Big Hands

My rarely sought after suggestions: I have tried a few reels like the ABU Black Max and the Pro Max 3 for my own self, and I have a few suggestions: The first thing I would recommend for any new reel, and especially reels that are on the less expensive side is to clean the spool bearings with alcohol and put just one or two very small drops of quality reel oil on them and then reassemble the reel. If they are properly lubed and adjusted, they are not terrible and should cast more than far enough to do the job. I don't think you would need anything more than something that falls right around the middle of the rod's recommended lure weight range, so on a MH/F rod, probably 1/2 oz to 5/8 oz should be plenty of weight to get it dialed in with. Then, for beginners, I would adjust the spool tension so that with your rod horizontal and any breaking system turned off (or down), a lure that is about right in the middle of the range you'll be using, the bait should fall to the floor . . . . not super slowly, but not fast either. The spool should stop spinning when the weight hits the floor before a backlash can occur. Then dial in a little braking (how much is different for each reel, but I would say somewhere in the 30% to 50% range to start. Start slow and make very small incremental changes to spool tension or braking. With spool tension, I don't go more than just being able to see the bearing cap turn. One or two clicks on the breaking adjustments at a time. My method is to start out slightly tight, and then gradually loosen things up until it gets slightly too happy to backlash, then then go the other direction until it doesn't. I don't think you need to worry about using anything other than relatively inexpensive line such as Trilene Big Game monofilament, in 8 or 10 lb test, maybe 12 lb test if it's needed to not lose baits. If . . . . no, no, no. . . . WHEN you backlash, you can first try to pull line from the reel from just in front of the level wind pawl. Pull firmly, but not too hard. If that's not working, you might keep a small shepherd's hook shaped o-ring seal tool with you to try to find the deepest loop in the backlash. Pull up on it (not hard), remove the tool, then pull line away from the reel from in front of the pawl. You can use your fingers most of the time to pull the loop, but sometimes some sort of a tool can help for the difficult loops. Once the backlash is cleared, make sure there are no loose coils on the spool before you wind the line back onto the reel. Also, be mindful not to get it adjusted to cast well with the wind at your back, and then turn around and cast into the wind, especially with a bait that is bulky and/or severely affected by wind such a spinnerbait. At the end of your cast, your rod tip should be pointed at about the 10:00 or 10:30 position. Train your thumb to hover over the spool so it prevents the line from fluffing up as it exits the spool and it can be used to modulate the speed of the spool.

LOL. It's a ripoff of a scene in the movie "A Christmas Story" when Ralphie reads his letter welcoming him to the Little Orphan Annie Secret Society. EDIT: Upon closer inspection of the letter Ralphie receives, the word "occurring" should actually be "accruing".

There is a newer video short out of a snake emerging from a bass' mouth that has about 8M views in the 8 days since it was posted, but got some reason I couldn't find it just now.

I believe the simple fact that I don't fully understand the assignment, much less how to complete it, should solidify the justification that I be hereby appointed as a member in good standing with access to all honors and benefits occurring thereto.

Apparently the Megabass X-Nanahan +2 ( X-Nanahan is even smaller than the 110 Jr.) replacement hook model and size are a closely held secret. They are supposedly a size 8. They look bigger than any size 8 I have been able to compare them to. For instance they are 1/10" longer than these size 8 hooks and bigger all around (no to mention a bit fair bit thicker). If the Katsuage came in a size 8, I would give them a try, but I can only find these in either size 6 (like on the Vision 110) or a size 4. The hooks in the pic (that are currently attached) are supposedly a size 8. Why this information is so hard to come by, I cannot imagine. It's common knowledge to know that the Katsuage size 6 is the replacement for the Vision 110 and they can be relatively easily sourced. So, has anyone been able to crack the code?

I have gone swimming myself and had bass still tearing up the surface all around me. I've had a bass catch a buzzbait before it hit the water. I've seen bass take a shot at a low flying bird while I was wading nearby. I'd be willing to bet money that some days they're spooked by the slightest little thing. But there's only one way to know which type of day it is.

Sometimes I look like I dressed in the dark, but when it comes to rod/reel aesthetics, even I have my limits And this one would be a hard "no".

For me, 'must have' goes hand in hand with 'supreme confidence'. 5" Senko weightless/wacky, #11 o-ring 1/16" from the egg sack on a #4 wide gap finesse hook Megabass X-Nanahan +2 Lucky Craft Sammy: 70 or 105 4" Keitech Swing Impact C-Rigged on a 2/0 Rebarb hook, 3' to 4' leader, 1/2 to 3/4 oz egg sinker Tiny Brush Hog, Texas rigged on the BFS setup Night Fishing: 7" black ring tail power worm, 3 or 4 rings removed, Texas rigged with glass bead All plastics treated with Edge Products Hot Sauce Gel Everything else is. . . . . everything else.

The word on some streets is that the bigger Helix units are all going away in favor of the new Xplore 9, Xplore 10, and Xplore 12. There will be only one model of each size, and you'll have the option to buy it with or without the transducer. The Solix models (also according to what I have read) will also be phased out. Just the Apex, the Xplore, and the smaller Helix models. The Xplore will have Dual Spectrum CHIRP, Mega SI+ and Mega DI+, as well as the capability to run Mega Live2 and Mega 360. The Dual Spectrum CHIRP, Mega SI+ and Mega DI+ will all be fed through the transducer cable. Mega Live2 and Mega 360 will interface with an ethernet connection, but there's only one ethernet port, so it appears that in order to run both simultaneously it looks like you might need an ethernet switch. That seems to have simplified things, and it's nice that all of those bigger units can add a "Live" option straight to the control head. The downside is that if you don't want or need the Live options or even side imaging on your larger Humminbird graph, you'll still be getting it. The smaller Helix models will remain. I suppose this could all change, but I would just say that before I bought a larger Helix or any Solix, I would do my due diligence to see if such a purchase might leave you holding the proverbial bag. They'll still find fish, but may not be able to utilize some of the emerging technology that the other lineups have.

6.2 7.4 8.5

She was sporting some pretty good 'shad teeth' too.

Thanks for the shout out Tom. You know, there's some that might say that it's better to have a net with you and not need it rather than needing a net and not having it. I'm not sure I would necessarily agree with that in every aspect. . . . like the situation we had, LOL. And, that hook literally fell out once it was in the boat. If you hadn't kept constant pressure on her, she would not have come aboard. It's always a pleasure to share the boat with you.

That Muskie looks like it ate a Bird of Paradise 😁

I have a 40 hp four stroke tiller, so no console, no gauges. So VV provides me with a tachometer, water temp, and an hour meter (it has the hours stored since new). It has other features, but those are the major things I pay attention to. I'm not sure how well the on-board diagnostics actually work, but they're there in case the need to use them should arise.

I have to reel in my smart azz tendencies too, so absolutely no worries. The most glaring thing that stands out to me is the 8.9g spool weight of the Curado BFS. The Kestrel BFS spool weight is 4.5g (I have weighed it). That extra mass has to 'spool up' and then be able to slow down. Lightweight lures and heavy spools are not generally great together, and I suspect this is why the Curado BFS doesn't cast lighter baits as well as the two KastKing BFS reels I have. The Zephyr BFS has a spool weight of 5.5g, and it casts noticeably better that the Curado BFS too. That said, the Kestrel BFS casts better than the Zephyr BFS. Roro sells a 4.9g spool that fits the Curado BFS for $92, and I imagine there are others (I know there are others that are a little less expensive). A spool like that might get the Curado back in the game. Regardless of whether or not the spool weight is the difference, the Curado just isn't that great at casting something like a Tiny Brush hog with a 1/16 oz worm weight compared to the other two reels I own. The Curado is great for what I refer to as BFS-adjacent weight lures on 8 lbs line or even 6 lbs line. With 10 lbs line, the Curado BFS drag just isn't capable of providing that much drag IMHO.

I have had two Curado BFS reels (still have one), and I just can't call it a true BFS reel and keep a straight face. JMHO. I have a KastKing Kestrel BFS (they list for $120) that fishes circles around the Curado BFS, and weighs 4.5 oz. I have no idea how long for this world the KastKing will be since it's only been out for a year or so. The Curado BFS is built like a Mack truck compared to the KastKing, but to me, it also fishes like a Mack truck. I have it on a Phenix Classic BFS rod. The combo weighs < 8.5 oz. I love it for lake fishing with small Texas rigged plastics like a tiny Brush Hog or the 2.5" Z-Man Crawz, small jerk baits, and the Z-Man Gobius. Whatever reel you get, I suggest cleaning and lubing the spool bearings straight away. If you're talking about creek fishing in tight quarters, that's not my jam, so I have no suggestions for that type of action

A friend and I did a taste test with several of our favorite freshwater fish back in the mid-80's with bass, crappie, trout, bluegill and catfish. #1: Channel Catfish #2: Crappie #3: Trout #4: Bluegill #5: Bass Nothing wrong with the taste of bass, just that in our opinion, there are better tasting fish swimming nearby if I choose to eat my catch. I haven't kept a bass in over thirty years, and would only do so if I mortally wounded one.

I bought a 14' Valco five years ago as a way to get me back out on the water on my own after a long hiatus. My previous boat was a pro-staff level 19' Ranger with a 200 hp Merc, so the Vlaco was a totally different craft. It got me back in the game, but for me, now in my 60's, that type of boat has one major safety related concern that I had to come to grips with. That concern was crawling back and forth over the bench seats since my agility is not exactly circus acrobat level these days. Having a foot controlled bow mount trolling motor was key to it fishing well for me even though I had to sit on an ice chest to use it comfortably. My nephew helped me attach a good sized, well supported plate to mount it on. Having the ability to control it that way (pulling from the bow) was key in that regard. It fished just fine and I caught plenty of fish in it

They do have that rod with full cork in the Kage B lineup.

I have the Tatula version of this rod and think the world of it. A true all around/multi purpose workhorse bottom contact rod. My Tatula has a full cork butt section and the Tatula Elite version has a split EVA butt section.

I like mine so much, I scooped up another I found locally for $100. Score. ============================== I really like the SLX 70 MGL so much, I would be willing to try the same model Curado. ============================== OTOH, I have three other shimano baitcasters that all cost more than the ones I mentioned above that I am at least a little underwhelmed with.

I have a pre-Trigon Mojo Bass 7'6" MLXF hair jig spinning rod that I absolutely love as a medium light rod. I believe it is an SCIII blank IIRC. It casts a 5" Senko perfectly, but not quite as adept with a 4" Senko, so that's where I would draw the line. If that power and taper is similar for the blank you're looking at, I would not describe it as true BFS, but more like . . . . "BFS-adjacent" or good ol 'finesse'. Like good for 4-8 lbs test line, but I've had my feelings hurt too many times with 4 lbs line, so 6 is about as low as I go for bass where I fish. I have no idea how it would behave as a casting rod. I have a 7'4" Phenix Classic BFS rod that I feel is two full steps down in the power department. A true BFS rod, whereas a light action rod would straddle the line rather than be adjacent like a ML power rod would be. I do like the 7'4" length of the Phenix BFS Classic rod I have. JMHO, and subject to interpretation.

Have they polygraphed the informants? If they're going to ruin the man's brand over hearsay, but insist he take a polygraph, that doesn't seem fair.

I have seen it many, many times. Often several at a time, sometimes competing for it. At times they are super curious about anything that moves through their area only to swim away just as it gets to the boat. At times, they will follow and hit a plastic worm as it's being retrieved.