PhishLI

The Tat 150 is essentially a beefed up Tatula CT. Both have Magforce-Z. It has a 3mm wider spool at 28mm vs 25mm, a 100mm handle vs 90mm, and a metal frame plus metal gear side plate where the CT's side plate is plastic. For a $30 more you get a purpose built power fishing reel that holds up nicely doing just that, and also casts very well with common bass baits.

Yes. Old age and old injuries aside, the worst thing anyone can do is lose flexibility. If you don't see yourself ever hitting the gym, at least take a serious look at a real stretching routine. I'm not talking about attempting to touch your toes in the morning for 30 seconds before giving up. Understand that at your age it may take a few months to achieve a level that'll allow you to live and play far more comfortably than you do now, but that will come and it's well worth it, especially if you make it a daily habit. Bigger than that you'll avoid future injury because of doing this. Give it a shot. If you do it'll change your life beyond your wildest expectations.

Go get 'em. Moves are good.

Yes. I throw them every session as part of my normal progression when I'm trying to find out what they want. All conditions. Last night the wind was howling. 20 mph sustained winds and 34* real feel. Whitecaps. A 5+lber smashed the Shellcracker G2 pictured on the bottom. I've also done very well using any sized wake in dead flat conditions. No hard-fast rule if they're keyed in on wakes. Natural light probably plays a role to some degree regarding color. Sometimes white rules. Other times flash, or monochromatic color. Other times, well you let the fish tell you. Having a variety on hand is the best bet. The easiest bait to recommend is the Black Dog Baits Shellcraker G2. One in white. One in Bluegill. I've caught big bluegill, crappie, walleye, and bass from 1lb to 7lbs on them. It can be thrown on a heavy jig rod with mono if that's all you have. The 50mm Yozuri shown on top might also be the right bait at the right time. My buddy's best bass so far this year weighing 6-13 ate that exact bait. Mix in something in the 70mm range in a few colors and you're set. All of the baits shown will crank down to different depths if you crank them fast enough. Sometimes that's exactly what the doctor ordered. Occasionally they'll refuse to come up to the surface, but a wake running 6" below the surface is the deal. Always mix things up when you're working over an area. Quite often seemingly dead water is actually loaded with fish, and showing them what they want how they want it is the difference maker.

Just a middling Bassmaster Classic Champion and BASS Angler of the Year title.

Me either. Tonight it'll be 38* with 17-23 mph NW winds. Not fun.

So you don't have to do anything lickity split then. If and when you have a reason to go to town for something else. At your convenience. Tell them you don't have a printer available and to mail you a label. Also tell them to schedule a pickup with Fedex. They'll do it, or they can kiss your grits.

MH composite crank bait rod rated to 1 1/2oz.

How do you fish most often? Are you standing and casting while on a boat? Do you intend on sticking with this reel on a crankbait rod and throwing chatterbaits/spinnerbaits? If that's the case then there's nothing about the specific braking profile of a Tatula SV that's really beneficial over the 150's Magforce Z. IMO, the SV's braking profile may frustrate you here. Magforce Z is better suited here, especially with heavier baits on a rod that bends deeper into the blank. In addition, the 150 is a heavier duty reel than the Tat SV and is better suited for chuck-n-wind resistance baits.

I've heard of this dial irritation issue, so it must be real for some people, but it hasn't been for me or anyone I know though. Lots of Daiwas spread throughout my clique. I suppose hand size or shape may be the reason. As far as size goes, no problem there either. The other night I fished back and forth without a thought between the diminutive Tatula 80(Alphas sized) and a Catalina TW which has the same sized frame as the 150. Some people get hopped up on reel size, and that's fine, but I'm not uncomfortable with slightly larger low profile reels. I don't see the Tatula 150/Tat-Coastal 200/Zillion HD/ Catalina TW as being unusually large reels in reality. They're all comfortable for me. YMMV. That said, if Robert has unusually small hands, or doesn't but upon palming the reel feels the dial is an issue, then maybe he should buy from somewhere he can return it easily. My bet is that he'd be fine. This isn't a widespread issue.

Yup. It's interesting.

I don't know how pickerel behave anywhere else because I've only caught them locally. Here they're prone to following your lure practically to the shore or boat then hitting. I've watched them bite the tails off of most of those baits. Besides that I know what a pickerel bite feels like, especially when they only bite the back half of a plastic bait.

So I'll stick with my earlier recommendation of the Tatula 150. Easy to learn on with higher brake settings and all the practical distance you'll need once you get your legs under you and lower those settings. Great for chuck-n-wind resistance baits like chatterbaits, etc.

6" Watermelon/Blake flake Senko 194

What's your budget?

I'm happy you didn't take me seriously and try it. After I posted that silliness I wondered if I'd made a mistake? I imagined the headlines in the morning: "PhishLI ostracized then exiled from BR because poor ole lunkerboss can't go fishing anymore".

This works, but not so great on GY senkos. The VMC saddles have the hook hole so you can set the hook perpendicular to the worm without cutting into it. Crossing over o-rings allows you to do the same thing without nicking the worm. With DIY silicone tube installed it's nearly impossible to not nick the worm when you hook it perpendicularly. That nick is the beginning of the end with a GY senko, especially a 6". It will rip just from casting it which is a guaranteed blowup if you're throwing it using a baitcaster. BPS Stick-Os, Yum Dingers, and Strike King Shim-E- sticks are far more durable and can take the nick better. If I'm throwing a WR it's going to be a GY senko. A sandwich, side salad, and a large iced tea at my local deli cost more than both tools combined plus extra o-rings, so I'm not sweating it really. Zactly.

My brother got his 1st nice piggy of the year last night on the Toxic Baits Whippersnapper.

If you see yourself wacky rigging larger worms like 6" Senkos then get this tool for sure. 7" worms will fit into it too. Make sure to get #11 O-rings. The smaller O-rings that fit 5" worms properly will cut 6" worms in half rather quickly. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/The_O-Wacky_Tool_The_Brute/descpage-OWACKYTO.html The clear O-rings tend to be more supple than the black ones. Your 6" worm will last longer. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/The_O-Wacky_Tool_O-Rings_25pk/descpage-OWACKYR.html For 5" worms you're better off with this smaller version of this tool. Many standard 1/4" I.D. O-rings will split when fed over the the larger tool shown above. If you're only going to use 5" worms then the VMC tool is fine and is shown in the bottom pic. The clear O-rings that come with it are very soft. However, if you're ordering both the large and small tool you might as well get both in metal. This one works: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/O-Wacky_Tool/descpage-OWACKYTOOL.html

All you had to do was belt sand your callouses off and the lettering would've been fine.

Never once been broken off using 12,15,20,25,or 30 Big Game pulling in a bass. It's stupid strong. Plus, you get a half mile of line for 10 bux. If you somehow mange to nest a spool beyond repair, who cares? Re-spool for peanuts. It also responds well to line conditioner if you're into that sort of thing. There are better lines out there, but for the price? Maybe on another planet.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Ima_Bill_Lowen_Squarebill_Crankbait/descpage-IBLSB.html https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Rapala_Balsa_Xtreme_BX_Brat_Squarebill_Crankbaits/descpage-RBEBSB.html

Please email that memo to the bass at my lake. Thank you.?

Gonna try it both ways. Maybe the skirt will replicate the fins that flank their head? It'll be fished at night. I've had no play yet on a straight Ol'Monster, so I have to try something else. If you're inclined, and also have permission, PM me a pic please. Always love seeing a local jumbo!

Perhaps. I'll let you know.