Luke Barnes

Such as an Abu Black Max and Lews American Hero casting reels. Besides handles and grips what upgrades are out there? I'm thinking bearings and such, something that will actually make it fish better. I have higher end reels than these but I have no reason to replace them so I figured why not upgrade them. Anyone have experience doing this?

Shimano SLX XT COMBO shipped to me for $130. Chose the 8.2-1 reel and the 7'2 H rod for frogging and A Rig. Love it and thought about another but I could only get that deal once.

I have one and I've caught lots of fish on it. I use it for my cranking setup. Caught my PB smallmouth on it. Heck I caught my PB Walleye on it too now that I think about it. Its not fancy but it does what any decent baitcaster combo should do. It works. Time and time again, it works. I happen to like the mag brakes and all of my baitcasters, even the higher end ones, have mag brakes. I can bomb a cast as far as I possibly can with it and never touch my thumb to the spool. It took a bit of time but I got it dialed in perfect minus small changes for lure weight differences. For the price I do not think there is a better option.

Yeah..... I went from a three tray tackle bag to a backpack that fits five trays plus almost every single bag of plastics I own. Add in all the dyes, attractants, extra line etc.... And its probably 40lbs. Doesn't bother me weight wise at all.

I know!! This guy is a great story teller and made an amazing looking rat!

My thinking is the guy in front fishes ahead. If I'm understanding it, pretty much straight ahead. Guy in the back fish straight back from the back of the boat at the same cat tail line.

I doubt all those drone pilots werent fisherman to do that to you all. I respect the sanctity of fishing and would only do it if I was alone on the water and it wouldn't bother anyone. I hate people getting anywhere near me when I'm fishing.

Yeah I wouldn't be that guy buzzing people to see what they are throwing. I dont like fishing around other people either so I'm generally a ways off from others. I would take it straight up, look around and come back down and fish.

I agree. I had a Power Swimmer for a trailer on a swim jig and caught 8 bass and its still fine. I do like the rage swimmers color selection better though.

Ah. You ever fished in the brick town canal??

Exactly what I was thinking! With straight over head sun and little wind, fairly clear water you ought to be able to see drastic depth changes and vegetation, which can tell you alot about fishing.

Eh what are ya gonna do?!?!

You're catching shad? Snagging them or somehow get zooplankton to stay on a hook?

If this is in the wrong section I was unsure which was the right section. I dont know why but I got to thinking about it and am curious if anyone takes a drone with them fishing. I am thinking with a decent enough camera you could see straight down on the water if its clear enough and see structure and all that stuff. From the bank its hard to tell, but from the air im curious if you can see what's under the water any better.

I'm guessing from your user name you're an Okie. Where abouts are you at? If it was a pond i knew I could offer some input, but I'm not that good of a fisherman with only 4 years experience so im still learning.

Very good advice that I will definitely remember. Thank you.

Yeah I convinced myself the other day I needed two more kinds of attractants. No telling what will come to mind next!

I set the hook alot. But I understand what you and others are saying and I need to take some time and maybe even close my eyes and feel what the bait is doing and what feels different. Maybe not even worry about fishing but cast to different areas and just pay attention to what I feel and stop and think even.

Seeing as I pond fish mainly I really want a gill now!! I said I didn't need a single thing the rest of the year fishing wise. Then I get on here.....

Watching the line is something ive been working on. Its just such a different feeling slowly cranking that swinghead along and hitting everything on the bottom. I need to get WAY better at pausing if I think I got a bite. I ways worry its a pickup and instantly spit out situation. The one fish I did catch on it yesterday came after quite a few casts then dipping the claws of the rage bug in chart spike it. Between color and scent it may have helped, so I smeared the bait with FishSticks to help with them not spitting it so fast.

I did that alot yesterday and feel like I ruined alot of casts flinging the bait out of the water back at me.

Thank you for the reply it helped alot. Ive heard about the mushy feeling and kind of forgot and now reading it and thinking back, I definitely missed bites. Makes sense about them swimming towards you too. The one I caught I would never have known if I didnt see the line moving to the side. Didn't feel a difference. If it was swimming towards me I would assume I was on a clear patch of ground if I don't see the line. So I guess when in doubt reel down and set the hook? I'm with you that I dont hook set very hard. Especially if I dont know if its a bite. If I'm fishing a t rig and know it's a bite I will swing away, but its usually half effort in case there actually is a fish there hook set.

So waked right under the surface?

I recently got some swing heads and lures for them. I like the idea and being able to cover water with them. I fished one last night with a Rage Bug and I caught my first fish of 2021 on it! But I feel I missed so many bites and the only reason I caught the one was because it swam off with it and I saw the line shooting sideways. With all the bumping off rocks and wood and whatever on the bottom, how do I tell better when its a bite and not a rock?

Baby bull shad - I mainly bank fish ponds and dont think they will do good, but I'm fascinated by them Finesse worms - I always think these are just for a shakey head and I rarely use a shakey head so I dont own any, but want to try them Tubes - I have two packs but always thought they were smallmouth lures. Heard otherwise so I plan to try them