PondBoss

I just got an airbrush, but have yet to get a compressor. I've had a few blanks laying around since Christmas. I was tired of looking at them with no paint, so I rounded up a couple cans of spray paint. First time I've ever tried to paint a bait so be nice. lol Ready for the water https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=582731561738485&set=a.298692906809020.80657.100000049395874&type=1&theater&notif_t=photo_comment

Actually you can just wrap it on to an empty spool and there will be zero line twist. All of the line twist that is generated by hand spooling will be eliminated at the end of the line when you an attach it from the reel. That being said, it takes a longer than needed to do it that way. What I have done is put a spool on a bolt and tighten a nut down insert the bolt into a drill and it's done in no time.

He wasn't insulting anyone. RW was trying to be cute and it wasn't called for.

You'll get used to it, some of the moderators like to run their mouths. You'll learn to ignore it.

Suspending jerkbait for sure needs to be in your arsenal. (I like to throw both hard and soft) My other bait would be a squarebill crank, pick your favorite brand and color. Work it in a very fast erratic action, I use a lot of rod action when the water is cold to really make the bait jump all over. 3rd rod would be a finesse technique to toss to a missed strike on your speed baits. Maybe a wacky rigged senko, or a weightless soft jerkbait. If your fish are like the ones in my golf course ponds they are suspended in about 3-6 feet of water over over grass in about 10 feet of water. Good luck, let us know how you did.

Probably cut the sides off and deep fried

Sounds like you have experienced the epic quote "that one hit it so hard he knocked slack in the line" that's the coolest bite to get. When they hit it like that reel up quick and set the hook.

Get a tube, I fish out of one almost exclusively when the water is warm enough (60*). You can put in just about anywhere, and you can fish way more places than you can in a boat, plus you get some exercise. If you are pond/small lake fishing a tube is the way to go.

Modified snell for plastics, San Diego jam or "Jimmy Houston knot" for anything else.

yes H2O is the house brand of Academy. It is all high quality and comes with a no questions asked return policy. I get almost all of my stuff there.

I have just been casting and reeling. Counting down to depth and trying to keep it at that depth on the way back. Maybe with some swaying of the rod to change the direction of the school a bit.

Baitcasting

Love that color, cuz no one uses it where I fish. It's something the fish have never seen before and is a cold blooded killer. I guess people tend to think of it being more of a novelty color, but it's legit all the way.

Nope I have zero problem with them. I will say that I do change a lot of them out, but that is only to go with a bigger hook. The stock hook is made by VMC and honestly I think bending hooks on "big" fish is mainly angler error.

Thanks for the quick response. One more question......How do I get the old guides off with out messing up the blank?

I have this Daiwa rod that is brand new, but BPS got rid of them like 2 weeks after I bought it so I can't take it back. I really like the action and everything except for the guides. They are huge! Is there anyway to change a few of them? I know it can be done, but is it something that can easily be done? How? Thanks

Qualify for the top 6 tournament at the end of the year in my club. Try to be more complete eg. fishing out of my comfort zone and learning and using other techniques.

Get a good quality tube to fish out of. Granted it is slow to cover a big body of water, but you can drive around and get in anywhere.

What brand did you get?

They are lubed up at the factory, just not over done It's a sweet reel, I snagged one on clearance as well. Thing casts a mile and smooth as silk on the retrieve.

Interesting read, did anyone else take away from it the same thing that I did? Guess I should have kept that 10lb beast instead of throwing her back.

Wouldn't you need to tie a shorter leader? Seems like 6' is lot of slack to whipping around to cast with? Typically I will tie a 2-3ft leader that provides me plenty of length to retie a few times, and it's short enough not to reel it through the guides to cast.

Big Bite Baits Jerk Shad/Cane Thumper

I've got mine bent out to about 60* angles. Make it look like a camera tripod, but wide and you're set. Hope you have better luck on it than I am so far.

I would buy that reel over a Revo any day, if nothing else for the return policy or house brand items. I have several H2O reels and they are all great and well worth the money. For it being lighter and having more bearings than a Revo at the same price......H2O all day