DFWO

How did it happen? Ugh... Carrying a bulky, heavy box down some stairs, and the dog wanted to play. He dropped his toy under my next step, and when I stepped down, I thought I was stepping on the dog. With all my weight on that foot, I popped up on my toes, and that's all she wrote.

I've had so much fun fishing this summer. It's helped me deal with stress, I've been more relaxed, lost a few pounds, connecting with the kids, etc. I was fishing about 4 days a week, just got new Tatula rods and reels, a bunch of new tackle, a new backpack, I was all revved up to do some serious bass fishing. Saturday night, I tore my Achilles tendon right off the bone, taking pieces of heel bone along with it. Along with everything else, I'm feeling really beaten down that I'm probably not going fishing again for the next few months. I'm embarrassed to say that to my wife. And In the grand scheme of things, it's silly, but I'm really going to miss this new hobby I found.

This is my first baitcaster, so I just don't have a strong sense one way or the other. I'm fishing mostly smallish ponds, so long bomb casts aren't usually necessary.

Both, really. Just depends on the pond. But in general, it's pretty wide open.

Yeah, I've heard really good things about them. I wish I could find one locally to check out.

I'd like a spinning rod and a casting rod for pond/bank fishing on a ~$400 total budget. All around type rods, nothing technique specific. I like cork handles, but I'd consider something else. For reels, I have a Tatula 2500 and a Tatula SV TW. I'm leaning towards Tatula rods, the 6'10" MHF casting, and the 6'8" MF spinning. But I'd like some other opinions before I pull the trigger.

I sort of think this is what happened. I bought the line at BPS, and the guy putting it on didn't instill any confidence. He had some kind of tangle putting it on, took a bunch of line off and removed the spool. But I picked up some Sufix 832 10lb yesterday and i love it.

Daiwa Exceler 2500 I have two of them, maybe I'll try braid on one, and 8lb mono on the other

8lb XL, or would you try something else? Thanks, I'll look for it this afternoon

It's definitely not the bail, I close it by hand 100% of the time. And it's not too much line, it's probably 60% full now, due to cutting off line from other tangles. I think I was reeling in slack at times. I tried to make sure my line was nice and tight this morning, but still had the same problem. I'll make a long cast, and I'll feel a thud, and I can see this tangled bird's nest before it hits the water. And I'll throw out something odd I noticed this morning. I bought a new rod, and put line on both of my reels at the same time (10lb Trilene XL). Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure it's only happening on the reel with the new rod. I suppose I could swap reels and see if I'm having the same issue. But I just can't see how it could possibly be related to the rod.

I'll do that in the morning, hopefully that'll clear up the problem

Ok, thanks. I've been fishing all summer with cheap, generic mono and never had this happen. I switched to Trilene XL last week and now I'm getting these tangles.

Ok, I'll try that. Is it caused by the line being put on wrong?

Untwist the line?

I'm using a spinning reel, and sometimes when I make a long cast, I feel this tangle form in the line. Not on the reel, but just the line forms a tangle between the rod and my bait. I can feel a tug when it happens. There's just suddenly this bird's nest out on my line. This was an example, but sometimes it's a lot worse.