WC53

Early morning, bug spray, be at the bar by thunderstorm time it is a very picturesque area

Full cork or full carbon

I use both and they are really enter changeable. The lighter weight of the graphite is nicer if casting all day. There is just something about the St Croix glass I like. If someone had one of the newer Diawa or Shimano cranks in stock near me that I could test wiggle, I would probably have one of those too. I don’t fish heavy cranks, but sensitivity is never really an issue for me with cranks.

I fish mainly from a kayak. I like a bit softer rod as it is easier to keep the fish pinned when fighting in wind and current. The bend is your friend. I also use the rod bend in casting to get an easier toss. In a boat I prefer to toss tip down, maybe the change in elevation. If I was lake fishing, I don’t know that it would matter as much.

Bantam and Batman both coming in March, coincidence………

You owe me half a bourbon, it came out my nose! ?

If the hook bent, too much drag or hook set. Those light wire hooks don’t need much force to penetrate. Bonefish hooks are also good as well as just a circle hook through the front of a small plastic. when they run under you, press the button and keep the thumb there to prevent a blow up until you get situated. Let the drag be your friend. Take the kayak sleigh ride, there is only so much pressure you can put on a running fish. If the old girl is heading for structure and you have a light hook, just enjoy the feeling while it lasts A big saltwater fish is way different than horsing a LMB in. And A+ for thread title

It’s a bit cold now.. lol.. so move slow and downsize. 20lb braid is plenty (I fish 10) water will probably be really clear so a 15 and 20 or 25 lb leader. Popping corks are always good. Light jigheads and some weedless if throwing through the grass. A gulp assortment and a spook jr and you are good. All sorts of live bait options to, shrimp, mullet and crabs. Depending how you are fishing, there can be hoards of little pin fish around, a sabiki rig nets redfish candy. Tight lines.

When the garage overflows, I make sure the young relatives and neighborhood kids that fish are well outfitted. After a respectable mourning period, the process starts again.

You win , ?

Cheap BFS is a zephyr/clamber and an Ugly Stik. I guess we should delete all the Dobyn’s and NRX+ threads Not too mention Megabass and reels. Darn elitists. My Zillion is the most expensive reel I have ever bought. In my 60’s, I decided why not. BFS suits my style of fishing. BFS is fun, ymmv, thankfully there are lots of traditional threads so all tastes are covered. Please excuse the sarcasm, I’m cranky because it is cold and rainy and I can’t take my new rod out to play.

Lot of cross contamination between UL trout stuff versus bass finesse or what some call power finesse. IMO. Most of the stuff I am tossing is 1/8-3/16 total weight. Hard baits I like to keep around 2.5-4.5 grams. Soft baits with the wind penetration of a napkin, 3.5-4.5. A hair jig on a 1/16 jighead weighs about 3.8 grams. I cannot remotely cast it on a standard reel. I don’t use an UL trout stream noodle for a rod. The light baits need a lighter tip to toss accurately and the low inertia of the spools makes all the difference to my old arse. Now I am no longer young nor coordinated so ymmv. Seems to be a lot of hate for “BFS”. I always threw tiny baits in the winter and this was a casting solution for me. Better lures and hooks that weren’t crappie too.

Congrats! I noticed BFE also has a new ajing rod listed for saltwater. I tried test casting a couple ML and M crankbait rods today and they were quite serviceable. Always take a reel and a hookless hard bait when browsing. My roro Diawa spool is a little more finicky than my curado bfs, but I get a bit more distance. Now try some 10lb braid! really liking the Finesse Eye weedless hooks in 1/16 ounce. The hooks are a light, but so far so good. Bonefish 1/16 ounce jigheads are also stout in light sizes.

Thanks! 200 bandit is 1/4 ounce I think. I probably throw 3/16 the most down to an 1/8. How so you think the ML would do there.

The Curado bfs is all magnets and does okay on 1/16 with the right rod, those little suckers just don’t go very far with any size to the bait (low density), toss nice and easy and it is a great reel. 1/8 to 3/16. 8 and 10 832 is a thumbs up. I haven’t been brave enough to try 6. UPS just dropped off some of the Buggs bonefish jigs on a 1/16 head. If it wasn’t 35 gusts today. You will enjoy it, I even like the clicker..

Taste like chicken

4 turn Yucatan without the bimini. How you tighten it matters. Pelagic something has a good video on it.

Is finesse a total weight of 3-5g or a 3/8 oz jighead plus a senko (which they were calling on a video I just watched). A 4.5 gram hard bait can be flung pretty hard. A 2 gram hb or a Zman finesse creature bait on a 1/16 or 1/32 head only goes so far. A longer rod benefits one scenario and not the others.

I bought the SLX DC on impulse. And while it is a good reel, I don’t find myself reaching for it that much. It does help in wind or long distance. Watching some reviews, it seems the more expensive DC reels have better control, but…. The Curado have always been my workhorse standard. I see them moving into all mag brakes like the Curado BFS. All my full size Curado’s are a bit older, so I am not up on their current braking . The Diawa Air TW etc are just excellent casters. Maybe not as much distance as the Curado if you are good. Ford vs Chevy ;). The Falcon low riders and clearwater coastal are excellent all around rods. I prefer a bit more moderate action and they are firmly in my wheelhouse and what I take if I am in my kayak.

I have most of the reels on your list and a few Lews. Diawa’s braking system is simply amazing. I think it is top of the pack, which saddens me as a longtime Shimano guy.

I’ve fished their spin pro in salt for about 6 years now (only model at the time they recommended for salt) . It is held up fine and has a nice drag, 2K size. But, A Nasci or Spheros is smoother and I believe less money now. At 1/2 price, great deal, full price, meh. I would also apply this to their casters for my usage. Ymmv

Big fan of their small finesse tube in pumpkin seed!

Wally W uses has assortments of the trout/crappie/panfish magnet lures as well as others (creme) mentioned. You can stock up on a variety for cheap,

Has anyone tried the ML for small cranks? Rapala micro, Rebel Teeny, etc? I see several ML Glass rods in lower rating, SLX, Curado, Rebellion, X9, but very few reviews and none n stock around me to look at. Thanka

On about my 5th pair of polarized progressives… worth the investment if you need them. I prefer the variations or brown as I can use them earlier and later in the day. I try and only take one pair fishing, you know because of Murphy… There are bunch of different patterns on the field shapes. A good optometrist can talk to you about your usage and recommend a lens. Unfortunately the good ones are $$$. I like trivex material better than poly or the fancy plastics. Also impact resistant.