Thanks, for us it was a lot better day than usual..

Fished Eastman on 4-27 in Madera County, Ca, central valley. Lake is low due to bad drought, Water temp 68/70 a lot of gusting wind. Fished it the week before and only got three fish. This time we focused on brushy areas around what used to be underwater humps that are now exposed. Got hung up a lot but caught and released well over twenty 12 to 15" Largemouth and one big crappie. Started at eleven o'clock and quit at four. I was using med. spinning gear with twenty lb braid with a 15lb PLine Sensi fluro leader, ZMan 2&3/4 Ned Rig baits and 1/6th jig heads. Had to bend the the hook back in shape a couple of times but never lost a rig. Used the same bait all day. Seemed the more used it looked the quicker they hit it. Trying it again today, probably get skunked.

Standard size or larger spinner bait. Have caught some on a Beetle Spin. Nothing on the Whopper Ploppers yet, tried a couple of different sizes. Probably several others. As I've gotten older I probably stick with what has worked for me in the past too long when it's not working. Good thing I enjoy going even on the slow days.

Thanks to all for the info. I should have said braid on a baitcaster. I've been using 12lb XL on a Curado. Based on the replies I might try 30lb braid next line replacement.

Seems I've heard more cons than pros on this. One reason was less distance the other was if you get a backlash start cutting. Is there less distance with braid on crankbaits and is it any more susceptible to backlash than mono? I was thinking it wasn't because braid works a lot better all around for me with spinning gear.