casts_by_fly

I'm with you on the pitching stick, aka head turner. That's exactly what it was designed to be- a short range pitching rod for jigs and other bottom contact. Only after that did people realize its pretty good for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits too. As ranger jockey noted above, it's a pretty good rod for 1/2 oz walking baits on mono and will throw them and work them further than you can properly set the hook with mono. And with braid it makes a pretty good light to modest cover frog rod. I wouldn't use it for heavy slop but for sparse grass or overhanging banks it's great.

I just picked up some crossover rings in my last order and have one tied on for the next trip out. The bluegills should be on the beds right now and I can see a neko sliding off the last bluegill bed as a largemouth killer this time of year.

I used my paddle almost every single trip- for the measuring lines on the shaft. Aside from that, I never used mine since the motor did all of the work. I did use it in super shallow stuff as a push pole (and considered swapping it for a push pole for a while). All that is to say- what are you actually using it for? If you're truly paddling with it then as above. if you're mostly using pedals to get place and occasionally using it as a stand up paddle then i'd seriously look at a standup paddleboard paddle.

I didn't realize there was a new ultegra. Some nice upgrades from the previous version it looks like. The ultegra is inching closer to a stradic.

then drop to the 2k size. The USDM and JDM bodies are the same size. I personally prefer a little bigger rather than a little smaller, but if the 2500 is too big for what you want then grab a 2k. That will be the same across the entire shimano lineup.

Me? I'd kick in another $40 and get a JDM stradic. That's what I've done for my last 3. They are about $160-$165 depending on the specific model you want. I've done both 2500 and 3000 (same body, different spools) so that choice is yours depending on the line you're putting on it. Not sure which stradic you have now to compare weight. If you're locked into the price point, then a JDM miravel would be my choice at $110.

I’m pretty sure I watched that one and I do remember the SDJ being a little better, but I think the DP was second best. I’d have to rewatch it. either way though, I can tie the DP in about 4 seconds and in the dark. I’ve never tied it and had it fail because it cinched down wrong or curled the mainline. I can’t complain about that and have no reason to swap.

https://www.amazon.com/Gear-Aid-Revivex-Wetsuit-Drysuit/dp/B077T32WDH/ref=sr_1_7?crid=21QQRTBG9FK9U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QghGxEK4g9_dhFnJuplKYxqiBBSunGsYfF9bi-QrA0DMAOJ5XJNq6ii6XFJgUNeZ7x4GQenF9BIPyzhDS171MDMUhW2DgZdy5ZtubgwW4yF5PjnjuLEBp80xprL6WpjVuwJMm6Kg9pyXYLsdTMODe8pnDTbRDauDLPF8B4Ssx8rE8LydiN2vhtFmRoKEzVcVGeSRySiofJSSgEBeF0ct5_50ZAXg80NJJ_e6jpKSHONDTvLWd7YAT-MEVZSanXTma-n6TR6da6EUnKm1zcDCp7auzt6E0YPeMYknuUpCK5I.AhplWOWh-Mi_On7EaFaorkNn9KCaTZ60YFI4yNVIU_Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=wetsuit%2Bcleaner%2Band%2Bdeodorizer&qid=1748811242&sprefix=Wet%2Bsuit%2Bcleaner%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-7&th=1 You need wetsuit cleaner. Diving suits get the same funk. It is biological materials (bacteria and other living things) that leave a biofilm that you just can’t get off without enzymes. A chlorine soak in a swimming pool that is being shocked will work. Lysol disinfectant concentrate will work also if you just want to soak them in a bucket of screaming hot water with a bunch of it. https://www.lysol.com/products/multi-purpose-cleaners/lysol-disinfectant-concentrate We just got home from a dive trip and I’m about to do the pool trick for my BCDs.

Yeah, I think they are trying it on. my dentist does a similar thing and I’ve considered leaving them over it. They recommend a fluoride gel at the end of each cleaning. Some insurance pays for it, some won’t (mine doesn’t). If insurance won’t pay, they waive the cost. I hate the feel of it so haven’t had it for the past 4 visits or so, but they keep billing it and getting turned down. Again, I think they are just throwing it at the wall to see what sticks.

15 lb braid to 8 lb leader and a palomar knot is a fine combination of things on the surface. My lighter rigs are more or less the same. I just swapped my bfs rod to straight 8 mono but used braid all of last year. Id make sure your palomar knots aren’t tied with the loop splitting the knot. That’s an immediate fail with fluoro when you pull it. And then any knot you’re tying make sure to test it hard when you tie it. If it doesn’t pop when you pull on it, it wont when a fish does. Then just worry about abrasion.

that’s one thing about the rage bugs I love also. When one hits them, just swing. They very rarely nibble at them or just grab the claws. They suck in the whole thing at once. Because of that, I’ve never deep hooked a bass with one. They hit, I tighten and swing. Most are hooked in the roof of the mouth. chartreuse tips play for me also. My fish are bluegill eaters and that chartreuse tip just does it for them.

Well, I’ll give a better review in a couple weeks, but first impressions of the 7’2” PA are pretty good. Total weight is about the same as my 6’9” zodias. Tip feels about the same, maybe lighter for casting weight. Responsiveness is quicker. Total power is similar. I put a 3000 series stradic on it and it feels good. It might be a little too heavy in the garage but that’s the 7’2” and light butt. Let’s see how it fishes.

The slivers in the tip top are the answer. Fill it. Then heat the tip top until it’s molten and insert the rod blank. Then you’re never heating the blank.

I’d go where you are. Crushed stone is good for parking. You have a bucket. It will settle over time and you’ll need more eventually but it’s also cheap.

You might be behind so many of us in TRYING lures, but way further ahead in being EFFECTIVE with them. And that’s what’s important. Glad you liked the rage bugs. They get strong support on this board (me included) for good reason. They just catch fish. If I’ve fished around and can’t figure the bass out, I’ll tie two rage bugs on- one super light and one fairly heavy and just cast them around. The heavier one will catch reaction bites, fish actively feeding (you can cover more water faster with it), deeper fish, or windy fish. The lighter one will catch the ones that are more shy, want something gentle, or just otherwise want a slower fall. Once I figure out which one starts catching fish, I’ll steer in that direction. Maybe downsize to the midi, swap color for darker, lighter, or a change in the amount of bright flake (my fish tend to not like metal flake or color flash). You can also play with leaving the legs and claws connected or not. They are really versatile and I have a lot of faith in them. I hope you get there too!

I wish you the best. I think the number of documented spotted bass over 10# can be counted on one hand. I’d start there in your quest. Maybe California. Then go to smallies. Again, minuscule numbers over 10# and I don’t k ow of any in the past 30 years. If you can do both of those, treat yourself to a month in Mexico or OH Ivie and call it a day.

Then I’d have no problem with the setups I fish for that. I have 14 on my topwater setup and 10 and 12 for crankbaits and jerkbaits. But you could consolidate on 12. With 12 lb supernatural you’ll still get a 6’ KVD jerkbait down to 4.5-5’ on a normal cast. And as long as your rod has a little bit of oomph that’s more than enough for treble hook topwaters. Only watch out is hooks. I fish choppos and the 105 comes with a little heavier wire hook than I prefer for lighter line/rods. The 90 and smaller is fine.

Assuming you’re talking treble hooked top waters and not frogs and buzz baits, 10-14# supernatural depending on how deep you’re working the jerkbaits.

Nope. The double pitzen is stronger with the double eye pass through and faster for me to tie. Only downside is more wasted line so I don’t do it on braid to leader rods, but that is only 2 rods and I’m rarely retying them.

If you like the feel of shimano, the aldebaran fits in right with the rest of the high end lineup. Mine went onto the 7’2” falcon which isn’t what you’re looking for, but the reel is great.

Beyond the generic ages, Chrysler products are notorious for acting up when the batteries need to be replaced. That’s Chrysler, dodge, ram, etc. They all get gremlins when a battery starts to go bad. I think I’m due (2018 OEM original) in my truck because of a few little things it does (like when you hit the window down all the way and it just does down a little while you’re holding it). For a grand Cherokee at 6 years it’s probably about time.

Dislike/doesn’t work for me that everyone loves: the brush hog (and similar baits). Maybe I should try harder but just not the bait for me and my water.

Yes. I can’t remember if the yum is two up too and in the bottom and one middle (I think this is the case) or one top, on bottom and three middle. I think two one two in which case two up top and weightless. Middle can be weightless and usually a half inch bigger and maybe a different color. Bottom two get an eighth ounce head.

Yum flash mob mini with two or three weightless plastics and two 1:8 oz will come in under that weight and I threw them in basically that rod already. go with 50# braid.

My preference across the board is 10# 131 right now. It’s a great braid across the board. That;s more than strong enough for any spinning rod I’m throwing it on or cover I’m throwing it into. it’s just a touch stiffer than 832 which makes the handling just a little better (832 is really light in physical weight in light ratings and the wind blows it around on me). My only gripe is that it only comes in moss green. I wish they made it in bright green or orange for line watching. That isn’t going to stop me putting it on my next rod, but I might wind the last 15 yards of it through a bright pink sharpie when spooling.