casts_by_fly

For those of us who haven’t committed to poppers with $20 lures yet, I did a similar deep dive on this forum two weeks ago with the same question. I came to the yo zuri 3db as my answer for retrying poppers. A third of the price of the pop max, good reviews, versatile action. I fished one for about an hour last week before I realized they didn’t want topwaters and was impressed. It bloops, it walks, it casts well on a MH. I haven’t fished it enough to say it catches fish, though others here vouch for that.

Ah, I see. Yes, I would agree that a medium probably isn't enough for most chatterbaits (for the tiny Micro it might be a good choice). Most mediums top out at 1/2 or 5/8 casting and a 3/8 chatterbait with a trailer will be over that to start with (and 1/2 with trailer will nearly push an ounce depending on the trailer). I don't mind the rod being well bent over on the retrieve. I am fishing a MH with a hefty bend and its quite bent over with a 1/2 of chatterbait. The issue comes on the hookset. My rod has a bunch of power down low. My medium has a similar action and would be bent similarly, but it doesn't have enough power to drive home a single CB sized hook. A little heftier rod should do what you need.

Where can you buy them?

I have had an Apple Watch for the past 5 years or so (it’s still a generation 2- I too don’t upgrade often). It’s ideal for me in the yak. My phone stays snug in my chest pocket or dry box. Messages come onto the watch and I can see if they are important or not. Same thing with MS Teams messages. I can take calls, but no one calls me on the water. Not sure if your watch offers it, but my Apple Watch allows custom predefined messages so when you reply you can scroll through a set things you’d actually reply with.

I’m still not seeing the problem. Is it that as you’re reeling in a chatterbait there is a thump coming from the bait? That’s what you want.

bobber stops, punch weights (with skirts), and similar accessories are allowed within the spirit of the rules…

I need to get better at using a saw, so I'm going to practice using my saws today so that when I really need them I can do it confidently.

This time last year you could get the Abu SX Revo for $120 and the Bucoo for $89 (and I did both twice). For $210 that's hard to beat. I haven't seen those prices in a while though.

Hi All, In another thread I mentioned an experiment I wanted to run on an upcoming outing- an all plastics trip. I find that I don't fish straight plastics as much as I should, probably because I haven't caught as many fish on them over the years (probably because I haven't fished them as much as I should!). So in the interest of forcing myself to do something to be better overall, I'm going to do it. I'm not talking about just throwing a texas rigged worm all day, I mean trying to cover the range of the water column and variety of presentations. I'll rig up 5 rods (maybe 6) and leave all of my hard baits, wire baits, and jigs at home. I'm in the north east with lots of clearer water (2-10' visibility depending on the lake) and plenty of grass. I'm not fishing deeper than 10-12' really. Mostly largemouth, but some smallies depending on the lake. I'm throwing a toad, a big Keitech (6" or so), a texas rigged beaver, a texas rigged UV speedworm, and a fluke. If I carry a 6th rod its a spinning rod with a wacky senko (or maybe a fat Ika). What 5-6 rods are you rigging up if you were doing this? thanks, rick

This was going to be my suggestion. I don't have the SLX though. I've handled one and they feel nice. The Bucoo are a great buy at $100.

and NJ too. The bottom half of the state where the Delaware is partly tidal apparently has tons of snakeheads and guys fishing for them. Its about 2.5 hours for me one way, so I am going to make a full day of it in July. are you on the chesapeake bay waters? I have friends in Fulton and have considered a trip to the western shore (annapolis way).

that guy can really put them down though, can't he!

there is a great video on one of the bass youtube channels (BFHQ maybe?) where he lets a largemouth eat a frog in pretty open water and instead of setting the hook he lets the fish run with it for as long as it will hold the frog. I think he hit an 8-count before he set the hook. I found that enlightening and will be giving the fish a solid second next time I'm frog fishing. I don't know if snakeheads are the same, but I am going to find out next month. rick

I do a lot more casting than I do catching, so might as well make that part of the process nice. I too like nicer things (we're doing some Michelin stars in London next week) , hence the other thread about a new baitcaster. 'Acceptable faults' in a reel are fine, until they aren't. A reel that is a little geary is fine for a slow fishing bottom bouncer rod, less so for a spinnerbait rod. Until all of your other reels are great and then you pick up that one geary one. Suddenly it feels like a clunker and needs to be replaced. Sure about that?

Saturday night was a nice dinner with friends and drinks after so a very late night. My wife had a couch day to recover on Sunday so I went fishing to last years favorite lake. I fished it earlier this year at 52 degree water temps and didn’t touch a fish. Last year I took multiple 4+ lb fish and had some great days, so I know the fish are there. I was surprised I couldn’t figure them out pre-spawn. Sunday I thought would be a great topwater bite. Overcast, light breeze, good temps. I had a popper, frog, and weedless spoon all on at one point before I decided that it wasn’t happening. The lake isn’t very big (120 acres or so) and there is a quarter mile stretch of steeper bank that always holds fish. 50’ from shore you’re in 25’ of water but how it drops changes. There are some tiny flats that are 1’ deep for 10’ from shore. There are some places where it is 4’ right on shore and drops from there. The grass starts growing where the bottom is about 12’ from prior experience but this time of year the grass is visible (4’ water visibility) in about 8’ bottom depth. After two fish hitting on the outside edge areas and nothing in the inner pockets I decided a Texas rigged beaver pitched to every outside edge was the plan. I picked 7 keepers in that quarter mile with two 17-18”. It was slower working that stretch than I often do, but I think that’s what the day called for. I fished that same stretch for a bit to start and nothing was hitting topwater or chatterbaits. after this trip, I’m thinking about a trip that is just plastics. Have a toad on top, a swim bait as a moving bait, and a Texas rig to pitch cover. I’d probably take a wacky spinning rig too. Maybe do it on a lake I know decently well. Sounds like an interesting challenge of a day.

i handled one tonight. I didn’t care for the aesthetics (the Winn grip material primarily) and it didn’t feel as good as my STX gen 4. They are basically the same price so I’d go another STX first. is the JDM Metanium mgl the same as the metanium shallow? I don’t see an mgl metanium on digitaka.

I'm very happy with my experts so no worries there. It is on the possibles list AND it’s on sale right now. I don’t truly need 39” but it doesn’t hurt to have it. Ive done the deep dive already and have a short list. I wanted to see if anything was missing from the short list. The zillion was not on it, and it now is.

If I fished a spinning rod for bass and was putting a new combo together this is where I'd start. My dad gave me his HMG/Pfleuger combo that he doesn't use anymore and I've had it in the boat once or twice all year. It isn't worth my spending $200 for a new reel that I'll barely use. I think I'm going to do an 'all plastics' day where I plan to fish any and all plastics all day. Maybe I'll throw it in for that.

So I see a bit of a pattern here and having zero practical knowledge of Diawa I'm going to need more info here. What about it is so great? I get the SV spool is the shallower spool. The TW is the open wing line guide. I can read a spec well enough to see that much. What makes this reel so great?

The reel that always amazes me every time I pick it up is an older Shimano Stradic FH 1000. Stock photo below of a bigger one. I've had this reel for 18 years or so and its been my light spinning reel in all of that time. I've fished it on a 5' ultralight, a 6'9" ML custom 3-piece, and other rods, but my favorite is its current incarnation on a 7'6" bass pro ultralight. I put it together for trout 2 years ago with some 4 lb light line. The reel is so solid and smooth. The bail flips perfectly every time whether I turn the crank or manually do it. It is butter smooth. The drag is amazingly silky and ideal for super light line. I wish I had a couple more in 1000/2000/3000 sizes.

I fish a ML with 10 lb braid. Its a 1/8-3/8 rating, 7' and was a $25 walmart special 25 years ago (Berkley I think). Its travelled the world with us as we moved and I've used it for trout and panfish, bass, and carp. Its close to a moderate action and a bit of a noodle at times, but the braid helps. I've caught carp to 10 lb on it that I think of. Its great for throwing 1/10 oz neds and similar. If your rod has a little more backbone than this one (wouldn't be hard) then that would end up as my choice for a spinning rod for bass.

If you know you're going to buy it eventually then you are better buying it sooner rather than later to maximize your use and enjoyment of it.

Hi Gents, I haven't gotten a new toy for a little while now so am looking at a new baitcaster. Before I decided I thought I'd give you all a chance to pick it out for me. I'll tell you what I like and have and you make the suggestions. I have a couple thoughts in mind, but want to see if I'm missing something. I'll let the thread run for a week or two and make a decision. I currently have a bunch of Abu garcia revo reels. I have a pair of gen 4 SX, a gen 4 STX, 2x Gen 3 STX, and an MGX. I also have a Shimano Chronarch MGL in the rotation. I have a couple others on spare rods or sitting here loose, but these are what I typically have in the boat. I like the size and low profile of the Abu reels, and the MGX's smaller size is great, though I have no problems with the others. Of all of these reels, the IVCB-6 braking system is my preference but I can get on fine with all of them. I fish low spool tension and loose brakes. The MGX and the Chronarch have aluminum main gears and micro gearing (Shimano) and I prefer that smoothness. I don't prefer the shimano's height off the rod, though I can manage with it. I wouldn't go any higher and would prefer lower. I palm every reel and don't have huge hands. The reel could go on a number of rods. The reel rotating out will be a Gen 3 STX that is on my heavy flipping stick/frog rod. I could replace it directly and be happy. I'd need at least 60 yards of 50 lb braid capacity to do that (the Lews SP was a consideration but is out due to capacity). The new reel could go on another rod and I rotate that reel to the flipping stick. In that case, I'd be looking at all around reels for either my light crankbait rod (which has my Gen 4 STX) with 30 lb braid or for my 6'10" heavy which is a 17# mono rod for pitching jigs and light texas rigs or it does backup duty for bladed lures (which has an SX that would be fine for the flippin stick). I don't mind used reels from reputable places. New is obviously fine. I'd consider JDM given the exchange rate for something interesting. I don't mind going to 'odd' brands if there is something special about it. I missed another MGX when BassPro had marked them to $200 (it was in my cart and when I checked out it changed price) and I'd have one for $200, though not at $250 that they have been running. If the STX goes back to $150 that I got the last one at I'd be done. I don't want another SX (i like both of mine but want to go higher end). I love getting a lot for my money (hence STX at $150) but don't mind spending to get quality if its noticable (the Chronarch is a fantastic reel aside from height). Price wise I'd consider up to $250 or so, but I wouldn't rule out an SLX MGL for instance to put it on my big stick and be done at a cheaper price. I don't think you'll talk me into a $400 reel, but you can try. RH, 31" or more retrieve rate, no round reels. What should I get?

start how you mean to finish, right? Buy the last thing first.

It was seriously considered. I have a gallon of glycophate that I use for the driveway and persistent weeds in the woods like poison ivy and others. One time I sprayed an invasive tree with it. The branches were about 10' off the ground and I sprayed what I could reach. I didn't consider the spray fallout and made a 10' diameter patch of bare dirt in the dog yard from spray you couldn't even see falling. I have a powerline with ferns that I'm turning into a food plot for this fall. It is very brown right now when everything is dark green, all due to spraying. Given that my lawn was more weeds than grass, it was a very real possibility that I was going to spray it all before winter, deal with the muddy mess, and plant fresh in the spring.