Tackleholic

I purchased this reel in 2004, probably have not used it since about 2006. 5 speed gear ratio, it's kind of heavy at 7.4 oz., large line capacity for it's size. It's too nice a reel to discard in a garage sale, but I'm in a quandary for it's most effective application. I remember originally using it for tossing small spinnerbaits while wade fishing in tight quarters with a 5'6" custom made rod; today I mostly lake fish from a 21' bass boat. I'm looking for suggestions from Forum members who have experience with this reel; what applications do you use it for?

You might find something you like in the Spro Littlejohn and Megabass Karashi. When I lived in Northern Illinois and fished mostly small rivers and streams, in early spring a Firetiger spinnerbait could never be beaten or equaled for Smallmouth.

When Wacky hooked; forget a hard hookset, just pull and reel.

Berkley Dredger 8.5

The above suggestions cover everything an inexperienced angler needs to know to begin catching Bass. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THIS : when fishing worms and Senkos, it takes time to learn when to set the hook, and while in the learning process most anglers experience a lot of gut hooked fish which results in mortality. To reduce the mortality rate, pinch the barbs or preferably get some barbless hooks. Another way, especially when wacky rigging, is to use circle hooks.

So does sunscreen.

That's by far my favorite color combination in 4 or 5 inch, Senko or Yum Dinger; preferably weightless, sometimes Neko rigged. What a day Swamp Girl, I bet everyone reading this is envious; I know I am.

I would happily scrap my FFS if everyone else would do the same.

I have an All Star Graphite rod which is the oldest rod I own and still use often; I bought it new from a once well known sporting goods company, now defunct. Whenever I root through a garage sale I keep hoping to find another; I'm guessing it's about 40 years old, looks like new when I clean it up, never needed a repair. I probably have about 40-50 rods, but none compare when using light baits.

How heavy was your swimbait?

Same thing has happened to my fence several times; easy fix.

Likewise.

I love fishing a frog, but my lake has only rock at normal pool. The lake needs to flood about 10 feet before I tie one on, but I have 2 questions for you regular frog users: (1) What are the softest body ones you know? (2) How do you manage to bend those super strong hooks up and out, just a little? Got a third question: How do you repair a frog when the hooks have been ripped out?

Black wake bait; I have 3 different brands. Caught a 5# largemouth and 3 pound smallmouth on the same cast using one last week; I was fishing alone and it was hard enough getting them into the net, even harder getting them unhooked.

I bought 2 at $105 each, don't remember from who; really like them.

Picasso and Strike King Tour Grade.

Just looked up the Dobyns Beast and found mostly out of stocks; appears it is discontinued or extremely popular.

I believe someone posted a comparison chart on this site a few years ago showing the amount of stretch in different lines; it caused me to switch from what I had used for many years. Maybe someone can find and repost it. It stretched so much I could walk a snag from the bow to stern of a 21 ft boat and still would not break.

Bought my first pack of Z Craw color 420 California on impulse, probably about 10 years ago. I now have a full box of Z Craws and Z Craw Jr.; I also have accumulated a box of Ultravibe Speed Craws and the Magnum size. Bass Resource should buy stock in ZOOM.

When I was a kid, my Dad would go Muskie fishing whenever possible; I still remember him catching both Largemouth and Smallmouth on those big Muskie lures.

I habitated the rivers, creeks, and woods all my life, fought mosquitoes, chiggers, Poison Ivy, even leeches, never had a tick bite. Retired and moved to the Ozarks; no mosquitoes where I live, but cannot even walk to the mailbox without getting ticks; been sick from them 3 times. When the touted Tick Vaccine becomes available I hope Bass Resource members will laud it loud and clear.

Please post the info. when you do.

I believe most depends on the trailer and retrieve. I never use a paddletail trailer. When the lure hits the water I give it an immediate pull to attract attention with the vibration, let it drop, pull it again, begin a steady retrieve at least fast enough to maintain the vibration. Everyone does it their own way, thats worked for me since the beginning, regardless of the trailer. My trailer preferences are the Zako, Speed Craw, and Z Craw Jr..

Big fish have no doubt seen nearly every lure known to man, or something similar. Get creative, be different, offer them something no bass angler in their right mind would tie on; resign yourself to getting much fewer bites.

Very similar to my own experience; my dog knocked a Calcutta overboard. Have you ever had a big fish "spool" you, or get snagged while drifting downstream in fast current?