CrankFate

None. Never. Nope.

I’m always certain I’m going to be bailing them left and right. No matter how terrible it is. And then I wind up making it a whole day.

A lot of people are selling themselves short by not fishing what works best for them. Just doing what everyone says helps to a point, but you need to figure out your style and what gear gets you the most fish for how you fish. +1 And I suspect a lot of guys praise items they never fished, too.

Amazon has some colors for $10. Or you could go Chinese bootleg. I got a few (finally) today. I’m not throwing the real ones where I risk losing several per day. The fake ones do not smell or taste as good.

I tracked it for more than 2 years and could not find a correlation. It was actually the only thing I ever really tracked. And it accurately had no correlation to any fishing that I did, from small ponds to deep ocean fishing.

I ordered a test pack of minnows like that from Ali Express. Still waiting after almost 2 months.....

If I had water like that around, Instead of going on the internet, I would be too busy throwing everything in the world to find out what works.

Maybe, but the way I'd describe it is like the feel of a magnesium reel compared to reels made of harder metals. I like the softer feel in the magnesium reels, but lose a lot compared to steel and copper weights. The cheap copper weights are very hard (if theyre really even copper) and are very, very sensitive. Lead I'm not sure, I know its softer, but maybe its just so long using it. I still get better feel with it. Tungsten feels like a plastic like feel to me, like it somehow absorbs impact, that's the only way to describe it.

If you’re worried about “knot wear” yes, it is a problem that doesn’t exist. The knot might get stuck in the guides or catch on them ruining your cast, but no rod in this category will ever damage your line with friction.

I don’t use tungsten. It’s way too expensive and I go through way too many rigs fishing rocks patrolled by cruisers. You get less bottom feel and less sensitivity with tungsten (at least I do). Steel or copper weights are way cheaper and you will notice a drastic increase in sensitivity.

I pulled a sunken log lodged in the mud that had to be 200-300 lbs in with 20lb test braid last week. Had to wrap the line around me and use my body to do it, but if I used the rod it would’ve definitely broke.

As much as it takes to get what I need. Want is not a factor. Except my want to catch fish. I don’t like to collect gear. I get that some people like collecting. Or even enjoying the differences from one rod or reel to the next. I just want these things because I need to catch fish.

That is terrible. I remember 3.8 to 1

Ok, so I guess I’m wrong on gears, the speed of the retrieve is what is relevant to rod speed. I don’t fish slow reels (ever). But you’ll see a lot of people with slow reels fishing the stiffer rods. For nonbass fishing, slower rods are made for faster reels. But I’ll stop talking now ?

Fast or mod, you’re gonna need a higher powered rod for that......

Action and power can’t be separated. Even a slow gear cranking rig will be fishing the bait faster than a 9 or 10:1 flipping and pitchin.

That’s interesting. What are you basing that on? Because that’s how the rods are built. Slower rods for faster baits. Except top water rods which are stiff. I don’t build rods and I, personally, disagree with how they are designed.

The stiffer the rod, generally, the slower the reel should be. Technique is secondary to this, IMO. You will find the guys with the slowest reels fishing the fastest rods. The faster the bait a rod is designed for, the slower the rod will be. Except maybe for topwaters and poppers, which usually require a stiff rod, even for slow moving lures.

The only thing I ever got out of lily pads was dinks.

Rocks and ledges require Hercules braid. I know no braid more abrasion resistant than Hercules. It might sound funny and like a fake bootleg brand, but it’s the best braid for abrasion.

On my rod...?

I can’t palm most BC reels on most rods.

I have larger than average palms and small fingers, so I am sensitive to these things.

It can if it’s meant for salt. Japan tackle says “Improved salt-resitance” But with such a small spool and the weight I’ll be throwing, I’ll cast to the end of the spool. I need a 50 size spool. With 20lb braid.

@BaitFinesse I think Steez is freshwater only, so I’m not sure. Plus the $$$ - but that is definitely a sweet super small reel. It’s about time the trend started toward very small. EDIT: Nope—it says salt resistant. @Further North I think what you’re talking about in how they feel is wideness. The abus are wider than Shimano. That’s my concern. Supposedly the mgxtreme is “smaller” but I can’t tell how much compared to other similar abus.