CrankFate

On a reel like that, using braid, I’d say one is all you need. I’ve never seen a reel with those brakes that didn’t have a spool tension knob that does 90% of what you need to control the spool all by itself. The set the reel to the minimal side play or just where there is no side play and the “the spool tension knob is not a brake” advice is all extremely overrated, IMO. I’ll take a good spool tension knob over the best magnets any day.

The smaller, lighter reel is usually best.

I fish it weedless. Sometimes there’s no choice. Or I’ll T-Rig a weedless Ned style worm on a smaller worm hook. I switched to weedless ned a lot because my hooks can get destroyed in the rocks sometimes.

It’s too early. If I start now, what am I going to do in February?

The action is a soft tip. They usually have a few on the racks at BPS to pick up and bend. The ML would be considered a very soft tip by bass rod standards. But it’s stiffer as you go up in rated power/weight. It’s a great rod, because I don’t think there’s anything else like it currently on the market.

Wait, I got an even better story: Son got braces.

There is no problem with slowing down a 7 speed reel. But it is not possible to consistently speed up a slower reel.

The BPS Crankin stick is the ideal crank rod. I have 2, the 6’6” ML and 7’ ML - it is not fancy high end gear, but there is no fancy high end gear that will be able to match its action. I recommend it over any other rod once price is considered. I would also say it is the best normal size rod available for finesse applications.

I have never been able to catch jumping bass.

Patience.

Well, the temp is 38 right now, would’ve tried now, but had to take my son to the dentist and then take my wife to the endodontist, back to back appointments. Hopefully, I’ll get to give it a shot—deep water—tomorrow.

I prefer a foregrip. It’s no fun reeling in a lot of fish by holding the reel. Especially if you are catching big ones. You only need the Foregrip for reeling in. I’m looking to add Foregrip to some of my newer rods. Especially my Kistler KLX, which is for inshore fishing. Anyone know a good source for a 5” cork Foregrip that I can add to a rod?

I prefer the tiny ones, rated for 50lbs, because they don’t affect action on Crankbaits as much as the bigger ones. I also like the small ones because I’m convinced, if you are fishing light they don’t cause as much wind resistance. http://dbluefishing.com/goods.php?id=239

All of them once you go over $200.00.

My kids get backlashes on spinning reels that require removing the sideplate. They’re not getting baitcasters until they learn how to not do this with spinning reels.

Shallow is 1-3 feet deep. Deep is 15-20 feet deep. I did see a few decent fish scatter as I walked up to the water, maybe 18-20 inches deep. Surprised me because the water isn’t clear and they’d be invisible if they didn’t scatter. I found the bait. Late season quarter size baby panfish. A favorite food around here. I was using a Ned rig Hellgrammite at first because I’ve caught SMB there, they are very rare around here. No luck with anything. Except ruining a few fresh new rigs on the scattered rocks. The water was not clear, but it was as clear as it ever gets at that pond. There were sunny rocks nearby, but the water was too clear. When I walked further down the bank and looked back to where the rocks are, for the first time ever, I could actually see all of the rocks and even the smaller jagged, grapefruit sized rocks. Strange because I could see them from far away looking at them from an angle, but they were barely visible up close.

I thought you’d say something like that. I expect to get one sometime down the road. That’ll be for heavier applications for me. When I have the time to get out more, that’s on my list. Been updating things around the house this fall, since I haven’t had the time to put into fishing recently and some of the things around here (not just me) are starting to get old.

I agree. And I have some of those Ugly Sticks and they look new after years of hard fishing.

I know that’s what people say. But I’ve never had a rod break. I would pass on getting any rod that I thought might break from fishing.

I don’t know, but I would never pay more for a rod to get a better warranty. IMO, warranty is irrelevant to the usefulness of a rod.

Similar to here. Only I know they are eating other things, too. Mostly small things. Meanwhile, I could’ve watched this https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/fall-bass-fishing.html This one was linked to the BR video. Also helpful:

....by that little fish!

LoL! No!!! I will admit it though, I was using a swivel for easy switching.

Here’s why I say big baits are often overrated. i left him on and the next cast something pecked him off in seconds. Switched to match the hatch—nothing. ive seen these guys flip out of the water when the fish are feeding, but this is the first time I ever caught one.