Eric 26

It appears the Lews is a bit over a $200.00 reel which is a bit higher than I’d spend but I’m happy to give you a recommendation of the Daiwa Tatula Elite and if that’s a little higher than you’re looking to spend you can grab the Tatula 150, both will get you plenty of line capacity for your needs. Full disclosure I don’t own either reel but I do have enough Daiwa reels that I can comfortably say they’re braking systems are the easiest to use and perform well along with being really well built in my opinion. Best of luck in your search and make sure to share a photo of the combo.

I too finally got my 6’-10” medium heavy out recently. Although I didn’t catch any fish I did catch a rod/reel combo which has never happened to me before so there is that. I had a 1/2 ounce bladed jig tied on with no trailer and I felt like the rod was properly responsive as far as feeling the blades turning once I started the retrieve and that the fast action is on par with what I expected at least. I’m planning on getting a 3/8 ounce swim jig on it next and feel it’s a really nice rod at a really good price. Thanks again for sharing this deal @KP Duty, PS here’s a photo of my rod/reel catch 🤢

I don’t think I’ve shared any photos of our 2 cats, my kids received them as birthday presents against my objections (not that I objected very hard) at the time only because I knew I’d be the one cleaning the litter pan and inevitable hair balls. They are currently 11 years old.

She’s a beautiful dog and having had 2 myself I’m sure she’s a great dog that will be missed. As far as in home euthanasia that’s really a shame they can’t make an exception for you and your family. RIP Georgia and look for my 2 over the 🌈 bridge 💔

Although I don’t know how big the fingerlings the Wisconsin DNR stocks it’s my understanding from what I heard is they knew it was stocked due to the clipped fin.

I for one am looking forward to hearing how this works out for you as well as hoping it works out in your favor 👍🏻

If I may ask what rod is in the inventory?

@12poundbass It was quite a difference watching GVSU currently 3-1 in Division 2 vs visiting our daughter and watching Illinois Wesleyan’s football team Division 3 let alone the difference in the stadiums, a bigger difference between Division 2&3 than I realized.

Much like @NorcalBassin my wife and I visited our son yesterday for parents day which included a football game at the prettiest stadium I’ve ever been at which isn’t a lot. Seeing the American Flag waving in the wind against the beautiful background had me thinking what a great country I’m lucky enough to be living in. @12poundbass Congratulations to your son as that’s a huge accomplishment being a Freshman.

I still haven’t been able to fish my 6’-10” MH as work has been in overdrive but I’m determined to get it out next week and I’ll comment then.

Best of luck👍🏻

I’m not going to recommend as much as point out I can say with 99% certainty that BPS’s Carbonlite 2.0 and JM’s signature spinning reels are both made by Daiwa. I have a 1500 Carbonlite and a 2000 signature series and although I like my Daiwa reels I feel their spools are far too deep for me.

So I finally got out yesterday and unconsciously started casting and I did have my hand in casting position with my index finger on the trigger and using thumb to help control the spool along with holding the rod butt to add distance. I then moved to an area on the bank with some trees and casted side arm although at this time I concentrated on casting properly and still didn’t palm the reel and when I tried palming the reel it felt very unnatural and uncomfortable to boot. After thinking about it some more today I didn’t really have anybody teach me how to cast a bait cast reel other than copying what the “pros” were doing on Saturday morning and especially Bill Dance as he was always a favorite of mine so I guess I’ve just been copying his style along with the tips he shared on casting as well. I’m going to keep trying to be conscious of how I’m casting and like all of you who responded I’m going to keep doing what’s working for me even if it’s not easy to watch or even improper mechanically. I do have another question for you all and that is do you cast any differently when it comes to BFS if you do use it? I ask because I was telling bulldog that I finally feel I found a combination of rod/reel, line (braid) and lure that works for me but I was bird nesting albeit not horribly or every cast but I’m not sure if it was my mechanics or my excitement to get the lure back in the water. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond and I wish I could mark all of you as the “solution” as well.

I unfortunately have never used Suffix Siege. When I first got into better bait casting reels around 10 or more years ago I bought Suffix Super 21 Low Strech monofilament if you remember or used that and I also have and use Trilene Big Game monofilament and to me the Advance Monofilament feels more limp than both of the aforementioned monofilaments. Hope this helps a little bit.

Absolutely beautiful.

My co-worker/friend brought me in a 4 pack to sample and I must admit that although I’m not a Rye fan in any form this being ice cold is quite tasty. Sorry about the cat butt in the photo 😬

Keep this post updated if you don’t mind as I’m just starting to dip my toes into the bfs game.

@Tackleholic Try checking in with Sieberts outdoors to see if he can make you some.

@Crick74 Search how to adjust photo files in the upper bar on here and you’ll get great advice on that. While you’re there you can search for All Star Rods and I guarantee you’ll find a lot of posts on them also and if you’re so inclined to sell them you’ll find some interest on here as well or at least I feel you will. As far as fishing them only you can determine if they’re worth fishing, hanging on the wall as decorations or selling for what you feel they are worth.

First and foremost if this is in the wrong location moderator’s feel free to move. Also if this has been discussed before I apologize in advance. So after reading @Bigbox99’s response in a maintenance thread about casting mechanics using left hand retrieve reels but being right hand dominant it got me thinking about my own casting mechanics using left handed reels in both casting and spinning reels over my morning coffee. Now and correct me if I’m wrong Bigbox99 but your basically saying by palming and casting while palming the reel your wrist isn’t creating the proper motion during the cast and when I finally got out to the garage to check my own mechanics I’ll be darned but I definitely feel I’m understanding what you were saying and now I’m excited to get out hopefully Monday to test this out as I’m a bank bound fisherman who could use every advantage I can get for distance as my beloved ponds have a strong weed presence at least 10-15 yards from the edges out. I again apologize in advance if this is in the wrong thread, has been discussed too much already or if it’s just plain boring but I’m wondering if anyone else has developed bad habits as I feel I have without realizing it.

I agree and although it’s true I’m not going to try and fool anyone into thinking they’re big fish and I know that makes a difference in the toughness of their mouth’s.

I’m not going to answer for tackleholic but I’m currently using it on 4 bait casters and 1 2000 size spinning reel in 10 pound test and have zero complaints about it. I’m also using 10 pound test big game monofilament too on a few bait casters and I feel the big game is a bit stiffer if that makes sense. I can’t really answer abrasion resistance as the ponds I fish are soft bottom with a lot of weeds. For what it’s worth I mainly use square bills and different style jigs along with bladed jigs and spinner baits and have zero issues on the hook sets at any distance out from the shoreline.

I think you’re on the right path with only upgrading one reel currently. I will also add my Favorite Soleus reels run “2 spool high speed bearings” their description and although I don’t know what type of ceramic bearings they are I actually have zero issues with the noise and feel the one I’m currently using is one of my better casting reels as well. Keep this post updated when and if you do upgrade. I’m also thinking of going down this rabbit hole with my Daiwa CA 80 reel but I think I’m going to have them flushed and properly lubricated before I replace them though.

@Tackleholic I’m of the same opinion as you in my liking of Suffix Advance Monofilament enough so that I bought the 1200 yard spool. @Bigbox99 & @redmeansdistortion Back when I had a pick up truck I only ran Yokohama Geolanders and I still feel they are an absolute value for the money in terms of wear and low to no road noise along with the exceptional traction. I currently run Falken tires on my 2009 Ford Focus and again I feel they are a good value for the money.