Bigassbass

I think maybe I got a lemon, like I said it's better now since I replaced washers and bearings. And I could have bought a returned reel, ya never know.

I bought a Shimano Ci4 2500 reel in 2020 the drag never worked well I didn't think compared to other reels I've owned. So after reading on here how you can replace the shaft bearing, I ordered up some fine bearings from a company that makes bearings not fishing reel parts. Put the bearing on this morning and it's a world of difference in the drag and reeling in line! I also replaced the felt drag washers with new felt, I like the soft feel. I am disappointed in Shimano cause they don't use high end parts in their reels least not the Ci4's never will I buy another one! I've fished with this reel very little. Maybe I got a dud that I should have sent back right away but still I don't see the quality matching the price.

I'll take a president for pan fishing any day over a Stradic, I have 3 Shimano reels and I think my Pflueger is just as good a reel as my CI-4. If the FL was lighter I'd buy one, those are super nice reels!

Hey Dink, can you send it to Pflueger and get them to fix it?

Just got my President 25 XT today, I spooled it with 4# mono, sweet and smooth, has a bearing and washer on the shaft, hey Shimano doesn't do that on their lower end reels for sure my CI-4 reel doesn't have it. I got a perfect match on a ultra light Major Craft rod, going fishing this evening to catch some crappie and brim!

Small reels work great and are smoother with felt drags, bigger reels work with carbon but know that carbon can grind into the brass or whatever medal your reel is made of. I've replaced felt don't like carbon and most all Shimano CI-4 reels need new felt pretty fast plus the Stella and lots of other Shimano reels come with felt. I think it's a personal choice and you choose what you like.

Sedona reels are nice reels but you have to grease and keep them clean, make sure to register the reel online with Shimano so your warranty is there when you need cleaning or serviced. The bigger reels are nicer I think than the smaller reels in that series. Buy a CI4 and you'll never want anything else. 6lb mono or 8lb works best IMO on this reel. I've owned several of them and I now have a Sedona 3000 which I love but it's a heavy reel, I've caught a lot of bass on it.

I have always heard dogwood bloom means crappie are bedding, then brim, then finally bass, water temps would be better to watch. In N.C. we have such a up and down weather and temp swing tree blooms are confused. Tonight we'll have a frost and freeze if the wind doesn't blow cause it's getting down to 32 chilly for the first day of spring!

So many lures mentioned seems it doesn't really matter what you throw, you choose what you like.

52 degree water in the pond near my house, 49 at Jordan Lake 30 miles down the road, not much longer till really warm water and the crappie spawn!

I wouldn't ever call fishing grinding, just stay home and do something else if the conditions are that bad. I will say fish when you want to no matter the conditions. Thats why it's called fishing instead of catching. lol

Buy some fishing gloves ones made to pick up fish with and use your hands. Those grippers hurt fish! Most people are rough when they use those things you can break a fish's jaw. Not humane and good to use IMO.

Merry Christmas everyone, hurry up spring I got a new reel.

Really enjoy reading the posts and I've bought lots of lures because of you all. lol Merry Christmas hope the holidays are filled with all good things and joy!

When trout fishing last Friday, 26degree air temp, ice in the rod eyes never fished in those conditions before, but it was fun. Caught one trout then had to leave I wore the wrong boots was afraid I'd get frost bite. Fishing in a stocked pond that day it got up to 40 by noon. Today it's 55 N.C. if you don't like the weather just wait 5 minutes it will change!

I fished a lot of live bait when I first started fishing, but not for long I found plastics which I fished for years, then spinnerbaits and top water hard baits, I've s-layed them on inline spinners! Now I have added cranks and bait casters, really fine reels and rods but I fish the same. I learned to think like a fish long ago by that of course I mean what they eat, where they stay, etc. I love fishing and really have fun with it might have to get a boat.

Well this really is a interesting question so here goes; it is rare to see a woman by herself on a lake fishing out of a boat so, when I owned a boat and fished from it the hardest part was trying to out run or hide from men trying to talk to me, especially if I had my best friend with me who happens to be a very pretty woman. I use to chase the schoolies and I've had people close enough to step over onto my boat easily. People are silly but human, actually I never got angry I just kept on fishing!

It's going to take a while for you to read all this info, which is good stuff! So, I'll keep it simple and short; buy a inline spinner in med or small size they come in #2, 3 so on Rapala blue fox is one of the best get a white and a yellow, cast it out anywhere in the water, reel it back slow, fast, med slow, etc. One of the best lures for beginners don't be disappointed when you catch some brim also!

Fished all through winter last year it was ok nothing to brag about. In my neck of the woods I fish several ponds and I took the water temp this afternoon, in the largest one I fish 3 acres approximate, temps were 58 highest and 54 lowest. No bites today, Thanksgiving day the fish were feeding and I caught several brim, one big catfish no bass, fished around 3:00pm.

Went fishing after lunch super fun caught several brim and a 5lb catfish. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Presentation, location, timing, lure type, color

Any day works for me, this should be fun and I'm looking forward to it.

First and foremost have fun! Right now live bait will work well ( here in N.C.) so you can practice casting, reeling, and catching fish. Doesn't matter if its panfish you'll catch a bass once in a while and your confidence will soar. Good luck and welcome.

Fished all year and kept my sanity, took up throwing a bait caster, thats a biggy for me since I love spinning reels. Caught lots of fish wish I would have taken pics, hey next year will work!