Banned User

Okay I think you have the target cranker, and this would work with braid and lighter chatterbaits, maybe a tight fluoro. I think that rod might struggle with 1/2 oz plus plastic, probably even 3/8 plus plastic might be a bit too much. That rod is what really made me want to start exploring moderate and moderate fast rods. I thre a spinnerbait with braid and really liked the fight. But again its overpowered by my tipical weight spinnerbaits. I also like a moderate fast for spinnerbaits, I know I absolutely jerk the rod way too quick and probably too hard way too soon and lose fish so this helps for my bad habits. Plus I lose less fish on the fight I have thrown finesse chatterbaits on the target cranker and like it, but if you're throwing 1/2 oz chatterbaits you need a rod that's a bit beefier

It really depends if you want to invest in that technique or not Which Victory rod you using? I got a dedicated moderate fast rod (Edge MB765) and chatterbaits now stickem in the roof of their mouth, not the edge of their lip or miss, right in the meat, and stay hooked all the way back to me. But I'm throwing them more now, so worth it for me but if you aren't going to use it much probably not worth it for you. Couple 6.5 pounders here, not common in my area, made me a believer. I get the heart thump when I hook into a 3, anything bigger than that and there's a chance I need to grab the dude wipes

Dude Thanks Never thought of that before

If I catch 4 in a few hours I had a good trip... I know you've heard me say it before, I hate where I live. What weight? Dragged slowly? Popped lightly? Big hops?

You always find a way to inspire me and crush my spirit at the same time lol What were they hitting?

What size are your micro guides and what size line do you use? This for regular size lures or finesse? And I'll add that I definitely like 6'6/6'9 rods when bank fishing in thick areas where I'm squeezing between trees. I also think that they might be more sensitive all else being equal.

So do I bother wasting time walking the bank today at the cost of my back and knees or just spare myself the pain of the skunk and the physical pain?

Nice fish! What was your set up and why do you think you lost those hits?

Didn't even think of this, good call, thanks! In many instances, and maybe, just maybe, in this case but bot necessarily. I have 7 aftermarkethandles (4 power handles 3 just a bit longer) all between $00.01-$15 all carbon (except the one I got for a penny) super light and super comfortable. Gomexus is an AliExpress brand that caught a buzz and raised their prices accordingly. That would turn my roughly $45 total to anywhere between $210-$350 just on handles. This is the only one not from AliExpress, it was only $00.01 on Amazon. And it is smooth and reels nice, comfortable grip. It is aluminum, and maybe that's a contributing factor, but another important factor is likely the reel I put it on compared to that Caiman. That Caiman stock handle is much heavier than the stock handle I replaced, seems designedto handle a heavier handle than mine was. I bet the gears are different too. I bet that if I put your handle on my reel and casted the same way I'd get the same result. Anyway, AliExpress carbon handles are great and half the cost or less and perform the same, not the issue here. I'll check the pinion gear tonight if I get the chance, thanks @MassYak85

So I put a power handle on a baitcaster, I'm not used to single arm power handles, but I've liked the full length power handles I've used. I got this thinking it'll be as comfortable as the others and I was right. Only issue is its single arm and unweighted with no counter balance. Well I learned the hard way so here's your warning I was fishing with it for a bit with no problems, then on a cast the reel suddenly engaged almost as soon as I launched. Wasn't sure why, didn't happen again. Until it did. A little bit later with an attempt at a bomb cast the clutch engaged a second after take off and this time I realized what happened. The handle was in a position that when I casted the weight of it pulled the handle down and engaged the reel. I thought "I have to make sure I leave it in the down position to cast from now on." Now comes another issue, a life long issue, an issue that impacts many aspects of my life and causes numerous problems in a myriad of areas in my life. I forget within minutes that this just happened. So I did it again. After that last time the reel felt rumbly. I took it apart and gave it all an inspection without a cleaning, and nothing looks damaged. The crank shaft is pretty wobbly, how much wiggle do they usually have? How can I tighten it if needed? What else should I check for this grindy feeling? When I spin the handle and put the reel upside and sounds worse.

Okay gotcha, I get it now. I have a post coming soon I'd be curious your thoughts on, but I get the sense I'm just screwed

Thanks for the tips! What are these springs doing inside that this is a risk? My kinda guy right there haha Literally did the same thing bro, i feel better not being the only Rick Moranis lookin fool on the floor like a basehead lookin for a crumb Good call bro, i can see that making sense

Cleaning my Tatula Elite... No idea what I did or how it happened when doing a simple cleaning, I don't know if it sprang itself out of the bowl I put the parts in to clean or if I just thought I did and dropped it somewhere. I wasted a LOT of time looking Can I just use a spring from a retired reel or will it affect performance? @Delaware Valley Tackle @bulldog1935 @redmeansdistortion @other reel gurus on here?

Yeah, they make great products, but simply ship them bone dry sometimes. Feels a bit nickle and dimey

MOST Zillion included

@MassYak85 happy to hear bro I'm thinking of hitting the bank tonight, anybody have any tips for this early season night fishing? Never really fish before May much, and even less so at night.

Is this supposed to mean you leave it factory setting like its not a problem? Like I said, factory zero adjust had so much sloppy I could dial it back almost a ¹/4 turn to finally get the clack out I've been thinking of doing something like this, thanks I'm with you on this, definitely think Daiwas are the most set and forget tension, but since my zero adjust have all showed up at different tensions I wasn't sure how clacky it should be. To be clear, you suggest setting to a silent slight shimmy side to side, so if one tries to make it clack it won't even though it moves slightly. I guess this is to pinpoint how much pressure one applies left and right where you could clack or not, but I mean to try to make a sound with no success so to make sure we understand incipient play to mean as close to the same thing as we can through text Thanks

I feel like a couple of the "zero adjuster" reels I got were so loose I could play rhythm in a mariachi band. @PhishLI you tighten those up to a no clack wiggle, of course very slight wiggle but noiseless, too?

What's the best spool tension for these? The same either way? One have a slight clack when you wiggle it? Tighten to just no clack and stop? Something else?

I just did my first attempts at this. They certainly weren't as thick with grease as these, and I only did about 10-15 minutes in Acetone, but I think they came out clean and fast. Feels raspy now, or is that because they need a second bath?

Sweet! Definitely feeling better about the purchase I'll start here, thanks for the tip

All I needed to know haha thanks I grabbed the new 100 early last season and I think it competes with my Zillion pound for pound all day I copped an 80 at the end of the season last year for $105 brand new from retailer and really only got to play with it a few times. I did like it but didn't get to explore where it fits best. I'm thinking ceramic hybrid bearings and throwing about 1/4oz lead plus plastics. Also grabbed a drag clicker for it... maybe it'll be my finesse bladed jig/spinnerbait reel

Ha, didn't even check, maybe he'll get an email and log on. You said the new 100s are as comfortable as the 80, but why sell the 80 and his do they compare casting wise?

What's the purpose?