Fishing_Rod

Greetings All, @Jigfishn10Thank You for honoring Tom and sharing his article. That was awesome to be able to read it and appreciate him. @woolleyfooleyYes, a wonderful suggestion for creation of this desirable archive.

It is with profound sadness that I hear of Tom's passing. His knowledge, wisdom, and kindness have established him as an icon to many of the BassResource members. He will be greatly missed and always cherished. My condolences to friends and family. I wish each of them peace with grace during this challenging time. I am grateful to have known him for the short time I've been associated to BR. Godspeed Tom

Greetings and Happy Holidays All, My BFS experience has included great learning combined with a full spectrum of emotions. In total, it has been positive. I'm glad I had the experience and continue to use it as part of my angling kit. First off I'm a simple recreational angler that generally favors ultra lite gear as my preferred approach. BFS brought new interest in casting lighter presentations than I could with traditional casting reels. Yes, as some point out you can cast some light weight presentations using traditional casting reels with very refined casting skill. I am not all that experienced in casting reel use because it simply didn't support my preference for smaller lures and soft plastics. Using BFS reels it is 'easier' to cast lighter presentations. It still takes development of casting skill. After paying a significant tuition price in trashed mono fishing line to 'learn' how to use a BFS casting reel, I am now to point where I can 'enjoy' angling adventures without worry about wasting too more fishing line due to casting errors or flaws. I am grateful to folks on BassResource for guiding, encouraging, and providing sound information with advice on BFS and other angling matters. Folks like Tom and Bulldog have shared a great deal of knowledge and experience for which I appreciate greatly. Currently I use the BFS gear frequently along with my UL spinning rigs. Because it is trout season here in Southern AZ, the BFS gets used a great deal when casting metal spoons to great success taunting those stocked trout. I am now at the level of being able to use my BFS reel with a zero spool friction setting with a modest magnetic brake setting. I am better at modulating the spool with a better educated thumb. There is still room for improvement and I aspire to build that mastery. All in good time as I do what I can when I can on the water. On those better casting days it is possible to support an even lower magnetic brake setting on those long bomb casts. Each angling adventure is an opportunity to dial it down further just to see if I can live with that new limit. I will say my use of BFS and traditional casting reels has required a dedicated effort to be competent in basic use. It was not something that came quickly. Coming from flinging spinning rigs, that background did not prepare me for dealing with use of casting reels. Fortunately, what I've learned from folks at BR was to refine my casting for using BFS reels with a better cast technique. Which is also applicable for use with my spinning reels too. I was OK with the investment of time and effort to be able to use the BFS reel. I'm still learning and continuing to improve. Now, I've got another means of enjoying angling as a result of it. I use bulk lower cost 4 pound mono with the BFS reels. Mainly because that is what I've got. It also minimizes the frustration and cost of trashing fishing line when I would muck up a cast and blow up the spool with incredible and impressive backlashes. Yeah, it is hard to teach an old dog. It can be done, if the dog is willing. I kept at it and I'm further along than I was. The average lure / bait presentation is roughly at the 3 gram-ish range. Currently for the trout taunting is with a 1/8 oz metal spoon. I've used soft plastics such as the TRDs with a 1/64 oz bullet weight which scores for trout and bass nicely. Advantages for me is just another way to enjoy angling. It is new and fresh. I can't say that I've reached a full appreciation because of my skill building is in progress with it. Which brings me to the disadvantage, it requires the elevated skill necessary to properly use a BFS casting reel. Something I didn't have and needed to build on. I did have to explore several rod configurations until I identified what worked better with my ever improving casting. My initial experience was with a rod action that was not helpful. I realized I was using too stiff of a rod action which presented a challenge to resolve the proper release point for the cast. Currently, I'm using a slower action fiberglass rod which provides me better results along with my improved understanding. I will revisit the faster action rods occasionally but I'm more comfortable and prefer the slower, moderate action rods. Yeah, I don't want to work too hard to recreate. All the fish caught using the BFS have been great. The UL gear has an amplification factor to bring angling exhilaration to greater heights. All fish that are 'on-line' are fun, some are way more fun. Here in Southern AZ, I'm pretty satisfied and gratified with anything larger than 5 pounds. To date, there have been a fair number of large mouth bass exceeding that 5 pound threshold successfully on that BFS with the 4 pound mono. There has been one flathead catfish over 8 pounds that took some time to manage. I'm always astonished what will strike a weedless soft plastic worm. The clicking drag on the BFS reel is very subtile, it is no where near the audible ringing you get from a spinning reel. I will tell you the thrill in hearing the drag pay out on either type of reel is exhilarating for an angler. Yes, it is different. Yes, is brings me joy to use it. I couldn't say that for some time while skill building. Yes, I intend to keep using it because I purchased a second BFS reel identical to the first one. Yes, you have to service it differently than spinning reels. The spool bearings don't do well with just any lubricant. That for me was another learning point. I can say for my style of angling, BFS was a nice supplement to my kit. I didn't have to invest heavily as I stuck to a lower cost solution for the reels and rods. My combined cost of rod and reel were right about the $100 range. Note: I've got a number of spin cast rods that are also suitable for use with BFS reel too. That configuration variety is fun to explore the different handling characteristics with those alternate setups. I hope some of this has been helpful. I bid you angling success and encourage you to consider and explore BFS reels as they can expand your angling endeavors. Wishing each of you well for all the Holidays and a fantastic New Year! Cheers!

Greetings All, A wonderful Thanksgiving holiday to each of you! Indeed, life has been a great adventure and it has been fantastic to share parts of it with the BassResource community. I am grateful for each of the associations over the years. I'm just hanging out with the turkeys at the pond. It is obvious they are not worried about my wayward casting. I'm getting better, the lure does make it to the water, sometimes. Hee, hee... Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, My recreational angling approach is supported by several personal considerations. I'm recreating, so my level of effort is based on what brings maximum recreational value. OK, it may depend on the morning's caffeine dose. Because I frequently use a paddle with my kayak, there is that level of effort involved too. If the wind is involved, I'll try to use that to my advantage. Most of the time it is not helpful to my ambitions. It depends on how much I want to do at the moment. Over the years, the low and slow angling approach has been more successful for catching quantity and quality fish. Generally, that is what I do the most. That does not prevent me from mixing it up to try different things. I've always done what I can to be an honorable custodian of my outdoor resources, so I've gathered up rubbish when practical. In doing so, I've salvaged a good number of baits and lures. Many which are in good to go condition. Some do require refurbishing. When appropriate I'll give them a go. I generally approach top water using floating soft plastics with a slower presentation. I realized I had gathered up a couple of smaller "plopper" type baits in the bag. OK, let's try them out. Yeah, that was fun! It is better on a bait cast reel with the retrieve mechanical advantage. Nice to be able to try things at the no-cost investigation level. Exploring alternatives can be helpful and it can rejuvenate your angling ambitions. Although my data driven decisions persuade me towards my low and slow approach for better catching rather than just casting practice. Old habits, right? Your mileage may vary, and it should, based on what your spirit guides you to! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings @wasabi_VA I was going to second @bulldog1935 recyou'llommendation of a viscus oil as the easier preferred solution. However, it is possible to get grease in there but it will be messy and require additional effort. If you are using the larger tube of the super lube food grade grease, you could attempt to press the tube right up to the opening on the reel handle and forcefully inject the grease. You'll need to make a hard seal by pressing quite hard and holding it in place while you squeeze the grease. The super lube uses the same thread on the tube as many other common tubes like those with silicone RTV. Those come with a multi-size cut to fit nozzle that screws on the tube. Be cautious of how much squeezing force you apply as you can burst the tube and then there will be more of mess. The other option is use a little heat. What you show in the photo is a good start. You could add a bit more. Keep it in that vertical position while adding some gentle heat from a hair drier. This will help the grease to flow in. Rotating the handle helps work it in too. Of course here in AZ we simply set it outside and let the sun do it. It gets plenty warm fast so things work well with the sun and gravity. Just $ 0.02 put in for consideration. Good luck!

Greetings @Swamp Girl, and others, All the photos offered tell a wonderful story, each with a unique perspective on an angling adventure. BRAVO to each of you! Much of the time I'm solo on my angling adventures. I have a phone case with a small kickstand on the back side that folds to prop the phone for use with the self timer feature. It is a handy feature that gets used frequently both when in the yak and also along the shore. I tried a small portable tripod before and it was a hassle when in the yak as it wasn't all that stable when placed on the front deck. So the case kickstand was a wonderful feature that works easily and doesn't not add significant bulk or fuss. When in the yak I also have a landing net which acts as a livewell for me to collect myself in preparing for a photo and the fish is able to simply soak in the water contained by the net. If you watch the YouTube channel NDYAKANGLER, he uses the landing net in much the same way. You can see how he does it to get a better idea. He also catches larger fish too! Yes, I'm envious as I aspire to his level of angling success. I do OK for what I have here in the high desert. The images from the yak have a typical appearance as there are very limited options for positioning. The phone, the fish, and I are pretty much constrained to be shown in a consistent fashion. The self timer does allow me to fully support the fish with both hands. The key thing is to work with the wind to make sure the yak is positioned not to have the sun shining into the camera. Shining on the fish is better for viewing the grandeur of the catch. When shore angling I've got more challenges as I don't have as much equipment. So I've typically got a hand devoted to keeping the fish in the water, while the other hand deploys the kickstand on the phone case and sets the phone up for the self timer image. Yeah, there is a lot going on with that single hand. Being comfortable using either hand does help, some... The primary goal is to care for the fish, so if things aren't going well for me, the fish gets to swim without the photo shoot. So it goes, I've still got the memories. Here in middle of summer in AZ, the fish can really only be out of the water for a few seconds. In this heat the damage to full exposure is real. Heck, I don't want parts of me exposed to the sun for more than a few seconds with the extreme intensity. Given that understanding we make it as quick and easy while being grateful for the opportunity. Let's be careful out there! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings @Bazoo and others, I've used lower cost products with reasonably good results. It is a matter of budget and ambition. What is your motivation? Usually, better quality comes with a higher price tag. That being said, it is important to understand what you are dealing with. Many in the forum have pointed out the budget quality products generally use cost saving processes. Different heat treatments, different materials. A quick point on surface hardening, once you get through that thin surface hardening then you are into the softer materials. Understanding that will support the rationale of why frequent sharpening may be needed. Again, as many have pointed out, when using jigs there is a tendency to relinquish them to the rocks or trees. Yes, snags are simply part of the risks for those rewards. My ambitions as a recreational angler are most likely very different from a tournament angler. Although we both share the goal of catching fish. When it comes to jigs, they can be considered a consumable. They wear out, you loose them, and etc. A lower cost unit may provide more freedom for a variety of inventory. Different sizes, colors and such without breaking the bank. Just $ 0.02 tossed in for thought. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings @jsmackle, and others, Spin cast reels are a nice alternative for simplified operation. As a recreational angler I don't want to work too hard at recreating. I've been using spin cast reels for several decades of angling adventures. They have suited my style of catching fish. I used them frequently in my younger years. These days I have other alternatives which better suit my ultra light ambitions. I will still pull out my Zebco Omega Pro from time to time to taunt fish. I'll have a go at getting you information you asked for. These days it is really difficult to find a 'bad' reel. There are different price points for the different features and levels of quality. It is really based on your opinion if something does or doesn't meet expectations. Realize the lower cost units are ment to be available and will simply function at that basic level. A better build quality is going to cost more. A Zebco 33 is at most every retailer at a modest price. I'v'e got many of them and a few are over 35 years old and are cherrished for all the great experiences and memories. Similarly, my Zebco Omega Pro is at the upper end of the Zebco quality offering and is a great option if your budget allows or if you seek that level of performance. It has many features the lower cost Zebco reels don't. The Zebco web site will tell you all about it. I have not found much wrong with the closed face, spin cast reels. Again, if you seek a simplified operation than it is helpful. There are only a few higher end, higher quality spin cast reels that will be as smooth as other style of reels with ball bearings. The added cost is due to materials like those ball bearings rather than polymer bushings that will provide a different level of user experience. This is where your wallet and ambition will guide your selection. These days I do use spinning reels frequently because of my preference for ultra lite fishing. So my selection of reels and rods are based on that type of fishing. Using your description of the family's angling ambitions, it appears a medium lite, or medium moderate spinning combo with a length that works for you could be helpful. This is one of the most common spinning combos available at your local retailer. This past spring I bought several low cost spinning combos that ranged from $10 - $25 and had a great time with each of them taunting trout till it got too warm. Then I messed with the bass, bluegill, and catfish with them too! So all good, even at that modestt investment. I used them just as they came from the store and had fun. Yes, I have much better equipment but it was something different to try and say I did it. OK, like any tool, proper operations is helpful for a good experience. There is a lot of helpful information on this forum on how to best use a spinning reel. Pairing a spin cast reel on a casting rod can work. You may find different performance wiht differnt rod actions. A too stiff rod may not cast as easy or as comfortable. Others have address the "broom handle" aspects where you have great strength but getting a good cast is a challenge without some flex. What I've noticed as a factor with the different rod handles is the overall weight. Generally, if you want a lower weight package, the split handle configuration uses less material, thus lower overall weight. This can be important as a handling quality. If you intend to hold the fishing rig for several hours it may be helpful to minimize fatigue using a lighter weight setup. Then there is the consideration of sensitivity, to help you feel what is going on. This is difficult if the rig is heavy. As for the "cool" factor well that is up to you and your style of angling. Some like the split grip for using a two handed casting technique. Just $0.02 put in to help in understanding. Your mileage may vary as you determine what you want and your budget will allow. I'm sure there are plenty of retailers and stores happy to assist you. All the best to you and family, best fishes! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, I parallel @WRB-2.0, Tom's perspective. My recreational ultra lite angling configuration does not allow for much error tolerance. As such I frequently check most of the elements, line, knot, and drag. Because the UL configuration supports more fish catching activity prefer the UL approach. It is helpful to be prepared when that fish lottery triggers success. So to simply avoid disappointment, I check those elements. I want to make sure they are in proper condition. Also because of the UL configuration, my reel drag quality is important and is rarely cinched down tight. Tight is not helpful for my style of angling. Smooth, consistent, predictable are helpful drag qualities. Also the conditions change too. We are in our monsoon pattern where it can be blistering hot, then as a storm forms it cools off within a fraction of an hour. That dramatic temperature shift can be a factor. If you manage to get your reel wet, that is another influence on drag performance too. There are times where I'll tie into a catfish or large bass and the drag gets stressed from a good deal of slip. So I'll simply check from time to time. It is not a big deal for me to simply verify with a confirmation tug on the line periodically for verification. At the end of the fishing day I'll loosen things up before I stow the gear for return travel. Not a hassle or challenge to me. I arrived at my angling approach through personal experience. Your mileage may vary. Growing up in the old neighborhood, many of us would fish the river for big catfish, channel cats, and flatheads. They usually were averaging well into the double digit pounds. Many of my neighbors and friends simply locked down the reel drag. In extreme cases using a pair of pliers for full effect! That locked drag approach was not helpful to me in keeping dear grandpa happy eating fish. As number one and only grandson, it was important to keep the old guy jolly so his Buddha belly would remain prominent. Through experience, I tried different approaches for drag setting. When it came to drag settings on the different types of fishing reels behaved in different ways. The spin cast reels were the most challenging. You could set the drag for a nice comfortable level of slip, but you could not take in line. In order to take up line you'd have to increase the drag setting uncomfortably high and hope for no crazy surges. The other option was to simply wait till you could simply lessen line tension and reel in quickly. Just not a good situation. The bait cast and spinning reels had better drag behavior. This is how I've come to what and how I use reel drag today. These days I catch way more fish and I think of my grandfather and how he would admire each of them, for lunch or dinner. Just $ 0.02 put in for consideration. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, I recommend you do both and fully enjoy yourself. Especially if you have the gear, then you simply dress to impress yourself and have a great time doing what you enjoy! Cold simply means, having the layers you need to be warm and comfy. It is year round angling adventures here in Southern AZ. I go shooting when I can’t go fishing! The fall season is especially busy as things get busy at Labor Day! There is dove and quail hunting during that time of year. Later into November is time for larger harvests if you won the lottery of the draw. Of course the bass are always willing, you just have to find them…. Also as the temps chill, the AZ G&F bring in the trout stocking too. Yup, I suggest if you’re in for effort surf and turf and have a great time doing all of it. I hope to try Elephant Butte someday in the near future. I’m having a good time taunting the AZ fish. I look forward to hearing of your travels and adventures! Besides you’ve got to make sure to have all the ingredients to break in that outdoor cooking spot! Yum! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, Yes, strongly concur with @tholmes on safety as a priority! Not worth the risk when there is lightning in the area. There will be other opportunities to catch fish. Personally, I’ve had some great times before, during (when safe), and after. Here in Southern AZ we have a monsoon rain season. During those early first rains, many of the drone ants are able to take flight as the moisture allows their wings to unfurl. The sky is full of them and many hit the water surface making for some happy fish! If you have seen trout rise to insect hatches, this is similar only with the warm water species chowing down. The bass, bluegills, shell crackers, the hybrid green sunfish all get in on the action. You can too if you’re prepared with a handy small bait tossed into all the mayhem. It can be a good time. Just be sure to enjoy safely! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Fourth! @Swamp Girl a very interesting topic for sure! @Darth-BaiterI echo and parallel you in several ways. Although I wish I had more time for that wandering, or "goofing off". As an engineer I'm accustom to complex situations. I'm also compelled to perform a good deal of data reduction in a pragmatic way to simplify for understanding an to formulate an approach towards an elegant solutions. My recreational angling is the result of that too! I want to maximize enjoyment and minimize effort. Yay for me when I'm successful. Because I live in Southern AZ, a higher altitude desert region, I generally have to travel at least an hour to get to a place to goof off. I am accustom to traveling for my recreational angling and I'll try to catch fish in many traditional and non-traditional locations. Much of Arizona depends on irrigation canals that are filled with water diverted from a primary river source. As such, there are generally fish in those canals. Those can be great fun when the traditional angling locations are busy. Being successful in catching fish can be complicated. It does help to understand the fundamentals of the fish involved. What do they need to survive? How do they feed? Bass being predators would love to enjoy a meal that is low effort. So if you present tthat opportunity then the odds are in your favor. You could simply randomly cast to "cover" as much water as possible hopping for an advantageous connection. It can be advantageous to simply focus on areas that are more likely to hold fish. Just something to improve your odds for success. There is no surprise that Arizona is rather hot this time of year, OK it is rather warm all year long! We have a tendency to seek shade and the fish do too. So that is an easy thing to seek. It does require stealth, with accuracy to be successful. Startled fish may not be in the mood to feed. Being in the yak is pretty easy to make a gentle, quiet approach to make several well placed casts. There are not many 'natural' lakes in Arizona. Most are deliberately crafted water impoundments. The urban lakes are much like concrete lined swimming pools. The same goes for many of the irrigation canals. All of them hold fish and can be enjoyed using the basic approach. Sure you can make it complicated but what is the fun in that? I'd rather be catching than simply casting! The bait should be in the water to catch fish! Keep casting in the better places! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, I use low cost mono of different levels of visibility with no apparent difference in catching fish. I'm using mono from Zebco, and Bass Pro Crappie Maxx in the three different color offerings. I'd been using them in 4 pound test and they all work reasonably well for taunting fish. I've used them in spinning and BFS casting reels. They all catch fish, bass, bluegills, catfish, and etc. After years of using these different fishing lines I have developed the opinion the line color does not matter. I've not identified any significant difference in fish catching ability with the four different line appearances (1 Zebco, 3 different Crappie Maxx). Now I simply spool whatever happens to be handy and simply use it without any bias. Of course your mileage may vary. It could also be that fish in Southern AZ don't have a strong preference or adverse response to different line color because of the massive amount of sunshine with heat. Just $ 0.02 put in based on this fella's observations. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, It depends... A reasonably safe answer for many serious complicated questions. If your objective is to successfully catch fish then it is important to have as many advantages as possible in your favor. Especially those aspects that you are in direct control of. The mechanics of tying good knots is helpful to crafting secure reliable connections. Then there is time and resources dedicated to this angling effort and in the overall scheme of things, you want them all to work well for you. Making the time to craft a good knot is worth that time along with the small amount of fishing line consumed to assure a solid connection. Take the time and make good knots any time the line has been "stressed". If you snagged a weed and had to tug, if you had a struggle with fish. If you managed to get sunblock or fuel on your fishing line. Also time is a factor too. The tight bends of a knot just sitting there over time will take a toll on line strength too. Each of those factors and others not mentioned contribute to line stress / weakness. Good reason to re-tie for optimum performance. Generally, the smaller diameter fishing lines support less stress tolerance. Simply put, not much forgiveness. Being a recreational ultra lite angler, I frequently inspect and generally re-tie almost as frequently. Being that recreational angler, I need to make the most of my precious recreational opportunity. I am willing to invest that time to assure a higher probability of successfully socializing with any fish that happens to be on-line! Just this past extended holiday weekend while goofing off at a regional urban water I managed to connect with a 3 pound channel catfish on my 4 pound mono UL gear. Plenty of fun for a few minutes. It was great the system (rod, reel, line, knot, etc) worked as it should for a successful conclusion. If any part of that system was not able to support that load, then I would probably not be so cheerful in typing about it. The take away point is to be able to make the most of any fishing opportunity and control the bits that you can to make sure they are ready when that fish strikes. I hope some of this was helpful to you and others. Even though it is just $ 0.02 tossed in for consideration. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings, and Happy Friday All, @CoryRobertLowe I hope you have some great angling experiences with those selections. I have the 5.5 foot version of the BP Micro Lite fiberglass rod and have had catching success using it. My preference is for an overall lighter weight rod and reel package which is why I didn't have that rod identified in my previous reponse. It is a bit heavier that what I was seeking. Also the rod seat on my particular unit was an area of concern for me. The shallow grooves on the threads do not have much engagement for the locking rings. Not an issue for smaller fish catching where the reel seat tension does not require a high holding force. I only became aware of it when I happened to tie into a few larger fish and things got 'interesting' for me. The summer time fishing fun is on. We'll all look forward to your fishing reports! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Friday All! I had to select "play in YouTube" to see the video. I'm sure that is going to leave a mark, on the boat. There are those boat operators that might need to reassess the limits of their capabilities. Some of them only appear to respond to wallet based corrections. I prefer simple approaches to recreating. So using my yak in those tranquil locations are preferred. I appreciate considerate boat operators when they are not too fixated on their own ambitions. I also appreciate not being encroached on too. My recreation time is limited and precious. So, I do what I can to make the most of it while not allowing others to negatively affect it. @Swamp Girl there can't be enough emphasis on your theme, "Bass Boats stay out of canoe country!" Be well, Cheers! Happy Father's Day too!

Greetings All, Opportunity appears to be the key theme. Over all the years of being outdoors and simply observing behaviors, of people and critters, many decisions are driven by opportunity. Something that presents a low effort with merit opportunity is usually selected. Many of us have pets where you've observed a tantalizing toy or bit of food when presented as an easy opportunity, it gets pounced on. I believe there is a parallel with angling too. If you present something of interest within comfortable striking range it is an opportunity for forage. There are factors involved, such as stress, which will adjust what is considered 'comfortable'. I have found if you make it easy enough you'll get a response. If you make it too challenging, you'll only get a response under better conditions. This parallels the overwhelming sage advice that is prominently shared by successful anglers, simply "slow down" for more success. Sure you can enjoy the occasional smash and dash thrill of very dynamic baits. However, if your objective is to catch fish then provide the best "opportunity" for success. Just $0.02 put in for consideration. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, @Joedodge Sage advise to help identify what is being utilized by others. It is unfortunate that so much rubbish is discarded. I parallel you in seeing what is in the environment as a hint, guiding, possible solutions to use. Typically, I'm also with you in salvaging what you can an utilize it rather than simply trashing things. It is also an effort to help make the situation better by not having so much crap left behind. Personally, I've salvaged so many bits and pieces to fill many large bags, and boxes. Stuff that can't be used simply goes into the nearest bin. Regarding some of the salvaged lures, those have given me an opportunity to try stuff I wouldn't typically invest in. A good example of this was a plopper style, surface churning, lure. It was fun to try it out! Even better when it is a no cost option! Wishing continued success on your angling adventures! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, @CoryRobertLowe AWESOME! Tight lines are way cool! I prefer catching to simply casting. Let me have a go at some of your questions. I prefer to keep things reasonably simple. I'm a recreational angler so I simply don't want to work too hard at having fun. My main UL bait presentation is based on 1/32 oz jig heads, unpainted. These are easily available at my regional retail outlets at a low cost. Paired up with a small curly tailed grub, usually less than 2.5 inches, it makes for a nice successful multi-species catching tool. Note: I usually attach the curly tailed grub with the tail facing downward. This minimizes the tail bind on the hook. Your mileage may vary. This is a very effective bait package for me throughout the State of AZ for catching many different species of fish. The exposed hook simply is tough to beat as it is game on with very few misses. Again the key is simply to keep enough pressure to maintain a bend in the UL rod. You are not trying to leverage the fish, simply keeping them connected. Because the low cost I can be cavalier in casting them into the thick of it all. Also because I'm using UL gear it is possible to make very accurate casts. Roughly targeting an area close to a coffee mug in size with precision. Many times when you do connect the fish will make their way towards deeper water, whew! Then there are are those other times when things get interesting too. We are quickly getting to that point in the year where the weeds are getting crazy thick. Here is where I'll keep the jig handy but I will keep the small soft plastic rigged with a small extra wide gap hook handy too. The smaller EWG hooks are a bit more of a challenge to find. I have to get them from a single retailer in Tucson or simply order them on-line. I will use anywhere from a size 4, 1, 1/0 EWG hook with those smaller soft plastics such as a 3 inch curly tailed grub, or a portion of a worm (a fraction of a cigar worm works great). At the hobby stores I've found a number of glass beads (glass does not float) and those can be put in line as very light weight sinkers. Also at my Tuscon retailer, they have 1/64 oz in-line bullet weights too. Very helpful has they make for a great effective presentation as the bait doesn't drop too fast and that generates a lot of fish interest. The ability to adjust the amount of weight to get that nice slow fall is wonderful for my recreational fish catching ambitions. The other benefit is that the very light weight package does not get snagged as easy. If you do let the bait settle to the bottom is is free and not buried. The slower fall allows to you work the bait gently. By doing so it is also less likely to catch on weeds. So far that has been my rationale through experience. I've recently applied the similar rationale when using heavier gear, again with great success. I'd been goofing off this summer using a 3 inch section of a soft plastic worm (salvaged from a discarded torn up worm) with a 2/0 EWG hook on 10 pound mono, with the 1/64 oz in line bullet weight (yeah, it is only about the size of an airgun pellet skirt). I've been flipping that bait package into the various nooks, again with great success. The slow fall has been helpful to connect with fish while minimizing snags. I hope this has been helpful in some way. Looking forward to hearing more of your and everyone else's angling success. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, Just $0.02 to toss in for consideration. Yes, I have and use the Okuma Cellio and enjoy that 5.5 foot UL combo with great success with static and dynamic bait presentations. I use it with 4 pound mono and all works rather well. The Daiwa Legalis LT spinning combo is another well built rig. I have the 5.5 foot version and the casts along with the handling are very nice. Again I'm using it with 4 pound mono. It manages bass, bluegills, shellcrackers, trout, and occasionally a catfish too rather well. It responds nicely to the surges presented by each of those species. I was initially skeptical about the smaller diameter line guides but the line propels well through them. It does handle the different size fish, even those above the typical UL categorization, nicely. I also use the Shimano Stimula in a 5.5 foot UL which has a nice action too. This and the Okuma Cellio are both in the similar lower cost price range and can be found at the various large retail stores. I generally use this rod a great deal because of the overall handling qualities and comfortable light weight. Being a recreational angler I don't want to work too hard at recreating so the very light weight rod is nice to use. I enjoy the response of this rod too. Again, I hope this is helpful. Wishing each of you well, Cheers!

Greetings All, Just a couple of recent observations to share, my $ 0.02 tossed in. Recently when angling at two very different locations, both man made waters, both had actively thrashing (possibly spawning) carp. I was still able to catch largemouth bass in the area. Within the area is representative of within a couple of cast lengths. The first location is not too confined as it is an urban park pond. I was standing on the bank and the carp were thrashing right adjacent to me, within 1.5 meters from where I was standing. Yes, I got splashed. I also managed to get that beloved tap on the line after a few seconds after the carp dance. The other location is an urban canal. This is one of the concrete lined versions that are roughly 6 meters across. The water depth varies and is between 0.5 ~ 1 meter deep. This is a constrained area which contains multiple species. So there are multiple types of carp that coexist with largemouth bass. While I don't see the two types of fish in a side by side positioning. They are generally in the same area, such as associating to different features (gates, gauging stations, sand bar, etc.) I would add that at the various locations, the approach for me is to maintain the stealth aspect. I don't need to contribute to startling the fish which affect my recreational ambitions. I point out that both locations are generally quite busy, so the fish maybe accustomed to being startled. I'm glad they were willing to 'play'. Based on those limited observations, I'm not seeing a negative impact to bass catching with adjacent carp activity. Your mileage may vary! Be well, Cheers!

Grettings @CoryRobertLowe and et al., Since I use fine wire hooks they are rather sharp. I also typically mash the barb down too so that presents less resistance to penetrate. My response to your questions: On setting the hook, I really don't. Because the line is light, hooks are fine wire and very sharp there is no need. If you can imagine how much force is generated by "swinging" the rod, the realities are not missed bites but cut fish. Too much force and those hooks go from snagging to simply ripping. By simply winding the reel in a spirited way to simply add a slight bend in the rod, then maintain that bend and you'll be able to lead the fish in. I simply wait till the fish either taps hard on the line to begin the gradual reeling in of line. You can feel any resistance as the rod will simply bend as tension is added. If the fish released the bait you can simply pause to see if they will do a follow on bite. I start the whole process (same for all fish regardless of species) by reeling in the line. If I feel something then I will add just a slight rod lift, not swing, to add tension a bit quicker. Panfish don't require too much tension for hook penetration. Bass, it depends on where the hook point is. Most of the time I get them pinned rather well. There are those occasions where the hook is held on a bony section, and there is just a small amount of penetration, more of a snag but holding tension usually is enough. Also since you don't startle them with a hard jolt they usually don't resist so intensely and simple swim and get tired that way and I can still guide them towards me. Obviously this is not the approach when you are in the thick of things such as reeds or downed tree limbs. That requires different gear and different approach. This is suited for UL techniques. Yes, it works for sunfish (panfish) and it has worked for me on bass, and catfish too. The bass and catfish are simply going to take time to wear out but that is also part of the drama. I've had a number slow struggles for several minutes at a time and the sharp hook simply stays pinned to a bit of membrane. I am so grateful I didn't swing and miss that opportunity for fun. As a common analog for an example. When first learning to drive, many of us responded to course corrections with ambition and the result was a vehicle that went down the road like driving by braile. Hit the extreme edge of the lane and correct very rapidly. Repeat when you get to the other extreme edge of the lane. Through practice and experience you eased up on the intensity of the inputs and managed to maintain a smoother alignment for vehicle to travel lane. Your response to reacting to a biting panfish can benefit from a relaxed approach. Just take it easy and see how things go. Don't be too quick and too much in a hurry. Let the rod dance a bit as you wind in line. Just $ 0.02 put in for consideration. I hope it helps. Be well, Cheers!

Good Day and Happy Friday All, Based on observations and experiences water level affects my angling adventures in several ways. Much like what @king fisher describes is similar to my situation here in Southern AZ, where the lake / pond levels change based on the surface runoff, inflows. I prefer to fish from my kayak but will shore fish when conditions are not safe to be on the water or I want to do more casting/catching rather than paddling. I find it is all about finding the fish. Changes in water levels simply means I have more area to search. I'm rather basic in my approach so I simply target structure with accurate casts. During the higher water levels the flooded regions simply provide more opportunities for target areas to investigate. In these reservoirs the recently flooded features and vegetation have more holding areas to probe with the possibility to connect with fish. During the lower water periods you have fewer plants to deal with, it is more the rocky features to concentrate on. Fortunately, having lived in the area for so many years and developing a history of the features from the low water periods, there is an understanding of where key structures are. As an example, we have a bit of a monsoon period during the summer months. When those early storms roll in it floods the new vegetation. It is possible to find fish in some of it pretty quick. Post monsoon season when the water slowly recedes, it is plausible to simply keep working the ever changing shoreline with some reasonable success. Based on my experiences, I'm not changing my approach, I'm still targeting structures in the water, 30 feet or shallower, that hold fish. The water level just constrains the area that I'm dealing with. Just my $ 0.02 tossed in for consideration. I'm hoping you each are able to make the most of this spring time fun! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, While I don't have personal experience with Daiwa customer service. I can add my $ 0.02 worth that I've not had the need to invoke them. I have a significant number of their products. I've used them for the last 4 decades to great satisfaction. Most if not all of them are considered to be 'high' mileage and have plenty of fair wear and tear. I've got to say they have aged well. I greatly appreciate the build quality across the various product lines. I don't have any of the high end product line offerings. The ones I have are all at the lower, budget, entry level, right up to the lower mid range offerings. These are essentially your big box retail offerings. Each of them has demonstrated good value with great performance. They are on the heavier side which is a consideration to those shopping. I hope this helps. Be well, Cheers!