CrankFate

Get used to it. You will find a world full of people who will belittle you and tell you how you’re doing everything wrong. No matter how good you’re doing. And no matter how terribly they’re doing. But you’ll also find some people who help and make you better. And if you really like what you’re doing, you might even be one of those people to others.

I just have to say this. It pains me terribly when I hear people getting down on themselves over wanting a very expensive rod or reel. I’m just old enough to have lived before the internet and before fishing was all about high end gear and advertisements. It’s one thing if someone wanted something expensive, worked hard, made the money and got it. And gets satisfaction from obtaining the unobtainable. But too many people just want more expensive stuff because it’s more expensive. Years ago it was about fun, good times and fish—even when there was no fish! Too many people get caught up in I need it because it’s expensive. If price is the only factor, you probably don’t need it and just can’t afford to find out you don’t even want it. I feel terrible for people that get too caught up in the hype of the most expensive just because it’s the most expensive. It pains me terribly because there is just so much more to everything that they’re missing out on. I can’t tell you how many people I know, who make a lot of money and still bankrupted themselves into endless debt over that mentality. There is just so much more to everything than that.

The dedication in these videos helps me push through. Went lighter this month after not working out until getting my arm checked out. Managed to lose 11 pounds of injury fat this month, even after making this weekend cheat weekend with pizza, cookies and cream milkshakes and wendy’s (I ate a fish sandwich, though). Finally back in the swing of the warm up run. Here’s my monthly total from the Retro Fitness app, tracked with an Apple Watch: 9,619 calories, 9 hours 10 minutes, 10.72 miles.

Uh, oh, I just added to it.

I like them all at times. Favorite? Probably my old Omoto Cerveza 103a. 100% magnesium, knockoff Steez that weighs less than a Steez and is smaller than any major brand BC on the market, still. Blue, silver and black. What’s not to love?

It is far beyond obsolete. It’s scrap metal. Do yourself a favor. Get new gear. Your body will thank you and you’ll catch more fish. Nobody should be using a rod/reel combo that literally weighs four pounds. Get yourself something that weighs less than the reel alone. You will definitely catch more fish and you will definitely feel physically better doing so. Even with cheap gear, youll easily get a better setup that weighs half as much as the reel alone for the same price as a 712z.

I lose tons of rigs. Sometimes as many as 20 an outing. I hate sacrificing things like tungsten and expensive plastics to the water Gods.

Definitely. I got one pack recently and tried it yesterday. Most smaller baits don’t flutter enough. They were just soft enough to get that bigger bait flutter in a small craw.

I’m really liking those small net bait craws on a finesse jig. Great action. Especially when they stop moving.

Keep it on the hook and use it for bait!

Well at least all that beating the banks has other benefits. Except for a short trip to the supermarket, this is what 4 or 5 hours of rock hopping looks like.

Gave it a try. Got to test my new Kistler Magnesium & Aldebaran 50. Was not easy to cast light stuff til I got it dialed in. By “dialed in” I mean turned all the brakes off. Then it casted half the spool with a quarter ounce jig. I lost one bootleg dark sleeper and my jig with mini craw on it. I do not believe it will be possible to catch fish for at least another month. Water couldn’t be more than 40 degrees. I will also say that I’ve only seen bedding fish or fish protecting babies in August. So I just don’t see any fish eating now. No signs of life anywhere, except birds. I saw guys using bait still get the skunk. But the jig/mini craw combination I picked looked perfect in the water ?

That is my take on it. Tight tolerances and solid smoothness.

The baitmonkey

If you want refined, get a Tatula 100 for about $100.00, then get some Abec 5 or 7 Bocas or similar and add 2 to the worm and 1 under the handle. Then completely flush the spool bearings and pinion bearing and oil them with quality oil. This reel will be very refined. Extremely refined. If you use Boca Ceramic Lightning’s on sale, or SmoothDrag bearings, you can do it for $25-30. You won’t be disappointed.

I will just add what I observed. Usually there are at least 2 or 3 bass in an area, not necessarily schooled up, but close enough to constantly acknowledge each other with their eyes. Bass very often stay in pairs side by side. When bass are cruising, they usually cruise in groups of 2 to about 8 fish, in a pod. These are very hard to catch. I wouldn’t call these “schools” but they are clearly pods cruising in group formation. They will sometimes also suspend in formation. Those bass are least likely to eat and d**n near impossible to catch. I wonder if those suspended pods are hanging out digesting a big meal?

No way to know O2? But fish stay real shallow a lot. Even in 95 degree hot sunny weather. They’re definitely sitting like that for a reason. Match what they are waiting for as simply as possible. Or get them mad.

I always hated the guys that post this huge bunch of tackle they just bought, thinking, what are these guys collectors? Are they trying to open a tackle shop? Who needs to buy all that crap in one trip to the store. Then for the first time ever, I decided to take a picture of my last few weeks worth of tackle purchases. d**n. I didn’t know I was one of those guys. But no, I did not buy these all in one trip. I ordered a few here and there. Made a stop here or there...... Basically adds up to the same thing.

When that happens, I just buy a few extra jackets that I don’t need.

You cannot get so close, try to cast long parallel to the shore and work the bait to the fish. If that doesn’t work, splash something that floats right on top of it or somewhere in about a two foot circle around where it is sitting. The other method involves why this fish is sitting there in that position.......?

We are completely ice free. Might throw some jigs this weekend... ...still do not believe there will be fish in March.

A-Rig, Big Swimbaits, Tokyo Rig, Deep Cranking. Rarely use jerkbaits. Have used, but never use spinnerbaits.

Custom Kistler Magnesium with Shimano Aldebaran. Weighs about 8.6oz total. Still never been fished ⛄

How bout to say you don’t like it as much as your other reel for the same technique?

If I said my price per bass, no one would believe me.