VTFan

I have a Abu Garcia Max STX baitcaster spooled with 40 lb Power Pro braid, that is actually my newest reel, about a year and a half old. I had been noticing that it would backlash slightly...or so I thought from time to time. I know all of us do that occasionally so I didn't think anything of it until yesterday when it was doing it on average 2 out of 3 cast and I also noticed that it was doing it at the same point in the cast which was roughly 15 yards out. I thought it was something I was doing wrong so my brother tried it a few times and the same thing happened with him. Once you pick the little backlash out there seems to be nothing catching from within the reel, the thumb knob has remained pressed while picking out loops. I'm going to pull all the line off today and take the side cover off just to see if I see anything obvious. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Thanks Padon, I'll give it a shot.

I don't use leaders with casting gear, only on spinning and use the FG knot to connect the braid to leader. JMHO

I can catch bass on weightless flukes, no problem there but I have yet to catch a single fish on a hard jerkbait. Seems you work them both...pretty much the same but hard jerkbaits don't do it for me. What am I doing wrong?

Congrats man!!! I too caught my new PB this summer. Awesome feeling. Tight lines my friend!!!

I caught a small largemouth on my last fishing trip, it was hooked in the top part of the mouth. As careful as I was unhooking it I tore the top part of its mouth...really bad. I felt so bad it almost made me sick! It swam off but it just broke my heart to mess up that fish. I pray it makes it.

I'm with you on the Hi Viz yellow braid and old eyes. I'm currently using 30# Power Pro but have been thinking about trying Sufix 832. I'm a leader guy too and usually keep leader length to +/-6 ft. JMHO

I use 30# HI Viz yellow Power Pro braid with a 20# fluro leader on my spinning stuff. Thinking about dropping back to 17# leader. Anyway, I don't know if the bass can see that yellow braid or not. Some say yes, some say no. Kinda like Ford vs Chevy. Personally I think I get more bites using a leader. Key word...'Think'. Like most guys, I use the Hi Viz so that I can see what my line is doing. JMHO.

I also grew up with 5' 6" rods and eventually went to 6' and finally 6' 6". Each time there was a learning curve with accuracy. My brother and son got me to try their 7' rods and I knew it was not for me. I finally settled on 6' 9" Abu Garcia Vengence rods, medium heavy. About a month ago I caught my new PB, an 8 lb 8 oz largemouth.

I was cleaning out my tackle bag one day and found the broken halves of two plastic stick worms. One was a red shad color, the other was baby bass. So...I got the idea to meld to two halves together using my lighter. The next time out the bass were killing it fished wacky style! Then the question was, which color do they really like, the red shad or baby bass. 1

I'm almost 68 years old and been fishing since I was a child. I was in my early 20's when I caught my first big bass..a 6.10, in my mid 50's when I caught my next 6+ lber, and just recently caught my new PB, 8.5 lbs. There is no telling how many cast I made to how many different ponds and lakes over the years. As Catt said, patience is the name of the game. It could happen on your next cast.

Great job cleaning it up. I found a Black Max on a Ugly Stik rod at work one day after we had lowered the lake level for some maintenance work. It would have been in about 7 feet of water at full level. I cleaned and lubed it up and it works pretty well.

Does anyone remember the Stren Clear Blue Florescent line from years ago? I don't know if they even still make the stuff. I just remember using it and it seemed like we caught just as many bass then as we do now. With all the talk these days about how bass can see colored line it just makes me wonder. I'm not going back to it even though it was good line, just a thought about color.

I use 30 lb. braid to 20 lb. fluro on my spinning reels and use a fg knot with 20 wraps with a couple half hitches pulling them really tight. Then pull the tag end and the mainline of the braid REALLY hard. Yes, as someone else said, you'll see the color of the braid change as it bites into the fluro. Once that's done I'll do a couple more half hitches, clip the fluro tag end and use the braid tag end to finish with a Rizutto (sp) finish. I don't retie often enough but so far using this method hasn't failed me....yet. Oh...and by all means use something to wrap the braid around when you pull hard. Braid will cut your fingers and hands. Just what works for me.

As far as hooksets, if I'm not mistaken I saw a Bill Dance question and answer show once and someone asked him about hooksets and drag. As per Bill, you want your drag to slip just a little when you make your hookset. I sometimes forget to check my drag and it sometimes cost me fish. As Catt said, I too want to get that fish turned towards me asap. I always feel like if I let it run I'm taking the chance of it wrapping me up and loosing it. JMHO.

Lately I've gone back to beetle spins and spinnerbaits. Just because it's old school the fish don't know that. IMHO.

I do the same thing only with old spark plugs. Only failed me once so far.

What little success I've had with skipping has been with a 6' 6" medium rod with a spinning reel throwing wacky's and frogs. Even then it's hit and miss. Baitcaster is out of the question, made me want to lose my religion LOL!!! Practiced one day on a concrete floor and did fine with both spinning and baitcaster but not so on the water. Guess I just need to practice practice practice.

Just curious how many of you can skip a frog or jig? Also, how long did it take you to get good enough to where you were confident in hitting your target and not ending up in the trees? What's your setup etc...?

Ditto to all the above. I use 30 lb Power Pro braid on both my spinning reels and can't remember the last time I had one of those crazy knots...now having said that I'll get one the next time out. As SC53 said, if you get one lubricate it with chapstick or saliva and pull and it should come out.

Ok, this is coming from a Bass fisherman and just my experience. I only recently started fishing a frog and it is over pads and pond scum mostly but I found that using braided line which has no stretch gives me better hooksets and when I set the hook I slam it home once I feel that first tension on the line. As for how I fish it, once I've made the cast I let the frog sit on the pads until the water has calmed and then slowly work it across the pads letting it stop between the pads for a few seconds. And something Bill Dance once said was, when working a frog across pads to stop the frog when it comes off the pads into open water because sometimes the fish will follow it underneath the pads but won't strike until it is in open water. You said you use light gear, I can't really comment on that as I use baitcast gear with 40 lb. Braided line. I would think light gear would not be enough but that is just my humble opinion. Also, fish like shade and pads provide lots of shade so I would not give up on them.

Thank you so much!!!

I wish I had titled this post 'New PB' but didn't know at the time how to post pictures. Oh well. So..my brother and I were pounding shallow water...2 to 6 ft of water with wacky worms and dropshots. Were catching a few but nothing outstanding. Finally got to a place with a big flat area 4 to 6 ft deep. He stayed with the DS and I said to heck with it and tied on a KVD 1.5 sexy shad crankbait and second cast she nailed it. He netted her and the scales locked in at 8 lbs 8 oz. Measured 23" long. Don't know about other states but here in Virginia that is citation in both weight and length. I ended up boating 10 on the crankbait. Never did that before either. Oh...and she was released to fight another day. On a side note, if a moderator can change the title to, New PB', please do.

8 lbs. 8 oz. 23" long.

I'm sorry. I should have added I'm using a Galaxy phone.