Happybeerbuzz

I keep a pair of sharp tweezers handy in a cigar tube just for the eventuality of picking out a knot in braid. I am too chicken to pull both sides of a knot.

I did a maintenance cleaning on it about a month or so ago. I take the spool, clean with alcohol and put a drop of oil on the bearings. I don't open up my reals and mess with the gears. That's beyond my comfort level.

Lately my go to tackle has been whatever the bait monkey has most recently provided me which are a R2S Bubble Popper, XPS lipless crankbait, Rapala X-rap, Booyah 5 for $10 spinnerbait, Yo-Zuri DBM lipless crankbait, and a KVD 1.5 Squarebill.

I only started using baitcasting reels in the past year or so. Since starting, I have only owned and used 7+:1 gear ratio reels. I figured that I would just wind slower if I wanted to slow down my retrieve. Recently I bought 6.3:1 gear ratio Fuego CT with the mindset that with certain techniques, it would be easier to even slow down more. This morning I was throwing a 1/2 ounce lipless crankbait, and the retrieve was noticeably smoother vs higher gear ratio reels that cost more like my Tatula CT. Is the smoothness associated with increased torque just something I have been ignorant of, or is it just because of the new reel?

The fact that the Memorial Day code expired before Memorial Day probably saved me another $58.20. It might have even saved me the price of a Tatula CT. Hehe.

Whether it is fishing gear or anything else, I don't like clutter. Once I have so much of anything, it becomes unmanageable or burdensome to just have, I start to adjust what I do. With regards to fishing, maybe I stop trying to squeeze more casts out of each plastic or not use the wacky rigging tool so diligently. Maybe I switch colors a little more often than normal or respool a little sooner. Maybe I try to introduce someone to fishing. I am not much of a seller of stuff, but I will give it away to people close to me. If I can't give it away, I will eventually get to the point I throw it out.

Adding even the slightest amount of weight to the front of a floating bait affects it. It's just physics. How much and if it is negligible depends on the bait and the snap/swivel.

Interesting topic. Now that you have me thinking about it, I don’t have more than two of any specific model of hard lure. This is only my third season back to fishing after a 25 year hiatus. I think I am still evaluating all the makes and models of all the hard baits on the market. With regards to soft baits, that’s easy. I probably have 7 or more different colored 5” GYCG Senkos.

I just got my 6.3:1 in the mail today. I threw some line on it and chucked a casting plug down the street for a few minutes. If I get two seasons out of this real, I will have gotten more than my $58.20 worth. I am really happy with the buy.

Same thing happened to me. The 15% discount on the auction site brought it done to like $58.20, and I just couldn’t resist.

Any opinions on which of the reels in the $99.99 class is best for casting 1/4 to 3/8 ounce lures consistently? While I wouldn't remotely consider myself a long bomber of a caster, I do feel like I have range well beyond my accuracy. Consequentially, casting distance is a consideration, but it is secondary to me by comparison to not back lashing with lighter lures.

832 & PowerPro Spectra are my go tos. Last night I ordered a spool of Kastpro to try out. It’s very thin, and I am curious if it is just accurately rated unlike 832 & PowerPro which are much stronger than their rating.

I just watched the second video. I normally tighten the spool tension to eliminate the side to side play. Instead, I adjust my Tatula CT to how Ehrler said and slung a casting plug down the street. It must have went 5-10 yards farther. I could tell because the braid left on the spool was dark green and new looking. All of a sudden, I'm having a good day. Thanks.

I use an FG knot tied at home. I ret-tie with an improved Alberto knot on the water if needed because of ease. If you are going to tie fancy shamancy FG knot and use the rizutto finish, great. If you are going to use hitch knots to finish it, the smallest amount of super glue on the hitches only will keep them from unraveling but it is mostly causmetic. Otherwise you can get a little fuzzy tag if one of you hitches unravels. Do not apply super glue to the FG knot itself. You want it to continue to constrict on your leader as you use it.

20# braid with a 12-15# mono leader is one of the setups I use for top water. The other is my frog rod which has 20# mono leader. I take the frog off and use it sometimes if I want to alternate a popper and a Whopper Plopper. Somehow I am going to have to work my new Toad Runner into the lineup. I bought one but still haven't tied it on yet.

I wouldn’t throw trebles into the weeds. It’s too much hassle. Besides, I have frogs for that. I just throw whopper ploppers along weed lines and open water so I just use a MH for the 110 and a M for the 90. 12# Big Game is sufficient for either.

Original Rapala Floating Minnow. I even have a special ML spinning rod with 6# line on it that I set up to optimize casting distance. I have a 3/16 oz size tied on every time the weather report says it isn’t going to be windy. I just fail at it.

Yeah, the thickness is what I am talking about when I said ‘bulky’. Do you just use them the stock split rings that come with lures or do you take the rings off? Also no problems with pulling the front of top waters down?

Any opinions on these? They look like they would be convenient, but I wonder if even the 50# size which is the smallest would be too bulky for bass applications.

I use the 15# and 20# as leaders sometimes, and it seems to be fine.

Buy a Whopper Plopper for around sun rise and sun down. They are just fun.

Thoughts and best wishes to you.

This post made me bust out my clown colored X-Rap in the 10 size. I smashed them this morning!

It’s like listening to music. Alone or with others are both good alternatives but different.

The River2Sea Bubble Popper has been my popper of choice lately. It is easy to walk and pop at the same time.