PhishLI

I'm so behind the times. Almost 2 weeks ago I found a way to sideline myself yet again, and have had to sit it out, so I thought I've been on the DL. As it turns out the DL is so 2017, at least in baseball terms. The DL(disabled list) has been replaced with IL(injured list), and for good reason. My research has lead me to understand to never ever never say "I'm on the DL, or he's on the DL". The former would confuse my friends and loved ones who are hip to the lingo, and the latter might get me socked. Linguistic efficiency isn't my bag anyway, so no more acronyms for me. It's been two weeks and nothing much has changed, except the water level is even lower. Scary low. It just won't rain here even when thunderstorms are in the forecast. It's still hot as Hades day after day, and the bite is very August-like within casting range. Just a few shorts and several super dinks I let shake off wake/cranks. Back to the ice packs and anti-inflammatories, but it's always good to get some tugs after being away from the action.

Improved Clinch for mono and braid. SDJ for Fluoro.

Odorless mineral spirits cleans it right off. Zero evidence, and two 1/2" x 1/2" squares weigh virtually nothing. 50 lb braid won't slip using superlline hooks.

Laptop. I dislike using my phone on any forum, especially for reading longer posts. It just isn't conducive, IMO, and I think it explains why many responses are disjointed. It's just too easy to blow through a post by speed scrolling, so it makes sense why points might be missed or misunderstood.

Don't sweat it. Without instruction from someone who's capable of instruction, the same thing would've happened with a $500 reel. Listen to the dudes and spool it up with cheap mono, and stick with it even if it feels like you're in hell. That'll pass. You'll "get it".

Oh, you're into Hi-Tech spooling stations too? Nice! Yes, my spool spindle is a X-ACTO knife with a fender washer.?

Tie onto the spool with an arbor knot, or whichever knot you use. Cut 2 squares of electrical tape about 1/2" X 1/2". Place them over the line at 180*. Wind on your line. No mono backing and your braid will not slip.

Deja vu all over again

My friend's father had a super connection for concert tickets way back. He even limo'd us in. Caught some pretty good shows. Saw Heart/BOC at Radio City in the winter of late '80, or early '81. Can't really remember exactly. Something purple was around... The mixer was on point, and nobody on stage was drunk I suppose, because both bands played meticulously. It was great.

Bring money. Check out their JDM bait aisle. It's pretty good, and look on the clearance rack on the way back there. They put some pretty good stuff on it sometimes. There were lefty Hypermags getting clearance'd out for $200 last time I was there.

Also, if you're out near Oakdale, J&H has nearly full lines of reels in the display cases for comparison. You're allowed to fondle them. They had Catalinas in stock too last month if you don't feel like bringing yours.

Yes. Quite a bit. You know where to find me when you sell the Catalina?

What do you do? Fish from a boat doing mostly short work to targets and skipping, or are you chucking average weight baits for distance?

Register your warranty and don't sweat it. I've had 8 Omen Black 2s for the past 5 years and my buddy has 3 OB3s for the past 2. We fish super heavy cover and haven't broken a thing ever while fishing with them.

I look at it like a sanctioned fight in a ring or a cage. I want to win, which means I'm going to hurt my opponent to some degree, but I really don't want them to die. I'm usually wading, so I keep them submerged while unhooking them. A quick pic or two followed by a release period with side to side wagging until they feel strong, then off they go. Big or small, they get this treatment. That's all I can do.

Definitely! ?

Funny you should use this as a measure. Birds of a feather on this one. Back in the 90s I started hanging out again with a good party buddy that I'd known since elementary school. Did Vegas trips and had lots of good times. Out of the 8 of us who hung out on and off together as kids, he was the only one I'd never had a fist fight with. Neither of us had ever crossed that line, and it seemed like we were pretty tight. In '96 I needed to move pronto. Like as fast as possible. He'd actually volunteered to help out, but never showed up on the first or second day. I called on the 1st day to make sure he wasn't dead, but no call back. Thankfully I had plenty of hands on deck, and after I moved and got a new phone # I never bothered calling again. Oh well.

Perhaps the grand poobah should tweak the algorithm so the word "best" gets the **** treatment, or maybe a hand can just reach out from the phone or laptop of the person typing it and give them a nice slap. These threads always end up in a ponderous turd measuring contest no matter what, and often long after the new-ish OP has checked out completely or has taken up basket weaving instead.?

Ok. So keep watching and pick up what you can. You can observe good casting mechanics and compare them to your own. Make changes as necessary. Just have patience and you'll develop a feel. It takes some time. Good. Daiwas are different. Loosen the spool tension until you're able to see side to side movement. Now depress the thumbar. Place a thumbnail in the center of the line and move the spool side to side. You'll hear it click when you do this. Slowly tighten the spool tension knob until there's no side to side movement, then stop. This is neutral spool tension. Your lure will hit the ground like a rock, but it's supposed to with this reel. Use the brakes, your thumb, and a controlled casting stroke to manage the spool. Up the brakes a bit until you "get it", then start backing them down. 10, or halfway, on this reel is a very safe setting. If you backlash on that setting with lighter baits, then you're whipping your casts. If the rod is overloaded by too heavy a weight, which will slingshot the bait with too hard of a cast, you'll backlash. Either way, resist the urge to overpower the cast to get distance in the beginning. You won't need to once you understand what your stroke needs to be, especially with a Daiwa. This takes a bit of practice. Not knowing what test you had spooled on beforehand, I could see anyone having an issue throwing a weightless 5" senko on typical 25lb mono. 8lb isn't ideal, but isn't really that problematic, and now we know your spool tension was far too tight. Adjust it as outlined and you'll be fine with 12 lb.

I'll add to this and say looking at then locking your eyes on the target during wind up through splash down is key. Which type of cast used plus the velocity required to execute it is calibrated unconsciously after enough data has been processed over time. Like you said, it becomes automatic. Zero thought. Feel, don't think. However, none of this happens consistently if over-runs and backlashes are in the forefront of a person's mind. Being in command of one's mechanics enough to cast cleanly the vast majority of the time is a good first step in remaining zen enough to consistently hit targets. Besides catching bass, getting myself into this zone and executing is one of the cooler things about fishing for me. Even if I end up stinking it up catching, at least I put my lure right where I wanted it to be. I don't know if the shine will ever wear off of doing this, but I get a ton of satisfaction out of it now when all cylinders are firing.

Are you brand new to a bait caster? Which pound test line and type are you spooled up with? Tell us how the Fuego is set up. Spool tension and brake setting. If you're comfortable and tuned in with this setup, you should be able to consistently throw a weightless 5" senko '100-'120 ft. Really comfortable, then a bit farther. If you're struggling with over runs and backlashes with a common bait like this, then you simply need time to get your legs under you.

Yes, you're correct. I meant my BG 2500 which uses a bushing. Oops! Same line. No wind knot problems. None with 20lb J8 either when it was spooled with that. The line roller gets Reel X oil. No grease.

True, yet my BG 2500 uses a bushing and wind knots aren't a thing with it using 15 PP SS. I keep it clean and lubed. P.S. Grease was cleaned off of the assembly and lubed with Reel X oil instead.

Check to see if your line roller is spinning nicely. If it isn't, lube it.

Did whoever tell you this know you're spooled with 12 lb mono? If you're sticking with 12 lb mono, then don't worry about it, because it's very unlikely you'll have an issue with losing fish, even if using a fast MH + rod. 12 lb mono stretches like crazy. Adjust your drag, don't swing on the WP like it's a frog in slop, and you'll be just fine. No matter who you are, you're going to lose fish once in a while. This isn't always because of less than perfect gear for a given bait.