Scuba Steve

Agreed! Very true. Every reel i have braid on has half a spool of mono. Ive just been running into the problem with my straight mono reel. I get broken off a few times then im left with a questionable amount of line.

Wow, havent heard that method yet!

This happened to me earlier this year. Got out to one of my spots, 3rd cast picked up a lazy mid 40’s muskie. 30 seconds in the line snapped. Should I have had a leader or heavier line? Probably. But it was still awesome. Good stuff so far, thanks everyone. I need to respool my baitcaster tomorrow.

Hey guys, curious for some opinions. If your line breaks off on your baitcaster, be it 20, 50, or 100 feet, how low do you let it get before you completely respool? Do you let it be until you break off a few more times? Until you run out of line during the cast? I run straight 14# mono on mine. Just wondering what you guys do, or if anyone is as ocd as me at keeping a full spool. Thoughts?

I love this one. If I should have been using green pumpkin with red, instead of watermelon with red, then why the heck do fish eat a #3 Mepps with yellow braid tied right to it? I love some of these guys on youtube that have 8 3700 boxes of the same exact plastic in all 26 colors it comes in. What a joke. The only plastics I use are black/blues, green/browns, and pearls. I don't catch any more fish with any other colors, but I certainly catch fewer. This applies to lakes, ponds, clear streams, and murky rivers. It just works.

Thats some dedication. I think id just poke a hole and stick a carabiner in it. Either way, I neeeed to remember the darn towel.

Can’t tell you how many times I have forgotten to add this to my stuff ?

I tried the vest for the weight distribution aspect of it and just couldn't dig it. I usually just take 5-10 minutes of wearing it on the other shoulder if I get sore.

I’ve always liked waist packs, but I recently switched to a simms sling. It’s got a bit more room but still lets me pack light. Here’s what I carry... 1) One small plano box with assorted lures, hooks, and bullet weights. 2) A few individual bags of plastics. 3) Two line spools (one main line, one leader) 4) Small spring scale, pliers, and nipper. 5) Waterproof plano box for my wallet, license, first aid. 6) Small net on the pack on two magnets and a lanyard. 7) Face mask and sun gloves. My phone stays in my front wader pocket in a waterproof pouch for easy pics.

What brand of bag do you use? What are its pros and cons? Do you prefer a vest, or a waist/chest/hip pack? What all do you carry in it for an outing?

My #1 is the theory that you need a different rod for every single lure in the box. Completely untrue, completely over analytical. I'm amazed how complicated some people make it. But hey, not my money!

Again thanks for the replies everyone. Very good info! My ML is going to have the 15# yellow power pro with 10# flouro for a leader. I also fish two rocky, snaggy rivers, and being able to break off at that knot is key. Honestly I feel like my terminal palomar knot breaks before my alberto knot. If I do maybe 7-8 wraps in each direction, after I pop free i usually have my whole leader. Plus that knot is super easy to tie when you’re wading. I was running the 10# moss green and if im facing the trees forget it. I lose it every time, cant see my line on the water, and feel like it decreases my confidence.

Yeah I think I am too actually. Thanks for the help.

I got the 15 pound yellow power pro. Just the standard stuff. It was the only power pro that bass pro had in yellow. They had super slick in the aqua green, but I didn't see it being as visible as the yellow.

Thanks for the replies guys. Love the big daddy reference haha. I've had 30 pound 832 on a baitcaster and it came apart easily. Not sure if I had a bad batch but I wasn't impressed with it. I didn't trust it. Think 10 pound yellow power pro would be alright? I usually have about a 6 foot leader. The lake I'll be jigging in is very clean.

Hey all, quick question. The spinning rod this applies to is a 6'6 ML st croix avid with a 2500 stradic. So here's my dilemma... Part 1 - This is my small river/creek wading combo for smallmouth and smaller fish. I'm currently running 10 pound moss green power pro. Problem is, I can't see it for the life of me after I cast. I lose it in the current. Part 2 - I also want to use this combo for vertical jigging walleye this summer. Do you guys think I could use a high vis braid, and continue tying leaders on of various lengths, for both applications? Any recommendations on line? I have had success with power pro and slick 8 version. Not a fan of spider wire or 832. Thanks.

I used to have a 7’ avid spinning. I returned it because it didnt feel right throwing anything under 1/2 oz. It was a broom stick for the “mh” category. Got a medium avid instead, perfection. With that being said my 6’8 medium avid is basically my designated 1/4 oz bottom contact rod. Its a flawless rod. Light, incredibly strong, very sensitive, and looks good. Handled a 36” muskie in river current on 10 lb braid last december without issues.

Yeah the mechanics on a left handed reel is the issue for me. Turning the handle feels funky. And thats something that I can’t get past. I’d rather switch hands every cast.

Thanks for all the replies. I guess the main question was do you feel you lack anything by holding the rod in your less dominant hand? I’m not saying I’m looking to conform, or do what the crowd is doing or blah blah... I have a brain and of course I’m going to fish what feels best. I was just curious is all. Im staying reeling righty. Got my hands on a lefty since posting and I dont think its for me. Lots of good answers though!

Just curious guys... I'm still in the camp of just not being able to reel a baitcast reel with my left hand. It feels awkward, looks awkward, and just isn't fluid. I don't like the rod crossing my body from 5 to 11 o'clock either. Then of course there are people online who are like "Ohhh silly right handers it makes no sense to switch hands" yadi yada. I am right handed, so i cast from the right side, or overhead, then I'm able to switch hands before my bait hits the water. I hold my spinning rods in my right hand and reel with my left. So to the guys and gals that reel traditionally, and haven't gotten on the left retrieve train, do you guys notice any decrease in sensitivity or bite detection? Do you feel like you're as confident holding the rod with your less dominant hand? For me, and if I'm being honest, I don't think the confidence is as high as it is with a spinning set up, but its very close. Very rarely do I feel like I would have had a better shot if I got that bite on a spinning rod. However to me, the trade off just isn't worth it. And the confidence will increase with time I'm sure. I'd rather be able to reel smoothly in a circle and feel comfortable in my approach than feel like I'm missing an occasional soft bite. Am I wording this right? Make sense? What do you guys think? I'd rather build my last little bit of confidence reeling righty than try to learn to reel lefty.

I'm usually wading, fishing 10 lb braid to 8 lb leader. When I can get behind the snag I do, but if I cast into deeper water I'm not risking it. So you think a slow retrieve just ticking the bottom instead of letting it sit dead on the bottom would be the better approach? I always felt that took away from the finesse aspect of it. But anyway thanks for all the replies.

My local river has basically a 100% rock bottom (aside from the occasional tree, tires, and shopping carts). The rocks that make up the bottom are on average about the size of my fist. Of course there are the occasional bowling ball sized ones and bigger. The stretch I fish is no deeper than 3 feet deep at normal levels, decent current. How. On God's green earth. Do I not get snagged on every third cast? Be it Texas rigs with a bullet weight, bitsy bugs, other jigs... Anything I can put on the bottom basically. If it's not rigged up the meat of the bait, I get stuck. I know the various methods for freeing a snag, and I do catch fish with bottom baits, but Jesus H is it exhausting. I know some say lightest weight for the current, others say heavier weight in current. I know some say flippin weights move through cover better, others recommend worm and football weights. Either way, I'm getting to the point where I don't care to fish anything that makes bottom contact in this body of water. Or, should I just expect to lose that much tackle when I'm out there? Sorry for the half rant. Thanks.

My baitcasters have about half a spool of big game mono backing, then 20 pound power pro to an alberto/albright knot to 12 pound mono. I've seen the knot I tie called both names, but bottom line is when you're out wading its a piece of cake to tie with your rod tucked in your wading belt. Plus it's super strong. I do 8 wraps both ways on the knot and every time I get hung up my line breaks at the palomar knot at the hook. Hope this helps!

Anybody care to link me please? Smallest I'm finding is 1/8th 3/0. Thanks.

Hey all. I'm in need of a recommendation, please. I have had great success with 4" swimbaits on 3/0 1/8th oz belly weighted screw lock hooks. I do also have some 2.8" and 3" swimbaits where this hook is just too big. What hooks do you guys use for these smaller size swimbaits? Just for grins I have tried 1/0 and 2/0 EWGs with a bullet style weight out front and it doesn't swim correctly. Ideally I'd want to keep the 1/8th oz if there is a smaller hook that would work. Or in this size am I limited to using a regular jig style hook? Thanks.