finatic

This reel is so awesome now I'm starting to look at other baitcasters and drooling, lol. I know it's kind of picky, but I'm bummed about the silent drag on the XT. I was kind of hoping for that drag sound when I caught a fish.

I catch a lot of bass on a lipless Rapala Rippin Rap, too. Chrome w/blue back.

Went to Dick's and got some Berkley Trilene Big Game (15ib). The sales guy was very knowledgeable about baitcasters and gave me all kinds of pointers. He even gave me a hands on lesson in using it. Of course I needed some more lures so I got some Strike King spinnerbaits and a couple of their squarebills. Went out and did some practicing and this thing is freakin awesome! A lot more finesse and adjustments can be made on the baitcaster as opposed to my spinning reel. I only got one backlash, but it wasn't that bad and I pulled it right out (remembering what you guys said about backlashes). Overall this is going to be an awesome setup and I can't wait to really spend a day with it. Thanks everyone for your tips and suggestions!

Rod and reel were waiting for me when I got home. Pretty sweet looking setup. Heading to Dick's to get some line put on it, then off to practice...

The hole was the size of the shaft of the treble hook and all three trebles we're on the other side of that hole in his lip. I have no idea how he managed that but there was no way I could get it out without tearing him up. So I had to cut the trebles off in order to get it out.

You live in Grand Haven too?

Yep

My best advice to you is to start telling your wife the truth. If she were to find out you weren't going to any of these places you've been lying about just to go fishing it could have really negative effects on your whole relationship. Start telling her the truth. You'll feel a whole lot better knowing that she knows exactly what you're doing and you didn't have to fib to do it.

Funny thing is when I caught him he had somehow got all three of the treble hooks through his lip. There was no way to get them out without causing him some harm so I had to cut off the trebles, release him and then put a new treble hook on it. I'm thinking of getting some new Mustad treble hooks just for this purpose.

Hey thanks. Would it be a 1.5 ounce or a 2.5? I'm not very good with sizes. I'll have to get a few different colors/patterns and try them out, I know KVD makes great lures because I've had great success with their strike king spinner baits. I even have a pair of KVD snippers/split ring pliers that cut braid really well.

Lol, no I didn't, but I probably should have

Yesterday I was fishing in my favorite spot when I saw this crankbait floating in the water. Looked pretty sweet so I rescued it and tied it on. First cast I caught this big brute - pushing 16in possibly a three pounder or more. Caught a few smaller ones on the crankbait, too. Not really sure what kind of lure this is - I mean like model/style and manufacturer, but it certainly changed my ideas about what to use in my usual spot. It's called Linear Park and it's built along the side of a large well planted burm adjacent to our power plant. The inlet has a very rocky shoreline which I usually fish with spinners and Senkos, but it never occurred to me to use a squarebill along all those rocks. Interesting it seems a literally found the perfect lure. I guess I need to go out and find a few more eh?

You're suppose to fish with a baitcaster upright anyway. At least that's how I've always seen them used.

Ok, thanks

Hmm, now I have to decide if I want the right hand model or the left hand model. I just came across their Supreme XT, which comes in a left hand model. Of course it cost a little more, but then it's probably a better reel. I'm just wondering if I should opt for the Supreme XT, because I'm so used to reeling with my left hand. I guess I'll see how it goes today when the reel and rod arrive. Decisions, decisions.....

Thanks for all the tips. Reel and rod arrive tomorrow so I'll start practicing with all your suggestions. Bass Resource Rocks!

Thanks for the video and the tips guys. Got a spool of Berkley vanish I was wondering if maybe that would work? I mean for practicing. The president XT casting reel is only right handed so that's going to take some getting used to.

I decided to try baitcasting for the first time. So I bought myself a Pflueger president XT low profile baitcaster and I'm going to match it with a Berkley Cherrywood casting rod. I'm just looking for any links to some how to videos or articles on how to tune and set up a baitcaster. Thanks in advance for your help.

Just saw the new st. Croix bass X spinning rod. Decisions decisions

Thanks, Patrick. So should I go for the 7' MF or the 6' 6" MF? On the St Croix website they list 2 7' medium fast Avid X rods - AXS70MF and AXS70MF2. I'm assuming that would mean the "2" is a two-piece rod? As Further North pointed out, I do not wish to inadvertently kill any fish, not if I can help it. I do usually fish just for bass, but I also have a lot of pike smacking my lures. Within the last 2 weeks I've caught almost a dozen pike while bass fishing, so they are out there and it does happen. The pike that I have caught were all safely returned to the water and I watched them all swim off. I do have another setup that I know could handle pike better if I decide to start purposely targeting that fish (6' 6" Ugly Stik GX2 with an Okuma FINA 4000). Thanks for all your help and advice

So then would I be better off with a medium heavy Avid X rod? That's the one I was originally going to get for the Stradic 3000

Thanks for the advice everyone. This is the setup I'm going to go with.

I was thinking of the Avid X 7’ / Medium Heavy / Fast (AXS70MHF), but now I see it’s kind of light (only does 8-14lb line). Might have to look for something with a little more backbone and bigger line weight rating.

BankBasser, thanks for the reply. I’m fishing mainly for bass, but I’ve been getting a lot of big pike, too. So I want a setup with some backbone in case I run into a monster.

Ok I’m tired of crap gear and so I’ve decided to spend the money to finally get something decent and dependable. After much research I’ve decided to get the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 3000 FB and I’m trying to decide on a rod to pair it with. I’m looking at the St. Croix Avid X Spinning Rod (AXS70MF). My only decision is which model of the Avid X to get? Their site lists several, but I’m partial to the 7ft models. They have medium/fast, medium light/fast and medium heavy/fast. I also want a single piece rod. Anyone have any experience with these Avid X rods? Just looking for some advice on which one to pair with the Stradic.